Do you want everyone in the trailer or are one or more people sleeping in the van?
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Any GTAM'ers have a tiny/micro camper?
- Thread starter PrivatePilot
- Start date
I would most likely sleep in the van. Kids and wife can be more comfortable and I'd survive in the van.
We had a 18 footer or something like that in our past. Dinette bed, twin bed back corner, bunk above. Son slept up front, daughter bunk, wife and I in the twin. It worked.
having separate beds for the kids is imperative especially if they are young. The biggest challenge of doing for people in a small trailer is the adults coming to bed later in the evening then the kids may have went to bed without waking them up.
3500# is tight though weight wise. Take advertised weights with a grain of salt, read the GVWR reading on a trailer and just assume that’s going to be the weight once you get all your stuff in there plus water and such, or even slightly over.
having separate beds for the kids is imperative especially if they are young. The biggest challenge of doing for people in a small trailer is the adults coming to bed later in the evening then the kids may have went to bed without waking them up.
3500# is tight though weight wise. Take advertised weights with a grain of salt, read the GVWR reading on a trailer and just assume that’s going to be the weight once you get all your stuff in there plus water and such, or even slightly over.
Check out taylor coach light weight and locally made. Our trailer would work for you 18 foot but I wouldn't tow it with a minivan.
About Us – Taylor Coach
taylorcoach.com
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How about a Volt? LoLCheck out taylor coach light weight and locally made. Our trailer would work for you 18 foot but I wouldn't tow it with a minivan.
About Us – Taylor Coach
Sent from my couch using my thumbs
I kid...but a part of me wants to buy an F150 for some reason. Must be me getting older.
Uh uh, you are beginning the conversion to a RUB. HD coming up shortly.
Is this why I want the Sportster? I’m getting scared....what’s a RUB? I don’t need the porno version of that response.
Urban Dictionary: RUB
An acronym for Rich Urban Biker. A title given to middle aged, upper class, white males that make more money than they know what to do with so they decided to pretend to be bad ass and get a Harley. Unlike real Harley men they get all the trimmings on their bike which usually includes Heated...
www.urbandictionary.com
Bikers vs. RUBs: Tips for the press on how to know the difference
(RUBs...God love 'em. They keep us in good supply of used, low mileage Harleys) Recently I discovered that Harley Davidson is being sued ...
gypsydroppings.blogspot.com
There's still hope for you yet now that you are out of the FIFO game.
L
I’d be lying to you if I didn’t consider going back to FIFO for a few more years while the kids are young. 4 years of that salary and I could have my mortgage down to <200k. Practically $0 if I put every dollar into it.
This salary blows (in comparison).
LoL nice.Urban Dictionary: RUB
An acronym for Rich Urban Biker. A title given to middle aged, upper class, white males that make more money than they know what to do with so they decided to pretend to be bad ass and get a Harley. Unlike real Harley men they get all the trimmings on their bike which usually includes Heated...Bikers vs. RUBs: Tips for the press on how to know the difference
(RUBs...God love 'em. They keep us in good supply of used, low mileage Harleys) Recently I discovered that Harley Davidson is being sued ...
There's still hope for you yet now that you are out of the FIFO game.
I’d be lying to you if I didn’t consider going back to FIFO for a few more years while the kids are young. 4 years of that salary and I could have my mortgage down to <200k. Practically $0 if I put every dollar into it.
This salary blows (in comparison).
RUB = anyone who watched Sons of Anarchy and thought "hey that's cool. I should buy a hog"
Seriously to get the kids camping you just need a tent. At that age as long as they can cook marshmallows on a stick they're gonna love it.
RUBS
Bikers = think nothing of putting 10,000-20,000 or more miles on a motorcycle within a year.
RUBs = think nothing of spending $20,000-$40,000 on a motorcycle then putting 100 miles on it a year…maybe.
Bikers = tend to ride their bikes to different events.
RUBs = tend to tow their bikes to different events.
Bikers = see worth measured in foot pounds of torque and horsepower.
RUBs = see worth in winning plastic trophies.
Bikers = clean their leathers the way God intended, by riding in the rain.
RUBs= don’t clean leathers; they buy squeaky new ones…every season…preferably from the dealership.
Bikers = knows what a bug tastes like at 60mph.
RUBs = are generally scared of bugs and think they’re “yucky”.
Bikers = love a vintage HD motors and thinks knuckles, shovels and pans are sexy.
RUBs = love shiny paint jobs, tassels, and whatever else you can bolt on from the factory.
Bikers = love to ride.
RUBs = love to park and show off.
Bikers = will be 100 miles down the road before the RUB finishes sponging the dirt out of his spokes.
Bikers = own tools.
RUBs = have 800 numbers to call for roadside assistance.
Bikers = will “settle it” if they have a problem with someone.
RUBs = will call their lawyer to get a “settlement”.
Bikers = know that a gray beards are earned and to be respected.
RUBs = stain their beards pretending to be 20 years dumber (assuming you ever see a RUB with a beard).
Bikers = see a gray beard with a limp and chalk it up to “toughness” “commitment” and “experience”.
RUBs = see an old man with a handicap.
Bikers = know, show and expect respect.
RUBs = think respect is something you get from the logo on the side of your gas tank.
Bikers = have brothers and sisters.
RUBs = call people “bro”.
Bikers = know they’re bikers for better or worse.
RUBs = wonder what RUB means…wonder if they are a RUB…wonder if maybe they are bikers.
Bikers = see a parking lot full of motorcycles and want to go in and see what’s going on.
RUBs = see a parking lot full of motorcycles and worry that the corresponding building might be full of villains, ne’er do wells and bad guys unless of course it’s a dealership party.
Bikers = earn patches.
RUBs = buy patches.
Bikers = understand motorcycles have hot pipes, hot engines and can be dangerous.
RUBs = sue a manufacturer because they burned their drumsticks while riding a motorcycle wearing only shorts and flip flops.
Bikers = understand the beauty of simplicity.
RUBs = can’t wait to see ABS brakes, GPS systems, air bags, air conditioning, surround sound and if possible, a reverse and/or automatic transmission on a motorcycle.
Seriously to get the kids camping you just need a tent. At that age as long as they can cook marshmallows on a stick they're gonna love it.
RUBS
Bikers = think nothing of putting 10,000-20,000 or more miles on a motorcycle within a year.
RUBs = think nothing of spending $20,000-$40,000 on a motorcycle then putting 100 miles on it a year…maybe.
Bikers = tend to ride their bikes to different events.
RUBs = tend to tow their bikes to different events.
Bikers = see worth measured in foot pounds of torque and horsepower.
RUBs = see worth in winning plastic trophies.
Bikers = clean their leathers the way God intended, by riding in the rain.
RUBs= don’t clean leathers; they buy squeaky new ones…every season…preferably from the dealership.
Bikers = knows what a bug tastes like at 60mph.
RUBs = are generally scared of bugs and think they’re “yucky”.
Bikers = love a vintage HD motors and thinks knuckles, shovels and pans are sexy.
RUBs = love shiny paint jobs, tassels, and whatever else you can bolt on from the factory.
Bikers = love to ride.
RUBs = love to park and show off.
Bikers = will be 100 miles down the road before the RUB finishes sponging the dirt out of his spokes.
Bikers = own tools.
RUBs = have 800 numbers to call for roadside assistance.
Bikers = will “settle it” if they have a problem with someone.
RUBs = will call their lawyer to get a “settlement”.
Bikers = know that a gray beards are earned and to be respected.
RUBs = stain their beards pretending to be 20 years dumber (assuming you ever see a RUB with a beard).
Bikers = see a gray beard with a limp and chalk it up to “toughness” “commitment” and “experience”.
RUBs = see an old man with a handicap.
Bikers = know, show and expect respect.
RUBs = think respect is something you get from the logo on the side of your gas tank.
Bikers = have brothers and sisters.
RUBs = call people “bro”.
Bikers = know they’re bikers for better or worse.
RUBs = wonder what RUB means…wonder if they are a RUB…wonder if maybe they are bikers.
Bikers = see a parking lot full of motorcycles and want to go in and see what’s going on.
RUBs = see a parking lot full of motorcycles and worry that the corresponding building might be full of villains, ne’er do wells and bad guys unless of course it’s a dealership party.
Bikers = earn patches.
RUBs = buy patches.
Bikers = understand motorcycles have hot pipes, hot engines and can be dangerous.
RUBs = sue a manufacturer because they burned their drumsticks while riding a motorcycle wearing only shorts and flip flops.
Bikers = understand the beauty of simplicity.
RUBs = can’t wait to see ABS brakes, GPS systems, air bags, air conditioning, surround sound and if possible, a reverse and/or automatic transmission on a motorcycle.
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We have a Jayco 154BH and love it. Family of 4
( kids are 8&5). It’s size is easy too fit in any camp site, fits in the driveway, easy to tow and does everything we need. Keeps us dry when it rains, I don’t sleep on the ground and has a toilet and shower, small fridge and AC. Simple.
We enjoy the outdoors, so we didn’t see a need for larger camper. ( couch, large table, heavier camper etc, etc) Just beds, toilet and warm place to sleep, or cool ( AC if it’s hot out)
Slight downside is the black tank storage, it’s small and with just using the toilet we get about 3 days out of it ( must teach kids to easy up on the TP useage) anymore then 3 days and I’d prefer to hook up (water/sewer/hydro) private camp ground, but 3 days or less we rock provincial parks. We also just changed the table to a better foam mattress and leave it down all the time, we eat outside under the eating tent/picnic table anyways.
We got it before crazy COVID prices, and it’s been a great little camper for our family for past 4 years. Not sure about minivan towing cause I tow with a Ram 5.7 and think the camper is well within my limits
Isn't that the same for everything? Put most of the budget into finishes and ruthlessly cost cut on anything you can't see.
A great solution is a tent trailer. Lots of room for sleeping and decent for fowl weather.
Don’t get caught up in the creature comforts like A/C and furnace etc.
Cook outside as most do on the open fire or portable grill.
You can have a roof rack for bikes and there is plenty of storage.
I had an older one with a 12 foot box and manual crank to lift the roof. Worked great.
Easy to tow.
Sleep off the grown and the rest of the time you are outside having fun anyways.
Highly recommend.
We are looking at a teardrop now only because it’s my wife and I and the kids are older and likely sleep in their own tent and stay up later etc.
Plus we want something small and light to tow with a car. The pop up can get a little heavy with gear.
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Thanks @nakkers and @Kawyman for the input, highly appreciate it.
Never considered a tent trailer really...looking on kijiji they seem fairly well priced. We don't need much more than that in all honesty. More is always welcome, but not needed. Plus it would fit nicely in the garage when not being used.
How the h$LL do you keep these things secure from someone stealing it when you're not at camp? What stops them from pulling up, connecting, and you come back to an empty site? I mean same can be said for tents, but I've never heard of anyone having their tents stolen or broken into.
Never considered a tent trailer really...looking on kijiji they seem fairly well priced. We don't need much more than that in all honesty. More is always welcome, but not needed. Plus it would fit nicely in the garage when not being used.
How the h$LL do you keep these things secure from someone stealing it when you're not at camp? What stops them from pulling up, connecting, and you come back to an empty site? I mean same can be said for tents, but I've never heard of anyone having their tents stolen or broken into.
I install the trailer ball/hitch lock once the campers setup. If we leave the site the campers locked, camper ball locked, and things outta sight that are important to us. If someone wants are marshmallow sticks and colouring books they’ll take them..
I also remove my hitch and toss it in my bed under the tonneau cover, would make a crappy day if someone stole the hitch when I’m at the beach. I don’t use a pin lock in the hitch because I always seem to bang my shins or knee on the hitch so I’d rather just take it out and toss it in the bed outta the way.
The tent trailer has built in security against being stolen. Hide the handle to crank it down and they can't collapse it to drive away. My old neighbours had one and had lost the actual crank so they used a table leg and wrench to crank it up and down.
As for everything else, I'm with Kawyman, some basic security makes someone else an easier target. If I have a soft sided enclosure (tent, tent trailer etc), the valuable stuff gets locked in the car.
Never owned a tent trailer or hybrid camper, but I’d be asking some owners how wet things get inside if you have too pack up on a rainy day.
Does the canvas make/get everything wet inside and that’s why people have to open them up at home and air dry the camper canvas, cushions and things for a few days after the rains stopped?
Yup. That's what the neighbours did. Open it before your trip to let it air out and get the musty smell out, open it after your trip for the same reasons. It has some upsides (interior space, room for toys, low height for easy pull) but there are some definite downsides as well. They pulled theirs with an early 2000's camry. I don't think the car was happy but it worked.
Limited experience, but really appreciated a pop up trailer when a buddy and I went down to Indy for the last f1 race there. Have often thought about getting one.
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