We are considering getting one, the older kids want to start doing Mtn. Bike races with their dad, and I think it's a great family activity and we love to camp, however I'm past the point of finding it "fun" to sleep on the ground, even with the air matress So this weekend we saw a great camper, a cross between an RV and a pop up, question is, do any of you have them? We would be going off road quite a bit, and need to sleep 6.
we definately want one we can pull, not an RV with an engine.
Any opinions would be great!

By Colette on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 08:36 pm:

That's so cool that your dh races mountain bikes. So does mine!! My ds just started last year and came in 2nd on his first race. You are lucky that your dh will consider a camper. My dh is a die hard tent camper. I would love it if I could talk him into a camper. If he ever races in NH, VT, ME, or MA let me know!

By Missbookworm on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 08:57 pm:

I'm anti camper still. My S/O and I still tent it. He's 48 now and I can see him old and with no hair still tenting it. Then again the places we go you couldn't get a camper in without breaking something LOL!

When I was younger we just used one of those tent camper things, folds down into itself so that's all I have experience with. I guess if I was going to get a camper I'd probably go for something like that. Be sure to let us know what you decide on!

By Vicki on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 07:18 am:

I am kind of surprised we don't have more camper experienced moms...We had a pop up years ago, but really, I don't know much about them. We bought a camper over the winter, but it isn't going to be moved, it is large and will be on a permanate campsite at the lake....I don't know how much help I would be, but I am really good at giving opinions. LOL

By Tunnia on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 08:14 am:

We have had a fifth-wheel and we love it! We were looking at pull behind trailers and found that we actually liked the fifth-wheels better. If this is your first experience with a rv I would suggest buying a used, older model. That way you will discover what features you like and what you don't before spending the big bucks on a newer model. The down side to buying the fifth-wheel was that we also had to buy a new truck because dh's F150 just couldn't pull the thing very well (we have a 27' Coachman Lite), but dh was wanting a new truck anyway. The features we like are: rear kitchen, bathroom with tub, ac/heat, loft bedroom w/ queen size bed, storage, canopy, it's comfortable, and it's easy to tow. What we will look for next time that we do not have now: full height loft, pull-out(s), bigger beds for the children (ours are too short for an adult to sleep on). We use it several times during the spring, summer, and fall, then dh takes it to deer camp every winter.

You might be happy with a pop-up since you will be going off-road a bit. They are lighter, and you can get them in a range of sizes. My parents had a huge pop-up several years ago (a Coleman brand) and it was really roomy, very nice and comfortable. It had two king size beds and two full sized bed, I believe. If we ever bought a pop-up I'd buy the Coleman. HTH

By Bemerry84 on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 10:56 am:

We have been looking at replacing our pop-up with the expandable which sounds like the one you are looking at also. It is a trailer camper where you can let the two ends down for sleeping and this keeps the inside more open. The one I want also has a slide out (couch) opening up more room. Funny how the kids get bigger and so do the toys. One good thing about this camper is that when my husband and son are hunting they don't have to let the canvas beds on the ends down (keeps it warmer) and will still have plenty of room as the couch and table both make into beds. IMO the pop-up is harder to pack and unpack due to having to set it completely up and most of your cooking pots etc. are underneath and you have to get on the floor to get them (not good for older people like me). With a trailer you can walk right in and have everthing handy and right at your finger tips. What I like even better is they have a bath room. Good Luck on making the right choice for you.

By Conni on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 11:11 am:

I didnt post because I didnt know what model you were talking about?

Dh wants a 5th wheel but has been warned NOT to get one anytime soon. I want a 5th wheel with a toy hauler for the 4-wheelers. This is what my sis and bil have (an older one 1999 model I think) and it is REALLY nice. They take it on hunting trips to Colorado, Illinois, etc... Dh wants to take the 4-wheelers to Utah and some other places he has seen on ATV tv. ha I would like to go camp at the Grand Canyon with the kids. Like I said, this wont be happening anytime soon.

My mil / stepfil have a 5th wheel they *really* need to sell. It is a Montana brand and is quite big. It is a 2005 I think. Very nice. If you would like I can post the link to their ad. I know they have come down on the price a couple of times. The last time dh told me the price it was $38,000 I think??? This was a $50,000 RV. Nice enough to live in. lol They did have a $200,000 motor home that they were living in. When they sold it they got this 5th wheel as part of a a trade/cash deal. I think they thought it would sell faster. They dont even own a vehicle they can pull it with. I would NEVER, ever buy a brand new RV.

Can you post a link to a website that shows what model you are looking at?

My friends had a pop up and they loved it. They got rid of it because it didnt have A/C and it started leaking. They bought an 87 model motor home and it was a mess. They had to repair alot of things on it. So they ended up selling it. Now they want a bumper pull trailer that is just a few yrs old. They dont have a vehicle to pull a 5th wheel with...

I doubt any of this has helped you. But thats all I know about RV at this point. We have never owned one ourselves. I dont even know what brand we would get if we got one.

By Kym on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 11:47 am:

Mary, that's exactly what I'm looking at, it's a Jayco Baja, for reasons you explained I'd like to have the "middle" part stay open, the biggest hassle with tent camping is packing the suburban to the hilt, and still squeezing 6 people in it, only to unpack it, etc! Plus this one is a bit more rugged, lighter and higher clearance for off road use.
Conni, I "built" one online yesterday, but my server went down and I couldn't pull it back up, but like I said it's the Jayco Baja, than I could add the stuff we like. I don't want to go the 5th wheel route because of needing a bigger truck to haul with, I already drive a suburban because of the 4 kids/friends/stuff issue, so I'd like to find something I can pull with that, dh has an old junker because he rarely drives, he commutes on bike, so a second is not necessary..Hey we are going to Utah in April, wanna join us WE will be in St George, south/eastern part of the state!

Collette, we will definately let you know if we have excursions to the East, and if you all ever make it to the West, let us know, we have great Mtn. Biking events, in the 4 corner states!

By Colette on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 12:13 pm:

Cool! Dh goes to moab a lot to bike. If I go with him next time I'll let you know.

By Kym on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 01:09 pm:

Colette, Did you play 6 degrees of seperation? We may have a connectionLOL, my dh did Moab 24 hour in 1999 and 2001, was your hubby there by any chance??
we are considering doing the 24 hour in Moab I think it's in October, cold cold cold, of course you are used to it, not me, a bit whimpy! But that would be awesome to get together! It's absoultely amazing country, and I believe some good shopping for us;)

By Paulas on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 06:40 pm:

We have a Jayco. It's a Jayflight. It is not exactly what we wanted but what we could pull with our 1/2 ton. If we had a 3/4 ton or full size truck we would have gotten one with a full slide. Ours has a partical slide (only about a foot deep but it does make a difference). We have a 29 foot one. It has a jack and jill bunk at the back, couch that converts to a double, table that is "suppose to sleep 2" but I doubt it, and a queen bed in the front. Love my trailer...no tents for me!

By Colette on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 07:43 pm:

Kym, dh did not do 24hrs of Moab, but I think it was going on the last time he went out (in October). He is probably doing this race this year

http://www.jaychallenge.com/jaychallenge.htm

he was supposed to do it last year, and registered but something came up and he could not go. He got me once to do downhill on a mountain. I had my brakes on the whole way down and was praying that it would rain or the lift would break so I didn't have to do it again. I am much better at being a spectator and doing post race support than racing!!

He would so be in heaven if I would ever - which I will not - agree to leave New England for Moab. You guys are just to far from the ocean!

By Kym on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 10:21 pm:

What a stud! Is he doing all the events or "just" the mtn bike?

I actually enjoy road riding, but I'm so afraid of crashing on a mtn bike, but I do trail ride with the kids, and a bit of single track is OK, but downhills, uh not so much

We are about 10 hrs from Moab, in Southern AZ, so the Ocean is only 4 hours from us I grew up on a Lake (in Southern Utah/Northern AZ), I love water so I know what you mean, we are close to mountains which is my dh love, and is also great for business, he owns a bicylcle store, so here we will stay, but I love it here so it's fine, just miss the quick trip to the beach.