Why dont more Mudders RV?

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In2cruisers said:
That is NOT camping......that is called taking a condo into the woods



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Of course it's not "camping", its "RVing".

And it's important to distinguish between the two so you don't accidentally show up at a "campground" ... oh excuse me... an "RV park" with your tent and wonder why they won't rent you a space to pitch it for the night.
 
doug720 said:
We have progressed from bags on the ground, to yenys, to sleeping in trucks and vans, to class C MH, to slide in truck campers. Our current class A MH is now 10 years old, we have stayed in campgrounds with hook-ups 2 times! All the other trips are boondocking in the desert and mountains. We are self contained, have 7 solar panels, 4 house battery banks, a generator if needed, 120 gallons of water, and more. All of which allows us to stay at some pretty amazing places for a long time, comfortably!
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2 times... out of how many total times?

How long did you stay there for and can you please define "pretty amazing", preferably with pictures.
 
lets stay on track, this thread is about RVing, not tent camping. We all have different wants/desires/needs/budgets, so its important to realize that one solution may/may not work for another.

Also, if you want to talk about AC/DC Air Conditioning efficiency, please start another thread.

I'd like to see some pics doug, and see how your setup is.
 
We do 15 and twenty trips a year with the RV. A week at Thanksgiving, week at Christmas/New Years, week at Easter/Spring break, a 2-3 week vacation in summer and many weekend trips throughout the year.

Some have the 60, others have the trailer with our bikes. All are fun.

I will have to check the wife's pictures to see if she has any with the MH while we camp. I have lots of people, dogs, fishing, scenery, even the 60m but I don't take any of the MH! Not to pretty I guess...

I found 2, my Bro/Sis in laws camper and ours with deer in the Eastern Sierra. Both about 100 feet from each other and right next to stream.

But to each his own. This works for us, maybe not for you?

Doug

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^^^
Well you're definitely getting your money's worth. And you live in a climate where you can easily do so year round. That is a great looking site, I have to admit I wasn't expecting that. We just don't have roads like that here that are easy enough to navigate with a big rig. I was expecting a picture of a desert. Ya got me!
 
yea, thats a nice setup for sure. is that a state park?
 
Jason, I can appreciate your comments to keep you thread on track about RVing. Sorry if I digressed. I have opportunity to RV coming up in the next couple of weeks with my rig - 1st time in an RV park. I made reservations and am running into some roadblocks having an old rig (>10 yrs old). Seems some RV parks want to keep up their image and keep older rigs out. And the other problem is I've got a slide in camper. This other park I was able to make reservations, but it seems campers are just welcome overnight. I explained that mine has a full bathroom and hookups which helped, but we'll see how it goes. They were also drilling me to see if I had any broken windows or rust. Both these RV parks are within the Portland, OR metro area, so I hope that all RV parks aren't that picky. Point is - just a word of warning to those considering picking up an older RV or slide in camper, you may not be welcome just anywhere.
 
ih88hi10 said:
Of course it's not "camping", its "RVing".

And it's important to distinguish between the two so you don't accidentally show up at a "campground" ... oh excuse me... an "RV park" with your tent and wonder why they won't rent you a space to pitch it for the night.
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ih88hi10 said:
2 times... out of how many total times?

How long did you stay there for and can you please define "pretty amazing", preferably with pictures.
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Dude, if you don't like the idea of trailer camping don't do it.

I've done everything from survival camping to the full on RV experience, probably been doing it since before you were a glimmer in your Dad's eye. IMHO anything that gets me out of the house is all good and it all has something to offer.

For what it's worth, yes you can haul a trailer into some amazing country, been there done that don't need to show you pictures to prove it.

RV parks in general suck OTOH I can stay at an RV park on the ocean for $20 a night, sleep on my own sheets, and enjoy a campfire. If I stay at a hotel I pay $200 a night sleep in a bed that may or may not be infested with bed bugs and have a paved parking lot to hang out in.
 
We took a look at the Coleman Ultra Lite 16QB today. It may be our next RV.
http://coleman-rv.com/floorplan/CTS16QB

The 100 should pull it with no problems. We really like the floor plan, it is pretty open for a small trailer. For two people that spend most of their time outside when camping it fits the need.

If we spent much time in wet climate the fixed bed might be a problem, a convertible siting/sleeping area would be better. Living in the desert it's no big deal since we usually only go inside to sleep.
 
80t0ylc said:
Seems some RV parks want to keep up their image and keep older rigs out. And the other problem is I've got a slide in camper. This other park I was able to make reservations, but it seems campers are just welcome overnight. I explained that mine has a full bathroom and hookups which helped, but we'll see how it goes. They were also drilling me to see if I had any broken windows or rust. Both these RV parks are within the Portland, OR metro area, so I hope that all RV parks aren't that picky. Point is - just a word of warning to those considering picking up an older RV or slide in camper, you may not be welcome just anywhere. [/SIZE][/FONT]
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That is definitely, definitely, definitely worth pointing out whether it is on topic or not. I found out early on with my camper that I was not welcome in a lot of places. I stopped looking at private campgrounds altogether and we only stay at public campgrounds and dispersed. Preferably the latter.

rusty_tlc said:
RV parks in general suck OTOH I can stay at an RV park on the ocean for $20 a night, sleep on my own sheets, and enjoy a campfire. If I stay at a hotel I pay $200 a night sleep in a bed that may or may not be infested with bed bugs and have a paved parking lot to hang out in.
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What you're leaving out is the cost of ownership of the RV. If you divide that total annual figure by the number of nights you use it, you can find out if it's worth it to chance it with the bed bugs or not. You may save money on the accommodations rental but if you're paying $10k a year on maintenance, insurance, storage, taxes and extra fuel consumption and then only using it 10 nights a year, that's costing you $1,000 per night used.
I'm sorry to the OP if you think this is off topic, I think it is very much on topic as it pertains to why more mudders don't RV.
 
rusty_tlc said:
We took a look at the Coleman Ultra Lite 16QB today. It may be our next RV.
http://coleman-rv.com/floorplan/CTS16QB

The 100 should pull it with no problems. We really like the floor plan, it is pretty open for a small trailer. For two people that spend most of their time outside when camping it fits the need.

If we spent much time in wet climate the fixed bed might be a problem, a convertible siting/sleeping area would be better. Living in the desert it's no big deal since we usually only go inside to sleep.
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We owned a trailer similar to the size and weight above with our 100 and two problems. One where did you find extension mirror for a 100 that do not fall off at 40mph? Second the trailer felt like it was too much for the LC with weather condition, mostly wind.

Since then we have upgraded both the trailer and pull vehicle. The new set thought larger at over twice the weight it is much more comfortable to pull in all conditions verses the LC.

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I love my Arctic Fox slide in camper. It's great. I've camped multiple times down to -9 deg f and been comfy.

It all depends on what I'm doing. At Johnson Valley, a tent is not an option. It just plain sucks.. However, I'll be bringing a tent to the roundup this year because it'll be just me, and the fuel savings are worth it.
 
I've always thought a Unimog with a radio box would be a great starting point for an RV. They are pretty reasonable to buy, light weight, and really capable. The problem is that they just suck as long distance driving vehicles. I've thought that if you basically replaced all the drive train forward of the transfer case with a duramax/allison combo, then added a bunch of sound insulation and a couple really nice aftermarket seats it could be great offroad rv.
 
We picked up a used '01 Coleman Niagara last month and have spent 2 long weekends in it so far. 5 years ago we had a Jayco Baja pup and sold it after 9 months due to it not really working floor plan wise.

Our main reason for a pup was to be off the ground and have an A/C during hot texas summers. We looked a RTT and RTT/trailer combos and after spending the $$ for a RTT setup it was getting close to the price of a nicer used pup. And now we have an A/C, shower/casette toilet indoors and more room in case we get stuck inside during a storm. I just finished building a chuck box so we'll continue to do some tent camping too.

This pup does pretty well behind the 80. I did add an Equalizer brand hitch and now it tows perfect. The pup also has a spring over conversion with new wheels and larger trailer tires.

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Check the Mud demographics. Most of the people here can't afford a class A coach and wouldn't want one, yet. Most of my customers are Class A motor home retirees who tow a car with them. Up until the past two or three years I rarely saw a 4 X 4 towed behind a motor home that was ever used in four wheel drive. But, as the population ages there are more and more "younger" retirees who have lived more active and healthier lifestyles and are towing tricked out jeeps. Country and farm grown couples have always towed 4 X 4 trucks that actually get dirty off road.
 
I think you might be surprised at the 'mud demographics.. Affording a class A is not tough. Some people just don't want to...
 
I agree with Mace, gassers are cheap. diesel pushers are more. At Roundup last year, I would guess that about 40-50% had an RV of some type- truck camper, Class A, trailer, etc. Plus, most mudders here in Austin and those I have met elsewhere do more than OK.

I hear ya on the hotel/bedbugs. Last month my sister got soem bed bugs. She's a realtor and went to a house that the owner wanted to list. She sat on the couch and in 6 minutes, they at her up and will costs here about $2000 to rid her house of them, get clothes dry-cleaned, doctors, etc. It's horrific.

I know when we go to NM, it takes an act of congress to find a hotel that will accept 5 people. It must be a state law or something, because they always want to put you in 2 rooms. Sorry, but I am not paying for 2 rooms because I have 3 kids. This is yet another reason for me to get a RV of some type.

I did have a Starcraft 11RT Off road trailer I bought new in 04. It was more like fire road worthy in terms of off-road ability. Towed it with our old 97 Cruiser. We liked it but we tend to hop from place to place and doing a 30m setup and a 30m teardown every 1-2 days gets old. Plus, the fridge location was a pain to get to when loading. It wasnt directly across from the door :( Big design issue. I didnt want to raise it to put food in every time, so I would slide in and put goods. It was a pain though. It didnt work for us, but to each their own.
 
They only way I can get my wife and daughter out camping is having a RV. We started with a hand me down early 70's tent trailler, then moved up to a small 16' TT. We then went to an older Class C MH. All of these where used and the initail price where low. Yes, there's a maintenance cost to mainting used RV equipment but I would say that the maintenance of the rigs that bring us all here to MUD is probably higher ;)

This year my we decided to spoil ourselves and bought a new 21' travel trailer. It is probably one of the best built trailer on the market today as the shops only build about 50 a year and I was able to see all the material used in its construction and was was able to see it in different stages of build.

I've built my 40 to be an all around rig. If I go offroading by myself, I can sleep in the 40. If I go with the familly, I'll hook up the TT (dry weight 2300#) to the 40 and have fun with the familly. The one good thing about having the trailler is that is can be used for more then "camping". We've got family & friend reunions every couple of year and being able to show up with your little home of wheels is so practical (not a big fan at sleeping on an air matress in somebodies basement).

Here's a pic of our current setup with a Dodge Durango as a tow vehicle while I finish the 40.

 
Here are a couple of shots my wife had or one of the places we "Camp" in the Eastern Sierra. It is not a State Park, but is a camp area that is very nice and beautiful.

It takes a little planning to to get the MH into places like this, but scouting with the 60 first works great.

Doug

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