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