Making the jump from tent camping to RVing
I'm a lifelong tent camper, but my partner and I are interested in switching to an RV for added convenience and comfort during our trips. I'd be happy to get some feedback on traveling in a small trav...
Forum Discussion
We navigated from years of tent camping to a pop-up camper. The pop-up still gave us that outside open feeling with the comfort of a solid floor and a solid roof. It had a sink, 10 gallon fresh water tank, no holding tanks, just a connection outside for a garden hose that led to a bucket or some kind of container for the sink, no bathroom or shower. We thought we were in paradise.
Of course, coming from tent camping, this was a wonderful "upgrade". We still used campground showers. That was no change for us. We still brought along an ice chest, as the pop-up had no refrigerator. That was no change for us. We still used campground bathrooms. That was no change for us. We still experienced the "tent" feeling, the outside feeling, the non-claustrophobic feeling of being cramped inside a box. The camper had a furnace ... THAT was a marvelous change for us. We used the pop-up a lot for 6 years.
We got tired of dealing with wet canvas, and got our first travel trailer. It was a Dutchmen Sport Lite, 18 feet. We loved it. It came with the shower, bathroom, toilet, sinks, holding tanks, refrigerator. We thought we died and went to heaven. Best of all ... no wet canvas.
Since then we had 2 different travel trailers. Each one unique in its own way. But that step from the pop-up (tent feeling) to the hard walled trailer was something to get use to. Even though the first travel trailer was 18 feet, it still felt claustrophobic. We missed the open view because it just didn't have THAT many windows. We kind of missed experiencing the wind blowing and the campground noises. But the convenience of all the luxuries, not having to trek to the bath house in the middle of the night for a potty or using an out-house, showering in private, and having our own refrigerator without having to constantly make runs for more ice was a very welcome change.
Yes, regardless of what size of hard-sided camper you get, you'll have some adjustments coming from tent camping. BUT it won't take you very long to enjoy those changes either. Having thing a LOT more private, not hearing campground noises, and not worried if anyone can hear me talking in my sleep, or passing gas at 2:00 am will make someone laugh as they are walking their dog or going to the bath house themselves.
Adjustment in my mind set? Yes! Difficult to overcome? No!
And yes, bring that old tent along for a while. The old tent does come in handy for an outside storage area. If after a few trips you realize you really don't need it any more, then get rid of it.
Meanwhile... happy camping!
Of course, coming from tent camping, this was a wonderful "upgrade". We still used campground showers. That was no change for us. We still brought along an ice chest, as the pop-up had no refrigerator. That was no change for us. We still used campground bathrooms. That was no change for us. We still experienced the "tent" feeling, the outside feeling, the non-claustrophobic feeling of being cramped inside a box. The camper had a furnace ... THAT was a marvelous change for us. We used the pop-up a lot for 6 years.
We got tired of dealing with wet canvas, and got our first travel trailer. It was a Dutchmen Sport Lite, 18 feet. We loved it. It came with the shower, bathroom, toilet, sinks, holding tanks, refrigerator. We thought we died and went to heaven. Best of all ... no wet canvas.
Since then we had 2 different travel trailers. Each one unique in its own way. But that step from the pop-up (tent feeling) to the hard walled trailer was something to get use to. Even though the first travel trailer was 18 feet, it still felt claustrophobic. We missed the open view because it just didn't have THAT many windows. We kind of missed experiencing the wind blowing and the campground noises. But the convenience of all the luxuries, not having to trek to the bath house in the middle of the night for a potty or using an out-house, showering in private, and having our own refrigerator without having to constantly make runs for more ice was a very welcome change.
Yes, regardless of what size of hard-sided camper you get, you'll have some adjustments coming from tent camping. BUT it won't take you very long to enjoy those changes either. Having thing a LOT more private, not hearing campground noises, and not worried if anyone can hear me talking in my sleep, or passing gas at 2:00 am will make someone laugh as they are walking their dog or going to the bath house themselves.
Adjustment in my mind set? Yes! Difficult to overcome? No!
And yes, bring that old tent along for a while. The old tent does come in handy for an outside storage area. If after a few trips you realize you really don't need it any more, then get rid of it.
Meanwhile... happy camping!
