Camper or Tent? Which do you Prefer?

[lpcjon2]

Just get one of those cheech and chong vans with the water bed in it.      

[kbetts]

A buddy of mine uses a simple 10x12 cargo trailer to haul his stuff then converts it to his sleeping quarters. I'm looking to buy one for the same reason.

[DannyBows]

Hey Tim, you got me thinkin'. How about this?

[lpcjon2]

Danny,
No one would even think of hunting around you if you use that. Now you have me thinking.

[DannyBows]

Well, I reckon it might be a good way to get plenty of space in a crowded campsite. What with everyone moving away from you, fast!    
This one is more subdued, and would actually make a decent rig for one person, maybe two:

[Mike Vines]

Originally posted by DannyBows:
Well, I reckon it might be a good way to get plenty of space in a crowded campsite. What with everyone moving away from you, fast!        
This one is more subdued, and would actually make a decent rig for one person, maybe two:
 

I had a chance to buy one of those when I was 17 (21 years ago), WOW, now I feel old.  My Dad told me absolutely no way. I wanted it for the camping/hunting opportunities it would open up for me. He was probably thinking of other opportunities that would open up with it.  

In hindsite, I wish I would have bought it, but I can now understand why he wouldn't allow me.

Thanks for posting the pictures.  It brings back some good memories of me trying to sweet talk my dad into letting me get it.

[DannyBows]

Grapes, my Mom was always horrified I'd take a date to a drive-in. It got so I had to know a theatre that had the same movie I went to, at the drive-in of course, so I could tell her that's where I was. Plus, at least a few details of the movie. One day I started doing the math: Their wedding anniversary is in April, my birthday is in Sept.    I have a good idea where I was conceived, someday I'll have to ask what kind of car my Dad owned when they were dating, as I reckon I owe my existence to it! I wonder what the movie was? My Mom was 17, my Dad was 20.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I have a old Horse trailer that's at My friends house right now.. Hopefully this summer I can start to work on making it a camping/storage trailer.

I want to lighten it up some so I'll be taking out some of the floor boards, then 3/4" ply over the ones I keep. I also want to cut the metal from the sides and fiberglass & wire mesh it. I'll also add some insulation & paneling.  

I'm also thinking of rigging up a pole to hold a tarp over the back to cover in case it rains, snows. I will ad some solar panels and battery to have lighting inside. Might even add a inverter so I can have a small TV or laptop.

The back drop ramp will be where I'll have My Smoker and 2 chairs & table, I'll get or make 2 beds (cots or fold-downs)

[Jeff Strubberg]

Originally posted by akbowbender:
I bought a Jumping Jack tent trailer this year. Works very well and is versatile. I can carry my boat when we go camping, or pull out the tent, and I have a heavy duty utility trailer. They are a bit expensive, but the versatility helped justify the cost.
 
 
 

Thumbs up for one of the most versatile setups around.  You can haul darn near anything and still have sleeping quarters off the ground.

You really have to spend some time tihinking about what you want to do with your camping setup.  I'vew spent some time in a tent, a popup, a small pull behind and recently a 32' fifth wheel, satellite TV included.  

If I were just travelling from place to place, I'd take the fifth wheel.

If I were hunting alone, and staying in place for several days at a time, I'd probably take the small pull-behind.

If I were hunting with friends and moving regularly, I'd take the tent.

The biggest advantage I found to trailering were the ability to be on the road quickly and to handle larger temperature swings.  Tenting in 20 degree weather and staying comfortable is a challenge.

Assuming decent weather, I'm taking the tent.  Just FYI, I've sold every trailer I ever owned, but I still own two tents.

[Sheepshooter]

I love the wall tent. Of course that is if you are staying a while. If by myself for 2-3 days I just sleep in my truck. I'm kicking around other ideas for a quick setup since my son will be joining me next year. I really don't like campers of any kind. They are crowded and take something away from the whole experience, plus they are cold when the weather gets bad. We set up our wall tent at my in-laws property while we were building there last summer. (They were in their camper.) Guess where everyone spent the evenings. That's right, in the wall tent around the wood stove! There's just something about a tent.

[gjarcher]

To me, it depends on what kind of experience you are after.

If you are not far off of a road, then a camper with all the comforts is the way to go.

But, if you are after a wilderness experience, you must leave the comforts and ATV behind.

FWIW, my base Elk Camp is a Coleman 9x17 three room tent and a 20x40 tarp strung as a canopy over the propane stove, table, gas lantern and chairs. My DIY wilderness setup from base camp is a Mountain Hardware Lightpath 3 tent with Coleman Exponent stove.

Personally, if I can stay dry, warm, and well fed, that is all I need.

[Whip]

Originally posted by Autumnarcher:
Whip, what size canopy is that on your tent? I want to get a bigger one for mine, I like that set-up with the side curtains.

My canopy is 12 x 18.  I don't think you can get one too large.  We spend more time under the fly than we do in the tent itself.  It really helps make camp livable in bad weather as well as a nice shady spot to sit even if there are no trees around.

[Robert Honaker]

Originally posted by GingivitisKahn:
 

Originally posted by Robert Honaker:
last time I camped I didn't use a tent or a camper.

Just more stuff.

What did you use? [/b]

Just a sleeping bag.

[BigArcher]

Wow,  It is great to see all the good ideas for getting out and enjoying the outdoors.  
I use a tent trailer when the wife goes.  
A wall tent if I am going for while by myself
and a truck camper for weekend stuff.

Nothing fancy just good enough to get out there.
I have rented a cabin when I find one in the right location. Especially like on a trip back to Michigan.

[GingivitisKahn]

Originally posted by Grapes:
 

Originally posted by DannyBows:
Well, I reckon it might be a good way to get plenty of space in a crowded campsite. What with everyone moving away from you, fast!        
This one is more subdued, and would actually make a decent rig for one person, maybe two:
   

I had a chance to buy one of those when I was 17 (21 years ago), WOW, now I feel old.  My Dad told me absolutely no way. I wanted it for the camping/hunting opportunities it would open up for me. He was probably thinking of other opportunities that would open up with it.  

In hindsite, I wish I would have bought it, but I can now understand why he wouldn't allow me.

Thanks for posting the pictures.  It brings back some good memories of me trying to sweet talk my dad into letting me get it. [/b]

No way I'd let a 17yo son of mine buy one of those and there's and even smaller chance I'd let my daughter date a 17yo with one.  Heh.

[akbowbender]

What, no camo curtains! Do like the plaid cushions, though!

[Killdeer]

My hunting camp gets set up for three weeks and is very comfy. I use a main tent for sleeping, with a cook shack for lounging around with friends who may show up. I don't want to cook in the tent, and a dry place to fix food is a must.

 

 

I got the new cook shack this year, and am tickled pink with it.

My buddy has an A-Liner camper, a hard-sided A-frame that goes up in a flash. It seems comfy, and I have whiled away an afternoon or two reading when the hunting conditions were not good. But, it is a bit too far removed for me. There is more of a barrier between me and the sounds of the outdoors. I lose track, lose connection. I grew up in a family of popup tent campers, Crown and Skamper trailers that towed easily and set up in parks from VA to CA, and once to Ensenada, Mexico. Comfortable, plenty of room, kitchen and heat. I prefer my tent, though, and suspect that even tents are too much comfort. I think I am getting soft.

Killdeer    

[countrygirl]

Hey Killy!  Soft...your haven't gotten soft yet!  

We had a cargo trailer that we hunted from in Florida and in Georgia but I will have to find the pics.  I have had them posted on here on previous threads.  They are no longer in my photo bucket account...so maybe I can find em in the folder my son made for me on here called Big MESS!          


We currently hunt and camp at shoots in a Trailmanor which is  24 ft to tow and lower then our truck and pops up to be 31 ft.  Has a king size bed at one end and a sofa that can make into a bed at the other end.  

We camped the last couple of weeks of the bow season in Missouri and it was comfortable.  We are thinking about trading and getting a upright camper...we will certainly miss the awesome mpg if we do!!!

I have to move photos from webshots to photo bucket in order to post pics.  Hopefully I will be back soon.

We...HA!!!!...not only am I soft I am also LAZY! At least too lazy to work this hard at moving pics to photobucket.      

Hopefully this is not breaking any rules...if it is just delete the post....here is a link yo my webshots...all my photos are available to the general public anyway:

  http://community.webshots.com/user/countrygirl32082  

Hope the link works.One more thing...I do have a teepee style screen room.  Hope to set it up at TBOF for the state shoots...it will hold 30 people!!!  So bring a chair and visit with us!

[JEFF B]

Hammock. as ya off the Ground and not cold or hurting

[Eugene Slagle]

Before my wife I had & still do have my tent, it's decent for mild temps but when it gets cold it's not so great.
I do miss my old Canvas Teepee but that's long gone.

Since Becky & I've been together my camping habbits had to change a little to where now I have a house on wheels, 30' Keystone Bobcat camper, has the Queen bed, tripple bunk for kids & the sofa/bed & table/bed, it's nice for the convienience for self contained sleep & cooking but it needs some space to park & set up.

There is still a soft side of me that likes a tent sometimes & one day I'll upgrade my tent so that if I know I'm not having my whole brood along or due to limited location I can have my comfort & still be close to nature..... with a stove.