Anyone have a Tent Trailer?

[alf]

I am planning on taking the 2 boys on several camping trips this Summer and am thinking of getting a tent trailer instead of the tent that we have been using for the last several years.

Much nicer to sleep on a real mattress than an airbed. Seems easier to set up, but I could pitch a tent in 15 mins...towing and storing might be a hassle...

Anyone got one? Good? Bad?

[Rot 911]

Before you buy, go rent one. You will find them in all levels of luxury. I've thought of buying one, but only use them 2-3 times a year and it is much cheaper to rent.

[Hugh R]

I have a Jayco that I use a few weeks a year. Not hard to put up, but yes, rent one first. You can buy nice used ones with not a lot of use. The two most important things are wheel bearings, repack/inspect annually, and the tires. They sit on one spot of rubber for a long time and are known to separate while driving.

[Seahawk]

If you have a truck, there are a number of well done tents that fit in the bed of trucks...set up in minutes, keep you off the ground in air mattress comfort (buy a 120v plug in for the blower) and are well sealed.

My son and I camped across the country in one four years ago and loved it.

[syncroid]

I also have a Jayco that I use a few times a year. We bought ours used. Its a 1995 but still in extremely good condition. Storing them can be a pain but other then that we really enjoy ours alot. Also what Hugh said is very good advise.

[cantdrv55]

How much do those things weigh? My Honda Pilot can only tow 4500 lb.

[LakeCleElum]

I had one 20 years ago that I towed behind a VW Scirocco....Sure beat using a tent....

[syncroid]

Originally posted by cantdrv55
How much do those things weigh? My Honda Pilot can only tow 4500 lb.

I think ours is rated about 2600-2700 lbs. (unloaded) We keep ours packed and ready to go with all we would need for four or five days camping. I imagine that we have added about 500 lbs. I have a 2001 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 and it does not seem to be a problem. Towing mirrors are on the list of things to add though.

[alf]

Looks like renting one will be the way to go. I do not have room to store this year round rental is not too expensive.

Gotta get a hitch installed in the wife's XC90

[aigel]

Gas mileage will suffer. I would like one because you can keep all your stuff in it and are ready to hit the outdoors quicker. I am holding back however, as I want something for hunting / snow camping and the tent trailer won't cut it for that.

I agree, rent the thing!

George

[911pcars]

If you're fortunate to have a rental facility near your campsite, some provide a service that drops off and picks up the rental trailer at your site. You and family sleep in relative comfort. That's called turnkey car camping.

Before you do this, compare the relative costs between renting/towing/fuel and renting/drop off/P/U fees and whether you possess the correct tow vehicle in the first place.

For one trip, we drove 100 miles to park and pick up a rental RV, then drove it 25 miles to our campsite. The 6 mpg fuel bill was reduced significantly, and we had a chance to alternately bond and argue in one small space for a few days.

Sherwood

[vash]

my brother and i are in negotiations to buy one together. the big glitch right now is that we live 2 states apart. we need one for elk hunting. we are going for the jacked up versions for ground clearance.

[vash]

like this:

[Hugh R]

The drop off rental service is a pretty good way to go, especially if your traveling some distance. Also, if your towing, yoiur usually limited to 55 mph.

[syncroid]

Ground clearance would be the #1 thing that I wish ours had more of.

[Jeff]

I've been camping most of my life and recently bought a tent trailer. WOW!!! This is the way to camp! I bought mine used (it is an 01 Starcraft), and was well maintained by PO. With a heater, stove, and fridge, you have the comforts of home even in the middle of no where. You could easily winter camp in these as the heater will drive you out of the thing. I will be camping all summer, with my girls, though out the west and have no reservations about comfort.

A few recommendations...

1. Put memory foam over the matteress (it may be the best night sleep you have ever had).
2. Don't buy the biggest, most optioned one as they are heavier, harder to store and have more things that may break. Mine has one King bed and three beds inbetween a full and a queen. I can't even feel it behind my truck.
3. Get towing mirrors
4. Put on 2 batteries and 2 propane tanks. One propane tank would probably last for most trips. 2 batteries is a must if you plan on staying some where cold as the heater fan uses batteries quickly (about one every two nights unless you hook up to your truck and charge them)
5. Don't spring for the lifted ones. Most tent trailers are your standard single axel/ leaf spring set up with the axel mounted on top of the leaf spring. To raise it, just put the leaf spring on top of the axel.

Vash, where are you Elk hunting? I got drawn here in AZ.

Here is a picture of mine. 2001 Starcraft. I paid $3500 for reference.

[vash]

wow!

jeff. i am waiting to see if i get drawn in new mexico. i find out june 20th. jeff, you hit the lotto. that arizona pref points system is daunting! congrats! if i dont draw, lemme know if you need a "mule".

i cannot find a used high clearance pop up

[911boost]

We had tent trailers growing up. Well it was basically a metal box with a canvas tent attached to it. We used to tow it with a 78 Malibu wagon.

My wife and I were always big campers, hikers, you name it. Once we started having kids, and moved to Colorado, where even during the summer it can get dang cold at 8,000 feet at night, we decided to look for a camper. We went to all the rv shows etc, just to see what was out there new. There was no way I was going to make payments on something I use maybe 4 or 5 long wekeends a year.

So, we decided to look into older campers. We have some friends with one, and I had wrenched on it in the past. I found this one at a dealership that they were just trying to get rid of. I got it for $2,000 and replaced the tires and the heater. I probably have $2,800 into it, all paid with cash.

Its an 1979 Mallard, 18 footer, has a bathroom, shower, you name it. My wife, our two kids and two dogs sleep in it comfortably. It also has a hitch on the back that I connect a 5x8 trailer to take the dirt bikes with us as well.

We went for 5 days over Memorial Day Weekend up the Snowy Range in Wyoming. We have yet to actually stay in a "campground". All of the places we go are flat spots with a fire pit, trails, etc.

My Tahoe tows it and the dirt bikes just fine up here in the thin air....





Bill

[Jeff]

Oh, 6. Put Bearing Buddies on your hub bearings. These replace the dust cover and are a spring loaded cavity that pushes grease into the bearing. You fill them with a grease gun via a grease zerk (sp?).

I plan on putting larger tires on my tent trailer for more ground clearance. My hubs match some of the Jeeps (5 X 114.3) so I should be able to find some nice take offs.
I'm also looking into mounting jacks of some sort at all 4 corners that are strong enough to lift the trailer off its wheels. No flat spots while storing but more importantly, when I am camping it will take the bounce of the suspension out of the trailer.

[Hugh R]

The bounce of the suspension is a consideration when camping. Your sleeping, someone else gets up and the bounce wakes you every time.