Using Your RV more like a tent

[Terrenski]

I am new to rving and one of the things that scares me about it is the maintenance with plumbing and electrical items as well as costs involved. Has anyone purchased an rv and tended to use it more like a tent to sleep in and use but not to get involved in all the water systems and power situations? To me this would mean:
- not having a generator
-not having ac
-using the city water tank for fresh water but maybe having a porta potty vs using/maintaining the black water tank
-using just the extra batteries for lights, basics, etc and maybe bringing lanterns instead
I know this might me no fridge or microwave and using the rv for living in and the outside fire for cooking, etc.
-probably a 2-3 day trip vs weeks long
Just wondering if anyone does this and what is it like? To me it would be comfortable and less stressful.
Thanks for your thoughts!
Terrenski

[rexlion]

We tent camped for years. Tried camping out of a minivan (alone) one summer, and a popup for another summer. Then moved into travel trailers... 23 footer, then a 17, now a 16.

Thing is, in a tent or minivan there were times when the weather was just too hot or too cold or too wet. And I could not comfortably camp for very many days in places without a shower (many forest CGs, boondocking, etc). The ice in the cooler would run out. Stuff like that. So now I have the AC and heaters (LP or electric, depending), the bathroom with shower, and the fridge. No need to set up the cooktop, it's always hooked up. The bed stays made up, and it stays dry all the time too. I wouldn't want to go back to anything less.

[ksbowman]

I have always loved tent camping. As I've got older and been sick a couple times during hunting trips I decided to get an rv. To crawl in bed after a hot shower and not worry about anything but minor setup and tear down to go home makes me relax even more. I bet once you get all the amenities an rv has to offer you'll use all of them. I know it sure makes my hunting trips go better.

[Terrenski]

Some really good points made here, thanks for the feedback! Makes good sense to not buy a fully equipped if and not use everything. I do feel really good the more
I read that there is so much support out here for how to learn to use everything.
Thanks!

[bukhrn]

Cobra21 wrote:
We use ALL our stuff! I'm amazed at how many campers won't use their showers
or toilets. None of these items are sacred, and all are easy to care for.
Don't let yourself be overwhelmed. There is lots of help on this site.

Brian

X-2, never understood buying a fully self contained unit, then never using half of it. :h :S

[naturist]

I'm baffled as to why anybody would pay money for gear they then had to pay (fuel mileage!) to drag around so that they could NOT use it.

I agree with the suggestions to buy an empty utility trailer and add just the things you want: a bed and insulated walls/floor/ceiling. Maybe buy a plastic water tank. You can probably buy and outfit such a rig NEW for no more than the cost of a clapped out crummy TT. And get to keep the fuel costs for dragging the rubbish part around.

[wbwood]

Popup

[Cobra21]

We use ALL our stuff! I'm amazed at how many campers won't use their showers
or toilets. None of these items are sacred, and all are easy to care for.
Don't let yourself be overwhelmed. There is lots of help on this site.

Brian

[DwnSth]

What about this http://www.sylvansport.com/camper/pop-up-tent-camper

Or this http://www.livinlite.com/qs-tentcampers.php

We used our pop-up for years to 'camp' all over. We used to backpack and actually used the pop-up as a basecamp. Actually was a bit of a camping tenting snob until I did some contract work for a pop-up manufacturer. Realized how well they were constructed and the benefits of having some luxuries (especially when we had children). Now the kids are out and we still get to camp and hike in the TT.

[bikendan]

i suggest a popup or A-frame or teardrop trailer. real minimalist style of RV'ing, if you want up off the ground.

our first popup had a handpump cold water faucet, FW tank, 3-way fridge and a furnace.
no water heater, no holding tanks, no freezer, no a/c, no oven, no shower, no toilet.
never used hookups and used only one 12v deep cycle battery.

agree that buying a full size RV, like a travel trailer, is a waste for you. no reason buying one if you are too afraid or don't want to use the amenities.

[rmasonschneider]

We've had a old sunrader that was used for similar purpose. The waterpump was shot and so was the fresh water plumbing and the connections to it. Never really wanted to invest my time and resources to overhauling the system. Comming up from backcountry/ winter camping, having lights, fridge and stove that worked along with a toilet and a fiberglass wall to keep us away from the elements was a godsend. We purchased it for next to nothing, drove it everywhere, stayed anywhere and sold it for more than what we paid for it after we were done. Do what you like with it and enjoy it.
I didn't know how much I appreciated the comforts of the RV until i got one.

[JnJnKatiebug]

How about a small cargo trailer, maybe 6' x 12'. Put some insulation in the wall and some cheap paneling, then a nice queen size bed across the front and your set to go. Still room in the back to haul the rest of your junk. You could have it built with some windows and a camper type door for just a little extra. A new rig would be less than $5,000.

[atreis]

This is pretty much how we use our trailer. We like having a comfortable place to sleep, and a full bathroom, water heater, and sink for dishes but do little else in it. We cook outside under the awning and spend nearly all of our time in camp outside (unless it's raining). Previously we had a PUP, but found the setup/teardown to be onerous. (Not that actual opening/closing of the pop-up, but the loading and unloading of it.) The hybrid is just right.

[downtheroad]

Good advice above...pop-up/tent trailer.

What you want to do is kind of like buying a Ferrari to drive a mile down the road through a school zone to pick up some groceries and back....:)

[spoon059]

Sounds like a pop up is perfect for you. That's the first camping our family did growing up. It was a lot of fun. If it wasn't for the fact that I have yappy dogs and need insulated walls to keep them from hearing noise and barking at it, I would have one to this day!

They are cheap, keep you out of the rain and off the ground, give you a place to stand up and get dressed, give the kiddo's a clean dry place to crawl/run around and keep an eye on them. You can tow one with just about anything, they are small enough that they aren't an eyesore in the back yard. If you don't want to use electric or water you don't have too. Its easy to unzip the sides and have screen all the way around for nice temps while camping. You can get a rooftop AC if you want for warmer trips in the summer. Some of them have bathrooms, or you can invest in a cassette toilet if you find the need.

That being said, we enjoy having the AC and a bathroom for most trips. Its really not much work at all to use the power and water. A lot of our weekend trips though, we are rarely inside the camper. We sleep and use the bathroom, then spend the rest of the day out and about. Its nice having the walls to put our 15 month old daughter down for naptime, something that would be a little more difficult with a popup or tent.

[Terryallan]

Terrenski wrote:
I am new to rving and one of the things that scares me about it is the maintenance with plumbing and electrical items as well as costs involved. Has anyone purchased an rv and tended to use it more like a tent to sleep in and use but not to get involved in all the water systems and power situations? To me this would mean:
- not having a generator
-not having ac
-using the city water tank for fresh water but maybe having a porta potty vs using/maintaining the black water tank
-using just the extra batteries for lights, basics, etc and maybe bringing lanterns instead
I know this might me no fridge or microwave and using the rv for living in and the outside fire for cooking, etc.
-probably a 2-3 day trip vs weeks long
Just wondering if anyone does this and what is it like? To me it would be comfortable and less stressful.
Thanks for your thoughts!
Terrenski

That is how we camp when camping in a National Park, where there are no hookups. I don't even use the fresh water tank. Why, you ask. I refuse to use the dump station. I'm lazy. So we only use what the battery will run while dry camping.

However. When we have full hookups. We use them all. They aren't hard to use .