This is serious question that I would like everyone to answer

[4Galvs]

Cajun,

DW and I tent camped for years before and after we got married.  Enter DS and DD  and we had a little lull camping wise.  We tent camped with friends one October weekend without DS and DD and the light bulb went on.  Less than a month later we had the trailer we have today.  For now it has worked out perfect for us.  Our niece goes with us so often I added her to our campsite sign.

Until we can add on to our house or move to something bigger we will have the pop up.  I dream of TTs often though.

[Freetime]

My father bought a pre-enjoyed 22' Nomad travel trailer in the mid 70's when I was a young boy. We used it to primarly to travel back and forth from Florida and Rhode Island to visit relatives. We lived in Ohio, so it was a economical way to travel, and stay while visiting. We pulled it with a 73 Chevy Impala wagon. I was the youngest of 4, and have some great memories using that trailer. I can't say we camped in it alot, but on occasion we would find a off the highway KOA or something while in route to our destination. Many times it was in a truckstop for the night. I remember sleeping so good to the sound of idling diesels in the top bunk.
When I approached my later teen years, tent camping with friends gave us a new freedom. Disappearing for a few days, sitting up all night around a fire, yucking it up became my favorite past time. This continued through my early thirtys, until all of a sudden responsibilty set in. (I know, I grew up a little late).
Now today after taking a 4 year break to give my daughter a great start in life, and moving to Missouri to start a new occupasion in the Marine bizz, we picked up where we left off, but this time we retired the tent, and purchased a pop-up. I've always wanted one. I think they are just the coolest thing if you are into camping.
Anyway, we bought a 95 Coleman Sequoia, and we love it. We camp several times a month, and my daughter is enjoying every bit of it while learning alot. Last Wed evening we finally had the chance to go to sleep with the A/C off and the sides rolled up. I woke up to a perfect sunrise over the Lake and the birds chirping. I could feel the cool morning air, and smell the smoke from the now burned out campfire. I looked over to the other bed and saw my daughter sleeping tight. I grinned to myself and rolled over to sleep in.
I'm sorry....but I don't think I would have felt that way in a RV. I'm a PUP for ever.
Thanks

[Mike Up]

When I was under 5, we camped in a new Starcraft PUP. Don't remember the camper much other than going to a Jellystone once that had a goat as the CG's mascot. It horned my dad in the behind and got into the camper before it was even popped up all the way.
 
Later, I believe it was '78, my my Dad bought this old Shasta used. It had no 12V but used 120VAC for some of the lights and the other inside lights were propane. The water pressure was obtained by pumping the pressure up. No electric water pump. The refrigerator was electric and propane, and it even had a small toilet and shower.
 
This little trailer had a lot of sleeping area. The rear sofa turned into a double bed as did the dinette, plus there was a double bed loft above the rear sofa that even had it's own 2 windows.
 
Later in 2003 I finally got sick of wanting to camp again and decided to do it. I wanted to tent camp away from everyone, unlike the very social camping we did in the Shasta where we always camped in groups at crowded campgrounds. Unfortunately in Indiana, boon docking isn't a reality as it's illegal to do except at the Hoosier National Forest, which is at the other end of the state. So we tent camped at campgrounds.
 
In 2005 I grew tired of all the time it took to pack up the truck, from the shed, then unpack at the campground, then repack when leaveing, then unload the truck once home, and repack into the shed. It was getting to be more work than fun.
 
In 2005 I looked everywhere for a used TT. The only used campers found, were the junk no one else wants. The same was true of PUPs. They were all expensive and falling apart.
 
I gave up on the used market and bought the deal of the century, a fully loaded 2005 Rockwood 2290 PUP with air conditioning for $7200!! Unfortunately the trailer turned out to be inexpensively made junk and literally fell apart.
 
In 2006 I was in the hunt for a TT again. Looked at getting a new 23' TT but the cost was a lot, and the living area was no better than the PUP, and the sleeping areas were smaller and fewer. The amenities weren't much better than a fully loaded PUP. After thinking of all the fuel this TT would require to tow when prices of fuel were $3.50/gallon, how uncomfortable the smaller beds would be, and the possible trouble of storing it when I eventually move, I decided to look at PUPs.
 
The Starcraft 2406 was fully loaded with a good furnace and refrigerator, and was built like a tank compared to other makes. It could handle a WDH and had a very tough tarp material that wouldn't tear easily called Aqualon. The overall built was amazing on the Starcraft and won me over quickly. The tons of counter top space was excellent for my TV, microwave, table top oven, and stereo. Yet the U dinette offered a lot of very comfortable seating especially in the corners creating a lounger of sorts. This was the camper for me, and I was able to buy it for a very good deal. I traded in my Rockwood and was able to get a decent trade in value also. None of this was easy, but I kept at it until I got a very good deal on the trailer and decent trade in value that was only slightly worse than what I could had sold the camper on my own.
 
I have no desire to go to a TT for the reason listed above, and I don't care for HTTs. I love the PUP and it's tarp for the experience and benefits it's offers. I don't feel a HTTs offers much tarp benefits with just it's bunkends, but you still have the tarp troubles. The biggest negative is you can't leave you're beds made on a HTT's bunkends like you can with a PUP or TT. I find 'completely' making the beds a bit more irritating than setting up the PUP. The HTT to me, would be more work without the benefits.
 
For me, PUP camping is the most sensible and most enjoyable. I would never think of a MH because, you can't drive your MH to the fishing spots or site seeing spots.
 
Have a good one.

[AlanTn]

Our popup is a 1968 Apache Ramada. It's basically a tent with a bed off the ground and built in storage. we used to take almost a day packing everything we needed to camp. Now it's pack clothes, food & go.

[AlanTn]

Oh....and by the way.......in 10 years when we retire we plan on selling everything we own  and buying a 5th-wheel and traveling the whole US. That won't be camping though. There's a difference in camping & living in an RV full time. For now though, the storage is the benefit of the PUP.

[lpm]

Hubby and I started off tent camping in 1999.  My husband had camped in his younger days in a tent and enjoyed camping.  I camped once in my early 20s and wasn't all that thrilled about it so I never gave it another thought until hubby decided to get a tent.  I was so surprised that I liked it as much as I did the first time we went out.  We camped for about 4 years in a tent but my back was starting to give me problems.  Also, we had camped at Sleeping Giant near Thunder Bay one summer and it drizzled and rained for the whole time we were there.  There were a lot of trips to the campground laundry to dry out our bedding.  Getting a tent trailer was a step up for us as we could now camp and not sleep on the ground.  

We upgraded our popup from a Viking to a Starcraft Centennial Highwall last year.  That's about as far as we will go in terms of camping "equipment" for us.  We have briefly toyed with the idea of a HTT but we have always thought that when we get to that point, it's time to sell the camping equipment and the trailer.

Anyway, that's our story.

[robpoe]

My parents took me out when I was young, young in a popup camper they owned.  It was an old Coleman (I believe), with green canvas and no A/C.  Hot as an oven, they've described it to me.  I remember camping in it in Camp Front Yard as I was older and they sold it when I was about 12 or 14.

Friends started camping (in the camper I now own) and invited me to go along.  I stayed in their camper, had a good time.  

Camped a few times with a friend, and then once a month for 2 years as an assistant Boy Scout leader, also camped when I was a scout (but didnt like it back then).

Now I go -- for the fellowship and "get away from it"ness.  This is my second year with the Jayco, and while a lot of people camp Memorial -> Labor, I think we're going to go out as long as it's not freezing outside, and maybe even then (I want to test the heat out in Camp Driveway first!!) though I'm not sure what we'd do except sit in an empty campground around a fire, or inside the camper.. (just me and the DS)..

I almost always take friends along to stay, my best friend and his DW, DS and DD stay with us a lot and they're the most fun to camp with.

The people who run the campground at the lake I usually stay at, have talked about not coming back next year.  They love being out there, but they're probably in their 70's (been doing it for 9 years) and they're talking about taking a trip to Alaska.  He had mouth cancer last year, and I hope they make it there.  He told me they shut down the bathrooms after next weekend (we just got back today from a one nighter) for the winter, and he wasn't sure if the spigots would be on or off..So we might get to try out dry camping..  Dunno..

[garana]

Howdy All

[sandykayak]

Here's what I'm thinking:  The main reason we bought our pop up was so we could have AC in the hottest of summer days here in the deep south extending the length of our camping season to year around.>>

Cajun camper, tried to send you a PM.  Hubby lives in Metairie and I travel up there a lot.  Wanted to see where you live.  Perhaps we could meet some time. I've been wanting to take a tent and go camping with hubby.  BTW, have not been able to find a campground guidebook for LA.

sandykayak@yahoo.com

[wavery]

Howdy All

[Rick Y]

We never camped as kids. I think that was probably due to the fact that for two years when I was four and five years old my father owned a chrome mine in southern Oregon. It took a four wheel drive truck to reach the camp and you had to ford two small rivers to get there. We lived the first year just in a large Army surplus tent. The second year we had a wooden floor and sidewalls with the tent over that. Even though my two brothers and I thought it was heaven, my folks got somewhat burned out on camping.

I didn't camp again until after I was married and somehow my DW and I got involved as staff with our church's version of the Boy Scouts. That was strictly tent camping. We were located in the NW section of Oregon and at one campout at Fort Stevens up by Astoria, OR, it rained and rained and rained...and you get the idea. The DW and I agreed that we wanted OFF the ground. So we got a used Coleman ten foot pup. Found we really liked it. Used it for years then went to a new Fleetwood pup. Then, with increasing income and the kids leaving the nest, we purchased a Toyota micromotorhome. Used it for only a short while before it was discovered that I was claustrophobic as all getout when sleeping in the overcab bunk. So, we went to a 24' TT. Used that for a couple years and then went to a 35' 5er. It had all the luxuries but we noticed that we just weren't enjoying our camping as much and found ourselves going less often. So, we thought it over and realized that although we still didn't enjoy sleeping on the ground, we were really happier with a smaller rig. That brought us to our present RV. We bought an Aliner. Doesn't have all the room of a pup but we take it everywhere and are enjoying the heck out of it. I know there are those who believe that if you can't smell canvas then you aren't really camping but we don't care. I think back to when I was in Alaska and went out in January one year and slept without a tent, without a fire, in two sleeping bags (arctic bag inside, mountain bag outside) in a hollow in the snow. If people want to call me a sissy for sleeping in comfort inside a hard-walled pup, so be it. I figure I earned the right to camp as I please and so I do!

[MotherNature]

We never camped as kids. I think that was probably due to the

[MotherNature]

I never camped as a child; neither did DH.  We started tent camping because it was a cheap weekend getaway and we were both nature lovers.  Wet and cold conditions never bothered us; however, we were afraid that the boys might never want to go camping again after being subject to the full fury and discomfort (from getting wet) of a thunderstorm, etc. (the 10-year-old is still scared to death of them).  For years we carefully scheduled our tent trips around the weather but we soon grew frustrated with scrapping a camping trip due to one day/night of t-storms/showers (again, don't underestimate my son's fear of thunderstorms).  We saved and finally splurged on the sea pine PUP and it is the answer to all our problems.  No, it does not have a/c or toilet facilities, but we have remained dry during t-storms and camp at electric hookup sites during the colder months (so we can use our heater).  I won't lie and say that I wouldn't like a hard-shell type camper for warmth or less worries about waterproofing.  However, I don't think that gasoline is going to get any cheaper and the campgrounds that we frequent don't have electric hookups anyway (with the exception of one) so the heat/ac factor isn't really an issue - not to mention we financially need to keep the 95 Bronco TV as long as possible!  I personally would still prefer a tent; DH (herniated disk doesn't do well on the ground despite air mattress) and boys (maybe I spoiled them?) love the 'camper' life, so the PUP is a WONDERFUL compromise.  Whatever you choose, it's your own personal love of camping (whatever that may be) that makes it worthwhile - ENJOY whatever you choose and carpe diem!

[uchwear]

My parents had a 1977 dodge motorhome from the time I was born (1977) till I was about sixteen. I remember camping in the motorhome when I was young and really enjoying the experience. Most of our camping in the motorhome was dry camping but the motorhome had a battery operated water pump so we still had water in the camper.
 
Mom and Dad sold the camper when I was sixteen and I lost interest in camping until I was an adult.
 
DW had never been into camping before she met me but I introduced her to camping and she enjoyed it. We tent camped about twice a year for the first seven years we were married.
 
My sister and her husband had a 33' travel trailer they stored in our driveway because their neighborhood association didn't allow campers.  They allowed us to borrow it any time in exchange for the storage.  When they moved up to a 42' class "A" they said we could still borrow it but I was afraid to drive it so we decided to get an entry level popup.
 
We purchased a small popup (used) this year mainly for the air conditioning and extra comforts since we now have a two year old DD and a four year old DS. The main reason for the pup is budget. We don't like debt so we paid cash for what we could afford.
 
We enjoy camping in the popup but I think we may upgrade to a highwall next year with a shower. We live in Arkansas and really the only time it's too cold to camp is January and February. August is usually over 100 so we don't camp when It's that hot.
 
We will probably trade "up" to a fifth wheel many years down the road.

[fallsrider]

I tent camped with my friends as a teenager, but my family never camped. During my 20's, I don't think I ever went more than once or twice. But in my early 30's, I found myself newly divorced and with a 2-year-old daughter. I was looking for something to do with her that would make great memories for her since she would grow up without the traditional family. I bought a '94 Palomino Stallion PUP in '97 and we camped several times that summer, just the 2 of us. She loved it. She always got so excited every time we went. Later that fall, though, my PUP was stolen. I will probably never know why, but for some reason, I never replaced it. I think it had to do with needing to trade in my TV (Ford Explorer) for an economy car to stay afloat financially.

Well, in '99, I started dating a lady at my church, and we married in 2000. Her family had always camped her whole life, mostly in PUPs. We bought a tent and needed equipment, and went camping 12 hours away the month after our wedding, and then proceeded to camp at least 3 trips per year. My daughter was 5 when we married, and she loved the tent camping, too. Last fall, our financial situation changed enough that we decided to buy our own PUP. We found a NTU '98 Jayco that we could pay cash for ($2,200). We bought and installed a new canvas, and it is now perfect for our needs. Due to my wife being pregnant, and a whole host of other scheduling reasons, we didn't get to take it out until July of this year. We took my daughter and our 6-week-old son out for 3 nights and had a fantastic time, creating wonderful memories for my daughter. We went for 3 more nights Labor Day weekend, and we're going 2 more the first weekend in November.

So my daughter is loving camping again, and our son will have been on his 3rd trip before he is 6 months old. My DW and I love our PUP lifestyle. It stores neatly in our back yard, is easy to pull with our NTU Sienna, has plenty of space for 4 people, gets us up off the ground, is SO much more comfortable if it rains, and there's a whole host of other reasons why we like it. I don't ever see us getting a HTT or a TT, and probably not a PUP that's any bigger. We have A/C, so we can extend our camping through much more of the season. We never tent camped before between Memorial Day and Labor Day. It is too hot in NC!

With my limited vision of the future, I see us always having a PUP.