View Full Version : Drooling over teardrop trailers
I like small spaces. Have you seen any of the modern tear drop trailers, such as the T@B trailers? They even have bathrooms (wet bath). The cost is ridiculous. $25K-$30K. But oh, are they CUTE. And you don’t need a huge truck to pull them. Way out of my budget, but dang, would they be fun. Some people even full time in them.
https://youtu.be/oy6gypJddMg
https://youtu.be/mawEQHNkL1A
I think they can be easily acquired for under $10k. I've seen them out and about. Bathroom amenities rapidly increase cost to be sure.
Even $10K is too much. A diving buddy has one of the really small ones that’s essentially just a bed on wheels. Even those are a lot. I can get a lot of hotel rooms for what these things cost. Plus I am not mechanically inclined, so I have no business owning something like this. But dang, they are neat.
iris lilies
2-4-21, 2:39pm
I don’t understand why the teardrops are so freaking expensive. I don’t think they’re that great anyway, they’re just a tiny sleeping cubicle.
I like the older fiberglass ones like The Scamp products.
IL, the Scamps are still being made. I don’t like the interior design, thought. Think they’re ugly.
I LOVE teardrops. They are so cute and easy to pull around. My son has one--a handmade vintage one, and that's where he sleeps in the summer when he visits.
I think they are so cute, I saw one at REI a few years back and have been lusting ever since.
So far I have escaped the foolishness of owning one. Seems like they'd be perfect for hitting the road with the dog.
2 of my friends have them. They are both 60ish, retired and love them. I enjoy watching their travel adventures on FB.
I've been looking at this Barefoot Camper- its currently made in the UK and there is a US producer (the same NuCamp that makes the TAB) working on this for the US market:
https://youtu.be/NKli6bGNRh0
This one is intended primarily for the festival goer ie weekend only camping. This one even has a built in (3 bottle) wine rack. Having been in a lot of campgrounds in my life, I noticed how friendly the other people are. My minimum requirement is that I have to be able to drink a cup of coffee first before talking to others. So campers that have the kitchen outside wouldn't work for me. Once you are outside visible, you are fair game for chatter by fellow campers. :)
Herbgeek, that Barefoot Caravan is great! Not quite my style, but it is cute.
OK, Tradd. So dream what you would do with a teardrop and tell us about it. Sometimes it helps to think it all through by doing this.
OK, Tradd. So dream what you would do with a teardrop and tell us about it. Sometimes it helps to think it all through by doing this.
I would take it all around the the Midwest and cave country in north Florida to dive. Working remotely maybe I’d be able to stay away for longer periods of time, working near the dive site and diving more often.
iris lilies
2-4-21, 11:11pm
Tradd, the teardrop camper in your initial post is large, quite a bit bigger than the one I was thinking of. The ones I’m familiar with are those that you pretty much crawl into to sleep. The kitchen is in the back and you stand outside to access it.
Tried, the teardrop camper in your initial post is large, quite a bit bigger than the one I was thinking of. Then ones I’m familiar with are those that you pretty much crawl into to sleep. The kitchen is in the back and you stand outside to access it.
I realized later that’s what you must have been referring to. I don’t like the ones with the kitchen in the back myself.
Teacher Terry
2-5-21, 12:38am
Years ago we laid in a small one and it was like being in a coffin.
iris lilies
2-5-21, 12:26pm
Years ago we laid in a small one and it was like being in a coffin.
yes, that’s my Impression of the tiny ones. And they are ridiculously expensive. People are DYI building them to cut costs.
I can see $20,000 range for the one .Tradd highlighted.
Airstream has a tiny model called the Bambi that is more than $40K!
I’ll have to go back through my history on YouTube but I found a 18’-20’ trailer that was small but had a lovely large bathroom. It was about $18K. Not a teardrop.
IL, I think the teardrop bigger ones are so expensive as they are built to be light and you can often tow them with a vehicle you already have - SUV, etc. Don’t need a huge truck.
$18K one that isn’t a tear drop
https://youtu.be/fSM9Zv4CBXM
Wow Tradd I really like that one!
I'm not sure why Airstreams are priced so high, but here's the BaseCamp which is cute, but twice the price of the R-Pod
https://www.airstream.com/travel-trailers/basecamp/
I've looked at lots of the teardrop trailers but found them all to be just a bit too small for the extended use we like when out and about. For anyone interested in a slightly larger one with more elbow room this is the one we acquired about 18 months ago. It's not terribly larger although it does require at least a 1/2 ton truck or van to tow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPHcQLlfEQU&feature=emb_logo
Here's me putting the outside kitchen to good use making breakfast in Montana during last summer's travels.
https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/104592566_10218602718765291_4932192498406512388_o. jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=2&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=BuqfWNZxHvwAX9xahcr&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-1.xx&oh=8e7b407e3484505247dcc4e33bfa4cdd&oe=604498A6
I look at all these beautiful units and remember when DH and I threw a large metal trunk (3'x2'x15") with all the basic camping essentials, simple laundry baskets for clothes plus a cozy sleeping bag and mattress in the back of our 1/2 ton truck with box cap and took off camping for 2 weeks at a time. Life was a lot simpler then it seems.
He was an early riser so I got awakened with fresh coffee. We prepared a substantial breakfast, cleaned up and travelled across the eastern US and Canada. We drove as far as a tank of gas would take us and explored the area before we bought supplies for supper and the next morning. The small New England towns and maritime area were lovely to visit. If there was a community meal posted, we enjoyed that. Nowadays, I am told that one has to book a site weeks or months ahead, pay enormous campsite fees. Tradd, thanks for the trip down memory lane. Enjoy your dream.
https://www.leer.com/Truck-Caps We used the mid/high rise version.
I look at all these beautiful units and remember when DH and I threw a large metal trunk (3'x2'x15") with all the basic camping essentials, simple laundry baskets for clothes plus a cozy sleeping bag and mattress in the back of our 1/2 ton truck with box cap and took off camping for 2 weeks at a time. Life was a lot simpler then it seems.
He was an early riser so I got awakened with fresh coffee. We prepared a substantial breakfast, cleaned up and travelled across the eastern US and Canada. We drove as far as a tank of gas would take us and explored the area before we bought supplies for supper and the next morning. The small New England towns and maritime area were lovely to visit. If there was a community meal posted, we enjoyed that. Nowadays, I am told that one has to book a site weeks or months ahead, pay enormous campsite fees. Tradd, thanks for the trip down memory lane. Enjoy your dream.
https://www.leer.com/Truck-Caps We used the mid/high rise version.
Your trips sound so wonderful, razz!! Simple pleasures sometimes get muddied by a need for flat screen TVs and microwaves on a camping trip. When my NJ son came up for my daughter's wedding, they rented a huge Class C camper with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 3 TVs.
I love the idea of the mid/high truck cap--it's a great use for a truck bed! But if I were to buy one, I'd get the white one--to Terry's earlier point about teardrops being like a coffin, the black truck with the mid/high cap looks too much like a hearse for me!
This is just a dream for me. A trailer is totally out of my budget. But it’s nice to day dream.
I could totally do without the microwave and the TV. If you want to watch something, just stream it on your laptop. I guess I’m weird but I watch a lot of stuff on my iPhone. Mine is a 8 plus with the larger screen.
iris lilies
2-5-21, 8:47pm
Those areas that jut out like on Alan’s rig are always so interesting to me. I know I know they’ve been around for many years now, but they are still new to me. I mean the table area.
His bathroom is bigger than nearly all of my future bathrooms.
Those areas that jut out like on Alan’s rig are always so interesting to me. I know I know they’ve been around for many years now, but they are still new to me. I mean the table area.
Slides are essential to make a small space livable IMHO. That table though, it's gonna be outta here before this year's summer long ramble, replacing the entire dining area with a pair of theater style recliners such as this:
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/MkIAAOSw4wZd6Uos/s-l1600.jpg
His bathroom is bigger than nearly all of my future bathrooms.
Yeah, it's easily twice the size of the one in our old Class 'C' Motorhome. The shower is comfortable, the toilet can be used without banging your knees on anything and the wardrobe area is larger than some home closets. It was one of the primary selling features for us when we were shopping.
Alan that looks awesome! That’s the first RV I’ve seen that I think I would like. My sister has a 23 foot (I think) high end rv on a sprinter chassis that’s very nice but it seems way more crowded than yours because it has an enclosable separate sleeping space plus a separate living area. It makes sense for them because her wife is a serious morning person while my sister isn’t, but it means that the whole thing is packed pretty tightly with furniture and fixtures. SO and I have more of less the same sleep schedule so this would work fine for us.
iris lilies
2-5-21, 10:21pm
Theater seats. All the comforts!
@Alan, that’s a really nice trailer. The bathroom is HUGE!
I happen to not like sliders myself. For me as a single, a small trailer would work just fine. But again, out of my budget, probably permanently. I can get a lot of hotel rooms for what I’d spend on a trailer. And no upkeep to have to worry about.
Theater seats. All the comforts!
Ha ha, yeah, people talk about going camping in their little travel trailers and motorhomes. We don't camp, we're more 'take your home with you when you travel' people.
I think I've been working too hard to get my camping pack/gear load down to under 22 pounds....
@Alan, that’s a really nice trailer. The bathroom is HUGE!
I happen to not like sliders myself. For me as a single, a small trailer would work just fine. But again, out of my budget, probably permanently. I can get a lot of hotel rooms for what I’d spend on a trailer. And no upkeep to have to worry about.
I tend to think the same way. My sister knows they will never break even owning an rv compared to staying in hotels but they want to take the dog and cat with them. So it makes sense for them. I’m fine with hiring a cat sitter and getting a hotel and having someone else get paid to do the cleaning. And cooking.
GeorgeParker
2-6-21, 1:04am
$18K one that isn’t a tear drop
https://youtu.be/fSM9Zv4CBXMAt 11:50 she says there's a big open space under the bed you can use for storage, but only in the summer because putting stuff in there would block the furnace." Very poor planning imho.
Teacher Terry
2-6-21, 1:36am
We bought our motor home because we had 4 dogs and wanted to travel for a month at a time with them. Then we had to take the big guy Noki and the motor home saved the day. We bought it used and had a good time but got tired of it.
GeorgeParker
2-6-21, 2:25am
I think I've been working too hard to get my camping pack/gear load down to under 22 pounds....A notable quote from Colin Fletcher's The Complete Walker: "You know someone is a real backpacker when they have a drilled out handle on their toothbrush."
This is the Tab S. 15ft long and it has a bathroom. This one is really neat. The boondock package has a solar panel on top. I’d ditch the microwave, which would give you another cabinet, plus no TV. Not sure on price.
https://youtu.be/22T2ZjLzobI
This is the Tab S. 15ft long and it has a bathroom. This one is really neat. The boondock package has a solar panel on top. I’d ditch the microwave, which would give you another cabinet, plus no TV. Not sure on price.
https://youtu.be/22T2ZjLzobI
That is great! Nice compromise between the tiny teardrops and a standard trainer. When my son was looking, it was really hard to find nice, fully-functioning campers less than 20 ft.
$25K for a new one for the Tab 320S. Yikes!
I have to say that the Tab trailers are ridiculously expensive, but the interiors are much nicer and well-designed to me than other trailers of similar size. Really well done.
$25K for a new one for the Tab 320S. Yikes!
I have to say that the Tab trailers are ridiculously expensive, but the interiors are much nicer and well-designed to me than other trailers of similar size. Really well done.
Just a thought. Does your SUV have enough room for an air mattress?
Just a thought. Does your SUV have enough room for an air mattress?
Not when it’s full of dive gear!
That’s the issue. Escape is full of dive gear. If I didn’t have the dive gear, it would be different.
iris lilies
2-6-21, 11:49pm
This is the Tab S. 15ft long and it has a bathroom. This one is really neat. The boondock package has a solar panel on top. I’d ditch the microwave, which would give you another cabinet, plus no TV. Not sure on price.
https://youtu.be/22T2ZjLzobI
around $22,000?
This is very cute.
around $22,000?
This is very cute.
A friend called it “darling” and totally me. She urged me to think about it as a goal. Maybe.
More than $22K. I saw $25K.
I know this is just a wish at this point, but consider how tall you are with this type of trailer. The woman in the video is just 5 feet and it looked like her head was touching the ceiling in the kitchen area. I had looked a Little Guy teardrop at an RV show a couple of years ago, and my head bumping in the front cabinet was as big nope to the trailer - I'm 5'2". I would have to do kitchen work at arms length only.
Here's another one I've looked at on line that is similar in design- its Canadian and no distributors within a reasonable drive for me so I haven't checked it out in person. This one is super light so towable by more vehicles. https://heliovr.com/ultralight-travel-trailer/
iris lilies
2-7-21, 10:11am
I know this is just a wish at this point, but consider how tall you are with this type of trailer. The woman in the video is just 5 feet and it looked like her head was touching the ceiling in the kitchen area. I had looked a Little Guy teardrop at an RV show a couple of years ago, and my head bumping in the front cabinet was as big nope to the trailer - I'm 5'2". I would have to do kitchen work at arms length only.
Here's another one I've looked at on line that is similar in design- its Canadian and no distributors within a reasonable drive for me so I haven't checked it out in person. This one is super light so towable by more vehicles. https://heliovr.com/ultralight-travel-trailer/
The marketing for this one is done poorly. I can’t even tell where the kitchen part is. The photos are limited. It’s really too bad because I’d like to see more of it.
I love the way these look, but If we get a trailer, we need to be under 12k, and would probably look for a Viking:
https://cdn1.rvtrader.com/v1/media/73d45a29-3611-49e9-8300-59d1754f552b-1.jpg?width=512&height=384&quality=60&bestfit=true&upsize=true&blurBackground=true&blurValue=100
It is decidedly not droolworthy, but we need something big enough to live in a couple weeks at a time, and DH is extremely claustrophobic.
The marketing for this one is done poorly. I can’t even tell where the kitchen part is. The photos are limited. It’s really too bad because I’d like to see more of it.
I agree. The kitchen here is split- there's a sink and a reasonable counter space across the front. The rest of the kitchen are on the sides. The 2 burner stove is on one side (with a microwave underneath in kinda of an awkward access spot), and small frig across from stove with cabinets underneath.
Teacher Terry
2-7-21, 10:50am
Having to turn your bed into a table would get old fast. Ours was big enough that we could be in separate spaces. One person could be in the bedroom and one in the other section. I am 5’7” and most men are taller.
iris lilies
2-7-21, 11:38am
I agree. The kitchen here is split- there's a sink and a reasonable counter space across the front. The rest of the kitchen are on the sides. The 2 burner stove is on one side (with a microwave underneath in kinda of an awkward access spot), and small frig across from stove with cabinets underneath.
The video for the one Tradd showed was done very well. I was engaged through 3/4 of it. Here’s what they did well: they started with the interior. That’s what I want to see: the interior. Most of these trailer sales videos start with the incredibly boring details of the exterior and drone on about them and I just do not care.
iris lilies
2-7-21, 11:40am
Having to turn your bed into a table would get old fast. Ours was big enough that we could be in separate spaces. One person could be in the bedroom and one in the other section. I am 5’7” and most men are taller.
If I was single person in the unit Tradd showed, I would probably keep one side of the bed area open all the time as a bed and I would keep one side functional as a table area.
If I was single person in the unit Tradd showed, I would probably keep one side of the bed area open all the time as a bed and I would keep one side functional as a table area.
That’s exactly what I would do. And people have discussed getting a second table mount and putting it on the side, not right in the middle.
The video for the one Tradd showed was done very well. I was engaged through 3/4 of it. Here’s what they did well: they started with the interior. That’s what I want to see: the interior. Most of these trailer sales videos start with the incredibly boring details of the exterior and drone on about them and I just do not care.
That woman is great. I’ve watched other videos she’s done. I love that she opens up the storage areas and talks about how big they are, etc. Other ones are much shorter and barely open the storage areas. Those are badly done.
Well, having tented, used and softtop and hardtop trailer and camped out of a 1/2 ton truck with a cap, I had different expectations. Our 1/2 ton was a temporary shelter offering reasonable accommodation, storage and freedom to travel easily. We were agile and used the picnic tables, toilet facilities and waste disposal amenities of the campground. We had one week in Nova Scotia where we needed to use motels or a summer cottage as we drove through continuous rain for days. One other earlier time when we had a trailer with our children, a massive storm passed through Prince Edward Island. These were each one-time experiences over decades of camping
Alan was upfront about he and DW wanting a home away from home and his trailer works well for him.
What do you want and need, Tradd? A home away from home or simply a temporary shelter and freedom to explore. Motels offering warmth, bathrooms and comfort may well be the perfect solution for you but enjoy dreaming as it is fun to do.
I have had fun reading this thread, BTW.
iris lilies
2-7-21, 1:05pm
Yes I had to get excited about the trailers and imagining how I would use them. But then I know myself and I think after two or three nights on the road, repeated a couple of times, I would be done.
I like hotels where the beds were, until I recently upgraded all of our beds, much better than the ones I have at home. There is cable TV! There is a restaurant in the lobby. I like all of that stuff.
I want something that’s MINE. I have a hard time sleeping in strange beds the first night. Even nice hotel rooms have a weird smell on the linens. I want a small home away from home. If there’s bad weather (rain) I want my own cozy spot. You can get ones with kitchens in the rear that are cheaper, but I’m not sure if they have a bathroom and I don’t want to go outside in rain or cold to cook or even heat water for tea.
The small space doesn’t bother me. I’m a minimalist anyway. And it would be just me.
I don’t know how campgrounds get booked up outside of popular locations.
But definitely something to keep in mind for the future. I’d need a larger vehicle - or at least another Escape with a bigger engine and a tow package to pull this trailer. My current Escape is two years old with 45K miles on it already. I drove a ton to dive. I’ll just drive this one into the ground and then see what I can get when I’m ready for a new vehicle.
Tradd, here's my son's little peanut of a camper. I think I could tow it with my Prius. It's basically a bed on wheels, but it does have that little storage space up front where you could keep some kind of a camp stove and accessories. The guy who sold it to him was an old hippie who snowbirded every year with it to Phoenix. He lived in it. That's a feat, even for a diehard minimalist if you ask me.
He paid $1500.
3613
Wow. Cute little trailer but I don’t want the bed on wheels. You open the door and your bed is right there. You have to deal with shoes before you even get in. A diving buddy has one of those and has taken good video and photos she sent me. Too small for me. I want a small kitchen and a bathroom.
Seriously, Tradd, check out the Viking:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRd0fn6R6J0
If we ever get one, this is what we will get.
I don’t like it. And it’s too big just for me. I saw that one before.
Tradd, one more consideration. Trailers are like cars. When you drive off the lot, the value drops by 1/4 to 1/3. Once you know what you really want and need, you will be able to watch and ask friends to look for a used one and pay much less. Others will speak knowledgeably to the longevity of such trailers and maintenance involved. One neighbour recently bought a beautiful used self-propelled Zion/Roadtrek unit. He was told by the seller who was an airline mechanic that the wiring was replaced throughout as it was so poorly done originally. His driveway is large enough to store this unit. Most have to pay for storage.
Out of curiosity, I just now looked at https://roadtrek.com/models/#chase and nearly stopped breathing. Who the heck can afford these things? It is cheaper to travel on tours or overseas minus covid.
I typed in 'motorhomes' for fun and found this site https://rv.campingworld.com/rvclass/motorhome-rvs. The world has changed in recreational vehicles a lot.
I will now step quietly out of the discussion. It has been educational as many threads are.
Look at this list of best small campers. I like the Happier Camper and the Armadillo, both at around $20k
https://www.trailerlife.com/top-stories/15-tiny-camping-trailers/
Yes, I was planning on looking for a used one when I have $$ saved up.
That happier camper is so cute- I'd seen the early one that only had the portable potty as one of the interchangeable parts, but hadn't seen this newer camper with a whole bathroom.
But ouch the price (for the Traveler, 50K for base package)- for this much, I'd prefer an Airstream Nest.
I’ve given up on the trailer dream. I live in a small apartment and would have to store it somewhere. To store it within 30 minutes of where I live would be over $100/month.
I also realized that dealing with mechanical stuff is something I hate doing. I was on a Tab owner’s group on FB for perhaps a week. That was enough. Hotel rooms it is!
iris lilies
2-19-21, 12:48am
I’ve given up on the trailer dream. I live in a small apartment and would have to store it somewhere. To store it within 30 minutes of where I live would be over $100/month.
I also realized that dealing with mechanical stuff is something I hate doing. I was on a Tab owner’s group on FB for perhaps a week. That was enough. Hotel rooms it is!
For me, if I had the trailer bug, I could rent one for a trip and probably get over that bug.
flowerseverywhere
2-19-21, 6:55am
We spend 5-6 months on the road. Last trip was Kissimmee prairie state park, a dark sky and birders paradise. Out of the forty or so campsites here, there are huge rigs down to a young man amateur astronomer sleeping in his car with several huge telescope setups. The young couple next to us were sleeping in the back of their truck with a large screen tent with cooking stuff. We have met full timers in tents. there are some really old campers here people have spruced up. Old casitas are popular. Some people bike and carry everything with them. We like to invite them for coffee and a hot breakfast in the AM if they aren’t heading out. Once, on the Appalachian trail people would hike in to shower and use the Internet at the national park office. Once we were in Montana and a rig pulled in that was so huge and deluxe we looked it up and the base price was $500,000. It was towing a deluxe fancy Jeep which was probably more expensive than most of the rigs the rest of us were in.
It is very rare for us to have Internet or cable as we stick to state, national and county parks. What I love is the diversity of the people, scenery, and cultures as we travel the country.
Some parks are so remote you better have everything you need with you. All in all, we love it. And by the way, there are many single women and men on the road. Some work in the parks for months at a time, some work locally, especially in season for the area. Nothing like waking up to elk wandering around your campsite, seeing a bird you have never seen, or seeing a sky so full of stars you feel like you are in outer space.
We spend 5-6 months on the road. Last trip was Kissimmee prairie state park, a dark sky and birders paradise. Out of the forty or so campsites here, there are huge rigs down to a young man amateur astronomer sleeping in his car with several huge telescope setups. The young couple next to us were sleeping in the back of their truck with a large screen tent with cooking stuff. We have met full timers in tents. there are some really old campers here people have spruced up. Old casitas are popular. Some people bike and carry everything with them. We like to invite them for coffee and a hot breakfast in the AM if they aren’t heading out. Once, on the Appalachian trail people would hike in to shower and use the Internet at the national park office. Once we were in Montana and a rig pulled in that was so huge and deluxe we looked it up and the base price was $500,000. It was towing a deluxe fancy Jeep which was probably more expensive than most of the rigs the rest of us were in.
It is very rare for us to have Internet or cable as we stick to state, national and county parks. What I love is the diversity of the people, scenery, and cultures as we travel the country.
Some parks are so remote you better have everything you need with you. All in all, we love it. And by the way, there are many single women and men on the road. Some work in the parks for months at a time, some work locally, especially in season for the area. Nothing like waking up to elk wandering around your campsite, seeing a bird you have never seen, or seeing a sky so full of stars you feel like you are in outer space.
Gosh darn the USMC for souring DH on camping ;)
I'd love to have those experiences!
Flowers, it is wonderful to read that such experiences are still possible. I remember the blueberries we picked for blueberry pancakes near Cadillac Mountain in Maine were a special reason to travel that route along with the sea-side shanties selling fresh lobster. Love these reminders!
iris lilies
2-19-21, 10:02am
Flowers, it is wonderful to read that such experiences are still possible. I remember the blueberries we picked for blueberry pancakes near Cadillac Mountain in Maine were a special reason to travel that route along with the sea-side shanties selling fresh lobster. Love these reminders!
That sounds beautiful!
I had a long held memory of Gooseberry tart in England in my teens. Decades later, when DH and I took a narrow boat trip on the Shropshirere canal, someone was selling giant gooseberries.
We bought some (canal stand, untended, just leave your money there) and DH put together a tart from the flour, sugar, and butter we happened to have. The boat had a tiny oven. I can’t say that tart was all that great, but the experience was!
happystuff
2-19-21, 10:49am
We spend 5-6 months on the road. Last trip was Kissimmee prairie state park, a dark sky and birders paradise. Out of the forty or so campsites here, there are huge rigs down to a young man amateur astronomer sleeping in his car with several huge telescope setups. The young couple next to us were sleeping in the back of their truck with a large screen tent with cooking stuff. We have met full timers in tents. there are some really old campers here people have spruced up. Old casitas are popular. Some people bike and carry everything with them. We like to invite them for coffee and a hot breakfast in the AM if they aren’t heading out. Once, on the Appalachian trail people would hike in to shower and use the Internet at the national park office. Once we were in Montana and a rig pulled in that was so huge and deluxe we looked it up and the base price was $500,000. It was towing a deluxe fancy Jeep which was probably more expensive than most of the rigs the rest of us were in.
It is very rare for us to have Internet or cable as we stick to state, national and county parks. What I love is the diversity of the people, scenery, and cultures as we travel the country.
Some parks are so remote you better have everything you need with you. All in all, we love it. And by the way, there are many single women and men on the road. Some work in the parks for months at a time, some work locally, especially in season for the area. Nothing like waking up to elk wandering around your campsite, seeing a bird you have never seen, or seeing a sky so full of stars you feel like you are in outer space.
What a wonderful description! Thanks so much for sharing. Once I'm through with working, I would love to hit the road for a while. Something to think about at least.
For me, if I had the trailer bug, I could rent one for a trip and probably get over that bug.
Current Escape can’t tow anything. Don’t have tow package or big enough engine.
Teacher Terry
2-19-21, 1:12pm
The longest we went without internet on a month trip was a week in national parks and I read a lot of books. A week was long enough. I like the amenities of private RV parks. We had a grizzly run by our RV in the grand Tetons with a ranger right behind it yelling at everyone to get inside. Luckily we had not stepped outside yet.
The longest we've been out has been about 6 weeks and that was last summer. We'll do another 6 to 8 weeks this summer during my wife's summer break. Once she retires (hopefully after one more school year) our plan is to spend half the year on the road. We're currently sticking mostly with private RV parks but once we go out for longer periods we'll start doing a fair amount of boondocking just to keep expenses down. We'll need to install a few solar panels and upgrade our batteries before we do that, we currently travel with a generator big enough to keep the AC running but haven't had to use that yet.
I've said before that we don't consider what we do as camping, it's more like exploring all the country's nooks and crannies comfortably, and so far every day is an adventure.
We can't wait for our next trip.
Tarts can be amazing foods to enjoy. I fell in love with Portuguese custard tarts when visiting there in 2015, tried a few sources around my area and they did not live up to my memory... until a new local Portuguese bakery opened about 20 mths ago. Their tarts are so gooooooood! I felt badly when they closed shortly after later due to covid protocols. I do hope that they survive once places can fully open again. Their Portuguese buns are wonderful as well.
flowerseverywhere
2-19-21, 6:45pm
Wanted to add that one of the problems with all RV’s are the more mechanical parts, the more that can break down. Simple sometimes can be easier to store and maintain.
‘our longest trip was almost six months, from Florida all the way to Glacier, Banff and Jasper. Lots of stops along the way.
you also see many things that cannot be described. Like the amount of plastic trash you find everywhere. The precarious situations some people live in. The rising sea level effects on the Keys and Miami. Many instances of racism. Going to a small town that is poor and seeing what a food desert looks like when you stop in a grocery store and see a poor selection and quality of fresh produce and huge bags of cheap Cheetos and sugary cereal. Seeing how many towns with empty factories and motels as the highways passed them by and factory jobs went to Mexico, China and other countries. The remarkable Permian basin and the oil fields.
as I said, a slice of life that has made me far more empathetic of how some people struggle just to live and how hard people work when given the opportunity. .
‘’I would do it full time but DH likes having a home at least half time.
Is it possible that doing it part-time helps to see things more clearly. It is wise to have a contrasting life cycle to keep your eyes alert. I remember traveling from southern Ontario up to Thunder Bay and around the Great Lakes. The first two days I was enchanted by the rocks, the water and the trees - glorious scenery; but by the third day, it was starting to feel, "Oh help, is there nothing but rocks and trees on this route". We knew it was time to stop and gain a fresh view and perspective. Another lovely reminder of the height and length of the Mackninac Bridge. over a long stretch of water. That was my introduction to the enormous degree of trust in engineers, their designs and the workers.
3635
Is it possible that doing it part-time helps to see things more clearly. It is wise to have a contrasting life cycle to keep your eyes alert. I remember traveling from southern Ontario up to Thunder Bay and around the Great Lakes. The first two days I was enchanted by the rocks, the water and the trees - glorious scenery; but by the third day, it was starting to feel, "Oh help, is there nothing but rocks and trees on this route". We knew it was time to stop and gain a fresh view and perspective. Another lovely reminder of the height and length of the Mackninac Bridge. over a long stretch of water. That was my introduction to the enormous degree of trust in engineers, their designs and the workers.
The Straits of Mackinac are gorgeous. My favorite place to dive. Being on a boat going under the bridge was freaking awesome. This photo was taken from the dive boat two years ago.
Gosh darn the USMC for souring DH on camping ;)
I'd love to have those experiences!
Your DH sounds just like my father. ‘Camping? No thank you. I did a lifetime’s worth of camping in the army.’
Teacher Terry
2-20-21, 12:01pm
Mackinaw is one beautiful place! I love the apostle islands in northern Wisconsin also. Both magical places.
Teacher Terry
2-20-21, 12:02pm
My dad said the same about traveling to Europe when my mom wanted to go.
rosarugosa
2-20-21, 12:40pm
I would only consider camping if I could do it Alan style. :)
One of our members (Gregg44 I believe) said that he has always worked hard so that his family could live in a house and not have to live outdoors in a tent. He did not see the appeal and I'm with him on that one.
Surprisingly, I've done both tent camping (albeit with access to an outhouse) and "sleep out under the stars" camping (without same). Having done both--once--I probably wouldn't mind glamping in a small trailer.But I'm not really the "back to nature" type.
I would only consider camping if I could do it Alan style. :)
One of our members (Gregg44 I believe) said that he has always worked hard so that his family could live in a house and not have to live outdoors in a tent. He did not see the appeal and I'm with him on that one.
I can understand that now. Today, when I travel I want comfort, hot water, my meals prepared and peace and quiet. Earlier, it was fun to simplify to such an extent that it was relaxing without needing to meet timetables. deal with personalities and let go of stress.
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