Forum Discussion

Luv_nCamp_n's avatar
Luv_nCamp_n
Explorer
Jul 13, 2015

Not a big enough trailer

Here is our dilemma, we bought a new 2009 31red heartland north trail a few years ago, with a loan. (So we still owe). We like most things about the trailer. But due to a slow leak the floor in the family living area became soft and will be getting replaced after the camping season is over. The floor plan use to be sufficient for my family, but it seems we always take extra kids and that makes it miserable for my husband and I come morning time. I just want to sit down and drink a cup of coffee, but there are literally bodies everywhere. Not to mention, the takedown and set up they have to do just to lay down.

We have a 19yo daughter, that goes with us when her work and school allow her time, and our 12 yo boy that would take his whole entourage if we allowed,lol. He usually has at least 1 friend, and our 2 nieces his age are usually along.

Trading up on a bunkhouse is not an option due to the damage. So we have tossed around the idea of taking the master bedroom and converting it to a bunk room. We are not afraid of diy, we have built houses, and extensive high end remodels. My question is for the "very knowledgeable on all things RV related forum members" are we crazy to think this is acceptable? And if it is acceptable, will moving the kids to the hitch end help to eliminate some of the added wiggle we experience at night during sleeping hours.

Please don't hesitate to throw in other possibilities. Except for pitch a tent. They aren't tent kinda kids, and I'm not a tent kinda mom. Lol
  • I like the idea of the camper shell.

    Also... the wiggle in the camper might be helped with some X-chocks:

    http://www.amazon.com/X-Chock-Wheel-Stabilizer-Handle-28012/dp/B002XLHUQG
  • Thanks for the replies. The tent has been tried, and they all were inside rather quickly. Not to mention some of the state parks tend to be over run with rougher crowds. I'm not being judgmental, but just this past weekend my husband and son got in the truck and slowly started to pull away from our site and 2 younger kids (preteen?? ) purposefully stopped on their bikes in front of them and gave them this scowl and put their hands up , as to say "what are you gonna do about it." I can't believe how people behave toward others. Music blaring and dogs barking all during daytime hours, and I thought camping was suppose to be relaxing.

    So much for thinking. I'm not going to let others ruin our family fun times, so we ignore the behavior and sleep inside.

    The truck cab is an idea!
  • 2oldman wrote:
    Luv'nCamp'n wrote:
    Please don't hesitate to throw in other possibilities. Except for pitch a tent. They aren't tent kinda kids, and I'm not a tent kinda mom. Lol
    Oh well.

    :B My thoughts exactly. :B
  • My brother and I plus a friend would sleep in the pickup. A longbed pickup with a campershell (cap). My dad had built two beds along each side with storage tubs underneath. The campershell had a boot (passageway) through to the cab area of the pickup. Our friend would sleep on the front seat of the truck and my brother and I would sleep on the beds in the campershell.

    It gave us a place to get away from the parents....
  • Anything is possible, and mods are "acceptable". Why wouldn't they be? It's your trailer. The only caveat might be when it comes time to sell or trade. The mod you are proposing may have a harder time attracting a buyer.

    Shame about the tent idea really. It's the best way to go with teens and preteens. I never heard of kids that aren't "tent kids". Everyone I've know that has a trailer did this, including us. Our daughter is 30 and still loves tenting.
  • Luv'nCamp'n wrote:
    Please don't hesitate to throw in other possibilities. Except for pitch a tent. They aren't tent kinda kids, and I'm not a tent kinda mom. Lol
    Oh well.
  • I agree about the tents--both our son and daughter used the tents unless the weather was really bad. We got a 2 room tent-son in 1 and daughter in other. I think they got more of an experience camping using the tents and they had a lot of fun. My daughter is married now and she and her husband have a Coleman tent and go camping as time permits. Lars
  • How about a couple of two person tents for the kids? As our girls got to around 12 they no longer wanted to sleep with up so tents it was.