The Mrs and I enjoy getting out for a weekend whenever possible - or even just a night. We generally "car camp" - big cabin tent, air mattress, coleman lantern/stove, etc - often at a state park or national forest. It's not bad, but definitely requires some forethought.

Often this forethought consists of, "Hey honey, where did you put _____ after the last trip?" Generally this forethought and pre-planning will take up most of the first day of our trip, and then we'll drive to wherever and set up in the dark, by which time I am cranky and tired and she is mad at me for being cranky. Regardless of how carefully we put things away after each trip, or try to keep them together, they seem to move around.

Now I'm thinking that maybe a small camper of some kind would be a good bet. We're not looking to spend mega-bucks for a gooseneck or motorhome, just a small trailer that will tow comfortably behind my truck (Nissan Frontier) and hold us and our camping stuff. Being able to store the camping stuff IN the trailer would be a huge plus - we could just hook up, stop at the grocery store on the way, and be done.

So I've done some digging, and two things have caught my eye:

Little Guy Teardrop Trailers

Aliner pop-ups

The "LittleGuy" are super-small and relatively inexpensive, the Aliners are larger and would allow some privacy inside. My folks have a pop-up/canvas ends camper which I've used a couple times and really don't care for.

So ... any input from the peanut gallery?

We have a modest sized 21' 'Trail-Lite' hard sided TT. It's a little more than your looking at. It is handy to be self contained as you roll along. I'd do a little searching for a slightly used one, of the size your looking at. Of course get something you can pull safely with your vehicle. The 'Scamp' is another popular small TT. The forums at Trailer Life have more info than you could ever read.

In a previous life I was looking for a replacement for a Class A motorhome. I found a 'pop-up' that you could get in and use even when down.

If you get one with a built in bath (not a porta-pottie), kitchen (built in sink, stove or microwave), and sleeping it may count as a second home which may give you some tax breakes. Check the tax laws.

Make sure the zoning laws allow you to park it at home or you're going to have to pay for a storage lot, that you have 24/7 access to.

Look at joining 'Good Sam Club' and buying a Camping World Presidents Club membership.

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John

RV.net gives a lot of information.

I like the choices you listed.

We made the transition over the years from backpacking to Alaskan camper to a variety of small TT. There's a TON of choices out there for every phase of the 'camping-out passion'.

Once you settle on such as "someone INSISTS on having a table without folding up a bed" or "shower/potty INSIDE" you're pretty well consigning your fate to larger rigs. Enjoy the various RV shows while you shop.

If you get old & fat & have a large dog, like some of us, you'll be getting a bigger truck to pull it with too.

Re: cranky, disagreements, lost stuff, etc. .....<-----good luck with that!!!

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

Zercool; we got ours last summer and love it. Clean used models can be tough to find depending on what part of the country you are in. Found ours on Craig's list, 3 years old, less than 3K miles (almost NIB), for $7K. It has a nearly queen size bed in the rear, dinette seats 4 , always up in the front end. Came with 6 Cu' Refrig/Freezer (AC, DC, propane), 2 burner propane stove that mounts inside or out, air conditioning, sink w/10 gallon tank. We have, but don't use the porta potty.

All of this with 8' of headroom, solid walls and and a door that locks. Six large windows, 4 are screened = lots of light and fresh air. The whole rig weighs 995 lbs and takes about 30 seconds to set up/take down. We usually just unhook the trailer and spin it around to wherever we get the best view, least wind etc.. They really are that light and easy to maneuver. Check them out but don't bring your checkbook unless you are ready to pull the trigger. Don't ask me how I know this. (o;

I have this one that I bought from U-Haul,works out real good for me.
Dick

I've done it both ways and actually preffer the Tent route. The camper just sucks up to much in gas, tolls , rigging time and limits where I can camp. I also found my small camper had very little storage area so I still had to deal with the packing/unpacking/lost gear thing. My Camper, event though I bought it new, was also a constant ,maintenance headache in that every time I used it, I would find something that needed repairs, or that had been damaged by mice. ( They Are all built poorly IMHO)
I now organize and pack everything in large plastic bins and leave it there. ( Tent, Tarps, cooking gear, General Camping, etc). Only cots and coolers are separate. That way when I want to go, I just grab those half dozen bins , load a cooler and I'm god to go.
FWIW, I also drive a frontier CC short bed and can fit near a weeks worth in the truck (for two). If I want to take yaks / pile of rec gear along, I sometimes haul a small utility trailer behind me.

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Dave

Be careful browsing RV.Net. I have been travel trailer RV'ing (hard to say camping with a queen size bed, microwave etc...) since the late 90's.

I started with a 24' Layton that was real nice. It didn't have a slide so it was a bit cramped.

I moved up to a 28' Prowler with a large slide in 2001.

I have towed the Prowler all over the western US (over high mountain passes) with my 2001 Tahoe.

Here's the warning: RV.net will swear that the Tahoe is too small for a 6000lb TT. You will see people that will rant and rave that one must have a 3500 dually to tow anything over 5000lbs.

So you can expect that the same folks will tell you that your truck is too small, too light, too short of a wheelbase.

I have the Hensley Arrow and really believe that the Arrow makes a lot of difference in towing pleasure and safety. It is a lot more than "another WD hitch".

I don't have any real headaches with my TT. I do routine maintenance and buy new tires based on age rather than mileage because the rubber dries out before the tread wears down.

Enjoy!

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Doug "N Frame Addict"
CO

We have a 26 footer with a slideout- Unit made by Starcraft - We got it new in 2005. I am sure there are deals to be had these days. We use it - The Pix is at Kiabab National Forest in Northern Arizona - We like that we can fill the water tank, buy food and be gone. Besides a Refrigater, Microwave, Gas stove and oven, It is heated and has an AC - This past summer I added a 3500Watt generater to the maddness - it will run the AC, most everything else EXCEPT the microwave (all at once), and charge the battries - But what the wife likes is the flash water heater - a hot shower!! This is ruff'n it these day for us.

The only advice I followed was to get a tow vehicle with a tow capacity rating far greater trailer's total weight - water food supplies and so on. Glad I did - I can pass Semi's the mountains and putz along nicely out on the open road.

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zercool, I sure wish I could help you, but all I know about travel trailers is that I want one and my wife doesn't.

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truckemup97 said:

zercool, I sure wish I could help you, but all I know about travel trailers is that I want one and my wife doesn't

I had the same situation with my wife but kept on it until she gave in. Had it for two seasons, the happiest day was selling it. When all the unseen costs and expenses are figured in, and there are many, a motel room is soooo cheap and convenient. Never again, been there, done that, and my wife was right again!

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Lost in Penn's Woods

Here is my 2007 22' Outback by Keystone. Shipping weight is 4565 Lb.

It's a great camper I purchased new. I'm a life time long camper and this is my 6th RV.

But, With the health issues in my family (not me) it's going to be for sale. $12,995 delivered within 1000 miles of home.

If anyone wants more information contact me at [email protected].

Bob

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Bob
KDØQCE

For an affordable light weight trailer check out the molded fiberglass units

http://www.fiberglassrv.com/

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I've been pulling tt for years. There are lots of ultralites you can tow with your truck. The ones with canvas pullouts offer very little security. Some of them are not user friendly. Be sure and check height of the sink(too low means a hurt back}, is the bathroom light centered in front and overhead on the mirror above the sink. If the light is off center, it's hard to shave, or the lady can't see to put on makeup. Physically get in the shower or tub, sit on the john, how is the elbow room in these areas. Mostly, when it comes to bells and whistles you get what you pay for. You do have a huge choice to make, when it comes to user friendly things. Don't be in a rush to buy, and you don't have to buy new, there are lots of good used campers out there. You will have more ultralite choices, in the newer ones. Mikey

Good insight from everyone, appreciate it. If I can convince the boss that this is a good idea, I'll be sure to share the news!

At my age this is what I need more than anything....
toilets.com - Porta-John Systems, Inc.

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Vote ALL incumbents out.

If your only complaint with tent camping is having to gather up everything, ....you might hate trailer camping. It's a lot of hassle in other ways, like maintenance, repairs, insurance, gas mileage, manueverability, etc. We love tent camping and what works best for us is keep everything simple. Tent, ground cover, Rayovac LED lantern, flashlight, knife, Glock entrenching tool, lighter fluid& lighter, air bed, pump w/batteries, bug spray, binoculars, battery fan, door mat,fishing pole, hand sanitizer, and paper towels all go in one big duffle bag. We grab it, bedding, lawn chairs, and cooler and we're on the road in a few minutes. We eat sandwiches, drinks, and snacks out of the cooler and the rest of the meals at local restaraunts. It makes for a great weekend and when we get home there's not much to unload or put away.

Those are both attractive and well recommended units. I have come across more people with the A-Liner however and no one has a bad word to say about it. The people you meet and the experiences you get from RV'ing are wonderful. We started with a truck camper and now have a small 5th wheel. RV'ing is our hobby and we occasionaly host at a State Park. We also use it when visiting two of our daughters homes and at some of our friends places. We have our privacy in their driveway

I bought a new 17 1/2 ft back in 1963. I had a job that involved moveing all over the states back then. Things were far different. I very seldom paid to park it! Back then you could get away parking in a empty field, a gravel pit or whatever. Life was good for me as I was single and got by.
Later when I was married the first time I had a tent camper. My ex wife wearing short shorts got mosquito bit and wouldnt go after the 1st time out!
When I retired I bought a real old class C dodge real cheap with visions of of bumming all over the country. Only drove it a couple times!
It was underpowered etc, plus a girl friend wrecked it for me!
My wife wont camp unless it involves at least a motel 8!
Years ago I spent many nights in the open with nothing but a sleeping bag, lived in a tent for 6 months once on a job, cant count the nights I slept on a miserable truck seat, many, many cheap dive motel rooms, and now we hardly go anywhere because I am too cheap to motel it!
I also have come to the conclusion you are only lieing to yourself from a money standpoint if you think you are going to save a penney on any kind or type of trailer, or whatever even if they GIVE IT TO YOU!

Feralmerril - you really should write a book! Thread drift not with standing....I don't think the OP was looking to save a penny, per se. Sounds like he is looking for a quick, comfortable, convenient getaway which is a very large piece of the equation for us and our A Liner.

A few more thoughts, if I may, on why we went this route. First of all I have spent more than a couple of humorous hours watching folks erect the so called tent trailers. This usually entails about an hour or more and a fair amount of, shall we say, colorful language. The tent trailers generally weigh 2 to 3 times what the A liner does and you are still just a sharp knife or claw from greeting someone/thing you would probably rather not meet or greet at O'dark thirty.

Will we keep the A Liner forever? I doubt it, though we have met a number of 10 to 20 year owners who are still grinning all the way to the bank. We have a 4 week trip planned for September and following that we may yearn for a full sized bathroom/shower. When I bought the A liner we had a 4.2L V6 F-150. I now own the 5.4L F-150 that is rated to tow 8,600 lbs. If I do move it up it will be to nothing over 4K lbs and probably closer to 3K lbs. You can tow the A liner comfortably with just about anything given the weight and windage (or lack thereof). I fully expect to sell the A Liner for close to what I paid for it so there won't be that much additional $$ to make it happen.

When we are camping, other than sleeping, we are outdoors enjoying our surroundings most of the time. If the weather turns the A liner makes for a pleasant afternoon snugly tucked away with a good book or some cards. I think RV's, of any size or description are a lot like boats. You don't buy them to make money but to merely enjoy the ride. If motels/Hotels float your boat so be it, I have just never been a fan. (o;

My wife wants to take a three day holiday this week and stay in a state park cottage . . . for about $130 a night + $40 pet fee. Then we can hike around and enjoy the great outdoors.

To save money and have just as much fun . . . I suggested staying instead in my 1967 Frolic 17' camper trailer on my hunting club.

Heck . . . we can walk all over that area for three days and never cover it all . . . maybe find some fresh deer sheds and shoot a bunch of guns! Plus . . . it won't cost a THING! Electricity, running water, a comfortable bed, a toilet, a stove, a microwave and coffee pot.

Paradise . . . retro style!

She wouldn't even think about it! So . . . I guess I'll go off and p___ away some good money going to a place where I can't scout for turkey season or shoot my guns.

Some things . . . I just can't figure out!

Here's my '67 Frolic . . . my favorite "home away from home," during last deer season. The only thing missing is my sweetie. She thinks it is too small to enjoy.



T.

We tent camped for almost 30 years, and bought a travel trailer a little over a year ago. We have absolutely loved it. You're right, it's very nice to be able to have the camping stuff all in one place. All we have to do is throw in the perishable food and clothes we're taking, hook up, and take off.

I REALLY love having my own bathroom and shower. That's worth the price of the trailer.

Ours is a 2006, 26' Four Winds.

Thats Exactly Like the first trailer my Dad bought
sure brings back memories of a lot of summer vacations

Saw the Apollo 11 moon walk on a battery powered Sony B&W TV
while camping near the Thousand Islands in NY in that Frolic

Yep, Feral, you've got stories to keep up with Charlie and Caje! Start writin'!

Steve nailed it - we may not save money on gas/tolls/etc, but we hate motels. I like sleeping in my own darn sheets and cooking my own food. Not to mention we tend to get pretty far off the beaten path, and driving to the nearest restaurant for dinner could be 45 minutes or an hour.

Men and women mostly see camping differently. My view is I'm on vacation yet still doing everything I had to do before but in a tinier and more inconvenient way. I realized this during the first marriage when my then-husband asked if I was going to bring the iron along. We had started off in a little camper on a mini pickup truck, then a 15' trailer and then a 24' trailer and then I knew no trailer was ever going to be big enough.

This all came back to me when looking at a teardrop camper with my 2nd husband, and then we were in the Class C's, and then found ourselves climbing into big Class A deisel pushers.

I would still like to have a little teardrop camper for daytrips but you'd find it parked outside the Hampton Inn at night.

Barb, an acquaintance of mine, who is likely older than most of your residents, used to have a very nice Prevost RV (luxury RV built on a new bus chassis). He and his wife traveled in it a lot, but every night she insisted that they stay in a hotel. Note that I didn't say a motel.

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Like so many others, we started out in a tent. It didn't take long to buy a small, I believe about 18', camper. Toilet, fridge, stove, etc. I loved it! We mostly stayed at the state parks. Until they decided that if they made more lots by reducing the size of them, they could make more money. I don't enjoy camping when there's campers so close together you can hear each others conversations. The camper was sold. But I sure wish I had it now! As long as the ex doesn't come with it!
I enjoyed Tom Turners pic. Looks a lot like our old camper. Brought back memories!

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Misty

Do you remember that movie with lucille ball and dezi arnez, "The long, long trailer"? That was hilarious! Covered just about every bad aspect of trailer life! More funny to me as I knew every mile and scenic location.

I guess if you could afford a Prevost, you could afford to stay at any hotel you wanted also.

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Rick, W0FG
CTR2 68-72

This is actually my sister-in-law's but it now resides in my driveway. Her husband bought it new in '03 and they used it one summer, and one weekend then parked it in a storage lot. I told them I would trade storing it for unlimited use of it.

Here it is at my hunting camp. 33ft Fleetwood Mallard with quad bunk in the rear, queen in the front, sofa bed, dinette, stand up shower.

What always got me is looking at maybe 10 year old class Cs, and A,s, and seeing what equates out to about 2,500 miles a year put on them! That has to be a money hole for what little use!

We've pulled the 16' Scamp over 30K miles and have camped for as long as a month at a time in it (and my wife and I have stayed friends!). We've seen overnight temps as low as 20 degrees and have stayed warm. Usually take steps to keep the water system from freezing, though.

I factor in the additional use for friends staying overnight as an extra bunk house. And it works fine as a sensation of 'being able to get away' for a while whether at home or towed to the nearest camp ground.

We couldn't get along without a hard wall camper. Once they are paid off, it really is cheaper, more convenient, more luxurious, to enjoy your own cooking, not pay $100/night, etc.

Don't overlook the advantages of the 'Golden Passport' as it gives 50% off in certain camp grounds. That means rent often is $8-10/night for those of us with enhanced chronometrics. While eating out may represent a rare treat, campfire cooking is a welcome art form that contributes to our own sense of relaxation.

There's a ton of RV and TT answers out there for any kind of perceived need imaginable.

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

Well, I do know of someone who separated from his wife on the cheap: He lived in the camper out back for a year.

I appreciate your wanting to stay small and convenient, I camped for years and if it didn't fit in a backpack it didn't go with me. No stove or lantern and where I went you couldn't take a vehicle. This is how I found tranquility and beauty. When you are ready to move you pickup the backpack and make sure the fire is out.

Now that's what I call a deal.

Years ago I gave my to-be wife a small hand bag and told her to pack everything she needed for our 3 week trip in it. It was about the size of 2 bread loaves. She about flipped.

We had a 1969 Datsun Roadster with a trunk about the size of a small suitcase [less room taken by the spare tire], that all camping gear/clothes/trade beads fit in. Sleeping bags barely fit behind the front seats.

To give idea of how tightly our stuff was packed, the tent (a marvel of then-new high tech stuff) kept us perfectly dry overnight in a night-long Yellowstone Park cloud burst. Packing it the next morning, it wouldn't fit as the pores had become filled with water and it wouldn't compress enough. (sigh.....the good old days.....)

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

I've owned some sort of RV since I was 18 years old. Started out small, then went really big, then small again, then kind of big, and now small again with a 22' trailer. I used to go camping (tent or camper) all the time when I was single, and it didn't let up when I got married and had children. Camping with the family is a good time, and a campfire at night is good for the soul.

I started camping at an early age. Do you like my crib?

Wayne, I hate to be a wet blanket, but looks to me like a fellow could camp on hollywood and vine and not have much more people around you?

Those are all family members and friends. There are two other rigs not shown in the picture. Camping with family and friends is good.

Before you buy, I'd check into renting a like size/type unit. You might even be able to "test drive" what you are looking at. We bought a larger trailer, and pulled it with a 3/4 ton Suburban with the 454 we got 4-5 MPG. Later we bought the newer Burb with the later big gas engine. Fuel milage was 4-5 MPG. Back then our trips were 1500-2000 miles round trip. We then bought a Diesel P/U and the milage almost tripled (12-13). Then we bought the bigger 5th wheel.... It would have been cheaper if we tried them out before making our first purchase.

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Eric

Feralmerril,

Please don't use the words wet blanket and camping in the same sentence, it makes me very uncomfortable

John

...to see if you kill each other before the trip is over.

Wayne, that would be fun with family! I kind ov thought that probley was the case. Guess I was trying to be cute!
As far as the comments on cramped quarters affecting peoples married lives, there is truth to that. I had a very close friend tell me of he and his wife outfitting a van and driveing up to alaska and back.
He just summed it up with, "By the time we got back, my marrage was over!"