Would we use it more?

[wynot]

I'm sure it has been asked over and over, but...

After our last camping trip which had beautiful days and horribly windy nights, complete with continual canvas and awning flapping/slapping, that Caravan looks better all the time...

We currently have a Utah CP, but we tend to get limited on taking Friday off with DW working Friday nights.  The only hybrid we like is the Caravan but I need to know what honest setup and takedown times are and whether the Caravan would lend itself more to spontaneous trips because you're not looking at extensive popup after dark or a 2 hour popdown.

Tow Vehicle-wise we're set.  Does the convenience factor make up for the drop in fuel mileage?  Is towing a Caravan harder or easier than a large popup (obviously rear visability takes a hit)?

How many of you regret doing it?  Any pros and cons would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks!

[Gone-Camping]

Well, the fuel milage hit varies a great deal, depending on what the tow vehicle is. With my Jeep, I'm finding that the little 6 cyl is over working to try and keep up, and drinks fuel by the gallons at hiway speed. I learned the other week that if I keep it down to 50 mph, the fuel consumption drops to something reasonable. The little motor just works too hard trying to maintain hiway speeds.

As for set-up, the Caravan would be a real time saver, and you don't have the canvas issues. That front part just slides out, but there is some kind of slide attachment that you have to put on first. but set-up has to be fast and easy. The Caravan also has a large bathroom, and a wide entry door! It does lack in storage space (at least compared to mine), but should be adequate. If you don't have kids, then get the one with the walk-in closet and the storage space becomes a moot point.

Using it more often? I found that I do. When I had the PU, I might get out once every 3 months. But with the hybrid I've been going out at least once per month, sometimes every other weekend.

That being said, the next trailer I buy isn't going to have any ends to set-up or pull out. It'll have a living room slide perhaps, and the awning! I'm aiming for a hard side next time around (next year or the year after), seems I'm not getting any younger!!!!:D

[campingboaters]

While we don't have a Coleman Caravan, we found that setup for our hybrid is WAY faster than the setup we had with our Coleman Santa Fe pop-up.  The most important thing is there isn't a ton of stuff on the floor of the hybrid that has to get set up or put away like there was in the pop-up.  Everything has it's place.  We have camped AT LEAST twice a month all season long -- starting in early May and ending the weekend before Halloween.  

The last time we went out,  all we set up was the front bed, the grill, the patio-mat, the picnic table cover and a couple chairs for the campfire.  After backing in and leveling, we were done the remaining set up in 15 minutes.  Bottom line is you make it as easy or as hard as you want with all the extra stuff you take with you.
 
If you are concerned about gas mileage, than a larger trailer may not be for you.  It's pretty much just a fact of life with the bigger trailers that you use A LOT of gas...
 
We have ABSOLUTELY NO REGRETS in buying the hybrid over the pop-up.  

[B-flat]

I really do feel that I would do a lot more camping with a hybrid and that the setup would be much easier.  One thing, though, is that I find the prices are often more than a good travel trailer.

[dee106]

i camp every weekend basically from may to november, all we do is level the hybrid, hook up the e/w/s and set up the beds, everything has it's place, and if it's raining you can relax inside and wait out the rain before doing your hookups or dropping the beds, and if just the two of you, you don't have to drop the beds at all! you can cook , use the bathroom, sit at the table or on the sofa, if its not windy you can put out the awning out in less then five minutes and sit outside! plus you can stock the fridge ahead of time, and you have a freezer too!

[dee106]

b-flat it is true, but remember a 21 foot hybrid gives you two queen size beds, a table bed and a sofa bed, plus since the beds are on the wings, you get more floor place. a 21 foot TT you will get one full size bed, a  table bed. and less floor space!  thats why we went with the hybrid.

[CamperJones]

1. Back in space
2. Chaulk wheels
3. Remove from hitch
4. Check Level
5. Turn on gas
6. Pull out front bed brace and attach
7. Unlatch front bed and pull open
8. Secure locks under bed
9. Open steps and then open awning
10. Plug in shore power
11. Attach fresh water hose, turn on water
12. Attach sewer hose
13. Crank out slide out (if applicable)
14. Open chair and relax!
 
Of course there is other little things to do just like anyone else but this is the real basics and can be done quite quickly.  As for towing, the frontal mass and weight of the Caravan will impact your gas mileage verses a popup but if your tow vehicle is designed to pull the Caravan or similar size camper you should not have to "put your foot in it" to eat up MORE gas to travel.  As for backing up - most here will tell you that the smaller and lighter it is the more it will react to your steering.  Hope this helps!  HAPPY CAMPING!

[jawilson]

b-flat it is true, but remember a 21 foot hybrid gives you two queen size beds

Actually, very few hybrids have 2 queens sized beds. AAMOF, most of them have some pathetic little excuse for a double bed in the rear of the trailer.  That's one of my biggest criteria when looking at hybrids; bed size, and far too many of them have a dinky bed in the back.

[B-flat]

Bed size is important in one of the beds.  It's just the two of us, so we don't have to have a really large camper as a family would.  (Give us the chance to say it sleeps 2, when asked.  Yeah, just 2. )  That cuts down on having to take the whole neighborhood on a camping trip.  I do like the idea of being able to get inside and load the frige and whatever without having to popup.  I have plenty of time till next spring and then I will make a decision.  The Antiqua look very good and has a good layout.

[wynot]

Everyone has been helpful.  Please keep the pros and cons up.  Kershner

[SheBantam]

Everyone has been helpful.  Please keep the pros and cons up.  Kershner

We solve the problem with having to leave late. Raymond cannot flex his schedule like I can, so I leave early, then he comes up (down or out) later and usually brings Jeffrey and the dog. I could and did set up the popup by myself. I was hard pressed to be able to roll the awning bymyself when ready to leave.

Kershener, one thing I really like about the hybrid is that we can "turtle". Like you all, there are only 3 of us. With the Bantam, the U-shaped is a queen bed when table is in, and table has to be down for travel.
The little dinnette can stay up or down since it is connected to the wall. So if we get in late, or are planning to leave early, we just put out the awning (and if it is windy strap it down unless it is too windy). Put the coolers out side or in the back of the truck. Pull out our modified bed rolls (I roll the comforter, and sheets in the eggcrate and tie it with one of those dollar store clothes lines that I have cut down and moved the plastic hook to the freh cut). And pull the pillows out of the wardrobe (they help to keep stuff in the cabinets from shifting while traveling). Raymond and I take the u-shpaed and Jeffrey gets the kiddie dinnete (mine does not have a sofa).

[campertime]

Well we had a pop up for 5 years and really enjoyed camping in it. The ease of towing and manuevering, being surrounded by windows, getting off the ground, and the price made it the best way for our family to enjoy camping. To us the downfalls of pop up ownership were crawling on our hands and knees to pack the fridge, setting everything up inside & out took 1-2 hours, and toteing around the cassette to empty it. We had a system but it still seemed like work.

We started looking at 24ft TT's and realized that things may be a bit easier but they are really cramped on the inside. We were looking at the models with a front bedroom, middle kitchen, rear LH side bunks, and rear RH bath. The entire inside was eaten up by beds and we noticed not much daylight entered through the small windows. After the pop up they really seemed closed in.

We decided to go to an RV show where we could look at various models and we noticed all the 24ft TT's were basically the same. Even with the addition of a slide out they still seemed small inside. Thats when I saw the Bantam Hybrid. We walked in and noticed that there was a ton of floor space. With the beds popping out they didn't take up 4-5 ft of space on each side. We ended up cruising the show checking every hybrid make and manufacturer until we both agreed on one, the Jayco Kiwi 23b.

The pros of the hybrid? Here's what we think:
Increased floorspace over a similar size TT
Bigger fridge than pop up (no more coolers)
Ice Cream! yep the freezer is great
Packing and unpacking does not require crawling.
Set up time is now 30-40 minutes.
The bunkend windows allow a nice breeze as well as a view.
A bathroom, a real shower, bigger holding tanks.
Air conditioning that stays cool.
The furnace is ducted and evenly distributes the heat (no more heaters)
Bigger, easier awning
More storage space. Now we don't have to carry bins to and from the house
We can stop for lunch or potty breaks in the camper.
Nobody has to wait in the cold or rain for the top to be popped.
Don't have to drag the kids to the showerhouse anymore.

The grass sounds greener on the other side right? Well here are the Cons:
Bigger, heavier & harder to tow. (2 mpg hit)
Still have vinyl bunkends to deal with in the rain.
Now we have to sit in the dump station lines.
I miss the 360 degree view out the window.
You buy more stuff to pack in the available space.

All in all the Pros out weigh the Cons and we are very happy we made the move to the Kiwi. It has allowed us to be more comfortable in the cooler Michigan temps each spring and fall. We have actually taken more trips because of that. There seems to be less stress for both of us now, especially when we're in a rush to get going or come home. Our two girls love having thier own cupboards full of books and toys and they really like having a bathroom that offers privacy. This was a great decision for the whole family

[Camper Dan]

Hi everybody,

It being just DW & I camping in our Kiwi, we can get by with just leveling, plugging in and pushing out the sofa slide-out.  If we plan to stay awhile...setup/take down can take just as long as it did when we were tent camping.

Dan & Kati
'98 F-150
'02 Jayco Kiwi 23D

[dee106]

camptime:
ever think of bring the old blue tote with you? we do, when we can't get a site with a sewer  we use the tote, (22gal) when i see the tank filling up we empty  in the evening when the station has no lines, this way we don't have to disconnect everything or wait in the long lines in the a.m. when we finish we rinse out the tote good and put the chemicals, no odor,