Tent camping vs trailer camping.

[peter78]

we camped at idyllwild park last week with some good friends.

there was a family on a plot close by with one of these:

Aliner - The original A-frame travel trailer

i know what i want next!

joel

That is a neat pop up. I have seen one. It is hard to stand up in and is a little limited in space. This camper would be good for cold weather.

On a regular pop up, you have a ton of beds. Usually, you use one side of the pop up to throw all of your bags and stuff. With most pop ups you will have no closet, so you live out of the duffel bags.

 

[gptoy96]

There's too many bears around here to be tent camping for me.

My options are for "roughing it" camping either sleeping in the T4R or Taco under the cap. If we're family camping it'll be in the trailer I just picked up.

Around here, I feel like a bear burrito when I'm tucked in a tent.

 

[Mtn.Rush]

Nothing special but a great time.

 

[Colemanfu]

I you want a bed get one of these.....

 

[AddictedOffroad]

I love my pop-up. I can get it just about as far as my 4runner can drag it. I lifted it, extended the tongue 3ft for more storage. I have four kids. 14, 12, 9, 1.5yrs old. We also have two labs that go as well. It fits everyone relatively comfortably. I would never go back to tent camping again. You'd be pretty amazed at how far I can drag this thing back onto some rough trails.

This was prior to me lifting/stretching it. It did have a spring flip on it though.

 

[shawnstcyr]

I just put an inflatable air mattress in the back. It's quick and easy, with the added luxury of heating and A/C. If you need to camp on unlevel rocky ground, just stack a few rocks and park one of your tires on it until the truck sits level.

 

[AddictedOffroad]

I just put an inflatable air mattress in the back. It's quick and easy, with the added luxury of heating and A/C. If you need to camp on unlevel rocky ground, just stack a few rocks and park one of your tires on it until the truck sits level.

Not really doable unless you are under 5'10" and sleep alone. :wink2:

 

[Ttn333]

I you want a bed get one of these.....

Lets see more of that table set up please!

 

[Mtn.Rush]

I you want a bed get one of these.....

Just purchased from REI, thanks.

 

[Colemanfu]

Not really doable unless you are under 5'10" and sleep alone. :wink2:

But not if you yank your rear seat and run it as a flat bed. That gives this 6 footer plenty of room. Level platform and more storage behind the front seats.

 

[Colemanfu]

TNT - the table is pure home brew. I can be used with or without the bike hauler. I have a few different pieces of wood I can put on - small to xl party style. This one is a med and tucks in the back real nice between camps. Real easy if you're friends with a welder.

We even made a tailgate for when I want to sit on the back.

I don't have any welding tools but do OK working with wood.

Casper - working on this real time - I don't know how to add multiple pix so am going back. Come back in a few,,,, My wife thinks more red neck than genius so thanks!
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/pimp-zone/72727-04-runner-pimp-seat-hitch-mod.html

What - not a single reply? Ha

 

[Casper421]

We even made a tailgate for when I want to sit on the back.

Dude, your a genius!!

 

[Ttn333]

TNT - the table is pure home brew. I can be used with or without the bike hauler. I have a few different pieces of wood I can put on - small to xl party style. This one is a med and tucks in the back real nice between camps. Real easy if you're friends with a welder.

We even made a tailgate for when I want to sit on the back.

I don't have welding tool but do am OK working with wood.

Casper - working on this real time - I don't know how to add multiple pix so am going back. Come back in a few,,,, My wife thinks more red neck than genius so thanks!
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/pimp-zone/72727-04-runner-pimp-seat-hitch-mod.html

What - not a single reply? Ha

That's just awesome! Beats my sliding tray on the 5th gen for sure.

 

[Ross]

This is my favorite seat used with a receiver:
Off-Road Commode | www.kotulas.com | Free Shipping

 

[Koz]

I camped as a kid in tents (Scouts). Then became a Scoutmaster to save my little brother's troop because no one would do it. I then took my own kids camping with tents. After they lost interest in camping I picked up a large popup (with air, toilet, standup shower, loaded with everything). Did that for several years. Since my wife and I love camping and traveling we decided to get something real comfortable and easy to tow and setup. This will fit in a standard garage (with swing hitch).

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/general-discussions/86446-new-trailer.html

Koz

 

[Titanpat57]

There's a lot of small trailers you can build or convert without having to wrap up big bucks...great for a beginner family that wants to get away.

find a trailer, add a water tank, throw a roof top tent on it, and you have a light, fun camper.

Here's the last project I did, it was my second attempt. It was quite a bit more complex than the first.



Great setup Koz....good luck with it!


It's always the same, age old problem with tent camping, and it almost always begins as a room, or storage issue......either for the gear, the occupants, and the occupants gear. We usually bring more then we need or use.

A small trailer, even if for gear, is a great alternative for a couple of reasons... it keeps all the gear in ONE SPOT!(as long as the trailer is weatherproof or covered) There is almost always more time involved with "hunting" down the gear to take, and then the back end of that, stowing it on the return. I can literally be more exhausting then the camping itself.

Another good reason, is with a stout enough trailer, you can add a RTT, also known as a roof top tent. There becoming increasingly affordable, and with an annex you can add room to sleep a couple of crumb snatchers, and maybe house a porti-potti, to earn extra points with the Mrs. The more amenities you provide the better the trip will go....ask me how I know...

I started tent camping, graduated to couple of bigger and better trailers, and now I'm back to basics, and loving it more than ever. It takes about an hour and half (or 3-4 beers, depending on outside air temperature) to completely set up, and that is at an leisurely pace. The trailer is easy to tow, easy to maneuver, and tracks almost exact to the 4Runner...the most important thing to the whole experience...everything is in one spot and ready to go...load the cooler, add some clothes, fill the water tank, and WE ARE ROLLING!!


I forgot how easy it suppose to be....


Please go enjoy the great beautiful outdoors with your family!



There is fellow by the name of Scott Chaney who has really nailed the lightweight, full amenities experience, and most important, offers either instructions for do-it-yourselves, or a full blown set up if you need it. Plus he's just a real gentleman and true professional to deal with. I would recommend him to anyone starting out, he's a wealth of knowledge and always willing to assist.

Here's his site...enjoy! http://compactcampingconcepts.com/

~original[/IMG]

 

[GalenDavis]

Fleetwood E2

I tow a Fleetwood E2 off-road camper. Have over 200,000 miles on my 2003 4-Runner Limited V8. Camp eight weeks a year. Disappointed with the new 4-Runner towing capacity of 5000 lbs. As a nature photographerI venture into remote part of the west, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Montana.