Well...we've reached that point

[kodiakcanuck]

I have 2 sons, one is 13, 6'1, 205 lbs, the other is 11 and not far behind, 5'8, 160 lbs (yes they both play football :B ). Getting them into the front coffins..err I mean bunks is getting increasingly difficult. My 13 year old now sleeps on the fold out couch, not that it's much bigger, but at least a little wider. I think I can get another year of convincing my 11 year old in the front bottom bunk. At least the top bunk is used as a handy storage area for laundry etc :C

So just wondering what others have done at this point in their trailer lives. Obviously if money was no option I'd just go trade it for a double-wide bunk model, but I already took a loss when I got rid of our hybrid. Plus we really like our current model, its very open, has all the options we want and I've kept it in perfect shape, we've hardly had any issues with this model.

So do others just stick it out with the fold-out couch and table, or do you get them out in a tent with some friends (I'd just prefer they then don't all try to pile into the trailer when they get flooded out from a storm in the middle of the night). My 13 year old is still interested in family time, so I suspect we will camping together through their teen years, we are a close family. This space issue in the bunks as the kids get older is one you kind of forget about when you are buying...

[Timtation]

sleeping in the aisle, the space of the ACE! Only the little guys sleep in the bunks. When you graduate from the kids table for Thanksgiving what can you look forward to? Sleeping in the large space, and don't step on me when you go to the bathroom!

[CavemanCharlie]

Tent, or let them sleep on the floor. At that age I could have slept anywhere.

[kodiakcanuck]

Thanks all for sharing your experiences and the tent suggestions :B

[campigloo]

My daughter loved sleeping in the truck with her friend. Rigged a little ac in it, some reasonably comfortable bedding and a small 9 volt lantern. They had their privacy and could FINALLY get away from her brothers.

[colliehauler]

Chrisatthebeach wrote:
The last few years our boys went with us we took a cabin tent and a 5000 BTU window unit that we zipped into the tent for cool sleeping on summer nights. They could bring friends, x-box or whatever they wanted. Everyone was happy and it was not that much trouble.

Good idea about the cabin tent and window A/C.

[Chrisatthebeach]

The last few years our boys went with us we took a cabin tent and a 5000 BTU window unit that we zipped into the tent for cool sleeping on summer nights. They could bring friends, x-box or whatever they wanted. Everyone was happy and it was not that much trouble.

[BubbaChris]

FYI Slumberjack makes some cots that are large enough to handle it if they'd prefer to be off the ground. I'm 6'3" and do fine on ours (used to keep it at my parent's house when they had no other guest bed facilities). Plan to put some sort of foam pad between the cot and a sleeping bag to improve the comfort level.

[djousma]

My kids are older, but still love to camp. Got the tent for them when they were around 14-15 years old. They can stay up late, and I dont have to. At 19 still come camping, but as others mentioned, that little thing called work gets in the way for them. We try to camp closer to home so that they can still participate when they want to. It has worked out well.

[Naio]

Ask the kids what they want to do.

And, my cheap-azz walmart tent keeps out the rain perfctly. It has a screen top and a fly.

[colliehauler]

Agree with others it may not be that long before they lose interest in camping with Mom & Dad and to spend money for a short time might not be worth it.

I would get a topper for the truck and build bunks or would buy a tent. The tent as they get older they can camp with their friends. Most kids that age want some privacy as well as Mom and Dad.

This also teaches independence as well.

[DutchmenSport]

By the time our kids were 13, they didn't want to camp with us any more at all. By the time they were 15, they DIDN'T camp with us any more. By the time they were 18, we bought a different trailer that did NOT accommodate space for kids!

I'd keep the camper and work out some arrangement for the kids. Chances are they won't be camping with you much longer anyway. When they turn 15-16, start driving, and working jobs ... EVERYTHING changes!

[rbpru]

When the kids got bored with us old folks they brought their tents. I told them we could divide into snorers and non-snorers.

They had done tent camping at camp or with us in canoe country, so tenting was nothing new. Being by themselves, even though next to the TT, was the big treat.

[sdianel_-acct_c]

We bought a twin blow up mattress and electric pump to blow it up. If you have floor space it works fine.

[profdant139]

With boys that big and strong, here is an idea -- harness them up and have THEM pull the trailer. They will be so tired at night that they will sleep anywhere. 😉