Been looking into possibly picking up a tent camper and hitting the road with the family this summer on weekends. I'm just sick of ending up sitting on my front step watching my kids ride their bikes and play while I end up sitting and doing not much of anything. So, family getaways camping seem like a great idea :)

Anybody have any experience using tent campers? How well does the family take to one......in other words, I don't want to buy one to end up with kids saying "I hear this" or "I hear that" or "I wanna go home" etc etc etc. My older boy is almost 5 and the little one will be 2 this summer.

I'd love to hear your experiences :)

We had an Apache tent trailer years back when Brian was 5 (Lord, that's almost 35 years back) and we went up to Algonquin Park a few times and all had a good time. I bought it second hand and restored it, ended up putting electric brakes on it and drove across Canada, from Ottawa, Ontario to North Vancouver, British Columbia on the Trans Canada Highway and came back through the United States, with a pause at Yellowstone, just a great trip. Hauling it through the Rockies was the reason why I installed the brakes, the deal was that I would pull it up the hills but I didn't want it shoving us down the other side.

Much depends upon what the trailer has, the Apache had a propane heater, a two burner propane stove, a water tank and sink with a pump type faucet, if you get concerned about the water sources when you fill up there are chlorine tablets you can pop into the tank. All in all that was a good trailer and we had many happy times in it.

Rob

5 & 2 ? I'd wait a few more years...Otherwise, I think you're prolly askin' for it...My parents took me & my sister to Nag's Head/Kitty Hawk in '64 when we were 7 (me) & 3. Yrs truly wouldn't go in the Ocean w/o his shoes on, sister got carsick almost when you'd shut the door on the car. Best thing was when we went to the Wright Bros Memorial-she toddled under the ropes, grabbed the wing of the plane, & started shaking it for all she was worth, squealing "Daaaaaaaah-Deeee !" as a 3 yr old only can. My dad's, uhh, "folically-challenged", & his head got red as a beet. the guards drew their guns. Daddy ducked under the ropes & got her. All clear, but she started squalling, cause she needed go potty. Taking children on a trip is NOT for the faint-hearted. You have been warned...<grin>-Sandy G.

I used to have one, and still have a small regular 19' trailer.

The tent camper was fun, easy to set up and use. Just depends on which one you get, as to what it may have for equipment.

Mine was a canvas sided model, the fiberglass "hard" sided fold outs looked nice.

Took mine to Yellowstone one year. It was a blast. Could carry lots of stuff inside when it was down, in the traveling mode. Be sure the spare tire is good. The originals are pretty small and wear out fast.

Electric brakes are the way to go. Takes a huge load off the tow vehicles brakes. And it will take a tow vehical with some power to pull a fold out.

I had a Chevy conversion van at the time with a 305 V8. Worked OK until the Rocky Mtns. Newer vans with Electronic FI probably would work better.

I think its a great idea, but with kids that young, keep it short, and go places that might interest them. And talk it up -- not the excitement of camping or being away from work or other adult concerns, but the chance to look at fish or canyons or being together with their parent's full attention. We took out kids backpacking at that age (which probably was dicier than car camping) and they liked it, and we've kept doing it. Then when they were around ten we drove across country, not with a tent camper but just in the car with a tent. (We were going to all the places Laura Ingalls Wilder lived, and doing on the cheap) Particularly in the midwest and upper south there are wonderful state and national park campgrounds that are inexpensive, often with water and electricity if you want those things, and showers, which make a lot of difference. In the upper midwest many towns have places in town parks or greens with all the amenities. It was a wonderful experience, and we saw all sorts of places we'd never heard of that were fascinating. And (of course assuming that you are not at each other's throats) it can be one of the best things for family cohesion. Can't recommend it enough, though you need to go into it with the right attitude.

My family used to go camping every year with one of the pop-ups when I was a kid. My brother was really young at the time, still was fine. We had an old Jayco, I believe. I'd say go for it. It is just a big tent, so you will hear things. (Well, a little quieter than a tent.) But the better campgrounds are usually quieter. If you go to KOAs or something, they're usually much less pleasant than a good state park. We used to love when it rained, sounded pretty cool on the fiberglass top.

If you're camping with kids, I'd highly recommend getting the largest unit you can, within reason, and try to get an awning off of the front. If you encounter bad weather, you need somewhere for the kids to hang out and to stash your stuff.

Go for it and enjoy!

You mean a pop-up, el captain?

I don't know about those, but grew up tent camping all over the place.

Sure the kids'll get bored now and then (and now and then, and now and then :) ), and every larger camping town will have water slides, canoes, and a whole bunch of places they'd like to go that of course cost, cost, cost. What my dad did was basically take us to one of those per trip (the weekend trips to the "normal" campgrounds), usually canoeing 'cause it would last most of the day, but yours may be a bit small for that as yet.

Boys like the little two man tents so they can be independent, your 5 year old is probably old enough. It'll keep him busy trying to set it up while the adults get settled in, and if they get scared they can always run like hell into the big tent/camper lol. If you take your kids now when they're small I'd think thay'd take to camping pretty quick, and learn to be comfortable in the outdoors.

Take a rope, set up a rope swing. That'll keep'em happy for a while. Have them help gather firewood - it builds character. Find a stick that looks like a golf putter and have them build a putt-putt hole or two (it's very easy). Find perfect hiking sticks, take them for a hike, maybe find a turtle. Take bikes too. Find marshmellow roasting sticks. Look for snipes :D . Go fishing.

I tell you, sitting around the fire (with maybe a beer or four), hiking through the woods, even cooking breakfast at 6 am (it seems you just get up early when you camp) beats sitting around the house by about 5 miles. And from where you're starting you can get to some excellent wilderness for a weekend trip - when I camped in upstate New York I even saw a black bear.

Most regular campgrounds will also have activities like candlemaking, lye soap making, maybe horseback riding, etc, and the kids delight - some sort of game room.

For the SO hot showers are probably a must, many regular campgrounds have them, my view is a weekend tripper can skip them completely :eek: . And there's always the stream/river/lake.

Gosh so much for staying on topic. If you can tell, I do like to camp, and have considered the popups, they seem much easier (I've set up tents by car headlights many times, it sucks), plus a place to haul stuff. I'm sure you'll hear stuff, but it would seem to me to be a bit more removed than a tent, maybe that translates into a more secure feeling for the kids.

Your kids will get over it in short order (no such assurances with the SO), particularly when they start meeting other kids. They will never forget their camping/hiking experiences with good ol' dad (maybe like Calvin - dad really liked to torture us lol). But no matter what, I'd get a dining fly, you know, a canopy that goes over the picnic table, 'cause if it rains you and your kids will go nuts sitting in the tent/popup/camper, guarenteed.

Pete

I'm just sick of ending up sitting on my front step watching my kids ride their bikes...

Tim:

Ever think of taking up bike riding? :-)

It's the ONLY form of 'real' exercise that I actually enjoy. Here it's rendered all the more enjoyable by a bike/horse/running/rollerblading trail running from Ayer MA to Nashua, NH. Really nice ride on a nice day! Perhaps there's something similar near you?

http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/northeast/nash.htm

Camping is a great life experience and your kids are the perfect age to start. I don't ever remember being bored or having a bad time. The first time your kids may be afraid at night, but they'll get over it. One piece of advice, never leave any food in the tent, always lock it up in the car at night or when you're away from the site and give each kid their own flashlight. Camping builds character and develops the mind, enjoy!

Our tent camper had the stove and refrig. Would sleep 6 I think.

Our camping was a family thing with kids, so the wife wanted it to be a deal where there were showers, real toilets, etc. available.

We usually camped in camp grounds that had the modern day ammenities. Not always, but many times. KOA's were ideal. Many KOAs have pools too, so the kids were in heaven.

The trailer we now have, has a shower, air, etc, so it's the easy way to go.

I imagine when we get old enough to retire, we'll get an RV of some sort, and hit the highway.

My parents used to have a motor home that they used for traveling, or visiting realitives. They would go visit, or stay at a lake camp site, and stay a month or so. They went up through Canada from the west to east coast, Nova Scotia, etc. A couple of month trip.

We went to some football games and tail gated. Fun times!

Kam.

I've had my TT for about 18 years and helped my friend rebuild it several years before that. Mine is a mid 50s and takes a bit of time compared to more modern setups as the tent is literaly that, a tent that folds out, sets up 2/3 on the ground and leaves the "bed" of the trailer inside as a bed for 2. What takes extra time for me is I have added a blue trap canopy to cover the tent (50 year old canvas!) , and a 10 foot area to the side for extra shelter. It has storage undernieth, and carries most of my gear. You don't stand on the trailer at all, only sleep in it.

I't's pretty small and can be towed by most anything, down to an old VW bug. 9my old suzuki has all of 45 HP and managesquite nice) I extended the frame and added a spot for a large cooler and a prop tank aqnd the spare. It hauls almost all the camp gear, leaving only sleeping bagsa and clothes, etc, in the tow vehicle.

Based on my experiances, and we have been out in it 2 weeks at a time, a TT is a good camp experiance. kids will love being out in the wilds, whether you use organised camp sites or rough ones.

Newer TT's can have all the comforts, including being self contained, something the ladies like.

Ditto on the TT brakes and a good spare. The little 12" tires most tt's use are working pretty hard, and will usually just blow out and you will lose the rim as well (I've only saved one rim on a blowout). When they start to get weather checked, its time for tires. I lost 2 on one trip once, bought a new spare after the 1st blew, and came home on it after #2...

Carsick kids... All mine had these issues. Keep gallon zip lock bags for the older ones and a short paint bucket for the smaller ones in the car. carry saltine crackers as these will help settle these stomach before or after. Tootsie pops also work well. A large bottle of water and paper towels for clean up, and spare clothes in case ov an accident. :scratch2:

Oh, and most important of all the kids should have "permission" to interupt if there feeling sick. My oldest was trying to be polite once and oops... Just tell them to say, I'm sick daddy! Saying, Dad... during an adult conversation sometimes gets the kids cut off... :worried:

In any case, if you enjoy camping, you will enjoy the TT.

BTW mine does double duty as storage for emergency supplies. I keep a weeks worth in there. it's outside and even if a quake takes the house, we will have food and shelter.

F1, that is some GREAT advice.

The bear I mentioned, well as we were entering the park the ranger warned us about the bears, told us to keep the food in the car.

I remember my parents getting a good laugh. My dad thought they did it just to make it exciting.

The good sized adult bear hung out at the site cross-corner from us. The folks there had left a giant tub of margerine on their table, the bear ripped the top off, sat down and licked it out.

Though we thought it was very cool, my mom was not amused. All food went in the car from that night on!

Pete

Depends on the weather in the area where you are camping , setting up a TT or a Tent in cold rainy weather with kids is not a lot of fun.
I would buy a light weight holiday trailer that offers some protection from the elements and intrusion , was never quite comfortable behind canvas .

Being a Boy Scout, I have well over 500 days and nights camping and I cherished every one of those trips. I can't wait to have kids to have a reason to go camping again!

I've been in tents, cabins, trailers and pop-ups. I like tents and cabins the best. Cabins only in winter time though.

As far as pop ups go, my experience with them has been good. They do however, tend to get hot in summer months. If you want to go camping in the summer, I'd suggest tents like canvas wall tents like the Boy Scouts use or very well ventilated, large dome tents. Reason is that pop-ups tend to get hot and uncomfortable. Some will have AC units in them but they aren't all that effect because pop-ups are not necessrily weather tight. I'd prefer a pop-up over a full trailer any day though. I find that people because complacent in trailers because it's pretty much just like being at home and the whole point of camping is to get away from it all. A pop-up still gives you the feeling that you are doing something special or different.

Besides, any Boy Scout will tell you that full trailers aren't really camping! ;)

I've done the camping thing from when I was a boy scout, and slept on the ground, all the way up to big motor home.

Tents, trailers, foldouts, whatever. I never really cared which way it was done, but when you have kids, and the wife wants certain things, then you adjust.
The kids never really care, they have fun pretty easily when outdoors.

Camping though, in Yellowstone was great. Done it three or four times. Camp right by a lake, can hear the wolfs at night, see bears, moose, etc.
Water so cold in the lake can hardly put your foot in.

Also have stayed in a small cabin in Canada woods. Great fishing

Being a Boy Scout, I have well over 500 days and nights camping and I cherished every one of those trips. I can't wait to have kids to have a reason to go camping again!

I've been in tents, cabins, trailers and pop-ups. I like tents and cabins the best. Cabins only in winter time though.

As far as pop ups go, my experience with them has been good. They do however, tend to get hot in summer months. If you want to go camping in the summer, I'd suggest tents like canvas wall tents like the Boy Scouts use or very well ventilated, large dome tents. Reason is that pop-ups tend to get hot and uncomfortable. Some will have AC units in them but they aren't all that effect because pop-ups are not necessrily weather tight. I'd prefer a pop-up over a full trailer any day though. I find that people because complacent in trailers because it's pretty much just like being at home and the whole point of camping is to get away from it all. A pop-up still gives you the feeling that you are doing something special or different.

Besides, any Boy Scout will tell you that full trailers aren't really camping! ;)

I beg to differ.

As a family, we started out tent camping. Did that for many years and have many cherished memories, and some not so cherished while trying to set up the tent at night with a 30 mph wind and rain. Wet sleeping bags, fitful sleep, etc.

Once we we could afford it, we purchased a 31 ft trailer and I can safely say there will be no going back. The kids are 9 and 14, and are more interested in the daily activities than the shelter, but if told them we were selling the trailer and going back to the tent they'd think I must be joking.

There is something to be said for being able to take a sh!t and shower in your own place, rather than having to share these events with the rest of the campground in the municiple showers.

Campground? Like trailer park "campgrounds"? No, no, no, no, no! I've done the setting up of tents in horrid weather. I haven't had the wet sleeping bag problem though because if rain was predicted, my sleeping gear was wrapped in plastic bags to keep from getting wet. Part of the fun of camping is setting up camp and breaking it down. I'm very good at running a proper campsit ein a proper campground and I get bored sitting in a trailer in a campground with other people's rowdy kids running around playing in pools or on basketball courts. I need a campfire to maintain, washwater to boil, cooking coals to burn down and water to collect. I've done the trailers and stuff and yeah, it's nice to visit a "campground" like that every once in a while but I'd much rather take a canoe trip down the water or find a nice river in PA, NJ or NY and go fly fishing for a weekend.

Different strokes for different folks I guess but I and many of my friends do not consider the "campgrounds" that you refer to as the camping experience. So differ all you want, you won't change my mind. I was raised in the Boy Scout program and heavily involved and I learned alot and have had alot of fun with it doing the 30mph winds and rain and "fitful" sleep hell, I've even been snowed in while camping and still had the time of my life!

I've got to agree with Jstas, big trailers and RV's in a RV park is not camping. Camping is about being outdoors, getting dirty, pissing on the closest tree you can find at the crack of dawn, having to deal with the weather and nature in general.

Campground? Like trailer park "campgrounds"? No, no, no, no, no! I've done the setting up of tents in horrid weather. I haven't had the wet sleeping bag problem though because if rain was predicted, my sleeping gear was wrapped in plastic bags to keep from getting wet. Part of the fun of camping is setting up camp and breaking it down. I'm very good at running a proper campsit ein a proper campground and I get bored sitting in a trailer in a campground with other people's rowdy kids running around playing in pools or on basketball courts. I need a campfire to maintain, washwater to boil, cooking coals to burn down and water to collect. I've done the trailers and stuff and yeah, it's nice to visit a "campground" like that every once in a while but I'd much rather take a canoe trip down the water or find a nice river in PA, NJ or NY and go fly fishing for a weekend.

Different strokes for different folks I guess but I and many of my friends do not consider the "campgrounds" that you refer to as the camping experience. So differ all you want, you won't change my mind. I was raised in the Boy Scout program and heavily involved and I learned alot and have had alot of fun with it doing the 30mph winds and rain and "fitful" sleep hell, I've even been snowed in while camping and still had the time of my life!


I'm not trying to change your mind. I'm glad you've enjoyed your "camping" experiences, but this is not about you, it's about Kam. and please refrain from belittling experiences that differ from the one that you seem to feel is the only way.

What I am trying to do, is to point out to people new to the experience, that you don't have to go the "grizzly Adams" route for it to qualify as camping and having a good time. People who have small children and wives, and can afford more than a tent, should by all means get the best equipment they can.

I seriously doubt that Kam is going to take his 2 and 5 year olds down the river in a canoe and pitch a tent.

My family had a tent trailer when I was a kid, great fun. Now that I am the "man" in my family camping is a big f'ing hassle. I come home more tired and stressed out than when I left. We use a big f'ing 3 room tent now and a screen tent to eat and cook in (Maine = Black flies and Mosquitos), 3 coolers, campstove, 3 kayaks, portable table, 5 or 6 folding chairs, all the assorted bedding and ect. food AND DON'T FORGET THE F'ING FIREWOOD (or you will be taking your 12yr on midnight raids of people's houses in the campground vicinity to raid their wood piles, dangerous? yes, irresponsible? OK, BUT I NEED MY F'ING SMORES MAN!) guess who packs the cars, then sets up camp, then tears down camp, then unpacks and puts all the shit away? That's right ME and my trusty boy servant SonOfTHOR. And if it rains during the set up or tear down? That's a whole new level of hell my friend.

Oh yeah the women think camping is great fun and sooooo relaxing :rolleyes:

Advice get a camper or a tent trailer, this would save a lot of stress and work, otherwise stay on the porch ;) Also get a couple of kayaks, easy to use, lightweight, cheap for watercraft, chicks can use them, and great for fishing out of, ie: excuse to leave the women :yes:

My family had a tent trailer when I was a kid, great fun. Now that I am the "man" in my family camping is a big f'ing hassle. I come home more tired and stressed out than when I left. We use a big f'ing 3 room tent now and a screen tent to eat and cook in (Maine = Black flies and Mosquitos), 3 coolers, campstove, 3 kayaks, portable table, 5 or 6 folding chairs, all the assorted bedding and ect. food AND DON'T FORGET THE F'ING FIREWOOD (or you will be taking your 12yr on midnight raids of people's houses in the campground vicinity to raid their wood piles, dangerous? yes, irresponsible? OK, BUT I NEED MY F'ING SMORES MAN!) guess who packs the cars, then sets up camp, then tears down camp, then unpacks and puts all the shit away? That's right ME and my trusty boy servant SonOfTHOR. And if it rains during the set up or tear down? That's a whole new level of hell my friend.

Oh yeah the women think camping is great fun and sooooo relaxing :rolleyes:

Advice get a camper or a tent trailer, this would save a lot of stress and work, otherwise stay on the porch ;) Also get a couple of kayaks, easy to use, lightweight, cheap for watercraft, chicks can use them, and great for fishing out of, ie: excuse to leave the women :yes:


Thor hits the nail right on the head. Been there, done that. Ain't goin back.

I'm not trying to change your mind. I'm glad you've enjoyed your "camping" experiences, but this is not about you, it's about Kam. and please refrain from belittling experiences that differ from the one that you seem to feel is the only way.

What I am trying to do, is to point out to people new to the experience, that you don't have to go the "grizzly Adams" route for it to qualify as camping and having a good time. People who have small children and wives, and can afford more than a tent, should by all means get the best equipment they can.

I seriously doubt that Kam is going to take his 2 and 5 year olds down the river in a canoe and pitch a tent.

Dude, get the burr outta your butt. My original post was just a jest to begin with. I was poking fun at a fairly elitist attitude. That's what the winking smiley was about. Seems like everyone else got the idea except for you.

Kam asked for experiences and advice. I gave him mine and I think I can speak with authority on the subject as my experience is extensive. Much more that most people out there. I was only trying to help and take a light-hearted jab at a typical predicament/mentality.

Lighten up dude, I wasn't belittling anything. My first post was in jest, my second post was in response to what seemed to be a mis-communication and all I tried to do was straighten it out.

Dude, get the burr outta your butt. My original post was just a jest to begin with. I was poking fun at a fairly elitist attitude. That's what the winking smiley was about. Seems like everyone else got the idea except for you.

Kam asked for experiences and advice. I gave him mine and I think I can speak with authority on the subject as my experience is extensive. Much more that most people out there. I was only trying to help and take a light-hearted jab at a typical predicament/mentality.

Lighten up dude, I wasn't belittling anything. My first post was in jest, my second post was in response to what seemed to be a mis-communication and all I tried to do was straighten it out.

Dude, I'm pretty sure I get the poke at the elitist as well as the next guy. Maybe you should go back and re-read your posts though, maybe you don't come across as clearly as you'd like to think you do.

and nothing personal, but dude, considering what Kam has told us so far about his situation, I don't think you gave him the best advice.

Although you have taken the liberty to inform us all what is NOT camping. I didn't see any smiley next to that. Maybe you need to lighten up?

I'm going back to my regularly scheduled life now, Which should be much like what I consider "camping", since we all know how complacent people get - nevermind...
:D

We had a tent trailer growing up. Great fun. We threw a 12-foot aluminum boat on top and went to Key West from New Jersey. Snorkeled around the Keys.

It’s a lot of fun to get out and enjoy nature. The simpler and closer the better.

Coming back from Florida we stopped for the night (New Years Eve) in the only dry county in North Carolina? Dad was pissed. So bring extra beer just in case.

There’ll be good times and bad times but it’s what families are all about. I think your kids will love it and you’ll have a nice time. We’ve met a lot of great people camping.


Mitch

Kam,
I have had two different tent campers over the past 15 or 20 years. Popups are a great way to camp. They are easy to pull, hold a ton of stuff and give you a lot of convenience. Best of all, they fold up and don’t take a lot of space to store. Our first one was a little Coleman. We pulled it thousands of miles with a little 810 Datsun. Now we have a mid size Coleman.

My daughter who is a Senior in HS now, has been camping since she was just over a year old. She is taking a geology class this year and was showing me her textbook. Flipping through the pictures saying “we’ve been there, we’ve been here, we’ve been there.” The last big trip we took was two years ago. We pulled the camper to Durango Colorado, spent several days checking out the cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde National park and took the Durango and Silverton railroad. We spent a night in Winslow Arizona on the way and checked out Meteor Crater Arizona, the petrified forest and the painted desert. Came back through 4 corners. Great trip. My two favorite places are both in California, Humbolt State Park and Lava Beds National Monument. I never get tired of hiking through the Humbolt redwood forests and Lava Beds is just plain cool. It is full of hundreds of lava tubes that you can climb through. Mostly we go up to Sequoia National Forrest. It’s about a 5 hours north of here.

There really is a difference in quality between brands of popups. Coleman is the way to go. Starcraft is another good name but I don’t know if they still make popups. Look at the box size. The small ones have an 8’ box. The next common size will have a 10’ box. Then the giant ones will have 12’ boxes. Most all of them will sleep 6 very friendly people. Usually two in each of the pull out beds and two over the table. Most will have a galley with a stove and sink. The basic water systems will have a tank and a hand pump. Almost any car can pull an 8 foot box. You need a little more car for a 10 foot box and probably a truck for a 12 foot box. Some of the 10 foot and all of the 12 foot boxes will have trailer brakes.

The camper we have now is about 10 years old. We bought it second hand 4 or so years ago. It has a 10 ½ foot box which gives it lots of room on the inside. It has a hot water heater and electric water pump. It also has a shower but no heater or refrigerator. I would trade the shower for a heater or built in refrigerator. Many of the places we camp have showers available. They are much better than trying to use the tiny camper shower. The shower would be very useful if you have small kids. Kids get very dirty camping (that’s part of the fun) and having the shower would give you an easy way to hose them off.

Our current camper has a second stove that clips on the outside of the trailer. Since you eat most meals outdoors, the outside stove is very handy. Both of our campers came with awnings and canvas screen rooms that attach to the awnings with Velcro. Its a little bit of a bother to set up so we don’t always use it but it can be a godsend if the weather is bad or if there are mosquitoes. We always set it up if we are staying in one place for a few days. We also have a piece of cheap artificial grass mat that we put under the awning. It helps keep the dirt down and out of the camper.

One thing you might look into is rentals. Some places rent them and it would give you an opportunity to try one out without making the investment. The Adirondacks in Northern New York should have good places to camp. Let me know if you have any questions. I love talking about this stuff.

- Pete

....but I'm buying one just like this :yes:

She's a 1963 Apache Raven. Brand new canvas, and it's only $100! :banana:

In the meantime I'm still going to search for one bigger and better. I just can't seem to find a damn thing out there trailer wise, not even a fixer upper.

And if I don't find anything, this one will be fun :)

Closed up. I'm going to cut off the tongue and weld an extension and box on the front, in which I'm going to mount a stove and small heater.

Surprisingly big inside. The guy that has the website I grabbed these pics from says that it will fit 10 storage totes inside even closed up!

While we're at it, anyone ever hear of a combi-camp? A guy locally on Yahoo Freecycle offered me one for free, needs canvas. I can't find a heck of a lot out about them.

One thing I MAY do is try to rescue the trailer I used to play around with as a kid. It was a Va-Ka-Shun-Ette, from the early 50's, about a 14'. I used to sleep in it at my parents' country place when I was a teen, and I ended up selling it to a friend who never even moved it off the land. It's been used as a storage trailer for the better part of the last 15 years. I might just try to buy it back and put er back in shape :)

Our fold out was an older Starcraft, about 12' or 14' and looked kind of like this only it was older model.

Had the LP stove, ice box, table, and beds on each end.

Don't recall how much I paid for it, maybe $750 to $1,000, and did a lot of fix up. New tires, fixed lots of small stuff.

Kam,

That's a GREAT deal imo. I've been eyeballing tent campers for years and never found a deal like that.

Enjoy!

Pete

Kam, That one you bought is the child of my old 50's TT. Main diff being yours keeps everyone off the ground. Heilite made mine, and I have seen 2 examples of Heilite's like yours. Here's a pic of mine.

Folded up, with bottom storage open, the aluminum top is not original, we made that:

The added front section, I have a table top (the wood thing) that attaches to the tounge to support the camp stove and a mast/lantern that attaches directly to the prop tank.

another heilite similar to your's. Though this might give you an idea or 2 for canopies.

If your after a portable shower/running water I made this pressureized system from an old water fire extigusher. It has an extension that allows me to use it for showers. One tank will shower 2 people, done navy style. The tanks next to is is the air source, with a tiny air regulator built on. These tanks are pressure tested to 500 PSI. I have run them for years at 120 PSI.

The added front section, I have a table top (the wood thing) that attaches to the tounge to support the camp stove and a mast/lantern that attaches directly to the prop tank.

That's friggin brilliant the way you have that done. Can you post some more shots of this? How is the table mounted to the tongue?

Found one of mine set up on a hunting trip. It was one of my hunting buddies turn's to cook that day. My canopy covers the whole tent, providing total waterproof coverage. We have been up for an entire week in the rain, and never got wet. we also use some olp carpet sections to help keep the tent and covered area cleaner.

If your going to be adding camp gear, going light helps a lot with these small rigs. I have, in recent years, switched to the very small backpack style gas and propane lanterns. coleman and and/or optimus make a tiny one mantle lantern that is not much bigger than your fist. Much nicer than the big prop lanterns. I'd also recomend a small prop tank and a prop stove. I;ve had much better results with prop, as long as its on a bulk tank. I'm also using the tiny gas lanterns. only good for about 3-4 hours, but that will usually do for an evening.

I'l do more later, got to go interview now! :thmbsp:

My family and I have gone tent camping (in a real tent, not a trailer) since the youngest daughter was out of diapers. We all love it, especially the kids. They bug me every summer, "when are we going camping????" I have some recommendations:
1. You can rent a 5 person tent and then if you guys don't like it you aren't stuck with a trailer. Most good camping goods stores rent equipment. You will need sleeping bags and air matresses to sleep on. Get rubber impregnated nylon matresses, not the vinyl ones.
2. I can recommend a great campground not far rom you, wildwood Acres in Chautaugua, NY. they have a separate area for tents, right in the woods, away from the campers. They have a pool, gameroom, and nice showers and flush toilets. Ok, you have to go up a short road from where you camp to get to the toilets, because they're by the trailers, but it's not bad. there are all kinds of things to do in the area. There is an amusement park in Maple springs, awesome pizza at Guppy's in the same town, Chautaugua Institute has performances, there is a huge flea market at the airport every weekend, there is a great park, Chautaugua Gorge State Park nearby with good hhiking and a swimmin hole in the gorge, Stockton Sales in Stockton, NY, a place with 3 huge barns full of crap you can buy (antiques, tools, jukeboxes, player pianos, old stereo equipment...) There is also a great horse farm where you can go horseback riding. they provide a guide and take you through the woods. they own this huge property where you go riding.

I didn't have anything on tap for the table. I'll have to get it out and shoot some more pics. If your still intersted, I'll try to get it done this week.

I'm not sure that my setup would do you much good, since your "door" opens to the back. What I would be thinking about is a simple 2 legged table with hooks or pins to the trailer back, next to the door. mount the prop tank to the tounge,and have an extension hose from it to the table under the wing.

You might even make a lantern mast back there clamped to the table top. A good hardware store or a propane outlet should have the pipe to prop adaptors in any configuration.

My top is super simple to make. 1x2 pine frame, with a 1/4" plywood top, glued and screwed (drywall screws work great, but use a pilot hole cutter, mine starts the coutersink, and the screw does the rest.) to the frame, with the frame corners also glued and screwed. If it starts getting big, just add a strut across the middle. I belt sand the corners a bit round, as this keeps them from getting as bashed, and makes it so if someone bangs into it, its not as painful. Finish to suit. I tend to use several coats of brush on deft.

Legs are easy also. just 1x1 with a small angle to help hold a hinge pin, or you could just use a small hinge. Good idea to use one of those folding struts to keep it from getting knocked out and dropping the table. All the hardware is readily available at most any hardware outlet.

Keep you eyes open for some alum trailer stands. I'm assuming the TT "legs" are not always going to be the best support to stablize the trailer bed.

Are you interested in some pics of how I did the Ice box/prop tank/spare tire/trailer stand thing on the tounge?

BTW a longer tounge makes these TT's tow like a dream. I have crused at 70+ at times with no issues. I actually forgot it was back there out on hwy 5 a few years ago and got pulled over. Owned up the its so little and light, and I couldn't even see it, that I forgot, and he let me off with a fix-it on one blinker on the TT, which turned out to be the plug half disconected, and letme off with a request to "keep it down" :D

I added this pic of the table botom view:

Hmm should at least mention how it mounts. The end with no visible mounting has a "T" that gets bolted and wingnutted to the end, and the T leg slots into the spare tire mount post. 2 thumb screws clamp it in place, height adjustable. The aluminum tube you see has a steel post sticking down, that plugs into a single leg that supports the table and slots into a socket on the tounge. This isin't exactly stable, So a card table gets jammed next to it to keep it from moving too much. My basic food box always goes on top of that card table, and the camp stove and such go on the wood table.

Table top top side:

General view of the tounge area:

That's exactly what I intend to do.....you've given me a wealth of info!

I pick it up in a week or so, then I may have to kick the Lincoln out of the garage and get to work :)

Your Apache is the baby brother of the one we had. On ours the door was on the side and there was a full length aluminum door that swung down from under the aluminum top. The sides were canvas though and while the ABS sided ones look nice I understand that they would sweat inside and there was always water on the walls. Forgot to mention that it had an icebox, very well insulated, stick in a block of ice and it would get cold enough to freeze milk.

The advice about locking all food in the trunk at night is very wise, especially if you are in bear country. In Algonquin Park they have these 20 gallon heavy steel garbage cans hung on what looks like a steel pole step. Saw one where the bears had come through the site looking for food and he had knocked it off the pole step with one swipe that even made the can oval from round. One night we were sitting arond the fire and my son backed down the path a bit to take our picture. My (now ex) called out and said "Walk toward us, there is a baby bear behind you". Baby bear my a** it was a full grown black bear, I grabbed a log and banged on the fire pit grate. The bear went one way and my son the other. Then a whole bunch of other campers came running with cameras asking where was the bear and why had I scared him away. Some people - like the family in Yellowstone Park, there we were driving along when the car in front stops abruptly and all four doors open and out they jump with cameras in hand to get pictures of the elk - right in the middle of the road. I was sure glad that I had installed brakes on the trailer or I would have wiped them out.

Rob

When I started to read this thread, that trailer was exactly what I figured Kam would go with. Not my cup 'o tea, but I hate any kind of camping..... except the kind with lots of booze and nekid people running around :banana:
Whenever I go camping with the in-laws and such it just ends up being a bunch of people sitting around and relaxing, crap I can do that in front of the TV with a movie, pizza and a good beer. Warm and cozy, no bugs and as Thor said, I don't have to pick up all the crap and clean out the rig and do all the chores as my wife and daughter are telling me how fun and relaxing it was to get away.
Now Fropiler's idea of camping is my kind of deal. Give me a decent sized trailer and a TV, DVD, fridge and AC, and I'm set. Though once again, I do enjoy the nekid drunkin' camping I so rarely get to do these days.

Well, surprisingly enough I bought a trailer today :yes:

Happened to see it yesterday coming back from a long drive out in the country. Just put a deposit on her, pick her up next weekend.

1968 Trotwood 18'. Sleeps 5, stove, fridge, heater......all for $500! :)

Perfect she ain't, but a fresh coat of paint, some new laminate on the floor (which is thankfully solid), and replacing some of the interior ceiling around the skylight will get her back and going again.

Table and chairs setup. Not bad. Cupboards above.

Stove and countertop

Fridge, such as it is, is electric and propane. Works too, supposedly.

Inside back. Folds down to sleep two, and the top bunk drops down from above.

Now here's the ugly section of the ceiling I'll have to repair.....

The bathroom.....just look at it sideways :)

Last pic. Yeah, it'll need a repaint. Took those two spare rims home to mount new tires on for the 45 mile journey back to the Kamakiri residence.

Yeah, the neighbors love me :banana:

Sweet Kam! Now that I have a tow package on my new Expedition I should keep my eyes peeled for sumthin' like that!!! :thmbsp:

Now that thing has Tims name written all over it !

Just glad it ain't my name :yes: :D

Can someone point me in the general direction of the Waldorf Astoria?? :) Thank heavens I had dinner before checking the new posts. :yes:


Mike

That trailer reminds of a Red Green episode went awry LOL

Hey Grump, I think we just found the site for next year's AK fest. :D

The trailer is going to be the "official Dawg Digital speaker" listening area. Complete with state of the art Yorx sound system !

Screw all of you rich guys. I s'pose each of you has one of these in the driveway? :finger:

Hey, Kam! I drive a city bus, so that RV is NO vacation for me. Too close to my workday. Now, camping in a tent, pop-up or trailer? Good to go. Add in canoeing, fishing, and evening campfires, and I'm IN!

Kam,
Have you calculated the WAF for that trailer? She may see it in a different light.

- Pete

I don't worry about such things....she was there with me. Hell she's already picking out flooring and wanting to redo the bathroom.

You mean have YOU redo the bath, to her satisfatction :D



:lmao:

yup!!!...just like a woman!!!...alway wanting to...... "Redo the bathroom"!!......

The Kitchen will be next...........trust me........ :yes:

Here is some good reading fixing these Tim. :)
http://www.vintage-vacations.com/

After some polishing it can look like this :thmbsp:

I think that will turn out just fine Kam. :thmbsp: We have a small trailer Too. Not as vintage as yours but I like it and got it for a song. :banana: Bout 10 years old now.

After almost four months of constant work, she's all done and complete! All I have to do is paint the rims and do a little interior touch up :)

Replaced the ceiling, repaired the roof trusses, sealed the top roof, repainted the whole thing, new tile floor, new propane lines, new tires, wheel bearings done, new clearance lights, propane tank holder, new water pump, restitched every single cushion cover, new table, plus a lot of miscellaneous wiring and vacuuming of mouse poop, this former derelict trailer is NY state inspected and will hit the road on its first new adventure on Friday! :)

Total invested is still under $1200. Here's the first shot, the sun was making those glare lines, those aren't dents.....my digital camera is now functioning on a limited basis, if I zoom in, I can focus the lens to a degree, so this is as good as they are going to get for now.....

Shot 2

New floor.....

New ceiling and new insulation and truss supports underneath :)

Very cool, Congratulations!
Where are you heading Memorial Day weekend?

Carl

Tim:

You did a heck of a job fixing it up. Looks great. :thmbsp:

Have a terrific weekend on your maiden voyage. Give us a report when you get back.

Terry

Very cool, Congratulations!
Where are you heading Memorial Day weekend?

Carl

www.wnyjellystone.com :)

The kids should have a blast!

The kids should have a blast!
Uh huh, I see they have an arcade too Tim. ;)

Carl

Kam my woman want to see more pics of the inside ;)

The shots aren't that great as my digi cam is half-screwed, but here are two:

Pic deux

Looking Good. You should be all set for a summer of fun!!!

- Pete

Tim, the camper looks great! :thmbsp:

We've been bit by the camping bug as well...

We bought a 2003 27ft Four Winds travel trailer new
in 2003 (duh!), we were looking for used when the
salesman showed us the one we bought that was
actually cheaper than the used ones! :banana:

Have fun camping! :D

Scott

Tim:

What kinda sound system do you have in there?
Didn't see it in any of the pics.

Terry

Looking good Tim!

Too bad I can't get away this weekend.

What kinda sound system do you have in there?


Bose!

Pete

Go for it. You will not regret it. Popups pull easy, are comfortable, even have roof air. No time like the present.

Awesome Kam thx! She says it looks cute ;)

Here's a slightly fuzzy pic just before we left on Friday :)

Two lessons learned whilst camping:

1. Never assume that you'll have electricity all night long and depend on an electric heater ;)

2. When ya flush, don't just do it to make sure the crap exits the toilet.....let it run for a little bit, or you're going to end up with a shit job when you disconnect your septic hose :eek:

Back shot :)

Not to send this thread on a tangent, but I like pitching tents.

Here's a slightly fuzzy pic just before we left on Friday :)

Two lessons learned whilst camping:

1. Never assume that you'll have electricity all night long and depend on an electric heater ;)

2. When ya flush, don't just do it to make sure the crap exits the toilet.....let it run for a little bit, or you're going to end up with a shit job when you disconnect your septic hose :eek:

#1 - Get an electric heater with a thermostat and set it a
little higher than the thermostat on the camper's furnace.
That way you have the camper's heater as a back up.

#2 - Dump the black tank first (toilet) then dump your gray
tank last to "flush" what the black tank left behind.

Camper really looks great Tim, ya done really good!

How was the first time out camping???

Scott

Black water? Gray water? You assume I HAVE holding tanks sir ;)

Just a poop pipe out the bottom I'm afraid :lmao:

It was great, kids had a blast! We went to www.wnyjellystone.com

Just a poop pipe out the bottom I'm afraid :lmao:


Eeewwww! :yuck:

I thought you'd have at least one holding tank! :D

Glad ya had fun! Makes it all worth while! :thmbsp:

Scott

Congrats on a succesfull journey Kams! When ya coming to Maine? ;)

When you getting your camper so we can party together? :D

The lady we had agreed to buy the trailer from did not consult her hubbie, they are an older couple and he was in the hospital at the time we looked at it, a few weeks later when he got home she told him we were coming to see it after the snow melted and buy it if everything was a OK on it. He said NO, said he had already promised it to the neighbors :( So we were out of luck.

We still have all our camping gear and tents tho ;)

We picked up a 1990 popup that is like new inside with awning, refridge, in/outside stove, weighs 950 and is pulled by the 4 cyl Caravan easily for $1,000.00

Now to find the time to take it somewhere besides the driveway.....

However, kids don't care where you are and coffee is only a dozen steps away in the morning :thmbsp:

Here's project number two.....almost campable. Been working on this old pop up for about six weeks in my spare moments. She's a Cox Commander 515, unknown year as it's registered as a 1980 homebuilt. A lot of canvas patching, obtaining cushions, jumping through hoops at the DMV, and cleaning/defunkifying....

The Waldorf Astoria it ain't, but the sun is gradually fading the mildew stains on the canvas, it has lost its musty smell and I'll be pulling her down the road to somewhere for a trial in a couple weeks. Anyone, of course, that has a couple hundred bucks and HAS to have it can always drop me a PM ;)

Water system is working, just have to hook up the propane. Sleeps 6, and fits neatly into the garage (6 x 10)

SNIP A lot of canvas patching, SNIP)

Kam, if you have any holes to patch, the iron on patches for jeans, (yes they still sell the stuff!) works great. I do it on both sides for strength. :thmbsp:

What, the first camper wasn't good enough for ya? :D

How's the boat coming along (or is it)?

Scott

Kam, that's an oldie. Judging by the look, I'd say late 60's early 70's. Does it have a sink and stove? It will sure be a lot easier to pull than your other trailer.

- Pete

What, the first camper wasn't good enough for ya? :D

How's the boat coming along (or is it)?

Scott

I just bought an engine for it that should be here in a couple days, from Minnesota. But, that's next year's ordeal.......I'll plunk the motor in, and go over the rest of the parts over the winter.

Kam, that's an oldie. Judging by the look, I'd say late 60's early 70's. Does it have a sink and stove? It will sure be a lot easier to pull than your other trailer.

- Pete

Yes it does, but my wife hates it ;)

Yes it does, but my wife hates it ;)


Hates which? the hardtop or soft top? :scratch2: