Help us get back into camping with our new reality!.

[nebcityman]

thanks for your help we are wanting to get back into camping but our reality has changed. We always camped in popups and now that is not an option. Here is our camping family. Myself 52 with left side weakness due to stroke, and back injury limiting how much bending I can do. My partner 50 in good health. this will be 50 percent of the time. the other 50 percent will make up of, my sister 54 in good health single and not wanting to camp alone, my 80 year old Father wanting to camp again after my mothers alzimers diagnosis and giving on them being able to travel. 24 percent of the time we will have from 1-4 children with us ages-6-10(nieces, great nieces and friends). My oldest niece does camp with her husband but does not get out as much as she would like. We need to start from scratch and know we can not afford brand new. So I am looking for ideas on Tow Vehicles which must haul us and our family around and a good match for a camper as well. All advice is wanted and needed. Right now we think we can spend up to about 20k for both. We have a 2000 buick centry and town and country van with about 160000 miles on both so we will be trading or selling a car also which will bring not much.

thanks so much for you help and let us get camping again up

[Dave_E]

You could also buy a smaller class a or c or class b motorhome and an ultra light trailer to tow behind, enough room for traveling and sleeping when parked then use the motor home to get around just watch your heights so you don't take the top off when going under low overhangs...

[LG61820]

If you are up to shopping for a TT then you should visit as many dealers and FSBO TT as you can find. Walk thru, sit down, imagine how you would sleep everyone. Would there be enough room in the fridge? In the kitchen cabinets? Enough carrying capacity for your "must haves"? Check out the bunks-is it claustrophobic in the bottom bunk?

You will start to get a feel for what might be right for your family. Be sure to stand/sit in the bathroom and make sure the door will shut while on the toilet. . . an important consideration.

Best wishes for you for happy camping!

[nebcityman]

New question-- as we are looking at trailers alot of them are the bunkhouse modles, that seems to be the most popular. Has anyone modified it so that they can either take out or fold up the top bunk to make it more comfortable for and adult but can still use it if younger people are with you. Is this even a good idea or bad one? Thanks

[colliehauler]

nebcityman wrote:
Thanks you guys are great! We have not been blessed with children so we tend to spoil the nieces and nephew alot. Also fyi the sister that would be traveling with us does not have any children either. One of the nieces(actually a great niece) parents take a trailer camping when they can go but she like to go with us if they can't go. The others do camp with thier parents in a tent but as both parents have to work so weekends it does not happen alot. I did not include in the times when the kiddos are camping with thier parents. I am retired so I can take them out alot more. So what are your feelings for pulling and setting up a fifth wheel verses a more traditional camper(although the girls are great for doing the bending that is hard for me).

Same budget? Might be hard finding a truck and 5th wheel for 20k. You would have to take another vehicle if you transport up to 8 people.

[kknowlton]

One comment on putting dad/sister in the dinette or couch - this won't work well unless they are very short. In our experience, these extra "beds" just aren't made for anyone larger than pre-teen children (and even some of them may be too tall for them) A bunkhouse TT might work well in that case. The bunk areas can be used for storage when it's just the OP & companion.

[ReneeG]

nebcityman wrote:
We have also considered a motorhome/mini home but wonder about the cost of mataining an extra engine over and above the regular maintence that needs to be done on any camper we would do.

This is no different than the engine in your TV and the TT. The extra engine would come in if you added a towed (toad) vehicle to that motorhome, then you would have two engines. But . . . if you go just to camp, stay put, then a MH may work too. It's just that there's always that one or two times that you want to or need to go to the store or do a little sightseeing. Then you would have to uproot camp.

[nebcityman]

We have also considered a motorhome/mini home but wonder about the cost of mataining an extra engine over and above the regular maintence that needs to be done on any camper we would do.

[nebcityman]

Thanks you guys are great! We have not been blessed with children so we tend to spoil the nieces and nephew alot. Also fyi the sister that would be traveling with us does not have any children either. One of the nieces(actually a great niece) parents take a trailer camping when they can go but she like to go with us if they can't go. The others do camp with thier parents in a tent but as both parents have to work so weekends it does not happen alot. I did not include in the times when the kiddos are camping with thier parents. I am retired so I can take them out alot more. So what are your feelings for pulling and setting up a fifth wheel verses a more traditional camper(although the girls are great for doing the bending that is hard for me).

[colliehauler]

toedtoes wrote:

colliehauler wrote:
I would look for a used 2500 series full size van and a used bunkhouse TT. I just sold a bunkhouse tt to a young family with 3 kids. The tt had 2 bunk beds, full up front, sofa made into a bed as well as the dinette. Agree with others about putting the older kids in a tent.

I thought this at first, but since the OP and his wife don't have kids of their own (at least in regards to camping), this is overkill on the trailer for most of the time. It's the single sister who has the kids and will be bringing them - for this, it just doesn't make sense to tow the bigger heavier bunkhouse trailer (and to deal with it with a bad back) when a smaller lighter trailer will work.

Wife should be able to handle hitching the trailer - it's really not that difficult. That could reduce the amount of times you have to get in and out of the truck, etc. And with a smaller lighter trailer, she may find she likes towing it and you could kick back in the passenger seat. 🙂

OP - I wasn't sure if your Mom would be joining you or not, so I erred on the extra person. With just your Dad, he might find he is comfortable on the couch (add a mattress topper when he comes for added comfort), and you and your wife could stay in the dedicated bed (I had figured it'd be better for Mom to be in the "real" bed).

Your right in a bunkhouse would be overkill and smaller TT would work. I would want a real bed and put the Dad and Sister in the dinette and sofa that makes into a bed. Kind of depends on how often the kids come along and if they would stay in a tent.

In my post I said that I had sold a bunkhouse tt and I described it.

I would still recommend a 2500 series van for that many people and pulling a tt, unless the sister brings her own vehicle. A single cab truck or extended cab would work for 3 people.

[toedtoes]

colliehauler wrote:
I would look for a used 2500 series full size van and a used bunkhouse TT. I just sold a bunkhouse tt to a young family with 3 kids. The tt had 2 bunk beds, full up front, sofa made into a bed as well as the dinette. Agree with others about putting the older kids in a tent.

I thought this at first, but since the OP and his wife don't have kids of their own (at least in regards to camping), this is overkill on the trailer for most of the time. It's the single sister who has the kids and will be bringing them - for this, it just doesn't make sense to tow the bigger heavier bunkhouse trailer (and to deal with it with a bad back) when a smaller lighter trailer will work.

Wife should be able to handle hitching the trailer - it's really not that difficult. That could reduce the amount of times you have to get in and out of the truck, etc. And with a smaller lighter trailer, she may find she likes towing it and you could kick back in the passenger seat. 🙂

OP - I wasn't sure if your Mom would be joining you or not, so I erred on the extra person. With just your Dad, he might find he is comfortable on the couch (add a mattress topper when he comes for added comfort), and you and your wife could stay in the dedicated bed (I had figured it'd be better for Mom to be in the "real" bed).

[ReneeG]

My concern was your disability and hooking up the trailer. That can be a lot of backing, getting out, checking, pulling forward, back again, etc. My first thought was a Class C, but then you would need a toad (towed vehicle) too. If the other persons coming, the women, are willing to hookup then you'll be ok.

[colliehauler]

I would look for a used 2500 series full size van and a used bunkhouse TT. I just sold a bunkhouse tt to a young family with 3 kids. The tt had 2 bunk beds, full up front, sofa made into a bed as well as the dinette. Agree with others about putting the older kids in a tent.

[nebcityman]

thanks for the ideas! I don't know why some of them had not come to mind before. As a Kid we loved camping in the tent rather than the pop up. The way of hauling people was also great, I just get my mind going on direction and you have done a good job of refocusing things. Thank you I have always said campers are the greatest people. I will throw out one clarification and that is that my mother is confined to a memory care unit so she will not be going with us, just making so dad can still enjoy his retirement.

[toedtoes]

So, to paraphrase, you'll have 2 adults 50 percent of the time. The other trips will include up to 3 additional adults (sister, father and mother) and up to 4 kids.

There is no way you're going to find something that will work for all that, so I'd suggest splitting it up.

First, buy a tent for the kids. When 2-4 come, they all go in the tent. If just one of them comes, then you fit them in the TT or van.

Second, get your sister to buy (yours or a different one) a van. This will provide extra sleeping space and something to haul the family when everyone is coming. Nothing special - just a van with easily removable seats so she can haul people and then get lots of floor space to lay out an air mattress and sleeping bags.

Third, utilize the outdoor space. You're camping - be outside as much as possible and limit the time everyone spends inside the trailer during the day. Pick up used camping gear to help make this comfortable - chairs, camp kitchen setups, etc. Sister can help with purchasing this stuff and haul some of it in the van. Just because she doesn't want to camp alone doesn't mean she shouldn't have to have to her own gear.

Now, you're looking at a tow vehicle and trailer. Starting with the trailer, go simple but efficient. If sister and niece (or sister alone) sleeps in van, and kids sleep in tent(s), then you just have to have sleeping for 4 (you, wife, mom and dad). Get a dedicated bed (preferably a walk-around) - when it's just you and wife, sleep there. When mom and dad come, let them have the bed and you and wife convert the dinette or use the sofa bed (whichever is more comfortable).

For tow vehicle, look for a club cab truck (full back seat). That will fit you, wife, mom and dad. The truck tows the trailer with necessary gear for the four of you. Sister hauls the rest of the family and gear in the van.

Find the trailer that will meet your needs, then start looking at trucks capable of towing it. It may take a while to find the right combo, but it can be done.