https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 03 May 2026 08:46:32 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/camping-trailers#post-1535419 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 19:49:23 +0000 twinmama 1535419@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsScottish: That sounds awesome! Congratulations!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/camping-trailers#post-1535221 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 18:07:46 +0000 MrsScottish 1535221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MerryC: so we took the leap and bought a trailer. We started looking at pop ups, and realized that the pros that we thought would be in a pop up were not all there. We then saw a used 17 foot hybrid with 2 queen bed pop outs.<br /> We looked at it for over an hour, went for coffee then went back and put a deposit on it. We go on Thursday to sign all the paperwork. It is from a dealer which is nice because they do a overhaul of it and make sure everything is working, clean and in 100% order. They then do an hour king walk about and show us how to work everything ( which is great for us first timers!!) they store it until we want it at the beginning of June as well. They also have a great promo for 16$ a month for 3 years they have an " insurance" plan for all electrical, mechanical and water systems. If soemthing breaks, we pay a $50 deductible and they fix it. If we don't make any claims at the end of the 3 years we get all the money back minus $250. We opted in as we felt it was a great deal and considering we get the $$ back all we can loose is $250.<br /> Now I just need summer to come so that we can go camping... But it is currently snowing outside. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/camping-trailers#post-1524208 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 19:30:18 +0000 LemonLong 1524208@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not a fan of tent campers/pop up campers. We have a travel trailer that we bought used...so I would save and wait to buy your dream trailer! We are selling ours now even though we just bought a year ago because we got pregnant with our second sooner than expected and we just couldn't imagine two kids and two dogs for any extended period of time in there. I wish we would have waited and just bought a bigger one to begin with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/camping-trailers#post-1524166 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 19:14:47 +0000 MrsScottish 1524166@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We already have the camping stove, dining tent, camp coffee pot, ( yep a coffee maker meant for a Coleman stove) and then all the other kitchen stuff for camping. Our 5 year goal is a bigger hard top camper with an actual kitchen ( a hybrid most likely with a full fridge and a mic and a stove) but that is glamping in my world right now!!! I have watched my bro camp with 3 infants now and know all the tricks he has used!!! </p> <p>PhDs and I have decided we have 2 options- 1 buy a tent trailer this spring and then in a few years upgrade and sell the tent trailer. We can store the tent trailer in our garage no worries so it will be covered and heated. OR wait at least another 1-2 years and buy our dream camper. </p> <p>I vote option #1. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/camping-trailers#post-1523090 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 13:44:49 +0000 twinmama 1523090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsScottish: You're welcome! Congrats on the pregnancy :) </p> <p>I'm totally biased by the craziness of camping with twin infants, but I will encourage you to factor in conveniences where possible that will make your life easier with young ones. We didn't even own a campstove and always cooked over the fire when we tented, but having a micro is awesome now. Having a small fridge is so much easier than a cooler. And so on. Whatever you can do to make the essential logistics like eating, sleeping, and set up as easy as possible. Because adding a screaming/hungry/squirmy infant or toddler to the mix can add an element of stress and you want it to be as fun as possible :) We've had such a great time camping with our kids, I hope you do too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/camping-trailers#post-1522619 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 12:13:04 +0000 MrsScottish 1522619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MerryC: thank you so much!! </p> <p>We are looking used. There are tons of ads online and on kijiji.<br /> Bathroom is not important, would be a wish but not needed. We would be at camp grounds that all have serviced bathrooms.<br /> We have a garage- single that our trucks don't fit in so we could store a pop up or small trailer in. Our pilot can pull 4500 GW. Right now it is just the 2 of us but I am 8 weeks pregnant so next summer would be an infant. That's why a pop up would work for us for a couple weeks.<br /> We don't need a kitchen, we have all that from tenting the last 10 years so not a big deal. That will be more important when we have kids who are older and we go for longer trips. Right now we go for max a long weekend due to 2 dogs and DH job. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/camping-trailers#post-1522452 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 11:29:03 +0000 twinmama 1522452@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We purchased a small trailer last year so that we could keep camping with our kids, and I'm so glad we did. We have a Riverside Retro 155 - the red and silver one :) Lightweight &amp; short, and has all the essentials. <a href="http://www.riversidervs.net/Model-155--Retro-w-wetbath-.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.riversidervs.net/Model-155--Retro-w-wetbath-.html</a></p> <p>When the kids get older and we need more room, we will probably end up with a Passport 238, which is still relatively light and 24 ft-ish.</p> <p>As far as what to look for?<br /> -Weight: what are you going to tow with? Ideally you want your trailer to be 75% or less of your vehicles towing capacity, so that your vehicle is always in control. Even though our trailer is light and we have a big truck, we also still have trailer brakes so we are as safe as possible.<br /> -Storage: can you keep it on your property? will you cover it? Ours actually has a low enough ceiling that it fits in our garage, which is nice since we bought it new, and our HOA won't let us park it outside. Even though they are meant to be outside, trailers can weather quickly when exposed all the time.<br /> -Popups, etc: Think about the process of raising and lowering panels - potentially doing it all in the rain, are they going to get covered in debris, and extra maintenance of the folded parts when you get home. We really wanted a full hard shell trailer since we live in the PNW where we have a lot of moisture and tree needles.<br /> -Bathroom: do you want a full shower/tub or just a toilet? A shower is nice, but we really only camp 2 nights with the kids, so it's not a big deal for us not to have one. When we get a bigger trailer, we will want one with a tub for the kids vs. just a shower. Some of the popups just have little porta pottys or cassette toilets vs. a true flush toilet, and you may or may not get real bathroom walls for privacy - think about how important that is to you, or not. Personally, I really like having a door and a real toilet!<br /> -Sleeping: How many do you want to be able to sleep? Do you want to convert a dinette or a couch all the time or not? We convert our dinette every night so that we get 2 beds (one full and one twin) to sleep 2 toddlers and 2 adults. When we upgrade, we would like a queen and bunks, but this works best for us right now while cosleeping with the kids. We've discovered that if you do convert the dinette on a regular basis, it's so much easier to use a sleeping bag vs. sheets and blankets. And I find the dinette beds to be way more comfortable than the couch conversions, fwiw.<br /> -Appliances: random note that most trailer fridges are crazy expensive ($2k+!)because they are made to run on propane or electric. And fridges are on pretty much all the time that a trailer is plugged in, so it can be one of the first things to go if you're looking at a used trailer.</p> <p>So that turned into a crazy long list, I'm sorry. We've spent a lot of time researching trailers recently, so it's all fresh :) I'd recommend going to a dealer and walking through a bunch to help figure out what features and layout you like best, even if you buy private party. Have fun! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/camping-trailers#post-1522405 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 11:10:47 +0000 KT326 1522405@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are keeping our eyes out for used tent trailers. Our Uncle has one that we borrow sometimes and he said the biggest thing to look for if you buy used is that the canvas is good. No holes, no repairs or anything. Even if it looks like a good repair job it still has the potential to leak. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/camping-trailers#post-1522372 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 11:00:42 +0000 Beebug 1522372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We will buy one someday, but not quite there yet. From what we have looked into so far, even the pop-up cost is significant and we hope to stretch to make a hard top work from the get-go financially.</p> <p>Will you go new or used? We will likely go new, unless we had a connection to a used sale. Practical space is #1. So tight to begin with, but I need kitchen space that makes sense, and either a side or rear entrance/exit we can combo with a screened tent for seamless outdoor space. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/camping-trailers#post-1522349 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 10:55:50 +0000 AmandaB8 1522349@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have one, but I know that a lot of places will rent them. Maybe try doing that to see what you like? </p> <p>We want a Class C RV, and are planning to rent one this fall to see if we like it. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/camping-trailers#post-1522268 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 10:35:10 +0000 MrsScottish 1522268@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and I want to venture into the world of buying a camping trailer. Our end goal is a hard top max 25ft, but are looking more at a tent trailer or smaller hybrid right now due to cost.<br /> Any advice for what to look for? What to check? We don`t have any friends or family who have a tent trailers, just 5th wheels or tenters.<br /> Thanks!<br /> (I am dreaming of spring and summer eventually coming as it is currently snowing outside) </p>