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RE: So ya all... back to fitting 4 children in a pop-up

Started by Jo Ann, Jan 05, 2003, 10:50 AM

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Firefyter-Emt

 Just thought I would bring this subject back to the new board (for no apparent reason to get ya all guessing or anything..) [;)]  I have been thinking that the current little pop-up really should be replaced with a bigger unit after this summer season, for no real reason or anything...  The tow rig is up in the air a bit.. We bought that Areostar, but it will be replaced in the near future I hope.. and the 4Runner is Uh, short a seat... [;)]  Any good model features that one brand has over another?? Just weighing options for now.....

Jo Ann

 Firefyter-Emtboth rockwoods, the premier with spring mattresses and the freedom with foam mattress, are heated.  which is nice to keep the cold from seeping up thru the mattress.  but if you put a real wool blanket between a mattress and a mattress cover...then your sheet...that works too, not quite as well as when it is really cold...but still work.s
 
 with kids, i would get a slideout, if not kids then i wouldn t


6Quigs

 Firefyter-EmtLee,
 glad you are planning ahead on this one.
 Though organizing yourselves for camping with 4 children is only one of the problems you will be having.
 Even a trip to the mall or supermarket is an adventure.
 
 Tow vechiles, we did add a third seat to our explorer, that took 2 kids, but it was rear facing, so there was no luggage space, and the kids baked there on hot days with no ventilation back there.
 Our Safari is an 8 seater, and can tow 5,500lbs, so we can even bring grandparents along.(and are half the price of a Surburban).
 
 Our first popup experience was camping in an 8  Jayco, and we only had 3 children, and we felt like royalty compared to tent camping.
 The extra space in a 12  box is well worth it, especially on those rainy days, when everyone is cramped inside.
 The slide out makes it even better.
 A casette potti will be a must, as little boys do like to pee a lot, and it s nice to have them go in the popup, versus trecking to the restrooms, only to return to find the next one now needs to go.
 The shower we love, being able to lock the door, and shower all 4 of them, in the security of the popup is nice.
 
 Good luck

tlhdoc

 Firefyter-EmtMy Explorer has the 3rd seat option and has the heat/AC for the back row.  It also tows like a champ and is 4x4 for the bad weather.  As for a PU, you can fit 3 kids in the king bed of a Coleman with no trouble.  I don t know where you want the little one to sleep.  In bed with you or in a crib.  I do think having enough room for 6 to sit is important.  The newest member of your family will not stay little for long.  So I would recomend a 12 foot box and a slide out if you can find a used one in good shape, or if you are buying new.
 
 Good luck,

Kelly

 Firefyter-Emt[font=" comic sans ms" ]Can t give any advice about which PU to buy ~ we re crammed into a 10  Palomino on rainy days!  On nice days it doesn t matter much ~ we have one king bed, one double bed and 2 dinettes....plenty of eating and sleeping space.  No inside play space!
 
 As for the vehicle ~ I wouldn t trade my Suburban for anything!!  It s got plenty of room for all the chirren (2 in car seats, 2 in booster seats) and all the gear we need, handles great and tows like there s nothing behind it!  
 
 HTH a little and good luck with those decisions![/font]

OC Campers

 Firefyter-EmtI definately vote for 2 king-size beds and a cassette potty.  We have 3 kids (11,7 and 2) and have a Coleman Westlake.  Wonderful camper but we do wish we had a slide-out.  It has plenty of sleeping space but not a lot of floor space.  It always seems that some one as to " suck it in"  as you try to pass in the aisle.  If I had to do it again definately a slide out.  We also have an Astro van.  Plenty of seats and power but I think it would be nice to have a quad-cab truck to tow.  Of course, 6 people probably wouldn t be too comfortable in the truck.  I guess then if it is in your budget, a Suburban would do nicely.
 
 Jacqui

Firefyter-Emt

 Firefyter-EmtI have also given serious thought to an older Suburban.. Of course, we just got rid of the full size van because my wife was sick of not fitting into parking garages and the like.. then again, if my 4Runner fits into most garages (barely) I think a  burb should fit into most.. I have to start looking this summer seriously though, I do want a slide out too.. I hope to find a used one for around 5k or so (Yea, I know.. good luck) [:D]
 
 So you all keep your fingers crossed for the needs leaning more towards that of a baby girl, Right [;)]
 
 *Disclaimer... Not that I am saying, nor hinting to anything if ya know what I mean... [:)]

NCSunshine

 Firefyter-EmtUs with 3 girls, we have really appreciated the Niagara.  The shower/toilet is wonderful although it takes up space that could be used for storage.
 
 When we pack clothes for a trip (short or long), we use the cheap small suitcase on wheels.  Everybody gets one and we store them in the front storage trunk(they can be stacked).  You can load it from the outside and access it from the inside thru the doors, so no need to load and unload.  For us we pack everything we can in a place it will stay until we return home so we have minimal unloading from vehicle, as everyone does.  
 
 The slide out has been great for those rainy days.  Room enough to play on the floor, but DD s prefer to play on the king size beds(more room).
 
 According to the number of each sex, you could divide up and just use the bunkends and not the dinette.  We don t if we don t have to (lazy).  Love those king size beds, can t say enough good things about them.  
 
 We are going to attend a RV show in Greensboro NC this coming weekend, I m interested in looking at the Monteray and some of the hybrids[:o]  Guess the best thing to do is look and look some more you will know when you have found the best plan for you.

rednekrubbrduck

 Firefyter-EmtIm not gonna start a debate on which brand is better, cause everyone has they re favorite, but the options is what most really need to look at.  We never " dry camp" , so I wasn t really intersted in having a bathroom/shower in mine cause the CG s we stay at have them.  Don t need a water heater cause I can boil water on stove to do dishes with, etc.  Besides..I m a believer in the more options you have..the more that can go wrong.  I did set up an " outhouse"  using a puptent, and a porta pottie so DW and DS don t have to make those treks to the bath room.  Having 2 king size beds, a full size (dinette) and a couch (more like a padded bench) is nice.  The glide out is great so DS can have room to play..even though he usually plays outside, or on his bunk..the speedbump usually claims to openned area as his own.  I think it boils down to what you need, and what you can do without.

jaycocamprs

 Firefyter-EmtSounds like good advice you ve gotten on the types of campers needed.  I agree, a 12  box would be best.  The only thing I can add is that you might want to consider an add-a-room.  We have a Jayco 12UDK(no slide) but do have the AAR and LOVE it.  Sure, it is a SMALL pain to put up (our opinion) but it does increase living space.  There are only 4 in our family and the girls don t go with us much anymore but I like being able to sit outside in the AAR at night or early mornings before George gets up.  We use our AAR on most every trip even for a weekend.  The privacy panels stay rolled up during the day when the weather is nice and roll them down at night or in bad weather. If the DDs are with us, the porti-potti goes outside in the AAR.
 
 Theresa

kminton

 Firefyter-EmtWe traded our truck this past May for a Tahoe.  The Tahoe is a little bit shorter than the Suburban.  It also gets in parking places a whole lot better than the truck did (It was 4WD as compared to 2WD Tahoe).  I like driving the Tahoe because it is not so big.  You can get Tahoes with the 3rd seat (it won t leave much luggage space in the back - we only have 1 child so didn t feel like we needed to get the 3rd seat plus I have an Odyssey for carrying her and her friends around).  We have a Niagara which of course provides plenty of room.  We bought one with the CP/Shower because I didn t want to take DD to the bath house and keep her from touching anything.  I think that is what the majority of people get the shower for - not having to take young ones to the bath house to bathe.  
 Good luck in whatever you decide to do.  We are going to go this weekend to the RV show to look around and see what is new.
 
 Kerri

Miss-Teri

 Firefyter-Emt
 
QuoteORIGINAL:  Firefyter-Emt
 
 *Disclaimer... Not that I am saying, nor hinting to anything if ya know what I mean... [:)]
 

 Am I understanding that Mrs FF-EMT is expecting again this summer?!!!  Sounds like a congratulations is in order!!!  
 [:D]
 Please note the font color I used was PINK!

Firefyter-Emt


rednekrubbrduck

 Firefyter-EmtI wanted to add this since folks are typing about TV s also.  When looking...don t rule out pick-ups.  Not gonna say which ones are best, cause I think it really boils down to your best deal, but a pick up is a lot more versatile then most think.  Mine seats 6, w/plenty of room for adults in the back seat.  Now a days they re selling 4 dr s on them without having to get a crewcab.  You don t have to spend a lot of time " Stowing"  things to make them fit..just toss in the bed of the truck..and yer off.  They re even getting more and more family friendly...on the news last night, they were talking about how more moms were buying them..and Ford has one that comes with a dvd player and screen for the back seat occupants.  I got my truck for 22,000 new, which isn t a bad price.  Just don t let them try to sell you into a 4x4 unless you need one.  I couldn t justify an extra 5 grand for something that I would almost never use.  When I was doing cellular work...I was driving thru farmers fields in my rear wheel drive truck with no problems.  I could see it in the snowbelt...but not here.  The big thing is the bed size. I don t know how those with only a 4 bed do it.  I got a 6  one..and wish I had gotten a 8  bed.  The other good thing is all the friends you ll have after you get it...and they all seem to need help moving (I did help one friend move a fridge he got at a garage sale...but it was a trade off cause he was retro fitting it to hold a full size keg on tap..and wine, so I got to sample some of the products being stored).  [:D]