RE: How many times a Year do you use your Popup?

tx_basser · Sep 28, 2003, 07:05 PM

Looking at buying a used popup and taking into consideration how often it will actually be used, with kids in soccer, fishing, etc.

campingboaters · Jul 31, 2003, 09:39 AM

tx_basserJust thought you should know where we are in our lives to be able to compare to what you might be doing.

We have 9 trips scheduled this year with some free weekends still to be planned. We are also camping for 8 days vacation time at the end of August.

My kids are younger so we re not into all the sports. Even when my daughter gets older, I think we re going to try to avoid summer leagues unless they have weeknight games/meets (if such a thing exists). I also play field Hockey in the fall, but I am willing to miss 2-3 games for the sake of camping (and getting away from home) in the beautifully cool weather.

The way I look at it is you could easily spend $4000 on a week of vacation for your family -- at least that is what I have estimated a week s trip to Disney world would cost us. If you spent $4000 (or less) on a used pop-up in good condition, you just covered the expense of a week of vacation with your family if you were to fly somewhere. A pop-up is a great one-time vacation investment that can last your family YEARS.

birol · Jul 31, 2003, 09:45 AM

tx_basser

QuoteORIGINAL: tx_basser

Looking at buying a used popup and taking into consideration how often it will actually be used, with kids in soccer, fishing, etc.

You will use it as much as you want to use it.

As a general rule in our house (We do not have a PU and just started camping), we try to be reasonable, but do not hesitate to take kids away from their sports activities for a planned for vacation ot getaway. We even took them from school early (before it finished) a week, and two weeks. Once to go to Australia (we were not gonna miss that) and for the eastern Rally, and several times for a day or two for planned get away/vacation activities.

My son is an air cadet and he should in reality be present at all activities as he is an officer, but he knows the importance of being with his family when we have to go away and gladly informs his commanders of his absence. DD on the other hand, is always too happy to skip any activities she has to attend.

Buy the PU and you will be amazed how many times a year you can really use it. It is the best investment ever !

Papaso · Jul 31, 2003, 10:26 AM

tx_basserSince last year at this time we ve made 14 trips, mostly weekends. Two three night weekend trips and a ten day trip to the Smokies. We use our s as often as possible. There s nothing like it to unite your family, besides all the fringes (hiking, canoeing, swimming, eating, siteseeing, shopping, sitting around the fire.......) it s the quality time with your family that makes it the most rewarding hobby we have.
Happy Camping

angelsmom10 · Jul 31, 2003, 10:35 AM

tx_basserWith the old PU, we just went out about 4-5 times a year -- we had no A/C, and just couldn t handle the heat.

This year, we ll be out at least 9 times -- I d like to go every chance we can, but DH has a part-time job on Sat eve s -- so he s got to get someone to cover and that is kinda hard. We re making it work.

Love the new PU!![

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Acts 2:38 girl · Jul 31, 2003, 11:36 AM

tx_basserIt depends on the year! The past few years we ve used it about 7-8 times a season. This year (new baby coming, selling our house and buying a new one) we ve only gone out once for a 10 day vacation! Either way I think it s a good investment. There is no way we would be able to afford the trips we take if we had to stay at a hotel/motel. You save $$ on food too. We don t prepare every meal we eat on vacation, but about half of them. The other part we like too is that no matter where you visit during the day you are coming " home" to familiar surroundings, beds, etc. We have three boys (ages 8, 5, and 4) and they LOVE camping and going to new places. Extracurricular activities are important, but nothing is more important than spending time together as a family. [

] Good luck with your decision, your going about it the right way. The last thing you want to do is run out and buy a pop-up on a whim. You should also try renting one for a weekend and see how you and the family like it. [

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Turn Key · Jul 31, 2003, 12:54 PM

tx_basserOne week long trip in spring, another week in fall if we don t go on one of our " road trips" and as many weekends as I can talk DW into (Never enough for too many reasons[: (]).

birol · Jul 31, 2003, 12:58 PM

Turn Key

QuoteORIGINAL: Turn Key

One week long trip in spring, another week in fall if we don t go on one of our " road trips" and as many weekends as I can talk DW into (Never enough for too many reasons[: (]).

Me and Kids made a rule, if DW doesn t feel like coming for a weekend trip, we will cook her a breakfast and take off for our trips [

] But I don t see that happening too much, if it weren t for her feet and test we were gone for a week last week.

angelsmom10 · Jul 31, 2003, 01:04 PM

Turn Key

QuoteORIGINAL: Turn Key

One week long trip in spring, another week in fall if we don t go on one of our " road trips" and as many weekends as I can talk DW into (Never enough for too many reasons[: (]).

Let s see -- 7days in spring, 7 in fall, and 2 per weekend....

We use our every day we camp[

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slowpez · Jul 31, 2003, 01:31 PM

tx_basserWe take two 8 day trips each year and go every three weekends at other times. We are lucky enough to live in an area where year round camping is possible. Of course, we have only had the PU for a year (this month) but have found out that we are more enthusiastic than when we first bought it. So many campgrounds, so little time [

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wiininkwe · Jul 31, 2003, 04:59 PM

tx_basserAs someone else said, it depends on the year and what s happening. This year has been a very busy one for my DH, so we aren t getting away as much as we do some years. But, we use the PU for weekends at our property up north, and it s setting open in our driveway right now. We are anticipating some friends from Idaho in a week or two, and since our house is small, we will have them use the PU. It gives them more privacy than being in the house with us, and they can get up as early or late as they please, make their own coffee, whatever. When we go to Fla in the winter, we will hopefully have a month to 6 weeks to spend, and the PU will be home away from home.
T
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AustinBoston · Jul 31, 2003, 06:36 PM

tx_basserIn 2001, we used it three times.

The first trip was to Cape Cod (Massachusetts) for the weekend.

The Last was to Lake George, NY for the weekend.

The second trip was a bit longer...56 nights, with stops in New York, Indiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Nebraska, back to Missouri, back to Indiana, Michigan, back to New York, and then home to Massachusetts.

Over 10,000 miles of towing, with over 3,000 miles in side trips. Ever change your oil while on vacation? I have several times, and changed tranny fluid once we were out of the mountains. I brought jack stands so I could adjust the trailer brakes, and did so every 3,000 miles.

We stayed in 29 campgrounds and visitied about 20 national parks & monuments, along with several state parks and a few commercial attractions.

But, we only went on three trips with the pop-up that year.

Austin

Starcraft Dad · Jul 31, 2003, 06:49 PM

tx_basserWe have the luxury of living in an area that has several state parks in the local area. So we can camp when we want within a 10 mile radious and drive back and forth to work. We have done that several times as tent campers and now the PU will make it a whole lot easier. Then there are the weekend trips and vacations. Yep we will use it quite a bit. Oh, and don t forget Camp Driveway. [

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don · Aug 03, 2003, 11:42 PM

Acts 2:38 girl

QuoteORIGINAL: Acts 2:38 girl

It depends on the year! The past few years we ve used it about 7-8 times a season. This year (new baby coming, selling our house and buying a new one) we ve only gone out once for a 10 day vacation! Either way I think it s a good investment. There is no way we would be able to afford the trips we take if we had to stay at a hotel/motel. You save $$ on food too. We don t prepare every meal we eat on vacation, but about half of them. The other part we like too is that no matter where you visit during the day you are coming " home" to familiar surroundings, beds, etc. We have three boys (ages 8, 5, and 4) and they LOVE camping and going to new places. Extracurricular activities are important, but nothing is more important than spending time together as a family. [] Good luck with your decision, your going about it the right way. The last thing you want to do is run out and buy a pop-up on a whim. You should also try renting one for a weekend and see how you and the family like it. []

Couldn t agree more. We bought a very used and cheap pop up for a season $500. Because of it we decided we could " do it" and camp with the newborn and 2.5yr old. Then bought a new pop up the next yr. We have really used it a lot since then and put thousands of miles on it I never imagined

jaycocamprs · Aug 06, 2003, 01:01 AM

tx_basserWhen we bought our camper (new), we made the decision to use it often. In the three years we ve had it, we ve taken a 7-9 day vacation each year and at least one 2 or 3 night weekend most every month. Sometimes we manage 2 weekends a month. Are you already campers and just moving up to a PU or are you just wanting to start camping? If you are campers now, you already know you enjoy it, but, if not you might consider renting and see how what you think before you buy.

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