Jumping Into the World of Camper Camping

There are those who are attracted to the camping lifestyle and those who belong in hotels or VRBO type arrangements. It will usually take just one camping trip to figure out your preference.  If you enjoy the smell of a wet camp fire and the sound of crickets (and other bugs and animals) at night and you have an persisting desire to be in the great outdoors despite the possible heat, cold or dampness, then camping might be for you.  Camping is a time to put away the screens as much as possible, to cook outside, to take bike rides, to wet a line and, if only for a day or two, to let time slow down a bit while we hangout with those we love.  I grew up tent camping and still cherish the memories of fishing, campfire hotdogs and family play and laughter.  Since starting my own little family, we purchased a camper when our son was 2 and we have not had a single regret for taking on the adventure.  I use the camping experience as teachable moments for my son.  He's able to adjust the BlueOx Hitch, scotch the camper, drill down the stabilizers and help unload the truck.  I am frequently consulted by co-workers thinking about getting a camper.  Most have been mothers or fathers with young kids and want my thoughts on whether or not they should take the plunge.  My message is always the same:  If your family really enjoys the outdoors and each other then get your camper.  Kids are only little for a little while and we never get those moments back.

If you come to terms with the fact that you have the camping bug, there are several important things to consider before you make the investment.  In my experience, it seems most of the camper people we know started out with small pop-up style campers.  Most of our camping friends bought super entry level campers (read cheap and half canvas) ten years ago or so as first campers but since RV camping has become so popular I've notice a shift to buying hard shells for a lot of entry level families.  Consider this:

• Can you tow a camper?  1) Are you comfortable pulling something behind a vehicle?  Are you comfortable backing a camper into position?  This includes your own driveway, a storage facility, tighter than imagined campground spots late at night with limited light.   2) Do you have a vehicle rated for towing your camper?  Most vehicle tow ratings are easily found online and there should be a placard on your camper with the dry weight details.  Some trucks come prepared with trailer brakes.  If your truck/SUV is not yet equipped it's a very handy, cheap aftermarket add-on.  Trailer brakes use the brakes on the camper to slow the camper down instead of your truck slowing both the truck and the camper down safely.  Consider that you will be adding more weight in both the camper and the vehicle when packing for trips.  Most of your very heavy items should go in the back of the truck or SUV (things like a spare tire, extra propane tanks, propane fire pit, YETI type coolers, etc.).  Depending on the weight of the camper you buy you may want to consider using a diesel engine truck for better towing capacity and fuel economy.  If you tow often and for long distances then the diesel may be your best bet. 
• Do you have a place to store the camper?  Are there neighborhood regulations barring you from storing your camper in your driveway?  Is there an affordable local storage place?  Can you get it in/out of your driveway?   It's really handy to have your camper in your driveway to load up and pack your stuff instead of carrying things from your house to a storage facility to pack.  It can take on-board refrigerators and freezers at least a day to get down to temperature. 
• What type of camper suits your current needs?  You can quickly understand the camper length (often does NOT include total hitch length) by looking at the camper model number.  For example a Keystone Laredo 332BH would mean it's a 33' 2" Bunk House model with a camper length of a little over 33'.  The total length of this particular camper is around 37' including rear bumper and fold down bike rack and front hitch area. Travel trailers always mean it's a bumper hitch style as opposed to a 5th wheel.  Here are some quick pointers:
  • Bunk House (usually designated by BH):  Do you have kids that need their own space?  Bunkhouses have single or double bunks and can provide more storage.  You can find bunk house style campers with and without slides.
  • Rear Living & Rear Kitchen (RL or RK):  This set-up is usually for a couple and has an open floor plan in the living area and a separate bedroom.
  • Toy haulers:  These come in both 5th wheel versions and travel trailer and have an opening on the back to load toys such as motorcycles, golf carts, etc.
  • 5th wheels:  These require a goose-neck style hitch in the rear of the truck.  5th wheels usually are longer and can come with king beds.  They usually weigh more than travel trailers but can come in extra light versions.  One thing to consider with 5th wheels is that you lose the storage in the back of the truck as the goose-neck will swivel from side-to-side around the rear of the truck. 
  • Do you need extra sleeping areas for the occasional grand kids trip or festival outing?  Some campers have fold out couches or bigger dinettes suited for sleeping guests.
  • Are you planning to visit hard to reach places or parks and campgrounds?  Long campers will be harder to get into tight/hard to reach places.  When making reservations, most campgrounds will publish the site size to help you pick the right size for your camping needs (this information is not always completely accurate).
• What do you really NEED and what can you afford?  You can spend as much as you want on a camper.  How much storage do you need?  Will you be using it for tailgating or trips across country?  What states will you travel in/through?  Some states don't allow for open propane while travelling so this limits using refrigerators that run on only propane while travelling.  Campers, like houseboats, depreciate in value as soon as they leave the lot.   The investment is for family time and outdoor adventure, not for making a profit if you intend to sell it later.  Another rule of thumb with campers is you get what you pay for.  Cheap price means cheap camper.  You will begin acquiring other camping supplies along the way so the spending doesn't stop at the camper purchase. 

It's worth mentioning that I live with and love a chef so we have crazy amounts of outdoor cooking gear and usually feed a whole camping crew.  Our list of favorite gear may seem heavy in the cooking equipment compared to your needs.  When camper shopping my preference is tandem axle for better stability and security while travelling.  It's also important to note that I'm an engineer by trade so some of my comments may seem technical in nature and some of my recommended tools for camping may seem over the top.  Take what you think you need and then whittle it down based on what you actually use. ​

Our First Camper

We decided on a hard shell camper because I found a great deal and because I was finished sleeping on the ground in tents.  I bought the Puma Palomino from a co-worker for $4000.   We kept the Puma for 7 years and enjoyed every minute of it.  I had no grand expectations from the Puma, if something broke I wasn't that worried… I had only paid $4000 for it.  From the beginning it had a leaky awning and the roof became soft over time.  There were broken hinges here and there and sometimes the heat worked.  The water heater never did work for us on it. The bathroom of the Puma was tiny and we mostly used the tub for extra storage.  It had 2 bunks tucked in the back (top was always used for storage) and it had no slides.  I pulled the Puma with a Chevy Suburban and did not have a stabilizer hitch for it.  The Puma was only 23' feet in length with a total hitch length of 25'.  Our last trip in the Puma was at Fall Creek Falls State Park with a group of our camping friends.  One couple had just upgraded to a Forrest River Cherokee with a slide and bunks and invited us in to check it out. We waited all weekend to go see it and when we did  we were ruined.  Suddenly our Puma felt so claustrophobic and tiny and OLD that we easily convinced ourselves that we NEEDED a  new camper. With slides. ​