Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at 15:08
tskcli,
If I could I would like to put an opposing view to that expressed by Jon (Hairs and Fysh),
I have been using a camper trailer for the last 14 years. I love it. I have camped in hot sunshine, high winds, driving rain, hail and once even in a little bit of snow.
I can be in bed less than 10 min after pulling on the handbrake. We have heaps of room and are very comfortable. I don't need to set up a large tarp but I set one up if I am in the one spot for any more than a couple of days. We only added the tarp to our equipment list about 5 years ago.
We can pack all our gear into the trailer before we fold the camper, we can leave the beds made, and we have access to everything without going outside. Alternately we can access the storage area of the trailer from outside. We also have access to our full kitchen for lunchtime stops without having to do anything more than open the tailgate of the trailer. This is very handy on cold days when a hot lunch is required. We have travelled in company with people using a Jayco Swan and they were never waiting for us to pack up or set up.
As for packing up wet. As I said earlier we can pack everything from inside the camper, directly into the trailer. Nothing gets wet, not even the kids. The last thing to put away is the camper itself and I can do that on my own in about 5 min so only I get wet. That said in 14 years I have only packed up wet a handful of times. I guess it depends where you go, I really like deserts. We have been rained on and while camping in the rain is not the best having lots of room for the kids to play while stuck inside was fantastic.
When we first got ours my youngest was 3. My kids have helped either me or Mum with the set up from day 1. Usually the girls helped Mum getting the kitchen set up while the
young bloke helped me. At first all he could do was carry the peg bag and pass me things, but he was helping. Sometimes, we would send them off to explore while we set things up but even that was called helping because they would come back and show us where the interesting things were. Now he can do it all on his own.
When we chose our camper trailer I wanted something that would go everywhere the car went. The Jayco, type things just didn't cut it. They have long overhangs front and rear that gets hung up quite easily and they are heavy to tow. My camper is only 660kg empty and fully loaded is about 1000kg. I have taken it
places where people told me I wouldn't get through, but because it is light and compact I made it.
But and I want to say this very loudly. Don't buy anything because it is what I like or what Jon likes or what anybody else likes. Buy the equipment that suits you. Go and look at as many options as you can. The best place is at camping shows etc... where you can see a lot of options close together. Get out into caravan parks and talk to people who are using them in the real world. Any salesman worth feeding can make his product look fantastic, but you need to know how it works for Joe Average and his family.
Every one of them is a compromise, I am happy with the compromises I have chosen. Make sure you understand and can live with the ones you choose when you dip in your pocket for the hard earned to pay for your set up. Remember also that you only pay for it once but you live with it for a long time. You are better off to invest a little more at the outset than to wish you had while you sit in an uncomfortable
camp set up that cost very little. In 14 years I have never wished I bought something else.
Duncs
AnswerID:
416278
Follow Up By: Hairs & Fysh - Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at 15:44
Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at 15:44
Hi Duncs,
Your spot on when you say, Every one of them is a compromise.
We've chosen to have the Swan because it so much quicker to put up and pull down.
I did enjoy the room that the trailer tent gave.
tskcli,
Has Duncs mentioned, What suits me, doesn't necessarily will suit him or yourself.
He makes some very good points.
If you can, try and hire either type first, try before you buy kinda thing.
you'll sort it out, And do what you've done here, Ask questions, lots of them.
Cheers.
FollowupID:
686397
Follow Up By: George_M - Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at 16:47
Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at 16:47
Geez Duncs - I like the "Chambers Gorge" tree in your "My Profile"
Image Could Not Be Found
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686408
Follow Up By: Graham Watson - Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 01:09
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 01:09
Recently went camping with friends. We had our soft floor camper trailer, two of them had jaycos and one a tent. The Jaycos seemed to take less time to set up than our trailer, but when packing up we took less time than them (not by much though). Admittedly it was just my wife and I so we did not have to worry about kids beds etc. I'm glad we are not travelling with just a tent.
As mentioned by Duncs a camper trailer can potentially get you into spots a jayco can't. The jayco would be nicer if aught by several days of bad weather.
Graham
FollowupID:
686476
Follow Up By: Member - Duncs - Friday, May 14, 2010 at 20:06
Friday, May 14, 2010 at 20:06
Hi George,
It kinda begs to be photographed doesn't it?
I have had some good times camped in there, hope to get there again soon.
Duncs
FollowupID:
686824