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RE: Extended Trips With One-Night Stays

Started by birol, Jan 27, 2003, 10:30 AM

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fivegonefishing

Sep 28, 2003, 07:05 PM
 This summer we are planning a two-week trip to Eastern Canada.  We will be gone for 15 days in total and anticipate it will take 3 days to get out East and 3 days to get back.  With the kids all under 7, we don t want to have to drive more than 5 hours a day.  That leaves 9 days to enjoy New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.  I estimate we may need to stay at 9 different parks, meaning we will have set-up and breakdown camp 9 different times, 6 of those times could be one-night visits.
 
 Last summer, we did not do any one-night campground stays so we have no experience with that aspect.  Does anyone have any advice or suggestions for what to look out for or consider?
 
 TIA
 
 Tammy[:)]
 

birol

#1
Jan 27, 2003, 10:30 AM
 fivegonefishingHi Tammy,
 
 Can we count on you sharing this information with us, with your comments, once the trip is done ? When we get our PU, we want to do the same thing, we have never been east of Montreal  and want to go east desperately when the right time comes.
 
 In the mean time, I am sure all the good folks will pour in information ....
 
 Birol
 
 
 

MtnCamper

#2
Jan 27, 2003, 10:31 AM
 fivegonefishingMy advice is to take, or unpack only what you absolutely need each night. Put a lot of stuff in plastic drawers. Quick access and just sit them on the floor when you pack up. You probably don t need the AAR or awning. Keep it stowed. Keep spme paper plates, or bowls for breakfast. No cleanup. We do instant oatmeal, orange juice, milk, and that s it. Maybe a cereal instead. Then you just have to throw it away, pack it up and hit it!

van castle

#3
Jan 27, 2003, 10:45 AM
 fivegonefishingWe were out 42 nights last summer and set up in 24 different sites. With just 2 senior adults it wasn t very complicated. We learned that we worked most effeciently when each party took responsibility for specific segments of the set up and take down. Also, provision your food and consumable supplies for a day or two at a time rather than for the entire trip. Then pack so you can do your daily loading and unloading with a minimum number of trips between your camper and your tow vehicle.  
 
 Thirty years ago when traveling with children, we made sure they had a few simple duties at each stop and then were free to " get the wrinkles out"  after sitting in the car all day.
 
 With your plan for driving 5 hours a day, it should be a piece of cake.

SheBantam

#4
Jan 27, 2003, 11:29 AM
 fivegonefishingAh!!a hybrid makes it easy for a small family. No set up (ie pulling down the bunks) with ours if it an overnighter. We could sleep 4 but comfortably 3 on the table/beds.  We have done this in Indiana and the last night at Little river Rally last year.  We do not need to unhook. just unplug, restow the coolers and go.
 
 If we go west this summer, this is what we will do while traveling.  then I will eliminate things that we probably won t use (tacky lights, extra drawers, extra tables) and will use the inside stove more often.

DiW

#5
Jan 27, 2003, 03:14 PM
 fivegonefishingOn our way to TN and back, we stopped in VA for one nighters. Due to some delays, we left NJ around 3pm so that got us to VA after dark. We didn t bother hooking up w/e. We simply levelled the popup, popped it up, pulled out the premade beds and secured them, and put the door on. No awning, no outside stove. Can t remember but I probably insisted on a tablecloth [;)] for our breakfast of cereal/donuts/muffins/juice/milk/fruit. We keep food stuff (& paper goods/plasticwear) in sterilite drawers so I simply carried those to the table and then put them back into the popup when we closed up. Dishes/utensils got thrown away so no dishes to wash. Kids had their clothes readily accessible so that was easy too. With little kids, you might want to simply pack some complete outfits so they re all ready to go (like one outfit per large size ziplock bag).
 
 We had never done a one nighter and we were amazed at how quickly we setup/closed up to leave. About an hour or two after getting on the road, we stopped for a real meal. Gave everyone a chance to stretch and my DH some real food. I had dreaded this aspect of the trip but it turned out better than I imagined. We spent more time on the way home finding a cg than we did setting up. Also, on the return trip, my DH insisted on hooking up to w/e/propane for the outside stove. Seemed a waste of time to me, but he wanted a real meal. Guess we made dinner and breakfast.
 
 This was a dramatic difference for us since we always set up the awning, put down an outside carpet, set up the outside camper s kitchen, 2 stoves, lanterns, tacky lights, chairs, etc. Got a look at how some of the other people camp (we ve always been shocked at how fast other campers leave in the am - now we know [:D]). Still prefer having some of the luxuries when camping for an extended time, but for a one-nighter, it really is easy. Our kids were tired from the trip and went to sleep easily or read. With little ones, you may have it a little tougher but after setting up, maybe a walk around the cg or a trip to the playground to wear them out. Just try to spend time away from your popup until time to sleep/leave. Less mess means quicker cleanup. Maybe a tv would help (we don t usually bring one but I remember the cartoon days).
 
 On a different trip (to Lake-in-wood in PA), we closed up our camper in the am (rain was expected) and then spent time walking around the cg checking out sites. When lunchtime came, we ducked into the snack bar and ordered burgers, etc. Now it couldn t get any easier than that. It was a relaxing way to begin our trip home. Usually we re rushing to close down by the checkout time   [:D].
 Di

don

#6
Jan 27, 2003, 04:18 PM
 fivegonefishingTammy,
 We only did it twice last year but I did like it a lot more than I thought. It like sleeping in your own bed! The kids settle down easier in the camper than a strange or new motel room.
 We set up the bare minimum and packed trying to think of that. Plan meal careful or go out to eat. Pre cook if you can and use your plastic and paper stuff.
 We listened to someone on the board who said ?try to get hotel or campground with a pool so the kids can swim and get some exercise, it will tire them out after long day in the car?. We did that coming back from FL without camper this month so we were at motels with indoor heated pools and I can say now that it is some of the best advice I ever took! It felt great myself just to jump in a swim a bit after driving all day. Nothing tires the kids out more than swimming or playing outside on a playground (if you can?t find a pool)
 When we are camping Amy might take the kids and let them play well I set up and make dinner. Now that may sound like a raw deal to some of you but I can get it set up quick and a planned dinner together in no time without interruptions and PEACE and QUITE. The kids get to play and then come back for a quick meal and off to bed.
 BTW- You are much nicer to your kids than I am to mine; they have gotten stuck in the evil car for almost five hours just between stops! Come on go for it two 7.5hr days gives you 2 less times to pop up and down! Plus, you get two more days scouting out Nova Scotia for us! [:)]
 

GeneF

#7
Jan 27, 2003, 07:26 PM
 fivegonefishingTammy
 
 I think others have given you good advice about the one night setups.
 
 My advice would be for the kids.  You shouldn t have any problem going five hours with the kids.  I think you can do longer but I would suggest you stop for about 10 minutes every hour or so to let the kids stretch their legs.  A lot of rest areas have a grassy area to run around on.
 
 Also, keep some travel games, cards and books in the tow vehicle to entertain the kids.
 
 Our kids were 11 and 6 when we did 49 days.  They played double-deck Uno for hours.  They made up their own rules.
 
 If you can find them, you can get some car bingo cards.   Instead of numbers, the kids would have to find picnic tables, bus, church etcetera.

tlhdoc

#8
Jan 27, 2003, 07:38 PM
 fivegonefishingLike everyone else said, just the basics when stopping for the night.  Some people can even PU their trailers with out unhooking from the tow vehicle.  Try it and see if you can.  Plan on throw away dishes and quick easy meals.  When we travel we eat out of the cooler for one meal (usually lunch), sandwiches, cheese, ring baloney and crackers, etc.  Fast food breakfast or do cereal bars and then eat a nice dinner.[:)]

fivegonefishing

#9
Jan 28, 2003, 08:16 AM
 fivegonefishingWow, these sure are some great ideas![:)]

maromeo

#10
Jan 28, 2003, 11:43 AM
 fivegonefishingLast August we made a cross country trip from AZ to PA and were gone for 16 days. We had 6 one night stays of popping up and down. We had a couple of rubbermaid container that were kept just inside the door. One with our clothes, one with kitchen and food stuff and our toiletries bag. Everything was handy. We also traveled with our 4 yr old. Her job was to crank down the stabalizer jacks. She was proud of her job! We were on the road usually 9 hours a day. One day we put in 14 hours. Our daughter did great. We brought books, a magnadoodle which kept her busy for hours. That was the best $14 I spent. [:)] We also did the breakfast cereal thing with the throw away bowls and utensils. Once in a while we ate out.  It was a great vacation. Enjoy it.
 Mary Romeo
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