Tell me about campers/travel trailers

[VaSteve]

Just attended the 24 Hours of Daytona and got me thinking....I have a new pick up truck and two small kids. Been to a number of races. Was thinking of maybe getting a camper or travel trailer (is there adiffernce)? I know little to nothing about this...help me out!

My truck is a 6cyl Tacoma so nothing to heavy or one of those things that fits in the bed. Maybe one of those Popup types or a little one that's always popped up. Not planning on any backwoods adventures but more like official campgrounds.

I literally know nothing about this so any where is good advice to give. With the pop up tent kind.... I guess that's like camping in a regular tent (it gets cold)? Costs to operate? Etc? Maybe renting one to get the feel for it? Where to even start thinking about this?

[ckelly78z]

Camping in a pop-up camper can be cold, but generally you are camping somewhere that has electrical hookups so we always took an electric heater that was on a thermostat (safer than propane) and some blankets. You will be much drier in a popup rather than in a tent, and it is more secure from animals and weather.

I prefer my 30' travel trailer on campouts now, but we all have to start somewhere. I do still fix most meals over the campfire and am outside hiking and fishing as much as possible.

[911SauCy]

my wifes friend, married w 2 kids, lives with her parents but went to an RV show today.

she gonna buy a house on wheelz

[MattKellett]

I've thought about buying a camper, either trailer or RV many times for our trips to Laguna Seca, we camp there at every major race - Tudor, Historics and Rennsport.

In the end, we found that renting was the way to go. There is no up keep, insurance or storage needed. Of course it's not the cheapest way to go, but at around $250 a day for a 25' RV, we could stay 1000 nights for the price of a good used one.

Maybe try renting before you buy to see if it's for you.

Even with renting the RV, we still cook outside and live pretty much outside apart from sleeping of course. Having a bathroom/ toilet is a big plus - especially in the midddle of the night!

[wdfifteen]

Worst 4 weeks of my life - dragging a 19 foot camper around the Rockies. Best 4 weeks of my life -stating in flea bags in sketchy parts of Mexico. You couldn't pay me to stay in a camper.

[Hugh R]

Ten years ago, I sold my brother a small pop up "coleman" type trailer (maybe Jayco, I really don't remember).. It cranks up, and has two front and rear push out beds and canvas that opens up. It has/had nice canvas, and a sink, propane stove, propane refrigerator, toilet and shower, water heater and IIRC central heat, its small but will sleep four easily. Its sat for years, and will need new tires, wheel bearings repacked, etc. Its been so long since I sold it to him I really don't remember the rest of the unit, I think it had surge brakes on the hitch.

Otherwise in good shape when I sold it to him, but frankly its sat for 10 years and I have no idea what condition it is in. But its been sitting 2 doors down from my house in southern California.

He's getting divorced and would sell it to you for nothing, like you pick it up and drive it away type of nothing (I think). If interested, I could go down and open it up and take some pics. I owe my brother nothing, and am not biased in the least.

It had no rust issues and had never been wrecked.

Sort of like this, but 20 years old. A 6 Cyl Tacoma would tow it easily.

http://www.jayco.com/products/camping-trailers/2015-jay-series-sport/

[URY914]

Back in about 1964 my parents bought a pop-up and we (m/d, 3 kids) went on some fun week long and weekend trips. Our parents are gone but us kids still tell stories about it.

Do it for your kids.

[recycled sixtie]

Those popup campers are pretty neat. The last time I used one many years ago I found it very comfortable for sleeping. If you buy used the canvas can deteriorate. Also beware of the safety of heaters in old units. A co worker of mine died of carbon monoxide poisoning in a truck camper. As the above says an electric heater is safer.

We have rented a motor home when we needed one. Don't forget if you buy something you have to find a place to store it.

Guy

[fred cook]

Pop ups are ok, but I would suggest looking for a small lightweight fixed top trailer. I don't know what the tow rating is on your truck, but it should be able to handle at least 3500-4000 lbs worth of trailer. There is a whole segment of units that are built on aluminum frames that will fall in this weight range. Since you are just starting out, don't buy too long of a unit. Something in the 18-20 foot range would probably be best. With 2 small boys, you might want to look for a trailer that has the "bunk bed" floor plan that will sleep 4 people in separate beds. The design that we like best has the social area in the front, kitchen and bath in the middle and bedroom in the back. That makes it easier for the little ones to go to sleep while the adults stay up later. I would also suggest getting a load leveling type hitch. It uses two spring loaded arms to transfer some of the trailers tongue weight to the front axle. This will keep the rear of the truck from sagging. You might also want an anti sway shock for the hitch. Also, you will want to have a shelter to keep the camper under. Leaving them out in the rain will allow for a rapid discoloration of the finish and opens the top of the camper to damage from falling objects such as limbs out of trees. If possible, store the camper where you can leave it plugged in to trickle charge the battery. When not using the camper, be certain to drain the water lines to prevent freezing damage. Good luck on your search!

[greglepore]

We have a pop up we use for music festivals and camping. No toilet, probably a good thing as they are portapotty types and can smell. Propane furnace thats good down into the twenties, could add acc for a few hundred bucks. Sleeps four easily six in a pinch and two have tons of room. Electric brakes. Small (useless mostly) propane/electric fridge. They go for around 1500-3000 used, the ones with showers and toilets a couple grand more. Coleman/fleetwood are considered to be top quality.

[Seahawk]

My son did basically the same thing with his 1999 Tacoma:


Here is the link:

Tacoma Sleeping Platform, Carpet Kit, Camping Setup - YotaTech Forums

His reasoning is pretty sound in that he didn't want a trailer of any kind (no storage at his college, which is in the Shenandoah Mountains), he and as importantly his stuff can stay dry in really inclement weather (he either sleeps on a pad in the open or in a small tent on during nice weather), his girlfriend is very much a hiker/outdoors gal but likes a comfortable place to sleep and, on long trips, he can pull over at any Walmart and get some sleep.

He can also comfortably take all the gear required for extended trip effortlessly beneath the sleeping platform.

He also borrowed from this site, which is linked above: http://www.bajataco.com/Camper1.html

[Seahawk]

One other thing.

I have been following these folks for a while:

Modular Teal campers and shelters hit the market - Images

I pretty much hate excess inventory of equipment and already own an 18ft car trailer. I can put a modular Teal Camper on the front and still have room for toys on the back.

So, if you already have a utility trailer, or need one, this is a good alternative.







This design, by the same folks, fits in your Tacoma (page through the photos)

http://www.gizmag.com/firefly-mini-camper/29537/pictures#4

[glewis80SC]

Have a Fleetwood pop-up trailer..has room for 5 adults, shower, toilet, stove and small fridge.Family has camped all over western states...we love it.

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

:

Modular Teal campers and shelters hit the market - Images







This design, by the same folks, fits in your Tacoma (page through the photos)

Former NASA designer creates another out-of-this-world camper - Images

Does this mean you can put it together any time you need it, and otherwise you can use the utility trailer when the camper isn't assembled ? That's pretty neat, I wonder if you could mount a floor in it and just slide it off the back of the trialer intact. It looks modular, so you potentially use a much longer trailer like a 16 footer

[doublestuff]

Originally Posted by MattKellett

at around $250 a day for a 25' RV, we could stay 1000 nights for the price of a good used one.

That would be one expensive used RV!!! Good advice to try a rental first, though.

[bri450sl]

This is what you want (ignore the goofy website name).

Lessons from the Trailer Park: Alto teardrop popup packs a lot into a tiny, lightweight package : TreeHugger

[Laneco]

Definitely rent a trailer before you buy one. I sold my travel trailer about two years ago because I wasn't using it and really needed something smaller as the kids are grown. When we go to a mountain bike race, we just put a blow up mattress in the bed of the truck (canopy) and that's our camping.

Last winter, I did a race down in Arizona and brought my Mom. No way is she going to do desert tent/pickup truck bed camping. So I rented this little trailer. It's made by RPod. Very light trailer, easy to tow with a V6. Heat, A/C, small shower, restroom, dining folds into a queen size bed and small bunk beds at the rear that can fold away for storage. It also had a "slide" which really opened up the middle of the trailer. Probably an 18" slide, maybe 7 feet or so long. Wonderful little trailer.

If you rent, you get to try a couple of things in a "real life" situation to find out what you like WITHOUT a huge investment. You may find that you just prefer to rent.

angela

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by bri450sl

This is what you want (ignore the goofy website name).

Lessons from the Trailer Park: Alto teardrop popup packs a lot into a tiny, lightweight package : TreeHugger

Their (Safari Condo) R-Series and F-Series trailers look pretty nice. Alto Travel trailers by Safari Condo

[vash]

i just did this last week. Fleetwood ED3 camper. this is a popup camper that is sorta jacked up on 30" wheels to make it look offroad worthy 7 days in this thing. it has a big, cargo area in front which really pushes up the numbers with respect to tongue weight.

i also have a 6cyl toyota tacoma. i have moved the trailer around. i think it weighs in at 2800. it SUCKED!! i dont know about your tacoma, but my brakes are damn suspect. worst truck brakes i have ever owned. stopping is nerve racking with the weird pedal feel/feedback. if i was fully loaded with gear, i would have hated it. my brother tows the trailer around with a big duramax.

in freezing temps (it got down to the teens on us started Wed) it is marginally better than a tent. condesation probs. my bag was damp and frozen. the water in the tank froze. this one has a shower, so it is awesome to put warm water in a couple of gallon jugs..jab some holes and do the hobo shower!! in regular weather i bet it would be awesome. in hot weather..dunno. AC must be a must. it is just a tent, really.

[rfuerst911sc]

Check out a Hi-Lo camper. Easier to tow because of the down position but no canvas when in the up position. They are available used just look around.