I have a buddy that says we go "trailer" NOT "camping". I have no desire to start an arguement over what "camping" IS.However, after reading the post about needing bigger tow vehicles, bigger trailers, more gadgets, etc... I do think it would be interesting (it's -2 outside) to hear some comparisions between family travelling (rv style) today as compared to when many of us were kids. It does not need to get condesending, the comment can come to a conclusion, or be left open ended. Kinda like this---- I remember when-- families had 6 kids, and they all fit in a two door pickup, and pulled/slept in a 20' trailer.I remmber when-- batteries maintenence meant making sure all flashlights/radios, etc... all fit the same size battery so you only had to pack one size.I remember when-- awnings had poles and ropes to trip over.

I remember camping as a communal water spigot with in a 1/4 mile, communal latrines. Coleman gas lanterns, fire rings made of stones, you swam in a creek or at the beach that was your shower. Rarely a trailer over 20 ft long,w/3 way lights. Most used tents or school buses. Seems we had more fun that way, than today trying to show off the latest and the greatest. Albeit it is more comfortable to day.

Homer wrote:I remember camping as a communal water spigot with in a 1/4 mile, communal latrines. Coleman gas lanterns, fire rings made of stones, you swam in a creek or at the beach that was your shower. Rarely a trailer over 20 ft long,w/3 way lights. Most used tents or school buses. Seems we had more fun that way, than today trying to show off the latest and the greatest. Albeit it is more comfortable to day.And when I first took the DW "camping" in this fashion, she asked where she could plug in her blow dryer. The 2 room tent, sleeping bags, air mattress, 2 burner Coleman stove, stand-alone awning, plastic 5 gallon water bottles, sun shower, and basket full of picnic stuff have been in the basement for 20 years. The lanterns, and the portable grille come with us in the Sahara.

I remember when I got my first TT . It was 12 feet long and 6 feet high. It had a bed, a small dinette, a 2 burner stove ,a sink with cold water only, and the sink drain just drained onto the ground under the trailer. I thought it was heaven to have all that luxury .

Homer wrote:I remember camping as a communal water spigot with in a 1/4 mile, communal latrines. Coleman gas lanterns, fire rings made of stones, you swam in a creek or at the beach that was your shower. Rarely a trailer over 20 ft long,w/3 way lights. Most used tents or school buses. Seems we had more fun that way, than today trying to show off the latest and the greatest. Albeit it is more comfortable to day.Boy you can say that again! But I am not sure about it being more comfortable today. I think what we think of as comfortable has changed. Our Idea, our sense of CONTENTMENT has changed. We are not content any longer with out that big screen TV, the faux leather sofas and all the rest.

I remember when a 1959 Plymouth Station Wagon with those huge fins and 3 row seating was a popular choice for families (ours included) to go camping. The kids could spread out, there was room in the "far back" rear facing seat to enjoy the scenery from a different perspective. And CAMPING involved a very heavy canvas 3-room tent with the wooden poles holding it up and making the framework. The tent was ALWAYS carried on the roof rack of the Plymouth!

I remember when----???? (camping version). | Good Sam Community

Homer1
Explorer
Feb 28, 2015
I remember camping as a communal water spigot with in a 1/4 mile, communal latrines. Coleman gas lanterns, fire rings made of stones, you swam in a creek or at the beach that was your shower. Rarely a trailer over 20 ft long,w/3 way lights. Most used tents or school buses. Seems we had more fun that way, than today trying to show off the latest and the greatest. Albeit it is more comfortable to day.
jplante4
Explorer II
Feb 28, 2015
Homer wrote:
I remember camping as a communal water spigot with in a 1/4 mile, communal latrines. Coleman gas lanterns, fire rings made of stones, you swam in a creek or at the beach that was your shower. Rarely a trailer over 20 ft long,w/3 way lights. Most used tents or school buses. Seems we had more fun that way, than today trying to show off the latest and the greatest. Albeit it is more comfortable to day.

And when I first took the DW "camping" in this fashion, she asked where she could plug in her blow dryer. The 2 room tent, sleeping bags, air mattress, 2 burner Coleman stove, stand-alone awning, plastic 5 gallon water bottles, sun shower, and basket full of picnic stuff have been in the basement for 20 years. The lanterns, and the portable grille come with us in the Sahara.
CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Feb 28, 2015
I remember when I got my first TT . It was 12 feet long and 6 feet high. It had a bed, a small dinette, a 2 burner stove ,a sink with cold water only, and the sink drain just drained onto the ground under the trailer.

I thought it was heaven to have all that luxury .
4X4Dodger
Explorer II
Feb 28, 2015
Homer wrote:
I remember camping as a communal water spigot with in a 1/4 mile, communal latrines. Coleman gas lanterns, fire rings made of stones, you swam in a creek or at the beach that was your shower. Rarely a trailer over 20 ft long,w/3 way lights. Most used tents or school buses. Seems we had more fun that way, than today trying to show off the latest and the greatest. Albeit it is more comfortable to day.

Boy you can say that again! But I am not sure about it being more comfortable today. I think what we think of as comfortable has changed. Our Idea, our sense of CONTENTMENT has changed. We are not content any longer with out that big screen TV, the faux leather sofas and all the rest.
Thom02099
Explorer II
Feb 28, 2015
I remember when a 1959 Plymouth Station Wagon with those huge fins and 3 row seating was a popular choice for families (ours included) to go camping. The kids could spread out, there was room in the "far back" rear facing seat to enjoy the scenery from a different perspective. And CAMPING involved a very heavy canvas 3-room tent with the wooden poles holding it up and making the framework. The tent was ALWAYS carried on the roof rack of the Plymouth!
Wiscampsin
Explorer
Feb 28, 2015
When I camped with my family as a kid back in the 60's nobody made reservations, sites cost $2 - $5 a night, and nobody had to lock everything up when they went site seeing.
cbshoestring
Explorer II
Feb 28, 2015
jplante4 wrote:
The lanterns, and the portable grille come with us in the Sahara.

I thought it was just me that did this. Normally use the electric griddle and the trailer lights, but I still carry the coleman stove and lantern (just in case). My brother still has dad's old white gas lantern/stove----Remember pumpimg those????
rv2go
Explorer II
Feb 28, 2015
We started camping in 1972 in the back of my Ford Pickup. Just the wife, daughter and I. We would tow our boat to the lake on Friday evening come back home late Sunday. I still have in storage all the early Coleman camping gear. Stove, Lantern, Cooler, etc. We did this for a few years, then got "modern" with a pickup camper. 2 years later, our first Class C. I think that is when we stopped "Camping" and went RV'ing.
K_Charles
Explorer
Feb 28, 2015
I think it was 1962 when dad got a pop-up to pull with his falcon. 5 of us went around the Gaspe Peninsula. We often camped in a cow pasture with a picnic table and gave the farmer what we wanted. Once we had to close the gate so the cows wouldn't get out. It was a very good summer. Mom didn't think we should call it camping because we weren't sleeping on the ground anymore.

I still have the camp box that my parents had made in the 50s.
D_E_Bishop
Explorer
Feb 28, 2015
This is kind of off topic but it something that came to mind as I read the posts here. It is a romantic thing thinking back to camping for the first time with our 4 and 5 year old daughters in the borrowed 1962 Ford Falcon, green canvas tent, stove and sleeping bags...

Do you remember days
Not so very long ago
When the world was run by
People twice your size
And the days were full of laughter

And the nights were full of stars
And when you grew tired you
Could close your eyes
Yes the stars were there for wishing
And the wind was there for kites
And the morning sun was
There for rise and shine
And even if the sniffles
Kept you home from school in bed
You couldn't hardly
Stay there after nine

Do you remember campout
Right in your own backyard...

In memory of those days with my girls and John Duchendorf.