RVs for camping

[Clifford Reynolds]

Looking to get an RVs for camping of some sort for my camping travels. Can't decide if I want a pop-up, truck camper, or A regular tow behind. What are you guys using and how do you like your setup?
Any suggestions?

 

[Ataulbe1]

I've used all 3 and would recommend a tow behind #1. Pop up a distant #2. Depending on what size you're looking at it may be cheaper to get a class C when you figure in cost of a truck to tow it. I'm currently in the market for a small tow behind, big and cozy enough to sleep the family without any major frills. Tight market for them the last 2 years though.

 

[Velvet ears]

I just bought a 27 ft toy hauler. I like being able to take the golf cart. Plus it has 2 queen size motorized beds in the back that come down instead of twin size bunks and the ceiling height is higher than a standard camper.

If I had my way, I would go class a .

 

[Regulator623]

If you enjoy camping, a camper is the only way to go. We got a 24' bumper pull about three years ago, nothing fancy but 10x better than our old tent. No more worries about rainstorms, cold weather, hot weather, packing and unpacking....hook to it and take off. Only negative is getting a good camping spot, most campgrounds stack rv's in like firewood. And don't buy bigger than your truck can handle.

 

[Lady Hunter]

Started with a pull behind Airstream, then a 5th wheel when we had kids, and now have a slide in truck camper for just the 2 of us. It all depends on how many camping, what kind of camping, where, how long, etc.

 

[bird whisperer]

Hard to find a deal rite now. Start with a pull behind if you can and when its time to replace the tires go with highest ply radials that will fit the rims. Tires tear a lot of shit up when they pop from being over loaded and they will always blow when your between concrete side barriers for a couple miles so they continue to rip stuff apart while you limp to a pull off.

 

[bird whisperer]

Also go completely through it when you first get it with a bag of steel-wool and 3M aluminum tape and fill and tape around every hole in the floor where pipes pass through to help keep the mice out.

 

[DH13]

I started out with 24 foot tag a long. Had it 3 years traded it in a 30 footer with slide outs. More room. If my truck didnt have a topper on it. Id go with a fifth wheel.

 

[ManofManyStangs]

Started with a bumper pull now have a fifth wheel toy hauler. I enjoy it headed to Florida in 2 weeks for a 2 week stay.

 

[grinder]

Started with tents, then a popup camper, then a 25 ft travel trailer, then back to a popup. Popups are light(easy tow for a light truck) and spacious. I decided i did not want to keep a fuel hog truck just to occaisionally tow a camper. My popup sleeps 7, no bathroom, and i never even cook in it, although i can. Thing is, when im camping, only thing we go inside for is to sleep, so why do i need a full kitchen. Campfire cooking, and the hiss of a 2 burner coleman is what camping is. I do have a basement i can store my popup in, raised up to stay aired out, and keep the damn mice out of. Buddy kept his closed up outside all winter and mice ruined his canvas. One reason i do not like to cook in it. Food odors in the canvas just encourages the little b@$tards to chew on it.
Its more trouble to set up, and if you have to close it up wet you have to get it somewhere inder roof and open it up and dry it out. Setup gets easier every time you do it.
I pull mine with a 1500 silverado, 2 wheel drive 4.3 v-6. Pulls very easy at just 1400#. My travel trailer was 4800# empty. It will pull it, but im sure would shorten the tranny life, and suck lotsa gas. Its scary in high winds, but all campers are. Big campers are sketchy to tow in high winds, the popup is no issue.

 

[Xeanene]

There were three of us: me, a friend of mine and a dog - we had 1995 Fleetwood Bounder - we had quite enough space for everyone. Affordable, comfortable and simple RV, now my friend is selling it for about $17k as he wants to purchase something modern

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[Tom Threetoes]

We started out with a popup and loved it then the boys got into summer baseball so we sold it. After they grew up Momma and I bought a travel trailer. Used it for a three turkey seasons and the dam thing started leaking. I patched everything that looked like a hole and it still leaked. We sold that as is to a young guy who finally fixed it. Then we bought a same as new big popup. used it a little then my wife got sick and passed away. It sat indoors for a good while then I got it out last year and got it in shape to use again. As soon as the chiggers and ticks leave it's going to the woods if not sooner.

 

[timer]

I've been keeping my eye open for a late mode Chevy Express passenger van. I currently have a topper for my pick-up and it's okay, but as I get older it is becoming more and more of a pain to climb in. And it is a pain to retrieve things that are pushed back next to the cab of the truck. Something they don't tell you....if it's raining, the door for the topper dumps a bucket of water on you when you open it to climb in....

Personally, I wouldn't want to drag a trailer through cities and in high winds. I'm sure I'd be much less likely to "explore" things while on the road - something we really like to do. Parking anywhere other than at a big box store would be a major pain. It would also make it impossible to grab something from a drive-thru.

And then there is the expense....Cost of the trailer. Campgrounds are noisy, crowded and expensive. More money for fuel. Maintenance and upkeep of the camper. Insurance. Storage.

I understand and appreciate that it is a personal preference....but at our age pulling a trailer just isn't for us.

 

[JoanHab]

You know - it's truly a question that you have to answer yourself (of course with lots of advice from people here.
There is no perfect vehicle....typically an extreme rig that works great off-road is either lacking in the comforts or is a bear to drive at 70MPH on the freeway for days. This is even more so true with TC's in that they are sort of a sport/utility camper trying to do a little of everything. The more you cram into the camper (making it taller and heavier) the worse it is off-road. You have to find the compromise that works right for you.

For us, we have a modest sized hard-sided camper and used it heavily for about 5 years before moving on to the next rig. We wanted a bigger camper, not so much for the comforts, but the space as we hope to someday be able to full-time in it. We felt like our old 8.5' hard-side could generally go most places we would want to take it. To really explore we take the bikes on a trailer. So we felt to get a bigger camper, we needed much bigger truck and ended up with what you see. It is a lot taller than the old rig, but it is so much beefier (and heavy down low - it weighs about 12,000 empty!) that we are probably a little less limited than we were before overall. It works for us very well.