I sold my pop-up camper last year because it was too much work. I have the bug again, but I want an expandable trailer. DH says no thank you - what would compare and be an alternative? Of course, other than quilting.



:-D

If you only get the bug once in awhile, renting an RV is an option. It is expensive, but much less expensive than owning if you only go a couple of times a year.

Tent: authentic camping, cheap, portable, primitive, eco-friendly AND you'll be glad to get back home. :lol:

a nice resort hotel, with your own hot shower, and preferably a goose down duvet, room service & clean pool :)

just sayin...

How about a cabin in a park? Several state parks in Ohio and Indiana have cabins to rent.

What about tent camping? These days you really don't have to "rough it" if you don't feel like it. Those super-deluxe raised air beds are surprisingly like a real mattress, especially the dual-chamber ones (really nice if you're sharing the bed). Big tents are readily available and much easier to set up than I remember them being 20 years ago. Plenty of state parks and other campgrounds have excellent shower facilities (Indiana Dunes has nicer showers than I had in my old house!), and if you get an electric-supplied campsite, you don't even need to cook over a fire, just bring a hotplate. A few hundred dollars will set you up with some really nice gear, and it'll fit in your car (no gas-guzzling truck to maintain and insure).

I miss camping. We haven't had a chance to go in the last couple years, but we're hoping to get out at least once this year.

This would be my choice, better than a tent at my age and not a cookie cutter motel.:)

We have an '89 VW camper. It comes with a 2 burner stove, tiny sink, internal propane system to run the fridge and stove, some have been modified to have a furnace that uses it too. It has 2 beds, an upper that comes out when you pop the top and a lower that the back seat converts into. it has a water tank for the sink (cold). It plugs into electric and then the fridge switches to that.

Lots of rear storage space behind the seat for an extra table and chairs, also a big center space for a portapotti and standing room. They are just as cute as a bug in a rug, but if one of you isn't mechanical, there are better options. They go for about $10,000 to $12,000 normally for late models. If you find an older one in a barn in reasonable shape any age, PM me

You could consider a class B van which is similar, but usually has the addition of a permanent toilet, real furnace and more mechanical relilability (SP). And usually quite a bit more money. With either of the above, you need to put everything away if you don't plan to sit at the campsite the whole time-a big pain in our opinion (but we've had the van since '94 and put over 200,000 mi on it). We also never hesitate to sleep in a motel if we need to, either!

The next step us is usually a class C with a double bed over the van and lots of beds hidden all over, like the dinette usually makes a bed, etc. Those you can usually get for $5000 to on up and some those could be nice for occasional jaunts.

The big boys are called class A's and are the big mooses you see at CG's or on the hiways that have any thing you might ever want even including washer and dryers now. It's truly taking your house with you and many people live in them full time. I think those generally go from $30,000 to ridiculous (over $1 million). If you buy one for the million, please invite us over for a visit.

Then since (if), you already have a tow vehicle there are the trailers. We've been looking for a light weight one that is very small, but has basic BR with toilet & shower, stove, double or full bed out and a small dinette. We saw one in VT at a GC that came out of Canada I think it was called a ProLite by Profil or the other way around, it only weighed about 1500 lbs. and I *think* could even be towed by a car. We didn't see any prices on the web site, but there are some darling lightweight trailers out there now including an A liner pop-up or the new craze the tear-drop type (Tab is one brand name). And there is always the vintage the old ones that are called "canned hams" because that is their shape! We see a lot of them for sale by the roadside as we drive by or a vintage Airstraem:
we'd love a Bambi, their baby.

And across from us in VT this couple literally had a house tent. It was the biggest 3 room tent we'd ever seen, and it had mock mullions in the window and a front door screen room and I bet it was under $200. With a tall blow up mattress and some chairs inside, it looked to be pretty comfortable to us and the kids that had it were thrilled with it.

In lots of area of the country there are still summer cottage colonies were you can rent one by the week either private or at state parks.

What ever you choose, it'll work for you if you want it to and if you're like we are, you'll always still be glad to get home, we don't have the souls of fulltimers!


Let us know what you decide to do, ok? :lol:

I checked into renting, Only motor homes are rentable at 10mpg. The cost is $2000 plus a $1000 deposit/refundable if tank is full and perfect condition. Gas is not included in the cost!

I want a Hybrid that is only $5600, I have $2800 from the sale of my pop-up. If someone would buy my embroidery machine that would be another $1800 - now only $1000 more than before. I really hate hauling stuff and setup of those items in the pop-up. It isn't necessarily cranking up the pop-up, but equipping it afterward. In a TT most of the items would already be set up right?

After we got older, we no longer tent camped but still did tent camp in Yosemite Valley. The park service rents big cement floors/walls with tents covering the tops. We used to take a tiny covered trailer behind our car or Scout, and would stay a week at a time and loved it. It had a wood stove and a huge metal, bear proof food locker. We and the kids all loved it.

oh we did that one year with our kids....it was beautiful...would love to go back some day

I have done this a few times and it was great. Once we got a cabin at Chewalaca state park in Auburn, AL and it was beautiful, hardwood floors, stone fireplace, deck overlooking the lake, full stocked kitchen. There were hiking trails leading to a series of small waterfalls where you were able to wade and play in the water. State park prices are very reasonable.

Here's another option besides ground camping and having an expensive camper. My car is a Honda CRV. It's set up for "car camping." Meaning the front seats lay completely back, level to the back seat. It makes a reasonably-sized sleeping space for 2 people. And in the floor of the back, there's a fold-out table. It's a smaller SUV, so there's a good amount of cargo space. Not the amenities of a camper, but you're not sleeping on the ground. I imagine there's other cars/SUV's are set up like this as well.

Some of the state parks have wonderful cabin facilities. We've stayed at DeGray State Park in Arkansas several times. It is known as a resort State Park. They even have a beautiful hotel/lodge there. I am sure there are others in various states.

a small 5th wheel. It's not expandable, has beds for everyone & you would not regret it. If you love camping a tow behind camper is well worth it.

I would just lay down until the mood passed. I am not a camper of any kind, I have done it, could not make sense of it.

I love tent camping as well. They have air mattresses that are easy to inflate and it is a wonderful way to travel (IMH) - smile.

My thoughts exactly. I'm not really the person to ask, camping to me is a hotel without room service!! LOL Good luck though

I'm with you, Kimmie!

We just sold our hybrid camper. We have decided to stay in motels. Camping was fun, but we have decided it is just too much work.

What kind of "work" would be involved in a Hybrid boxerlady?

If the trailer is stocked with food, bedding, and clothes, then you have to hook up - haul- back up - water/sewer stuff, put away - back up - hook up - haul and unload at will.

A hotel room isn't private and you don't know who was there before. . . and depends on availability.

What have I missed? Am I fooling myself in thinking that it is so much easier than a pop-up?

Thanks so much everyone for your input!

Never get the urge to CAMP ! ! We even had a place on a lake once and also was too much work, FOR ME ! ! ! I had all the cleaning, cooking, etc. , etc. to do. No, help. Then one year I told my husband he and the boys could go whenever they wanted but not to count me in. I could stay home where things were much easier. Those days was not a vacation for me.

Went camping last weekend in our motorhome, 1979 Georgie boy. Love it, but hate having to haul everything back in when we are home, and then going out and cleaning the mess the kids left. Just more area to vacuum and such. Love the camping though. Need a housekeeper who will come in after we are back and clean the camper LOL.

Our RV is fully stocked with dishes, pots, pans, etc, that stays in it. The only things I have to pack is our clothes and food. It makes it much easier. Many times if you buy used, the sellers will leave all the supplies in it. Our Rv is nicknamed the big suitcase, I love being able to take all my stuff with me.

Well, currently we have a 35 ft. Class A motorhome, a 18 ft. hybrid trailer and a huge tent. Use the Class A for long vacations where we are going to several places. Use the hybrid for shorter stays of under 2 weeks and setting up for longer periods of time. We use the tent when the notion takes us to get back to the good old days. I love all 3 ...well not the tent as much.... Absolutely hate hotels.I can't drink coffee in my jammies and watch the sunrise in the parking lot without getting stared at and you don't get to meet your neighbours and make friends. Eating in a restaurant gets old very fast and I like my pillow, blanket and my cooties. My DH is now in the process of building us a teardrop trailer. Packing for any of these camping senarios is a breeze. All are stocked at the beginning of the year and cleaned. When we get the notion to go all we have to do is throw some clothes in and we are gone. Unpacking is just as easy. Take all the clothes out and throw them in the wash. I even have clothes stocked in each one that if we decide to leave on the spur of the moment I have a change of underwear and 2 days worth of clothes available. I tell my friends that I buy disposable clothes. Clearance racks are great places for clothes as well as Goodwill. If they get too dirty... I just throw 'em out and get more 2 dollar clothes.
Organization is the key to good camping no matter what you use.

How about a Scamp? They are light , our friends had one and if you travel light I think they would be good. We talk about that once in awhile but our camping days are almost over But if we were to travel again that is what I think I would like.
just a suggestion, I would hate to give it up yet.

If you decided on another camper, stay away from the Jayco brand. We have had all kinds of trouble with ours, now the steel frame is cracked and will have to be welded before we can tow it again. This is the second time the frame has cracked. It is only about 7 yrs old with about 40,000 miles towed.

YEAH....this is what I love to do...

We have a 31 ft camper.. well stocked every year and ready to go.. the only thing we need to take is food and clothes. When we take a trip.. we never have to worry about these such items again.. BED BUGS (top of my list), did they actually clean my room, sheets, floors, tubs etc..when was the carpet last cleaned, what is actually on the carpet, no hauling suitcases in and out anymore..not having to eat at restaurants for every meal, don't have to worry about maids snooping in my stuff, if something is dirty..it is because I left it like that.. other campers...always watch other campers sites for trouble. We have never had a thing taken or damaged in 18 years of it yet. We leave our stuff out when we head into town for a day. The best part of it..I can sit at the campfire...watch the sunset/rise..in my jammies..and no one thinks different of it..because we all are. We have made some very special friends.. we now see yearly..because we all camp at the same campsite every year the same week. Friendships really grow with camping.

Don't forget the air mattress and air pump they are comfy

Some campgrounds now offer a small rustic cabin or tepee. You may want to look into those.

We stayed in a tepee once when the boys were young and it was really fun.

FSBO.com has cabins in the woods and around lakes for rent in some areas. There are probably other websites you could check. You can usually find one that's reasonably priced for a weekend getaway.

True, the camper stays stocked with needed supplies. Letting out the sides were relativlely easy. Just got tired of sweeping it out, cleaning and cooking. It got to the point I felt like I wasn't on vacation. Also, we live in a rural area. We have deer walking through out yard, a fox stealing our shoes; ducks and geese abound. So often, when we went camping we would think, why are we here? We have this at home. We went on a three week treck last summer to Glacier, Yellowstone and other places, enjoyed it thoroughly. Just realized it was time to stop. My husband really doesn't like towing. The hybrid was the easiest to tow though.

The nearest Super 8 sounds good to me. Just relax, with no bugs, nice hot shower and a dry, warm bed.

Rent a cabin when you go! all the fun, none of the upkeep of the vehicle.
cabins in Custer State park SD sleep 4, $44 a night plus Nationl parks reservation fee; cabins in Estes Park Colorado $86 a night sleeps 8, have propane lights heat & 3 burner stove, oh yeah, and a porta potty.... I see in the eastern states you can stay at YMCA camps and such.
A cabin is the way to go if you don't want to tent.

We own a 29 ft 5th wheel, fully stocked. All I add to it is food, clothing and of course my quilting supplies. We are camp workers for 3 days a week and play on the other 4 days. We have met some lovely camp workers, are able to learn about each state that we visit during our 4 months stint and then return to Texas in mid Sept. This is our 3rd summer and love it. When Sept comes home becons us to return to home sweet home.

A woman after my own heart! Even better is my own bed, clean pajamas and a full refrigerator every night.froggyintexas

We got an older RV with lots of storage,sleeps 4 adults and 1-2 small kids, sink/refrig/microwave/shower/small bathroom/table/2 reading chairs. We just pull up pull out awning and are good to go. We love it!
Cabins are also a good option.

We have tent camped since the late 40's and have only missed a couple of years since then. My kids insisted on having squirrel for Christmas that their dad shot. when a friend asked about our Christmas dinner, I told her we had squirrel. It got really quiet for a minute and then she said "Oh, you're the people that camp in tents." I consider tents as the only authentic way to camp and since the crank is messed up on the popup, that is my story and I am sticking to it.

Sorry Not much help here. Hubby and I own a 38Ft ClassA and take all three dogs and two kids on our trips. Can't imagine life without it. Have see the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Assetique Island (know i have horrid spelling) and been south several times. Renting is an option or Class B is always an option. What ever you decide Good Luck