8 foot popup experience with 2 kids

[hatlet]

we camped in an 8' Viking for 16 years with 2 kids(boy and Girl), we only really slept in the trailer, the majority of our time was spent outdoors. I think we only used the stove twice. We just upgrade to a new Fleetwood Tucson(2005), also an 8' box. Now that the kids are older ( 19 & 16), they won't be going camping with us too often anymore, so we stayed with the 8' box.

[Dog]

well,just go back a few hours ago from old forge ny,,my 8'r worked out great,even had 3 guests come up for the day,,,,,,here's a pic

[zamboni]

Brian-

When we started camping, we bought a 10' Starcraft (used) for a few thousand locally (in 2000, a used 1996).  I'd grown up camping, so knew I'd like it, but my wife was unsure -- we could fit an after-market porta-potty in here and that was all she needed.  It had an 8-gallon water tank (manual pump), no hot-water-heater, tiny fridge, and indoor or outdoor stove.  We NEVER had the stove inside.

We used it for 2 years.  Loved it, never had a problem or regret -- the unit had a "King" main bunk (with headboard) and a "double" other bunk.  The main bunk was square, so we slept "head-in" -- our feet towards the camper and our heads at th end.  This let my wife sleep on the side, me in the middle, and my 2 big dogs next to me (pinning the blanket down so I was trapped all night).

Then, my parents decided to upgrade, and we got their 2002 Coleman Niagara -- a 12' box, inside potty/shower, hot-water-heater, and slide-out dinette.

Despite the "upgrade", we never liked it; too many frustrating design issues.  We always missed our "simple" Starcraft.  The features were nice, but "could have been better designed".  We upgraded as soon as we could.

Today, I still miss our old, simple Starcraft.  HUGE bed, the other was perfect for a baby in a playpen/crib.  If you did not expect indoor plumbing (and hot water), then you did not miss anything by not having it.

****

Buy a simple camper you can fit in today.  Enjoy it.  Live in it.  Love it.  Over the next several years, you will figure out what you need... as in, what next camper will best fit your family's future needs.  Plain and simple.

In hindsight, we were not necessarily "ready" to upgrade to a hybrid.  I just hated my Coleman Niagara so much - from the first campout, that we had to upgrade.

****

My current philosophy:

It is painfully clear, that the probably-intelligent geniuses that design campers today (popup, hybrid, and lightweight travel-trailers) obviously have never spent 5 minutes in their "creation".  The designers should be required to live a week in the camper they "invent", WITH THEIR FAMILIES to realize how many stupid design issues could be easily fixed...

[bob-shannon]

We just upgraded from an 87 Palamino Pony with an 8ft box to a 98 Damon Camplite with a 15ft box.  We have 3 kids 8,7 & 5.  We were simply running out of space in the Pony.  The pony didn't have a fridge either which was very frustrating.  No heat, no air, no fridge, and about 2ft of floor space.  The new to us camplite has 15ft of floor space, a 5ft couch, a fridge (Yah!), a slideout dinette, an outdoor grill, HEAT&AIR, etc...   We will be able to keep this pop-up until the kids are out of the house!  I'm very happy we got the bigger pop-up.  Just my opinion but the 8 ft doesn't work for a family.
Shannon

[Beerlifter]

I still have my 8ft Columbia and 2 teenage girls! They sleep together on one end or the other and if they get *gripey* for lack of a better word we put down the table and make the extra bed. Although we are looking to get a bigger PU now but have no regrets about the 8ft box. Got my eyes on a 12ft Williamsburg with shower and potti. It's bigger than my first apartment...lol