2013 Camping Thread

[GreenHardHat]

Originally Posted by jaydorn

True, just wondering if anyone had any first hand experience outside the city and able to report back on what they saw. Guess we pick a weekend and take our chances.

I was out at McLean Creek on Saturday visiting some family camping out there. Gooseberry and McLean Creek were open but the highway was blocked off just west the McLean Creek turnoff.

The A loop of McLean Creek wasn't completely full. There was no power or sewage (but if you are in a tent, that probably doesn't matter). There was also no potable water unless you went to the McLean Creek store...

This link sums it up nicely:
http://www.albertaparks.ca/mclean-cr...od-update.aspx

I'm pretty sure McLean Creek uses the online reservation system, so I'd try to book before driving out there.

[greyshep]

Originally Posted by Tailgator

I always had more trouble backing up our tent trailer than when we bought a 29' travel trailer. That quick response makes it really hard not to over-steer. So I was always making these kinds of shapes: -^v^v^V

Make really sure you get the right tow vehicle for you rtrailer weight and don't ask a sales guy - thy're full of it and will always tell you your vehicle is good enough - either at a car or traler dealership. Want better advice, ask a mechanic. A weight rating in the instruction manual or online somewhere is over stated. You have to take into account handling as much as power. It doesn't take much to get a trailer swaying, and it's hard to stop when it starts. If the tail is wagging the dog too much, you're putting yourself, your passegers, and people on the road in trouble. Was behind a guy last year towing a 30+ footer with his half-ton Dodge and ended up in the ditch and almost rolling when it was clear the trailer was waaay too heavy.

Yep, it amazes me how many times I see a half ton towing a 30 footer with multiple slides, etc. Even see people trying it with Dodge Durango's. (shorter wheelbase than most pickups). Many people get fooled into looking at the strength of the engine without considering the fact that is only one part of the equation. Sure it may have the power to pull it, but your front wheels will have no weight on them and you better hope for no wind, or else that trailer is gonna take you for a ride.

We bought a 3/4 ton chev with the 6.6 diesel to make sure we had lots of towing capacity for our trailer. Actually a bit overkill to be sure, but wow it is a stress free experience pulling with this thing.

[Titan]

Originally Posted by greyshep

According to those specs, your overall length is still almost 30feet!

Nice trailer though. We own a spree as well. Ours is 33.5 feet long from tip to tail.

thanks. I realize it is almost 30 feet in the real world but is marketed as a "24". The ones that are marketed as a "30" are even longer. The marketing and naming of trailers sucks and is very deceiving, imo.

I agree to buy what you think you will need but I think too many people buy mammoth trailers because they can and then are too intimidated or it is not worth the hassle to take it out. I think it is important to get as much real world info as you can including asking people on forums.

Mine is cool in that it has a triple bunk in the back. Very flexible. The dinette also slides out and makes the inside feel very spacious and does turn into a bed if necessary and would easily sleep three kids.

[ken0042]

The best advice I got when buying my trailer was to never count the dinette space as sleeping space. So if you have 5 people in the family have spots for those 5 without having to use the dinette. So many times I have a nefew with me, as well as the addition of the dog; had I counted on the dinette to begin with I wouldn't have had any growing room.

[Tailgator]

Originally Posted by greyshep

Yep, it amazes me how many times I see a half ton towing a 30 footer with multiple slides, etc. Even see people trying it with Dodge Durango's. (shorter wheelbase than most pickups). Many people get fooled into looking at the strength of the engine without considering the fact that is only one part of the equation. Sure it may have the power to pull it, but your front wheels will have no weight on them and you better hope for no wind, or else that trailer is gonna take you for a ride.

We bought a 3/4 ton chev with the 6.6 diesel to make sure we had lots of towing capacity for our trailer. Actually a bit overkill to be sure, but wow it is a stress free experience pulling with this thing.

We were out at Boulton Creek back in June and I was blown away by some of the things I was seeing. Trailers that were 25' or more being towed by Santa Fe's, MDX's, explorers, 4 runners - makes me shake my head.

We bought a similar truck to yours except with the 8100 big block gas engine. Same horses, just really, really thirsty. Tows like a dream though and I totally agree with you about the stress free towing!

[bossy22]

So the trailer I'm looking at has a gvwr of 7300 lbs. Base weight is 5750lbs.
I'm thinking now a truck is probably a smarter option. Would the f150 with the heavy duty towing package be sufficient? It's rated at 11300lbs.

[Hevishot]

Originally Posted by bossy22

So the trailer I'm looking at has a gvwr of 7300 lbs. Base weight is 5750lbs.
I'm thinking now a truck is probably a smarter option. Would the f150 with the heavy duty towing package be sufficient? It's rated at 11300lbs.

Purchase with 3.55 gear ratio and add firestone airbags to the back and you will be happy with the results.

[troutman]

Mosquitos are Super Bad this summer.

[V]

What do you people do with your gigantor trailers? I keep my little tent trailer in my garage, but I'd have no idea where to store a travel trailer.

[ken0042]

There are quite a few trailer storage places around. Some in the industrial areas, and others just out of town. My buddy stores his at a place just east of Calgary on 22x; it's about a 5-10 minute drive from his house.

[Titan]

Mine fits on my rear driveway.

[woob]

Currently own a '73 Boler (13foot) but it's up for sale. Want to move up to a 16' Scamp with side dinette, so that if it's really really crappy outside, we can sit and play cards, eat, etc. and still have the bed made up. When we camp, we spend 95% of our time outside as we have a screen room which protects from rain and mosquitos if they're bad. Usually put the screen room over the picnic table so we can eat outside even when it's raining. If the weather is good and not a lot of bugs, we're in camp chairs reading, playing cards, or out hiking. To me, the trailer is a hard shell tent. It's for sleeping and changing clothes and that's about it. Don't need to be watching TV, sitting in the trailer reading, etc. Camping is outdoors time!

For those of you looking to move up from a tent but don't want to haul something big, I strongly recommend a fibreglass trailer of some sorts. The used market for FG trailers is pretty good, but good ones go fast.

As far as weight, Bolers can start at as little as 800lbs for the basic model with the ice box and go up from there, depending on the features or on the previous owner's customizations. Other brands are Trillium, Escape, Scamp, Bigfoot. I pull my 13foot Boler with a v6 Tribute without any issues. I have a fridge, 2x12v sealed marine batteries, and solar. I'd guess dry I'm at about 12-1300lbs. Also, there's a good chunk of FG trailers that are lighter than tent trailers.

Keep an eye on Kijiji. Also, these two sites are excellent resources for buying and/or owning FG trailers:

http://www.fiberglass-rv-4sale.com/s...ilers-for-sale
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/ and http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/

[V]

Can they sleep 6?

[woob]

The 5th wheel Scamp can sleep 6 and I believe some models of the Escape can. If you're open to doing your own customizations, there's a floor plan on the 16foot Scamp that sleeps 5 that would be easily converted into 6 by changing the side dinette to a bunk situation.

I have a friend who follows the same camping mantra as I do who converted a 4 sleeper Bigfoot 17foot into 5 sleeper by adding his own bunk bed build. It's a pretty sweet setup.

Hope that helps.

[Slava]

OK, so two trailers, virtually identical. Price nearly the same, and I suspect after some discussion would be the same. One is about ten years newer, but the older one is in amazing shape with new tires and basically an amazing owner. The older one is also about 1000 lbs heavier. So help me CP towing gurus...what do I do!?

[Titan]

Lighter, newer. No brainer.

[greyshep]

Originally Posted by V

What do you people do with your gigantor trailers? I keep my little tent trailer in my garage, but I'd have no idea where to store a travel trailer.

We have a pretty large lot and have enough space that I was able to pour a concrete parking pad beside our garage. So ours tucks nicely beside our garage without sticking out the front.

[greyshep]

Originally Posted by Slava

OK, so two trailers, virtually identical. Price nearly the same, and I suspect after some discussion would be the same. One is about ten years newer, but the older one is in amazing shape with new tires and basically an amazing owner. The older one is also about 1000 lbs heavier. So help me CP towing gurus...what do I do!?

1000 pounds is a pretty significant difference. Assuming the newer one has still been well looked after, I would be steering my attention towards it.

Any other differences? Hardwall vs. Aluminum siding, etc?

[ken0042]

Can't believe I have to ask a numbers guy to quantify........

What are the years of the trailers? What are the weights of the trailers, and what is your towing capacity?

[Slava]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Can't believe I have to ask a numbers guy to quantify........

What are the years of the trailers? What are the weights of the trailers, and what is your towing capacity?

Well my towing capacity is something like 8800 and the heavy trailer is about 4000. The light trailer is actually 2800 and change gvw. I'd rather not say the years on account of my being ridiculously cheap! Its a 12 yearn spread based on model years. Honestly as I type this I'm wondering why I would even consider the older, significantly heavier model....probably a sign of my being dumb.