KTM_Guy wrote:...I did a lot of camping as a kid some family and mostly scouts. My wife and I tent camped before kids and then once we had our two girls and tent camping a few times it was time for a popup camper. It was a Palomino and we loved it even though is was basically a disposable camper. I couldn't believe how cheaply that was built. But some of our best times as a family were with that camper. On one trip... a TD pulled into the site next to us...Then it started to rain a little and we headed back to our camp to make dinner under the awning, and packed stuff away for a storm. They grabbed a few things and headed into the small TD for the night. I remember making a comment to my wife about being stuck in that shoe box all night...Fast forward 15 or so years and we are empty nesters and back to tent camping. We started camping off the motorcycle....We have had to learn to camp light on the bike but we can easily go for a week or two. So what does this have to do with TD's, well I think I showed we can camp light. But I still didn't get it. Small camper, cramped space, small covered cooking area. It seems like the people that buy them are the same as Harley people that are buying a life style that is built around a... Maybe TD people are the same way?...We always camped in state parks, with bathrooms, showers...So I started telling my wife about these Adventure trailers for camping with Roof Top Tents. I showed her a picture and she said "There is no way I am climbing down a ladder in the middle of the night to go pee"...So the adv trailer is out...Then one day I'm driving to Flagstaff for work and i see a Jeep pulling something, can't make it out, but as a get closer... Holy crap is that a teardrop camper???? That is awesome. Big tires, ground clearance, extra fuel, water, roof rack...For the next 30 minutes all I could think about is how I don't get the idea of a TD camper and how cool that one was...So could I see myself in the TD camper?...
working on it wrote:KTM_Guy wrote:...I did a lot of camping as a kid some family and mostly scouts. My wife and I tent camped before kids and then once we had our two girls and tent camping a few times it was time for a popup camper. It was a Palomino and we loved it even though is was basically a disposable camper. I couldn't believe how cheaply that was built. But some of our best times as a family were with that camper. On one trip... a TD pulled into the site next to us...Then it started to rain a little and we headed back to our camp to make dinner under the awning, and packed stuff away for a storm. They grabbed a few things and headed into the small TD for the night. I remember making a comment to my wife about being stuck in that shoe box all night...Fast forward 15 or so years and we are empty nesters and back to tent camping. We started camping off the motorcycle....We have had to learn to camp light on the bike but we can easily go for a week or two. So what does this have to do with TD's, well I think I showed we can camp light. But I still didn't get it. Small camper, cramped space, small covered cooking area. It seems like the people that buy them are the same as Harley people that are buying a life style that is built around a... Maybe TD people are the same way?...We always camped in state parks, with bathrooms, showers...So I started telling my wife about these Adventure trailers for camping with Roof Top Tents. I showed her a picture and she said "There is no way I am climbing down a ladder in the middle of the night to go pee"...So the adv trailer is out...Then one day I'm driving to Flagstaff for work and i see a Jeep pulling something, can't make it out, but as a get closer... Holy crap is that a teardrop camper???? That is awesome. Big tires, ground clearance, extra fuel, water, roof rack...For the next 30 minutes all I could think about is how I don't get the idea of a TD camper and how cool that one was...So could I see myself in the TD camper?...
- Summarizing pertinent points: in red, positive points about camping in tents, always going back to tenting, rooftop tents with an insurmountable problem (ladder). In blue: positive comments about using a cheap pop-up (a tent on wheels, but with a solid floor and amenities), negative comments about a TD couple who were unprepared for the weather(no "awning", perhaps?), and lastly, how cool a TD could be (off-road, obviously prepared to go were you would like?).
- It looks like you are open to alternative camping styles, but fall back on what you know. In the case of the TD, being stuck in the trailer might be by choice, but needn't be- most TD'ers use supplemental side tents, canopies, or awnings when they want more openness, or have a larger TD (standy, canned ham) that is a larger retreat.
- If one prepares ahead, most TD camping can be comfortable, and as open as tent camping, but with a safer more comfortable place to sleep at night. Most have heater(s), lots of 'em have an A/C unit, some have an on-board generator or battery for power, and even a shower and various sanitary set-ups (not needed when "camped in state parks with bathrooms, showers"). Most can be towed with Jeeps or Jettas, and even a KTM can go along for the ride (if a space is provided to carry it, either inside or outside- there are examples of both here-). And, you can purchase a TD (or toyhauler TD, offroad TD, or derivatives) from commercial builders, have one custom-built to fit your needs, or build it yourself.
- Read a lot of the threads here, and surely you can find something that suits your needs. I built my squareback trailer (a TD derivative) as a "hardtop tent", to shelter my wife in more comfort than she had when tent camping; she never has used it, so I am using it and converting it to my specific needs. I never liked tenting, or pop-ups, due to bad experiences in harsh weather, but feel secure and dry and warm/cool (choose one) in my trailer. Try it, you might like it.
I'm not a social person either, yet I find TD owners the easiest group to get along with, that I've met. It took me years to fit in with the drag racing community, which was super-competitive by nature, but TD campers just want to camp, and don't care what you camp in (the South Central Group is whom I'm referring to; they haven't kicked me out, yet, so they're OK in my book). As to the off-road teardrop... I was lurking on the Exploration Portal website, long before I drifted to TnTTT; I always was drawn to the off-road trailer, and built mine towards that end (slowly modifying missteps I had made). I just hope to actually get off-road a few times before too long, but just getting to a friendly camp is enough for now. Join the madness!KTM_Guy wrote:
...I'm sold on the off road teardrop. It is what we need for our camping needs for now.
I also didn't mean to make it sound like I was putting down TD owners. For me right now it's not my thing but that is my issue to deal with. I am not a social person. Maybe I need to break out of that shell too.
Todd
Tomterrific wrote:I didn't understand a wood box either, so I built one to camp with. Very nice for an old guy like me. Building the camper was half the fun for me. Having a comfortable secure camp is the other half. I've read many people say their tear is more comfortable than their bed at home. Tom
Tomterrific wrote:I didn't understand a wood box either, so I built one to camp with. Very nice for an old guy like me. Building the camper was half the fun for me. Having a comfortable secure camp is the other half. I've read many people say their tear is more comfortable than their bed at home.
Tom
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