for some the LL might be their first camper (good choice), for others, they may have had a bunch of different campers
for us, the vrv is our 2nd toyhauler. first was a fleetwood scorpion s1
it was different and many people would stop to ask about it. best part was after you unloaded the toys, you were left with a huge deck. downsides were the small cassette toilet, no gray tank, and the limited room inside and it was a bit of a pin to set up (especially if you put up the outside add a room). it did have a full bath though.
(http://i350.photobucket.com/albums/q439/mushr00min/camper/DSCF4484_zpsnoiqxgar.jpg)
(http://i350.photobucket.com/albums/q439/mushr00min/camper/DSC00654_zpsfvwvc9dt.jpg)
(http://i350.photobucket.com/albums/q439/mushr00min/camper/DSC01452_zpsa09ef1b2.jpg)
[p]I started out back in 1996 with a Jayco pop up tent trailer, it was one of the smaller units. Worked great except it was too low to the ground. I installed the 3" lift/dual propane bottles but out on the Nov Hunts it proved to be not the camper I really needed.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Next was a Apache Truck pop up Camper, I ordered it back in 2000, it was nice, even had a toilet in it but being I had to tow a Trailer for the ATV, I ended up selling it four years later for a Travel Trailer.[/p][p]The Travel Trailer I bought from a Friend and it too sat to low, after I busted the underneath plumbing twice I said fairwell to it, lol.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Took a break from Camping for awhile or used the Pickup Bed Tents.[/p][p] [/p][p]I saw on a Trip out to Moab the THOR Pak-Rat Toyhauler ( then I was renting a cabin room). Shorty after that I found a nice used '03 PakRat, drove out to CA to get it, kept it for 7 years then sold it to a buddy who said he would sell it back to me when I retired, He Didn't![/p][p]
[/p][p]I found another '03 Pak Rat here where I live back in Nov 13, so I picked it up. It was more abused than the one I had before but I got it back up to par. Last Winter I tried a little snowbirding with it but it really isn't designed for that so I decided to sell it later in the Summer and get the Bearcat 16FK.[/p][p]
[/p][p]After thinking about it, I believe it is best to get the BC16FK now and a better chance of selling the PakRat during the summer time. The Last Pic shows the Pak Rat with the enclosed tent cover designed for the Pak Rat over the open loading dock.[/p][p]
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[/p][p][attachment id="822" thumbnail="1"][attachment id="823" thumbnail="1"][attachment id="824" thumbnail="1"][/p]
First camper was a 2005 Viking 1204LS pop-up. I actually just sold it this week...getting picked up by the new owner tomorrow! Amazingly after 10 years, I sold it for 50% of what I paid for it in 2005...lightweight campers seem to do very well on the pre-owned market. I always got a lot of questions and compliments on the Viking because it's only has one bed slide-out, and when it's set up it looks more like a toy then a camper.
[attachment id="825" thumbnail="1"]
Then I got the motorhome bug and bought a 1990 Rexhall Vision, which was a "mini" Class A.
[attachment id="828" thumbnail="1"]
I wasn't happy with the way the Vision drove, especially with the non-overdrive 4-speed transmission. It also ended up needing a significant amount of deferred maintenance, so after it emptied by wallet I decided to move on to something a little larger, older and more expensive (yes, I know, in hindsight it makes no sense!)
The next purchase was a 1985 Wanderlodge 35' CAT diesel. Wanderlodges are built incredibly well, with steel-framed walls and roof, and aluminum skin. Much like a CampLite, there's not any fiberglass or wood laminate to rot or warp. In 1985 this thing cost over $250,000 new and weighed 32,000 lbs. But it turned out to be more then I really needed, and any maintenance required a trip to a heavy-duty truck repair shop. I sold this a couple of years ago and reverted back to using the little Viking pop-up. Then I heard about the Livin' Lite CampLite trailers and started to keep an eye out for a nice used one...
[attachment id="829" thumbnail="1"]
Eventually I found a used 13QBB that I purchased last fall, and have so far only taken one trip but have plans for a few more in the next couple of months. So far I'm very happy with it, and decided it's a keeper, so I decided it was time to sell the Viking pop-up.
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8701/16718706780_a033451e7d_z.jpg"%20style="max-width:100%;)
[font size="3"]When we were young we did the tent => popup => truck camper route. Then kids, school activities, new house in the woods, college, so good bye camping. So when we reentered the camping scene we wanted to start small and inexpensive. Everything had drastically changed in 25 years. We bought a Forest River RPOD 172. Two bunks, one axle, wet bath, tiny fridge. We added many mods and really loved the cozy little Pod. Lots of short trips and several lasting 4+ weeks. But alas it was just a bit lacking. The RPOD was a great learning experience and prepared us for the next step. We knew much better what we wanted and how much it would cost. So here we are with our CL 21RBS 8-)
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I started with a family hand me down foldout camper in the early 70s. It was very light but basic- no appliances other than a propane stove. Then graduated to a StarCraft pop up which we towed from Texas to Colorado to New England before we sold it. Did some tent camping off and on after that.
Then much later as a result of a job on the west coast that allowed me three months to get there, we bought a 1/2 ton pickup truck and a 23' fifth wheel trailer, an Okanagan- light but 500 lbs heavier than an equivalent LL. We camped all over the western states in that one- Oregon, Washington, Montana, Wyoming, Arizona, Nevada and California. One of the best experiences in my life.
Sold that one on the west coast and layed off RV camping for almost ten years with an occasional tent overnighter until we bought the 16TBS last year. We camp in New England with it.
David
it is interesting how many people start out small and basic and then graduate to something pretty large, then end up going back down in size. i guess everyone's needs change over time, but it seems to be a common theme. i camp with friends who all have 35' or larger toyhaulers and they all complain about having too much room, gas is too expensive, maintenance to too much, etc.
glad i landed in something smaller and i dont see the need for anything larger in the near future. definitely dont feel the need to keep up with anyone else
[quote source="/post/10234/thread" author="@thudd3r" timestamp="1430525375"]it is interesting how many people start out small and basic and then graduate to something pretty large, then end up going back down in size. i guess everyone's needs change over time, but it seems to be a common theme. i camp with friends who all have 35' or larger toyhaulers and they all complain about having too much room, gas is too expensive, maintenance to too much, etc.
glad i landed in something smaller and i dont see the need for anything larger in the near future. definitely dont feel the need to keep up with anyone else[/quote]Thudd3r,
Your post has prompted some personal reflection for me. Indulge me for a moment or two, won't you? You wrote, "...people start out small....then graduate to something pretty large, then end up going back down in size." No truer statement can be made. Thinking on it while looking at your baby boy's avatar summoned thoughts about our own now grown children, and about parents now gone who once stood bigger than life. Got me thinking about small beginnings, small endings and the 'big' stuff in-between, like going home from the hospital for the first time... lovingly strapped in a padded carrier in the family car; graduating to a walker, then stroller, on to a trike, 10 speed, motor bike or first car and camper. Many of us go on to really big stuff like planes and boats. But we all eventually "end up going back down in size" to make the slow turn back home by way of the small and most basic, like a walker or wheelchair ... and eventually, hopefully, we are once again lovingly placed in a padded carrier and rolled away. Please don't think me verbose. It's simply the cycle of life, to borrow a line from a well-known Disney movie and you got me to thinking back over my own.
We began our marriage tent camping which was fun but only because we were young! With our last born, rather than upgrading to an RV, we opted to build a mountain top cabin in the Smokies. Since both of our families were dispersed throughout the country, it made more sense to build a place where we could all meet rather than drive to see them separately each year. Though made of wood... not aluminum and minus wheels, our cabin still stands 25 years later with a one-of-a kind front row seat to the Smoky Mountains National Park. [attachment id="833" thumbnail="1"]
[attachment id="834" thumbnail="1"] This is a most special place to us and we still go up and will even be there in two weeks. But it sure feels big now....much bigger than needed now that the kids are grown and grandmas and grandpas are passed.
Our RVing life began two years ago when we bought our first RV as a 25 year anniversary gift to ourselves. We knew nothing about RVs, but knew that we DID want to hang onto that 'tent camping feel', and so we bought a pre-owned Coleman Hybrid.
[attachment id="835" thumbnail="1"] Big mistake! While the 'tip-outs' at each end did provide that 'tent camping feel', a good night's sleep was impossible to find and 'GW' soon fell into disfavor serving only to take up space in the driveway.
(Saga continues on the next post coming soon! Wow...it's after 1 am! Good night, all!)
[quote source="/post/10208/thread" author="@charliem" timestamp="1430483199"][font size="3"]When we were young we did the tent => popup => truck camper route. Then kids, school activities, new house in the woods, college, so good bye camping. So when we reentered the camping scene we wanted to start small and inexpensive. Everything had drastically changed in 25 years. We bought a Forest River RPOD 172. Two bunks, one axle, wet bath, tiny fridge. We added many mods and really loved the cozy little Pod. Lots of short trips and several lasting 4+ weeks. But alas it was just a bit lacking. The RPOD was a great learning experience and prepared us for the next step. We knew much better what we wanted and how much it would cost. So here we are with our CL 21RBS 8-)
[/font][/quote]How was the RPOD 'lacking'? Just curious...
[quote source="/post/10246/thread" timestamp="1430546005" author="@gwbushhog"][font size="3"]How was the RPOD 'lacking'? Just curious...
[/font][/quote][ol type="decimal"][li][font size="3"]Beds: We chose the bunk configuration because we didn't want to climb over each other getting in and out. That was fine, but I kept hitting my head getting out of the lower bunk. And it was difficult to make up the bunks so we used sleeping bags. We wanted a queen aligned fore and aft with access to the sides.
[/font][/li][li][font size="3"]Small wet bath: Big PITA. Too small to turn around. Don't drop the soap bar. And the stool was just too tight. We wanted a dry bath with adequate shower space.[/font][/li][li][font size="3"]Small fridge: Smaller PITA. The fridge was 3.7 cu. ft. including a removable "freezer". We like ice cream, room for carrying frozen fish and steaks, and plenty of cold drinks. We "needed" 6-7 cu. ft.
[/font][/li][li][font size="3"]Single axle: Although I never had a problem on the road I knew I was vulnerable to a flat or blow out. Lots easier to manage with dual axles. We had a smaller RPOD, well within the single axle load ratings, but the larger RPODs are really pushing the single axle limits. [/font][/li][li][font size="3"]Slide: We chose a smaller RPOD without slide because we were limited in TV capacity. We camp a lot in Colorado so I was concerned about climbing mountain passes at altitude with a 3.6L engine. A new TV fixed part of that, but the lack of slide makes people passing inside tight. That slide makes a tremendous difference, but with a weight penalty.[/font][/li][/ol][p][font size="3"]
[/font][/p][p][font size="3"]All in all the Pod was great as a first re-entry camper. It was cozy and much better insulated and sealed than the CL. Design and workmanship we about or slightly less than the CLs, but not an issue for us. Of course both brands have their horror stories. For a younger couple with a smaller TV the Pods are an excellent choice. And their cute. My wife still longs for it at times. I don't.
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8X16 Eureka Copper Canyon tent was our last "camper" before the CL. We used it last summer and then made the big leap to a TT.
Early 70's a "Scotty" made in PA.
Tents:
(http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu299/vstromklr/MtPisgahTrip.jpg) (http://s657.photobucket.com/user/vstromklr/media/MtPisgahTrip.jpg.html)
Chalet A-Frame:
(http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu299/vstromklr/2011/IMG_0814.jpg) (http://s657.photobucket.com/user/vstromklr/media/2011/IMG_0814.jpg.html)
CampLite 11:
(http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu299/vstromklr/2012/IMG_0107.jpg) (http://s657.photobucket.com/user/vstromklr/media/2012/IMG_0107.jpg.html)
In the late eighties we owned 2 campers that were from the early sixties, maybe older. They were so old the labels were off. There were no titles, no VINs IIRC. They were 16' and 17' and weighed a couple megatons each. Bought them, fixed them up, used them for a season each and sold them for a handsome profit.
Did the tent/trekking thing while I built the business and did a lot of travel doing it. This is still our true love today. Kids included as that's how they first learned to love camping.
In 2000 something we were gifted a 1989 24' Aljo Aly. A wreck. A mouse trap. We fixed it up, used it for several seasons as a park model on a seasonal site. Sold it last month for a hefty profit. Can't buy lower than nothing, right? Kids never really used it. They were too busy getting earthy crunchy on the trails if they were camping.
The 16DB is our first real trailer purchase. It's purpose in life is to get us to where we can hike, paddle etc. serving as a basecamp. A mobile office too that needs to be fairly well connected. We call it glamping. It's a palace really. The kids want nothing to do with it. They too shall get old....
No previous ownership of campers. First started camping with grandpa using a bedroll alongside the Hennepin Canal on the back side of his farm in Illinois. My parents bought a Apache Ravenwood popup camper in 1965. Camped during the summers in Illinois and a couple of trips in Iowa. After moving to Arizona in 1967 (a three week camping trip) the camper was traded in for a Aristocrat Lowliner travel trailer. I started backpacking with a military surplus shelter half and for family camping Coleman tents of various types and sizes before switching to a Eureka Equal dome and now a Eureka Tundra tent (we still tent camp). For backpacking, bicycle touring or mtn. bike camping I use a Eureka Backcountry one or the Individual Combat tent.
We used to tent, then got married and had our son. I wanted to continue to camp, but the wife said not without a camper. We picked up a stampede S17 (hybrid) and it was great for 2 years. We had our daughter last year and I had found a 21BHS and thought an enclosed TT would be better for the growing family.
We've used it once as a family and once with just my son and I.
We can't hardly wait for this year's camping season to start.
Posted using my powerful BlackBerry Z30
We started with tent camping. Went to Yellowstone and tent camped for 1 week. After all the hassles of putting food in the Honda Pilot or bear box my wife had enough. While driving home she went online (during the trip back to Reno) and found LL. She had our 2013 16 DBS picked out before we got home and ordered it the next week. Our granddaughter outgrew the jackknife sofa in short order so we sold the 16 and ordered a 21 BHS which we pick-up next month. Hitting Yellowstone for 8 days on the return trip. No more chasing ice, driving around with food locked in the trunk or stuffing all you can in a bear box.
My first camper was a 2009 Palomino popup camper
(http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w548/paulandre88/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-06/IMG_20140613_214906_zps9spesdd7.jpg)
(http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w548/paulandre88/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-06/IMG_20140627_212053_zpsmnfq0un7.jpg)
(http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w548/paulandre88/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-07/IMG_20140729_205754_zpsxulapdlc.jpg)
And my new 2015 Camplite 13QBB
(http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w548/paulandre88/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-08/IMG_20140831_131246_zps017vr5l9.jpg)
nice spot!
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[/p][p]1964 Apache. Basically a tent on top of a box trailer.[/p][p]
[/p][p]
(http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/ecc36dea4ffc1367a6badfd9e3402cf3a4d8204f.jpg"%20style=")
[img style="" style="max-width:100%;" src="http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc510/fmbhappycamper/100_1265.jpg"][/p][p]
[/p][p]1984 Timeout[/p][p]
[/p][p]
(http://www.hdforums.com/forum/attachments/hacked-conversions-and-trailering/213622d1319417999-pics-of-my-cycle-kamp-motorcycle-camper-img_20110804_150546.jpg"%20style=")
[img style="" style="max-width:100%;" src="http://cdn2.armslist.com/sites/armslist/uploads/posts/2013/04/17/1472087_02_1992_bunkhouse_motorcycle_camp_640.jpg"][/p][p]1992 Kamparoo[/p][p]
(http://static.productreview.com.au/pr.products/1_4fe8199e9bf5f.jpg"%20style="http://static.productreview.com.au/pr.products/1_4fe8199e9bf5f.jpg)
(http://www.destinationcycles.com/images/bunkhouse1.png"%20style="max-width:100%;)
(http://images.mautofied.com/adphotos/10085037_20077191915371.JPG"%20style="max-width:100%;)
LMAO!!
[quote source="/post/10771/thread" timestamp="1431532845" author="@leslie"]LMAO!![/quote]??? Did I say something funny?
As I went through your pictures, one by one, I showed them to my husband and we talked about the various tent campers you went through before you got to Livin Lite. We speculated on what your camping experiences were. Then we came to the last picture, which you said was the only one you owned. We got a good laugh out of that.
[p]Located a better picture of the Apache tent campers. We had one like the one on the left ,the gold body color.[attachment id="856"][/p][p]
[/p][p]From time to time we have observed vintage popup campers, Apaches, Coleman's and the Cox Conestoga. The Apache brings back memories from camping in Illinois in the mid 60's and the Coleman Colorado (one I tried to buy but a coworkers arrived at the dealership before me) in the 70's. Last fall the campgrounds around Williams, Arizona had a lot of vintage camping trailers.[/p]
[quote source="/post/10801/thread" timestamp="1431615155" author="@leslie"]As I went through your pictures, one by one, I showed them to my husband and we talked about the various tent campers you went through before you got to Livin Lite. We speculated on what your camping experiences were. Then we came to the last picture, which you said was the only one you owned. We got a good laugh out of that.[/quote]Leslie - I think he meant that he has owned all those models over the years but that the pics - except for one - are from the internet because in all likelyhood he doesn't have digital photos of ones he owned years ago.
Sidecar Mike -- I particularly enjoyed the "1996 Bunkhouse" popup and the funky canopy seen in the pic. Reminded me of the canopies you see on New York apartment buildings where the doorman in fancy uniform stands outside. 8-) Very cool! Did yours have a canopy like that?
Quote from: @peislander" source="/post/10822/thread" timestamp="1431638988[quote timestamp="1431615155" source="/post/10801/thread" author="@leslie"]As I went through your pictures, one by one, I showed them to my husband and we talked about the various tent campers you went through before you got to Livin Lite. We speculated on what your camping experiences were. Then we came to the last picture, which you said was the only one you owned. We got a good laugh out of that.
Leslie - I think he meant that he has owned all those models over the years but that the pics - except for one - are from the internet because in all likelyhood he doesn't have digital photos of ones he owned years ago.
Sidecar Mike -- I particularly enjoyed the "1996 Bunkhouse" popup and the funky canopy seen in the pic. Reminded me of the canopies you see on New York apartment buildings where the doorman in fancy uniform stands outside. 8-) Very cool! Did yours have a canopy like that?[/quote]
Ah, I am just back from a 2-week camping trip - our first trip together in our first RV. Tired, I might add. My husband is retired, but we went about this trip the same way we did when he was working - cram as many activities into the trip as we possibly can. We will have to work on how to make our camping trips more relaxing!
[quote source="/post/10801/thread" timestamp="1431615155" author="@leslie"]As I went through your pictures, one by one, I showed them to my husband and we talked about the various tent campers you went through before you got to Livin Lite. We speculated on what your camping experiences were. Then we came to the last picture, which you said was the only one you owned. We got a good laugh out of that.[/quote][p]No, no, no. I owned them all at one time or another. I just don't have digital photos of most, so I found similar shots on the web. Some of them, like the Kamparoo, I only owned for a couple months. Others, like the Bunkhouses, I used for years behind the motorcycles. These are shots of my own.[/p][p]
[/p][p]
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/SidecarMike/Camping/Old%20Campers/100_2671_zps760a0587.jpg"%20style=")
[img style="" style="max-width:100%;" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/SidecarMike/Camping/Old%20Campers/bunkhouse1_zps277b2241.jpg"][/p][p]The Kamparoo was the easiest one to erect. As you opened the lid it just pulled the tent up. Unfortunately, it was too narrow and had no storage space at all. There was barely room for my coat and boots on the floor and the old canvas sagged and leaked like a sieve.[/p][p]
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/SidecarMike/Camping/09wi89.jpg"%20style=")
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/SidecarMike/Camping/DSCF1898.jpg"%20style="max-width:100%;)