RE: Would we use a hybrid enough? Convince us!

[my4cuties]

 
We re considering the purchase of a hybrid, and would probably be spending a good hunk of dough on that PLUS getting a used vehicle to tow it, plus pay to store it!  This is a HUGE commitment, so please tell us, how often do you use YOUR hybrid?  We live in Pennsylvania, so I guess we would realistically use it from April - October if the weather is alright -- for long weekend trips, or week-long camping trips in the summer.
 
 We re excited about the possibility, but we don t want to regret our decision... we ve always had fun tent-camping, but we want to get beyond all the set-up time, and weather worries.
 
 Thanks!  By the way, our kids are 9 1/2 (boy), 6 3/4 (boy), and 3 1/2 yr old boy/girl twins.  []

[Tim5055]

 my4cuties
Well, I don t think you should restrict this to hybrids.  How about how often do you use your pop up in general...
 
 In 2001 we camped 21 times.  While most were weekend trips several were longer, up to a week at Disney World.
 
 In 2002 we camped 12 times, again a mixture of weekend and longer trips.  The highlight of 2002 was teh week long pop up rally in TN.
 
 
 
 [link=http://www.title-3.com/Trips/2001Trips.htm]Our 2001 Trips[/link]
 
 [link=http://www.title-3.com/Trips/2002Trips.htm]Our 2002 Trips[/link]
 
 
 Here is some background information that may help you out:
 
 
 [link=http://www.title-3.com/FAQ.htm]Frequently Asked Questions[/link]
 
 [link=http://www.title-3.com/Hitch.htm]Towing and Hitch Information[/link]
 
 [link=http://www.title-3.com/BuyUsed.htm]Purchasing a Used Pop-Up-Camper[/link]
 
 Good luck

[Foxyladies]

 my4cuties
I don t own a hybrid but just reading about how many  children you have....convinces me that you should. I bought a pu 1 1/2 years ago and I wish I had a hybrid. I have a non-camping husband so I camp with my granddaughter. My sis is a seasonal where I sometimes go so she helps me alot. I will be 50 in May so I really would apprecite owning one. Enjoy it ....you won t reqret it.

[SheBantam]

 my4cuties
How often do you use your tent? You would probably camp as often if not more.
 
 I have both, we bought a used popup just to see if we would like it. We did, it has mildew damage and no air, but we realy enjoyed the openess.  Ibought a hybrid at the end of the season, now have both in my yard. We use the campers in place of hotels when we go back home and group campout a lot.  Visit the camping clubs sections. There are campouts in Central PA, Western PA, MAPCE has a group within that Yahoo e-group for Eastern PA campers, led by Hallie.  We are also having a group campout in April at Yogi Bear at Elmer NJ.
 
 We camp out about every other weekend during the camping season and some camp ground have summer storeage deals if you use their facilities.

[fivegonefishing]

 my4cuties
Last season was my families first camping season.  My daughter was 7 and my twin boys were 4.  After renting one we bought a pop up and really loved it!  We had 13 trips and 39 nights of camping.  We have already 45 nights planned this year!  We loved camping in our pop up.  
 
 Just two weeks ago we unexpectantly bought a hybrid, havn t camped in it yet but have already figured out the differences, one set up time; from start to total finish it could easily take us two hours to put the pop up up, thats with the ARR which I loved, the inside junk, making the beds, it wasn t always enjoyable, especially when we would get at a park at 6 pm and not have dinner till after 8.  The hybrid I hope will be a heck of a lot easier to set up, the beds will be made, clothes already put away, fridge filled.
 
 Our kids are pretty high maintenance and I can see the hybrid making such a difference for them as well.  The DD will have her own space and the boys will have theirs, in the pop up they were always in each others space.  Because of food allergies having a freezer is also a big convienence! We really loved our pop up and if we didn t see the hybrid we got for the money they wanted we probably would still be using our pop up this year.   Also some of the pop up campers are just as roomy as hybrid.
 
 Good luck with what ever you decide.
 
 Tammy[]

[dee106]

 my4cuties
Do you have a favorite campground near by that you could put it on site? thats what we do! We figure it out what we would of spent on just storing it if we paid a bit more we can have a second /weekend home! oursis just 45 mins away in a campground and we have access to it all the time, so we just go up on the weekends, we have food and clothes in there, so we get off work, hop in the van and go. No towing always have a reservation! and when we want to travel we go up the night before hook up, and sleep in it and get a early start!   thats what we do. it s great,

[campertime]

 my4cuties
We tent camped approximately 2-3 times a year.
 After my daughter was born we camped one time in two years.
 
 In 1999 we bought a pop up and camped 7 times spanning almost 30 days with a week at Tahquamenon Falls.
 
 In 2000 daughter number two was born and we continued to camp. Went on 6 trips and managed a week long excursion to Silver Lake.
 
 In 2001 we also managed 6 trips and spent a week in Niagara Falls.
 
 In 2002 we got out 7 times and spent a week in Indiana at the Sand Dunes.
 
 We bought our Kiwi Last October and got out in it just one time at the end of October. (trip number 8 of 2002)
 
 This season we are looking at 9-10 camping trips with the Kiwi. It will allow us to camp a little earlier in the season as well as a little later. It is much easier and quicker to set up than the tent or the pop up. I think you are definately headed in the right direction especially with a handful of kids []

[Camper Dan]

 my4cuties
Hi everybody[],
 
 We went from tent camping directly to a hybrid..although we did rent a popup to..." try it on for size" .  Before we got the hybrid...DW & I tent camped about 5-7 nights a year & I would camp/backpack with a few of the guys 3-5 nights a year.  
 
 We got the Kiwi last June and camped in it for 24 nights.  It got really hot (too hot) to camp last July/August, so we took the Kiwi in for a few small warranty repairs...and the dealer had it 5 weeks.  It was so hot...we didn t really miss it.  This year we hope to up the number of nights camping.  There is a County campground between our home and my work...hope to commute from the campground, some, this year.[
 
 I took a 2 week Fall vacation last year and we stayed at 4 campgrounds for 12 nights.  It was great...even the rainy days!  We were never so comfortable!  Weather is not so much a consideration as it was when tent camping.[]
 
 I sometimes take the trailer to a nearby campground on a Wednesday or Thursday so we have a site for the weekend.
 
 Next week we are going to make some campground reservations for the beginning of April at the local County Park CG.

[CamperJones]

 my4cuties
We frequently have this discussion when camping and the hybrid and TT owners agree that time wise you do save when you get to a campground.  However, I have popup owners that can put up and take down their popups so quickly it would blow your mind!  In Florida rain is a given and regardless of what you have you will get wet just maybe not as much.  So some things won t change......
 
 The main points we have discussed that when making the jump is to be firm in your mind WHY you are making the change:  
 
 1. If the things you need will help you be able to camp MORE and are holding you back now then you are a prime candidate for a change. Know WHAT you need and make a list before you shop of the things that are a MUST and the things that you can be flexible about.
 
 2. If your camping schedule is unlikely to change no matter what you own then is the difference in cost (purchase price, tow vehicle, storage) verses what you are doing now worth it to YOU and your family?
   
 When we made the jump from our Cheyenne to the Caravan it was due to my health issues and while it didn t make our camping schedule change it enabled me to be able to do things easier and made the trips easier for me.  We knew what we needed to fix our problems and went about it based on those needs. The cost became a non-issue after we decided that in order to be able to go camping was worth far more to us than the cost of what we were considering verses what we currently owned.  All situations are different and the reasons behind the decisions are what will make the case for you and yours.   Good luck in your decision!

[Linda]

 my4cuties
I think the biggest question is " how much can you camp" , if your schedule allows you to camp everywkend, it would be more then worth it.  I m also in PA, we have a permanent site at a campground that s open all yr round, so if the weather is nice we can camp even in winter. So trust me we more then get our money s worth, Plus my little guy and I pretty much stay there all summer, we usually just come home once a week. It s like having a 2nd or summer home. Since you would have to pay for storage maybe this is an option for you to look into. We sat down and figured out between paying for every wkend, long holiday wkends, gas pulling the camper, travel time, time spent making reservations, etc It was well worth the $$ for the seasonal site. Sit down and figure out how often you can realistically go, then go from there.. I will say you can t go wrong w/ a Hybrid though, it s the best of both worlds.

[dee106]

 my4cuties
did we convince you yet?