Motorhome, tent trailer or camper van

[Arizona 911]

I am looking to buy a camping rig in the next week or so. We are a family of 5. My kids are 5, 6, & 8 years old. I am going to look at 3
different types of campers and wanted some input from the Pelican brain trust on the pros/cons of each one.
1st is a pop up tent trailer. It sleeps 6 & has a sink, fridge, heater, stove, & microwave. It doesn't have a toilet or a/c. We would be towing it with a Honda Odyssey van.
2nd is a ford coachman high top camper van. It has all of the features of the tent trailer plus it has a toilet and rooftop a/c.
3rd is a Chevy motorhome. It's the type that the front half looks like a van. It has all of the features of the camper van, but is roomier. We are not interested in a full size RV, 5th wheel, or travel trailer. We plan on going camping about once a month and the occasional road trip. Any advise?

[Embraer]

westy! easier on the gas, more charm, and it's an appreciating asset

[porsche4life]

Tent trailers suck... IMHO...


I would personally get a little bigger SUV or pickemup and get a small RV. My folks have a 21ft. Its perfect, big enough for everyone to sleep in, and have all amenities, but small enough to encourage you to go outside! If it storms you have real protection though.

[chapo]

tent trailers suck in the wind, westys are cool, slow and no toilet. Sorry, but if you are bringing the family toilet, hardsides, and shower are a must. I have had a cabover, shell, and toyhauler. Toyhauler wins, hands down.

[aigel]

You should consider another option:

Larger tow vehicle with a regular trailer (15-21 foot). It beats the tent trailer in storage (have all your stuff ready to go minus the perishable food) and weather proof-ness while out canping. It also beats the RV because you do not have to maintain, register and insure a 3rd vehicle. Plus, when you arrive at you location, you can leave the trailer and go places in your tow vehicle.

That's my two cents. We roughen it tent camping. There you don't need any of the above, save on gas an can go car speeds (with any type of trailer you are down to 55 mph) and everyone is so excited to come home!

George

[Arizona 911]

I found a really nice westy syncro but they want $16000.00 for it.

[porsche4life]

Honestly, if I was going to get a tent trailer... I would just get a nice big tent and cots... Still has to be set up, and is easier to store...

[Arizona 911]

To go with the larger tow vehicle and trailer I would have to sell the 911 and that isn't going to happen. I am paying cash and do not want to finance.

[aigel]

You can trade a minivan for an SUV. Otherwise you sound like a good candidate for tent camping. Just go to a camp ground that has good toilets and showers if you have family members that can't go without that. Unless you are blessed with a job that gives you a lot of time off, I am pretty sure you aren't going to go on more than a handful of trips a year anyway ...

G

[Mr.Puff]

Originally Posted by Arizona 911

To go with the larger tow vehicle and trailer I would have to sell the 911 and that isn't going to happen. I am paying cash and do not want to finance.

Problem solved. These things are awesome.

LivinLite All Aluminum Ultra Light Campers, Ultralight Campers, Lightweight Campers, Ultra-Lightweight Campers

[Dantilla]

Easier to drive a van/motorhome than to tow a trailer.

[BeyGon]

The advantage with the trailer is you can leave it and have something to drive while sightseeing, but, I wouldn't do it. Trailers are just more cost and hassle. You can get the motorhome and tow a cheap car for your sightseeing or, now here is the good one, buy my 89 Vanagon with the Subaru motor. Take your tent and camping gear, have the Vanagon for sightseeing. Toll roads, parks, whatever, charge more for the trailers and motor homes, the Vanagon, no. 22 mpg on the road. Regular gas. Cheap insurance. It came from Arizona, take it home.

[porsche4life]

^^^ One of the better ideas....

What do you want for the vanagon? Just out of curiosity

[mikeferg75]

I've owned all three and currently own a Fleetwood Pop up and it's the best for my family...

Tows easy
More room than Class B van
Can leave at campsite, use tow rig for day outings (huge plus)
Low Maint ect.

I use it 10ish times a year, mostly weekend trips in CO with one bigger trip.

I've owned a Westy, A Chinook, a Provan Tiger, and this is by far the most useful.

Ferg

[Por_sha911]

[cstreit]

The Downside of a class C type motorhome is that once you arrive at your camping spot, there you are. Forgot something? Tough. You're there. Don't feel like cooking? Tough you're there. Other than that? Great.

Tent trailers suck in anything but good weather.

We opted for self contained. Two bedrooms! Bunkbeds for the kids and space for the parents.

[BeyGon]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

sure but those things are so slow you need 10 days for a 5 day trip, forget about going up a hill, plus I think the OP has three kids. Kind of small.

[Seahawk]

I don't mind towing, but I do it a lot.

Friends of mine and I have had this discussion many times, the camps very much divided. The consensus, 51/49, is that you don't want to drive what you're sleeping in, to a certain point, especially if you can afford a motor home and a tow behind car.

The OP is looking for either a tent camper or a light hard-sided trailer.

When I was a kid we towed a Coleman Pop-up all over North America, behind a Series II Jag, 3.4 then a 3.8. Two kayaks on top of the pop-up, bikes on the back, combat-wombat loaded. My Dad always said that when we pulled into a camp, the denizens were stunned: 15 minutes to his first Gin and Tonic. My sisters and me had specific tasks, Mom as well.

The Jag broke, wheel bearing, just once. We were in Canada, probably 1967.

In weather, the tent pop-up had issues. We could have used a better structure a few times.

Look at these: Chalet RV - Folding Travel Trailers

Key is, much of what I learned about life was on our many trip around the west, towing the Coleman, hitting rivers with my father. My Mom would pick us up at the put-out...I'll have to scan some of the pics of two fiberglass boats on the top of the Jag. My Dad was, and remain, an idiot

The fact that you are doing this speaks volumes. Good luck.

[mikeferg75]

Modern pop ups are a far cry from what they were even just 10 years ago, mine has a slide out, is completely water tight, and with a lift kit, has the ability to go anywhere my FJ or wife's Pathfinder can go, a huge plus in Colorado and Utah for out of the way "cool" campsites.

[Hugh R]

Trailer, or Motorhome with a tow vehicle. I used to have a pop-up with canvas sides, newer ones are nice with showers, toilets, stove/oven and some have microwaves. I'd get one with A/C especially being in AZ. Look at Trailmanors for a cool collapsable hard side trailer.