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Camping: tent, trailer or pop-up trailer (anyone own a Fleetwood Evolution?)

 
   
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mopdahl

May 11, 12 13:23

Post #1 of 7 (1092 views)
Camping: tent, trailer or pop-up trailer (anyone own a Fleetwood Evolution?) Quote | Reply
So my little ones (2 girls, 3 & 5) are now at the age where they can deal with extended road trips & enjoy camping. Previously we've just done a couple of weekend trips using tents, including one beach trip (never again in tents), but this summer we are looking at doing a few extended 10-14 day trips--one down the coast from northern Oregon all the way to LA, and another using our place in Park City as a launching point for 2-4 day trips to Zion/Yosemite/Rockies---basically 5-6 hour drives then camp. Assuming that the family enjoys this, I could see this becoming a regular thing. I'd also like to eventually be able to throw in some extended Baja/Mexico surf/Sea of Cortez trips as well when they are older.

So, given the above, and the desire to make camping a regular family thing for the next 10+ years, would you recommend going with tents/gear, a tow behind trailer, or a pop-up like the Fleetwood Evolution 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daDBtHA7LLg).

Towing/traveling in a 2007 Land Cruiser that I've outfitted for family expeditions (Thule 2100XT & surfboards/gear on top, custom bumper that carries skis/snowboards + double hitch in rear (so can tow + carry 4 bikes on Swagman XTC-4). Bringing our dogs is a must, so that pretty much eliminates any gear inside the vehicle.

I'd like to be able to camp well off the beaten trail, which is why I'm leaning toward the Evo 3 as it can handle some fire roads/beach where a regular trailer couldn't.

Thoughts & experiences & recs?
____________
“There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old’s life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.” John Rogers


jriosa

May 11, 12 15:12

Post #2 of 7 (1070 views)
Re: Camping: tent, trailer or pop-up trailer (anyone own a Fleetwood Evolution?) [mopdahl] [In reply to] Quote | Reply
There are pluses and minuses to all choices, BUT if I was in your position I would look at a regular towing trailing - probably like this - http://www.livinlite.com/camplite-overview.php - well within your towing capability.

Based on what you say there are a couple advantages. You can get an off road option for it. You will have more space - pop ups are ok for long weekends, but you will get pretty tired of it as the kids get older and everyone is in everyone else back pockets. You have less adverse weather concerns. Way better construction. Bigger capacity for water (fresh/grey and black - critical if you are out in the boonies for a bit) .And finally, if you are bringing the dogs - remember the national parks are NOT dog friendly - you can't take them on the trails with you. So having something you can leave at a hookup in the summer with AC on for them is a must.

Just so you know - the fleetwood is a re-badged Coleman. As much as I have used a lot of coleman stuff over the years - there are some nasty things about their campers -- proprietary water systems are a pain to repair, odd 12 v electrical setups etc. If you do want to go this route, look at some of the other brands as well.
Jim
http://www.wwofva.com -custom wood turned gifts
"In dog beers, I've only had one"


last tri in 83

May 11, 12 16:12

Post #3 of 7 (1055 views)
Re: Camping: tent, trailer or pop-up trailer (anyone own a Fleetwood Evolution?) [mopdahl] [In reply to] Quote | Reply
Just rent one unless you are going every other weekend.

_____________________________________________
To err is human, to forgive, canine


dreaming~big

May 12, 12 7:22

Post #4 of 7 (981 views)
Re: Camping: tent, trailer or pop-up trailer (anyone own a Fleetwood Evolution?) [mopdahl] [In reply to] Quote | Reply
Just personally, with two kids, I wouldn't want an indoor shower or potty. If you get the flooring wet, you're in for smells, soft spots, linoleum lifting up. Ditto with the water reservoir ... we never filled the reservoir, just used the direct hose connect to a water source. Also never cooked meat in the trailer, kept a second Coleman stove for the greasy stuff so we wouldn't get the film and odors inside. We always stayed at established campgrounds with the kids for security reasons, and there were almost always hot showers and a rest room. We had a Viking pop up when the kids were of that age and took it all over the U.S. and Canada. Loved it. We had a much smaller and simpler unit than the Evo3, though, and it was perfectly sufficient. Those whistles and bells (i.e, the toy rack under the bed unit, the outdoor speakers) have a habit of being more trouble than they're worth. Similarly, I also wouldn't get the furnace. A small space heater was entirely sufficient, even when we woke up in Columbus, Ohio, with an unexpected two inches of snow on the ground. And I would be bumping into those Evo3 ceiling fans ... again, a small fan was sufficient. We had a queen and a double, and we could seat/sleep all the kids (I think we once took five or six kids to Quebec for a month). The fun thing about the smaller pop up unit is that if you get into "back up trouble" or other weird stuff negotiating space, you can always unhitch it & have the kids turn it around. We had a blast. Much preferred over tents for family camping. Sadly, our Viking is sitting in the garage waiting for the next great adventure. In retrospect, I probably would have sourced out a suitable bike hitch for the pop up. Putting six bikes on top of the SUV was a true PIA. I would have much preferred some kind of rig built into the pop up.

Hope that helps. Your post brings back wonderful memories!

~~ kate


(This post was edited by dreaming~big on May 13, 12 3:54)


YaHey

May 12, 12 9:14

Post #5 of 7 (968 views)
Re: Camping: tent, trailer or pop-up trailer (anyone own a Fleetwood Evolution?) [mopdahl] [In reply to] Quote | Reply
The only campers I would buy is a pop-up or a hybrid. I just sold my pop-up, and have previously owned a hybrid and a travel trailer. My days of tent camping are long gone - in particular in a place where we will almost always get rain 1-2 days per trip.

1. I used to go camping 1-3 times per year, a week at a time, when the boys and my daugther were young. However, even at 15 days per year, the cost of owning anything more than a pop up makes no sense.
2. Every year the maintenance increases. The last few years, it would cost me $500 to get the pop-up going - new battery, replace a pump, replace tires, replace electrical wiring, etc etc. etc. These are costs you have to factor in - along with storage (my annual cost was $475 for outdoor storage, but if you really want to protect your investment you will be in the $1K per year range for indoor storage).
3. I would NEVER get a popup or hybrid with a toilet. That is just a complete hassle, uses up valuable space, and it is really easy to walk to the camp bathroom. A sink is necessary for brushing teeth, etc. A kitchen is completely unnecessary - we always cooked outside (more like cold meals), or frankly went to a local restaurant for all meals (the clean up at the camp site with small kids makes no sense). I can't even imagine cooking inside a camper with the ventilation and smell. I would say that we used our refrigator once in 7 years.
4. Never get a shower, uses valuable sleeping space - use the camp site showers.
5. If you buy a pop up get one with king sized beds and the least bells and whistles allowing you to convert space into beds.
6. No one needs more since you (should not) will not be hanging out inside the camper - get outdoors where all the fun is!
7. Buy the top bicycle roof racks.

Edit: Hybrids are the best, but an additional $5K-$7K for more is simply not worth it (IMO), at night after the fire with marshmellows (and alcohol for the adults) everyone passes out, making the extra space in a hybrid unnecessary.


(This post was edited by YaHey on May 12, 12 9:16)


last tri in 83

May 12, 12 9:49

Post #6 of 7 (959 views)
Re: Camping: tent, trailer or pop-up trailer (anyone own a Fleetwood Evolution?) [mopdahl] [In reply to] Quote | Reply
First trip to make - Oceano Dunes, right up the coast a couple hours. The only place in the USA (I think) where you can pull your trailer right down on the pacific ocean, camp on the beach, make a bonfire, rent some ATV's to ride in the dunes, surf, fish, boogyboard, ride jet skis or bum a ride in someones dune buggy. 4WD is recommended to get there. The sand can get soft and there is a small creek to cross.

_____________________________________________
To err is human, to forgive, canine


scorpio516

May 12, 12 17:54

Post #7 of 7 (917 views)
Re: Camping: tent, trailer or pop-up trailer (anyone own a Fleetwood Evolution?) [mopdahl] [In reply to] Quote | Reply
My daughter is 4.5. She LOVES, loves tent camping. She's gone at least a dozen times. We've got a variety of tents, as there are only 3 of us, these might not be too useful to you:

A REI Half Dome. Only a 2 person tent, but a nice fly/vestibule. A little heavy at 5lbs.
A cheap Eureka 4 season, 3 person tent. Much bigger and heavier, but it keeps everything out. Worked great in November in Yosemite when we got hit with 18" of snow overnight.
A Hennessy Scout Hammock for her. Loves to play in it, and nap, but she won't go to bed in it - probably cause she's not with mom or dad.
A Hennessy Expedition Zip Hammock for me. My go to sleeping system.

Two years ago, we went up to Portland from Sacramento. Took 5 up and 101 down the coast home. In Oregon, we stayed in Yurts in the state parks. Awesome. That was actually the only places we "camped", we made it from Sac to Medford, OR (Valley of the Rouge SP) the first day, and from Brookings, OR (Harris Beach SP) to home the last day.

Now, I could give you a whole lot more stuff you could get, but a lot of it you wouldn't want as all my stuff is focused on fast hiking, not car camping. You could easily go much bigger on tents and use cots if you wanted to, when driving a Land Cruiser.