Help us design a camp vehicle.

[lostfamilyof6]

Hello all,

I have been on this site for years searching out the meaning of life. I have found it within the pages of the website and although I am converted to see the light and want to quit my job and sell all my possessions and live out of our camper for the rest of my life; my wife and four children feel differently. ( I just think they need to be educated)

At any rate I have come to you all (and I am not sure this is the right sub form to ask you opinions I hope I will receive some guidance) for your guidance and help with the start of my families expedition experiences.
As a family we camp a lot. We started when we were first married, I got a free truck camper from a guy we gutted it and ran with it until we had our third child. Then we got rid of the camper (more because my half ton truck couldn’t handle the prime 1970’s 11 foot camper with all of its rot problems). We then entered the Tent camping phase of our marriage.

I went all out we bought a 11x14 Springbar tent and all sorts of cool camping gadgets most of which lasted 1 trip before we threw them away. But somehow camping became less fun and we went less often. My wife and I made some excuse about how taking an hour to set up and take down camp not to mention how filthy my kids got. Then there was my all time favorite excuse of having to set the tent back up in my front yard after camping to get it dried out and cleaned up. So with my wife nudging me toward having someplace to go #1 AND #2 someplace other then in the pines brought us to Trailer camping.
We bought an older trailer it was again a 1970’s version. It was 19 feet long and housed my wife and I comfortably along with my now 4 young kids. It was camping awesomeness except for one thing. We could never go many places fun because we had the dang trailer attached to my wheeling rig. That bring us to where we are currently in our progression through the camping realm.

A few years ago the water line on the trailer blew (because some dumb guy forgot to winterize the thing) so after repairing the damage we sold it. But to be honest it wasn’t the water damage that did it in. it was the fact that my once small young easy to camp with family became two teenage boys (one at 6 feet and one at 5’11’’) as well as another son who is growing fast and a young daughter who is also growing fast. I found out really fast that a 19 foot travel trailer is too small for the 6 of us.

SO what do you do? You go bigger!!! Bigger is better right? So I bought a 35 foot motorhome. Now talk about camping this is the life, I never get to camp off the pavement because the dang thing is so long and top heavy I think a good windstorm is gonna tip us over.
In all seriousness I can’t do it like this anymore. I cannot go from one asphalt campground to another. I am getting older and the people are starting to annoy me more. So I come asking for knowledge and help. Can any of you help me decide on a good platform that I can build a worthy camping situation for the 6 of us? If you all want more info just let me know.

Thank you in advance and I am sorry about the long post.
P.S. as you may have noticed other then our current motorhome all of my stuff has been of the 1970 vintage, as being such I do have to admit I will have to have a budget on this as well as a strong task master (she is nice and I will love her forever but she will not let me squander her money)

 

[familyvan]

Here are some cool campers that could hold a family your size. Of course the may not meet the budget criteria but ideas nonetheless. The last one is a class C converted to 4x4. Most likely the most affordable option. I am curious to what other people post as I am in a similar boat with three kids (we want one more). We do a bunch of tent camping but would like a little more sometimes but do not want to pull a trailer. Thanks and good luck on the search
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/45835-C5500-TopKick-4x4-Crew-Cab-Build
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/98045-ATW-Global-Warrior-Official-Pics
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/55074-UJOR-Build-Thread/page135

 

[bob91yj]

I think you are going to have to resign yourself to some option that includes at least one, maybe two small tents for the kids (or someone) to sleep in.

I think a 3/4 ton 4x4 truck of your choice, and a slide in camper that meets the needs for you, your wife, and some consideration for 1-2 kids to sleep in it. Use the camper as the base, smaller, easy to set up tents as needed. The kids are going to be grown and out of the house before you know it!

We usually flat tow the Jeep behind the truck. If the terrain gets too tough for that, unhook and my wife drives the Jeep.

Add an enclosed trailer and you have even more options.

My trailer is basically an empty car hauler. My Jeep fits in it when going on a long trip (loaded for a trip to Silverton in this pic). Before we had the pop up camper, my wife and I used to sleep in the trailer. We have a pretty decent set up in there, full camp kitchen, futon couch, porta potti, etc. Not plush, but met our needs to get out of the weather.

 

[mtnbike28]

I think the TC is a great choice for you with a off road trailer and RTT tent (like AT) for the teenage boys. Good or bad, they are growing up and won't be joining you forever, so you can leave the trailer behind when they don't come, and wait for the last two to grow into it, giving you and your wife privacy. Then you can sell the trailer for a good percentage of purchase price. Another thought is a 4x4 van and trailer, but since you and your wife already know you liked the TC, that is the way I would look. PS, I dragged my oldest daughter camping for 20 years... now whenever I go visit, she wants to camp again with us.... kind of fun : )

 

[NeverEnough]

Lostfamilyof6,

My build is great for a big crew, but it took a long time, was expensive, and I had legitimate business offsets to help fund the R&D. Definitely not a project for everybody. I've got plenty of friends that use a 3/4 ton 4wd truck and a good-size 5th wheel with flipped axles to get them off the pavement. Both the truck and the trailer can be acquired for a decent price lightly used, and you get the benefit of instant gratification. Sure, you'll have to deal with typical RV "cheese", but decent suspension, keeping the speed down on washboard, and spending a few hundred on upgraded cabinet hardware will make a big difference and probably keep the setup functional for the amount of camping a semi-adult family of six can squeeze into their busy schedule.

If you love building stuff for the sake of building, that's one thing. Or if you intend to use a vehicle as primary living quarters for 6 for an extended period of time traveling over rough terrain, then a large capacity custom build is an option (almost required). But if you just want to get camping off the pavement, I'd get a crew-cab and 5th wheel and mitigate the "cheese". Hat's off to keeping motivated to camp with the crew. I never regret making the effort with mine. We always have a great time.

 

[Clutch]

 

[Martinjmpr]

I would think a mid-sized trailer (maybe a 20 footer) + SUV combo to transport your crew and augment with tents for sleeping space.

If your SUV is decently capable (Suburban/Tahoe/Expedition/Sequoia/Armada should all be more than adequate) you can find a primitive campsite somewhere off the beaten path, drop the trailer and set up camp, then go 'wheeling, and come back to your camp. If sleeping space is at a premium, augment with a few inexpensive pop-up dome tents for the teens and after they go off to college and it's just you and mom, the trailer should be more than adequate.

Something like this is what I'm talking about:

http://vogeltalksrving.com/2012/05/evergreen-expands-ascend-travel-trailer-line/

Middlebury, Indiana-based EverGreen Recreation Vehicles LLC, creators of the first lightweight composite travel trailers, has added a third floor plan to its new ultra-lightweight, affordable Ascend travel trailer series—now available in 17-, 19-, and 23-foot models.


2012 EverGreen Ascend 231RBK travel trailer
The new Ascend travel trailers meet consumer demand for lighter-weight, fuel-efficient travel trailers that can be towed by the family sedan or mid-sized SUVs.

Ranging from 2,900 to 3,950 pounds the entire series is engineered to be lightweight without compromising essential equipment and quality—an EverGreen tradition.

The Ascend is EverGreen's most affordable, lightweight towable RV perfect for the entry-level RV buyer or someone looking for an easy-to-tow trailer that's built with the same features and quality that make up the “EverGreen Difference.”

EverGreen reports it has dedicated a full production line to the Ascend product at its Middlebury facility.

I've never quite gotten the attraction to a motorhome. Unless you tow a small car behind it, you're really going to be stuck wherever you camp (I mean, it's not like you're going to disconnect your power, water and sewage just to drive into the next town to get dinner.) Seems to me a decently capable tow vehicle and a small-ish trailer gives you the best of both worlds. You are not restricted to KOAs, and yet you have a decent degree of comfort. You can generally sleep 6 people in a small trailer, although it's not that comfortable, but if it's extremely windy or rainy, it's nice to at least have the option.

 

[Clutch]

Dual roof top tents, maybe on a fullsize crew cab with a topper or suburban, so there is also a sleeping area inside
the vehicle. Betcha you could do it on the cheap too.

 

[dwh]

 

[Pacific Northwest yetti]

Food for thought; mind you I am unmarried and have no kids yet,


With a shade canopy (10x10) and some tarps as leans off the side,dome tents under. You can get a surprisingly weatherproof shelter. And each kid would get their own space. And can be used at other things, sporting events, and is fairly reasonably priced.

I like the truck and camper idea personally. You and your other half can use them anytime and after the kids move out. 6 can fit in a full size crew cab truck, but its tight. Teenagers drive, could possibly follow behind. And if you aren't partial to the kids in tents a enclosed trailer can be found cheap, and haul all sorts of stuff anytime and can be slept in.

Just my 2 cents, good luck!