Didn't use the camper at all this year.

[mkirsch]

Just wasn't in the cards this year. I didn't get the camper loaded until the July 4th weekend, never dewinterized it until mid-August, and unloaded it last Saturday morning.

Every weekend I could use it was raining. Every weekend I wanted to use it I was on call for work and chained to my desk waiting for the next disaster.

[realter]

bighatnohorse wrote:
There are so many wild fires burning out west that I'd like to keep the camper permanently mounted for evacuation purposes. The house is surrounded by 100'+ trees.
I still need the truck bed for hauling stuff and have considered buying an old beater truck for that purpose. But at that point I might as well switch to a Class C or something.

How about a little trailer for stuff?
Look at Harbor Freight, several low cost trailers.

[2BLAZERS]

Best camping is from Labor Day to Thanksgiving day around here.....school cuts the Oregon Coast crowds by 75%!

[adamis]

I guess I've been fortunate, several trips in the last two years I've owned my camper:

1. Trip to Big Sur for fun getaway with the kids
2. Trip up to Seattle on business to meet my manufacturer
3. Business trip up Oregon and Washington Coast to meet customers
4. Trip to Crater Lake and Oregon coast with family
5. Road trip with the kids to Disney Land
6. Trip back down to Long Beach for business Trade Show
7. Trip to LA for Wife's business conference
8. Week visit to my Sister's to do Cargo Trailer build out
9. Bike Tour (for business) in Santa Cruz Mountains
10. Trip up to Seattle and Highway 1 Coast for Honeymoon
11. Business trip to Sacramento for Trade Show
12. Short Weekend Camping Trip near home
13. Trip to Lake Tahoe for a week

14. Upcoming business trip to Las Vegas next week!

Might be a couple of smaller trips in there I've forgotten about. I have managed to get a fair shakes worth of use out of my camper but a big portion of that is for business purposes (camper and truck is actually owned by the business for the purpose of traveling cost efficiently). Every time I get in the Ford and turn over that 7.3 I feel at home. Spending so many hours in the daily grind of the Bay Area commute and rat race is soul sucking and I can't wait for the time that we can cast off for good on to the great Highway!

[SidecarFlip]

I leave mine shore powered with the fridge on 110 and the FW tank full all the time so all I have to do is load it up, secure it and go. Even with manual jacks, the wife on one side and me on the other with cordless drills and adapters makes it a quick job.

[bighatnohorse]

There are so many wild fires burning out west that I'd like to keep the camper permanently mounted for evacuation purposes. The house is surrounded by 100'+ trees.
I still need the truck bed for hauling stuff and have considered buying an old beater truck for that purpose. But at that point I might as well switch to a Class C or something.

[magic43]

We used the FW in June & July for a Maine trip, but now I'm getting everything ready on the TC for an October Colorado trip. The refer needed a new burner plus I had to use my Manometer to adjust the LP pressure from 8.5" of wc to the proper 11" of wc. I much prefer the Outfitter for cold weather camping.

[tattoobob]

I have gone once all year and it was just for a over night, I usually do most of my time on the beach fishing every weekend in September and October. This year they decided to only give out 25 permits for driving on the beach and I didn't get one in there lame lottery, My Wife just got home from 2+ weeks in Australia for work so we plan on doing another overnight this weekend

[time2roll]

mkirsch wrote:
Every weekend I wanted to use it I was on call for work and chained to my desk waiting for the next disaster.

You need a real vacation at some point.

[SidecarFlip]

I've had mine on and off and on and now off the truck again. Getting real good at loading it even with manual jacks. I've taken not to lowering it down (a no-no in an unprotected area) but ok because it sits on a level concrete pad in the corner between my shop and the 3 car garage, protected on 2 sides by building's taller than it is.... and it's in the ideal spot for winter storage, all I have to do is lower it down on it's trailer and back it into the garage and call it good. I don't winterize it because the garage / shop is heated.

Used mine 3 times this year, all for going up to our Northern Michigan property. next year however, we are planning on going out east to Maine to visit friends who also have a TC and doing some Maine sightseeing.

My philosophy is even if you don't use it. so long as you take care of it, it basically costs nothing except the RV insurance premium.

[slickrock_steve]

I've only been 4 times since last winter. Twice to the El Paso Mtns, for 4x4 trips towing my Jeep, and once to the High Sierras for getaways and Big Bear for some scouting. Now am going out to Ventura with the boat for some fishing for sand bass, and other rock fish. Wish me luck!

[ticki2]

Yep , just loaded up for the first time this year to visit friends in the NY mountains . Weather looks gloomy , the company bright .

[SugarHillCTD]

This must be a mini-epidemic. We used ours for the first time 2 weeks ago.

This summer has been eaten up by lots of distractions- primarily our daughter buying a fixer upper out on the west coast. That ate up 2- 9 day vacations, which we gladly gave up to help her.

Sometimes life gets in the way, but the camper is always there waiting for us.

[Terrick_down_Un]

I feel your pain. We got ours out last October for the Field days, and we will be getting it out again this October again for the Field Days, nothing in between.

[old_guy]

we didn't use our TT this year either with the DW having chemo for ovarian cancer.will try to run the tires off next year to make up for it.

[Kayteg1]

BUT look at all positives
-you did not pay registration for nothing
- your tires did not age
-motor oil did not oxide
-transmission seals did not dry out.
-axle boot don't have dryrot