Are we becomming an endangered species?

[AZsix]

I've noticed the same thing that CajunCamper has.  I will be 40 in February and DH just turned 38.  There aren't any folks our age in PUPs at the campgrounds we frequent (Cape Henlopen & Delaware Seashore DE, Assateague Island NP MD).  

I'll be 52 next month and DW is 43 and we have found that most people we see in pups the places we camp are around our age. I have even seen some quite a bit younger. It could be a geographical thing. It seems that most "youngsters" around here have toy haulers.

[Craigtheretired]

We must be the exception that proves the rule.  I will be 70 on my next birthday, first wife will be 66 next week.  We have taken our pup to every state but five, (we tired of waiting for the bridge to Hawaii to be completed so we flew), expect to hit the last four states in 2009 and Western Canada as well.  DW has five fused discs in her back, mine are in my neck, the old dog's problems are many.  Actually going camping is DW's doctor's orders, exercise, fresh air, prevents depression, etc.  I handle all the outside work DW handles all the inside stuff except washing dishes which I also handle.  We go camping for 3-4 weeks at a time and drive 20,000+ miles per year.  We can't imagine pulling a TT into most of the places we have been, up and down narrow mountain roads, dirt roads and old two lane back roads.  Yesterday I was going through the two large boxes of receipts and brochures from this year and realized we have been everywhere.  We work as a team during the popping up and flopping down, (goes up in 17 minutes, takes 3 hours to flop down, mostly due to morning aches and pains but also we are rarely in a hurry to leave).  In Garner SP in Texas we were among 300+ tents, in one Arizona SP there were six of us pups in a row, in some expensive RV resorts we have been the only pop-up.  We enjoy sitting in our lounge chairs and waving at the MH owners if and when they walk past which is rare, they tend to hide.  We had a trailer at the Jersey shore when I was a small person and I would not want that claustrophobic feeling again, too accustomed to the 360 views of our pup.  I counted more pop-ups on the road this summer than in previous years, but not so many on the East coast.

['tiredTeacher]

But I guess what I am trying to point out is that in my experience, it appears that the trend from the past when young families typically cut their teeth on camping either in tents or pop ups seem to be dying out.

That's all I am trying to say.

CajunCamper

I credit the phenomenon to the decline in scout troops with leaders who schedule regular overnight, wilderness outings. I'm 62 and credit my troop leader, Jack Sherman, with teaching me the skills necessary to be comfortable in the outdoors in any weather. We packed out in rain and snow (much to our mothers' distress). We built bridges, dining tables, seats for the latrine trench. We hauled a Dutch oven on a pole slung between two hikers.

I wound up with enough merit badges to make Life Scout, all of them in outdoor skills from cooking to botany. Ain't many Jack Shermans out there now so I'm trying to be the one who pulls my grandchildren away from the indoor world. Neither of their fathers spent any time camping, so it's up to this old geezer to do a young man's job.

[Between Trips]

We moved from a 10' popup to a 17' hybrid to a 32' TT. To be honest, we still see quite a few popups where we go.

In my experience, the time saved at the CG setting up our TT vs our popup is somewhat offset by the amount of time it takes to hitch/unhitch. Use to be, I could lift the popup's tongue to hitch up, now I must back up spot-on to do it. Use to be I could just hitch up an go, now I have to take time to add weight distribution bars. Pluses and minuses to everything I guess. :cool:

[PattieAM]

I have campground memberships, and most times the majority of the campers are motor homes, travel trailers and fifth wheels.  But, there are a few pop ups too.  Quite often the folks with pop ups will stroll by and ask questions of other pup-ers (I do), and I've had other pup-ers stop by to check out the AAR, or to see the working floor plan of my unit.  Many of the motor home owners will comment of their PUP origins and the fun times with it and same with the travel trailers and fifth wheel owners.

[JAL&JKL]

Last time we camped (Nov. '08) there were more PU's in Paul B Johnson State Park, Hattiesburg, MS than we have ever seen in the over 11 yrs. we have been going there.