Last year, Adam's online shopping (browsing) hobby turned into the purchase of a new-to-us RV. We always talked about one day getting a camper or RV, disagreeing on the size and the price. I was happy with something very small and basic (pop up style) but Adam was not. I wasn't looking with two kids and house renovations, it wasn't a top priority. Adam loves to look at real estate for sale online and added campers into the mix. Look and you shall find and when Adam brought me to see a barely used 2021 Winnebago Hike in a neighboring town, we left as camper owners. I truly loved it from the moment I saw it, an adventure lovers mobile home that was as big as I was willing to go and as small as Adam was willing to accept. It had everything we needed and a perfect setup for two kids camping in the back country or at a campground. I'll get into all the details about what the camper is like, why we love it, and why it may be a good choice for you.
We've had the camper for a year and I didn't want to write anything about it until we owned it for a bit. We bought it in the early fall of last year and almost a year and five camping trips later (Portsmouth, Rhode Island; Croton Point, New York; Lake George, New York; Lincoln, New Hampshire; and Catskills, New York) I have some thoughts.
First off, while we love the camping experience in our Winnebago, RV camping isn't the solution to the trials of camping with kids. I know, I know, you think having an RV will make camping with kids so much easier. Walls, a bed, a bathroom and shower, a small kitchen and place to store your stuff. While RV camping solves some of the pain points of camping, it still shares some on top of creating its own new set of issues. Before I talk about why we love it, let's talk about the things that are hard about RV camping
The One Room Dilemma
If you have been camping with young kids, I'm sure you have run into this problem. One kids goes to bed a bit earlier. You somehow get Thing 1 asleep when Thing 2 comes in and wakes up Thing 1. Or they go to bed at the same time (late, always late) and Thing 1 wakes up which then wakes up Thing 2 because #OneRoom. While the RV gives you a little more distance, you are still in one room and bed times/morning wake ups can be challenging. It also gives us a lot of amenities but don't be fooled, when we are all inside the camper it can feel very crowded. It feels spacious when you see it but when you have to spend a rainy weekend in it, it feels small. I have also desperately covered each window with a garbage bag at night with the hopes they can sleep past 5am with their much later than normal bed times while camping. Desperate times...
Set up
Ever try setting up camp on a Friday evening with two rowdy kids who are hungry and sick of being trapped in a car? It is wildly difficult but doing it in an RV adds a whole level of aggression to it. Backing up the camper, unhitching, making sure it's level, hooking up the utilities, unpacking, prepping beds etc. etc. It is a lot of work and nearly impossible with two young kids. Setting up a tent is a whole lot quicker and something the kids can be a part of. Setting up the camper can be dangerous with young kids around and typically means one person does it solo while the other is on child watch. Stop for dinner on the way and you get to camp later. Get there before dinner and you still have to cook a meal. Set up just adds another layer with young kids.
Cost
Obviously there is a cost factor. While we got a great deal on our relatively small trailer, these things get pricey fast. Rentals add up and if you chose to purchase, you are making monthly payments on something that spends a lot of time sitting in your driveway. We bought our Winnebago Hike for $20,000 gently used and while it is worth it, it is still an expense on top of the fee of campsites which is on the rise and fast. I also have to mention that while this cost seems significant, it's pretty affordable in the real world of campers and trailers. It also evens out in the end with the insanely high cost of AirBnbs, especially if you need one pet friendly. There are also many options to rent out your camper AirBnb style if you want to help with the cost and the "sitting in the driveway more than campgrounds" factor.
Storage and towing
Sitting in your driveway is a relative term, it can only sit there if you have the room. Storing camping equipment in your garage is a lot easier than finding a place to park a 20 foot trailer. You also need a vehicle to tow this trailer. If you don't already have said vehicle, you have another bill and larger vehicle to park. If you choose an RV that is drivable, you have another item to insure and engine to maintain.
So when does the campers come in handy?
- Climate control - Campers are truly great for weather related reasons. We've camped in really hot weather, chillier temps, and in the pouring rain. The camper truly extends the season for us allowing us to get out earlier in the spring, later into the fall, and enjoy a weekend even if it's rainy. If it downpours all day, we have a spot to play at the table or put a movie on for the kids. If the nights are hot and swampy, we have air conditioning to keep us cool. If the temperatures start to drop, this thing is well insulated and also has hear we can turn on.
- More camping - Becaese we have so many luxuries of home (heat, AC, bathroom, beds), we can head out for longer trips and more frequent trips. If you enjoy weekends away, this truly allows you to get out more. We love to go explore new areas and hate spending so much money on a hotel or airbnb we just use to shower and sleep.
- Off of the floor - I really don't think I sleep much better in the RV as the beds are still thin and hard but there is something to be said for getting off the cold or hard floor. Sleeping on air mattresses that deflates through the night or a really thin sleeping pad is never fun. While this isn't a plush hotel bed, it does get you off the floor and you can make some upgrades to the camper beds which is next on my list.
- Bathroom breaks - It is much easier to use the RV toilet instead of leaving the tent to find the communal bathroom in the middle of the night.
- Pre packed - there is something to be said for having a camper that is pre packed with everything you need for the adventure. We leave ours with the basics so any camping weekend is as simple as pack the clothes, kids activities, hook up and go. It's nice to be able to have a space where we can store all our camping and outdoor essentials ready to be used on a moments notice.
- This fits the bill for the outdoorsy adventurer - there are so many camper options out there but I really loved the features in this one for our active and outdoorsy life.Outdoor kitchen (stove top and sink), outdoor shower, a lot of great outdoor storage, and the ability to camp off the grid for a while (even longer if you add solar). The outdoor racks is also another storage option for kayak or paddle boards and it has a hitch on the back for a bike rack. This isn't just a great camper for a small family, but a great camper for an active and outdoorsy family. The kids are young so we haven't used it to it's full potential but I am so excited to see how this camper serves our active family of four as the kids grow up.
If I have convinced you that a camper trailer or RV is right for your family, you may be wondering if an RV or camper is a good choice for you. What's the difference? Basically the RV is something you drive while the camper is something you tow. So what's best for you? It depends. If you already have a vehicle that can tow, I would go camper. These can be pretty light so many small SUVs can tow these now. If you have a towing vehicle, the insurance is much cheaper, maintenance is much easier (no motor/vehicle component) and you have a vehicle to disconnect and take around at camp. If you chose to go the RV route, you won't need a separate vehicle to tow but you will have the maintenance and mileage issues that come with any vehicle. You also won't have a car for exploring while at camp. I think campers make more sense for most people but that decision or up to you.
- Light weight - can tow with almost anything. Dry Weight (3,400 lbs) GVWR (4,200 lbs.)
- Small but mighty - this camper is as small as Adam wanted to go, as as big as I wanted to go. I didn't want to have this mammoth thing in our driveway or at campgrounds. I wanted small but mighty and something easy to drive, setup and store. It boasts 200 sf of interior living space which is impressive given it's size.
- The layout of this camper is truly amazing. In the grand scheme of campers, this is a small trailer but it still manages to fit two full size bunks, a full bathroom with a full stand up shower (not a shower room over the toilet), a kitchen with a good sized fridge, microwave/oven, and dinette that turns into a queen size bed, all with a slide that gives the kitchen area room and a hallway to get between the bunks and dinette. It is not big and let me tell you when you have to adults, and two kids in there, it feels tight. Throw in two dogs and it feels claustrophobic but for the size, you truly have everything you need in 20 feet of home.
- Amazing features for the outdoor enthusiast. This thing has solar capacity on the roof, insulated to extend the season, storage racks on the outside for all your gear, an outdoor kitchen, an outdoor shower, and the capabilities to truly be off the grid for a while. Rollbar cage - ladder, kayak storage, gear storage, bike rack hitch in the back. High clearance on the wheel wells and rugged tires
- Popout for the kitchen area which really extends the space
- Front cage- houses propane tank, extra storage
- Power stabilizing jacks, convection microwave
- Power awning, outdoor stereos, wireless chargers, TV and DVD player
- Propane fridge and water heater for backcountry use
- A lot of exterior storage cabinets and USB charging throughout
- Water heater - electric or propane (6-gallon capacity)
- $38,992 new (we bought ours for $20,000 used)
- Backcountry use: One person who uses it off the grid said "By myself I go through about one propane canister every 7 or 8 days; water and tanks lasted a couple weeks."
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