MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: rsser on December 23, 2013, 12:35:11 PM
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When I was stumping up big bucks to have my CT 'wired' the guy who did the work, who also rented out off-road CTs and played out there himself, said something like "you'll be back to upgrade your tug and your camper".
And he may be right about the CT.
But I do wonder how many find it's not for them. Of course it's hard to find out from forums like this or from campground chat - by definition.
Anyone whose had friends or family toss it in as a bad joke?
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My sister came camping with us once - it was her first and last time.
Unfortunatly we stayed in a camper trailer (her a tent), and it was a complete culture shock from her usual Hyatt, Hilton abodes she is used to.
Her loss!
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My wife prefers to camp under 5 stars!
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Camping is one of those things you either love or you hate and very little middle ground. I know some people who think camping is a form of punishment and can’t work out why I like it.
I also laugh at people who retire and suddenly want to become a Grey Nomad or take up fishing or golf. If you haven’t enjoyed these things to date, just because your no longer working doesn’t mean your suddenly going to start enjoy these activities.
I took my Brother in Law plus my Nephew camping last year. When packing up they didn’t know I was behind them and my Nephew asked his Dad when can we do this again. My BIL replies wash your mouth out with soap son. He then realised I was behind him and tried to turn it into a joke. But based on that reply I have never invited them out again.
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I have been looking for a CT for some time. for too many reasons to go into, I have just been looking for about 4mths.
the huge volume of CT's on the market (ie thousands on gumtree) must indicate that many are keen at the beginning and then just use it less and less until deciding to sell.
happens to many people who buy boats - gets harder and harder to find the time to get out and use it
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Camping is one of those things you either love or you hate and very little middle ground. I know some people who think camping is a form of punishment and can’t work out why I like it.
I also laugh at people who retire and suddenly want to become a Grey Nomad or take up fishing or golf. If you haven’t enjoyed these things to date, just because your no longer working doesn’t mean your suddenly going to start enjoy these activities.
I took my Brother in Law plus my Nephew camping last year. When packing up they didn’t know I was behind them and my Nephew asked his Dad when can we do this again. My BIL replies wash your mouth out with soap son. He then realised I was behind him and tried to turn it into a joke. But based on that reply I have never invited them out again.
I agree thankfully I am in the category of those who love camping. Maybe you should just offer to take the Nephew next time if that is an option sounds like he was keen on the camping idea and is not perhaps going to get the opportunity otherwise ;D
I have been looking for a CT for some time. for too many reasons to go into, I have just been looking for about 4mths.
the huge volume of CT's on the market (ie thousands on gumtree) must indicate that many are keen at the beginning and then just use it less and less until deciding to sell.
happens to many people who buy boats - gets harder and harder to find the time to get out and use it
I guess some are also on there for sale as people have found that they want to upgrade/upsize/downsize go to a caravan from a camper trailer or vice versa and therefore need to sell what they were using. ;D
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. I know some people who think camping is a form of punishment and can’t work out why I like it.
before having the ct and spending many years buggerising around with tents I think theres an element of truth in the above statement
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Mik, post #23 at http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=34120.msg543713#msg543713 (http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=34120.msg543713#msg543713) may help with your decision making.
Witty post for the day has to go to 'can only camp under 5 stars'. What a gem.
Yeah, someone with little experience outside of four hard walls etc may not respond to 'the great outdoors' but my partner did bless her. So it comes down or may do to person in context and not gear and this person in question was trusting and was looked after. I had by that time a lot invested in making it work for both of us.
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I suppose on the definition of camping.
If it slumming at the local caravan park in a $25 dome tent other cheap crap. Sleeping on the the wet ground on a blow up that doesn't stay up, yea, FK that.
If it means dropping a couple of K on a cheap/imported camper trailer with all the fruit sitting behind the arse end of a 25 year old 4wd driving up the east coast of Fraser Island, then, yes please.
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When Ug and I brought our first camper trailer it was a compromise.
I had never done the camping thing with my previous husband so it was new to me and a tent,…. well NO WAY was I sleeping on the ground. IT was a caravan! He said NO WAY is he camping in a caravan. Its just not camping.
So the camper trailer was it. Off the ground sleeping and with some conveniences but not closed in like a caravan.
Well, I loved it. Now we are waiting on our new CT with more luxury but its still a camper trailer and not a tent or a caravan.
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Well if narrowing down is needed, let's say 'off road camper trailer' following the forum title.
And the thread title is about who has given up.
For me, there's gonna be 12 oz Dynaproof over my grave ;-)
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Given that this forum is dedicated to camping (in what ever form you want that to be), I doubt your going to here from many that have given it up?
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Yeah.
Clearly 'Off road CT forum' is open to interpretation.
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Wife and I camped for years, and then were tempted in camper trailers. What a great improvement. Opened up a whole new world to us with a heap less hassle.
While we were overnighting at the Dig Tree we met a couple from Sydney in their new Prado and new Tvan. They had been out to Birdsville and were on the way home. The wife was quite nervous about camping by themselves (even though there were at least 3 other camps around them), and hubby was really cheesed with the flies. When I told him that the flies could get a lot worse than what we had, conversation ceased. We reckon someone would have received a great deal on 'Prado and camper, used once. As new.'.
We are also members of a 4WD club and a mate and myself used to run trips aimed at new members. They were easy trips into the High Country that involved one night and a heap of scenery and huts. Quite a few families tried camping (tents) and then decided it was not their scene. By the same token even more decided it was the way to go.
So yes, I think quite a few try and decide to call it quits. I also believe a lot try really hard or long trips straight off instead of easing in.
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I would also guess that as I have seen over the past 20 years, plenty of camper iterations.
first the 2 man tent- no too bad when you are 16 and have a casual girlfriend
bigger tent when you have a longer term girlfriend
RTT, great until you want to drive somewhere.
small soft floor camper trailer, when it is all you can afford
larger camper trailer as you need to bring all the stuff you see required on a forum, gas hot water etc
hard floor as you need even more stuff- have kids
try out the fold over jayco's for ease of setup- 5mins they say.....
go to the expanda van for real 5min setup
work out that these are too big and heavy and not dust proof etc
so either down size to a soft floor, or bite the bullet and get a bushtracker/ kedron.......
so yes I don't think there would be anyone genuinely happy and living with the perfect camper setup- you can always dream, and are limited by what is available or what we can afford...... :cheers:
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After a recent three-month trip around NW West Aust in a CT, I think it comes down to this:
If the answer's a camper trailer, it must have been a bloody silly question.
Cheers, Tony
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After 3 1/2 years in & out of a 2man pup tent , swag & staff accommodation traveling around Auss . Then camping in all sorts of tarp things in al sorts of weather then CT is the answer . 5 Star is a good start , but on a clear night 100000000 star is so much better . Why settle for less . Home is where you park it :cheers:
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Several of my friends have had crappy first trips and decided it is not for them.
You have to take the bad to know the good.
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Having just had a 2 nighter in our camper (first time out) I can't imagine ever giving it up!!! We did start with tents and a simpler set up years ago though so this is luxury and so simple!
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People tend to think of camping as roughing it. If you have cheap, rubbish gear then it is roughing it. Get some decent gear, and you can have most of the luxuries you have at home.
I've found since upgrading my gear it is a lot more enjoyable!
Aaron
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I think some just set the sites a bit high first time out. I reckon it would be worth first timers hiring a camper then heading off the the local caravan park with an un powered site. You can emulate most things even testing getting the showers set up etc (Not digging the bog hole though ;D)
If all goes well then head on out there. We had never used the camper when we set off around Aus but loved camping. We learnt a lot though every day and even now still have ideas about what makes the best camp set up, I actually think that's what makes camping fun, talking with others and each other about what Mods you will do.
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I've had 3 mates pull the pin and sell their camper trailers and 4wd and buy comfortable passenger cars (few year old Stateman in 1 case) and just go away to van parks and motels..
The money some people (only 1 of my mates has 100k invested, the rest of us are peasants) have invested in camper+trailer = 100-150k+.. That's a **** load of weekends in a caravan park/motel and interest off the mortgage.
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I've had 3 mates pull the pin and sell their camper trailers and 4wd and buy comfortable passenger cars (few year old Stateman in 1 case) and just go away to van parks and motels..
The money some people (only 1 of my mates has 100k invested, the rest of us are peasants) have invested in camper+trailer = 100-150k+.. That's a **** load of weekends in a caravan park/motel and interest off the mortgage.
Yes mate. I think that plenty have no idea what they are getting into but unless your really going to get away from it all then I'd also rather a cabin at a Park. I suppose once we have seen enough up here and done the Canning I'll be over fit as well. Only paid 8K for our Camper and spent Shit all on it so far.
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Well said Steve , its not what you got its what you do with it . lts the going out & waking up to the Perfect Sunrise in comfort . Sitting by a glowing camp fire yarning the night away with friends new & old . packing up 5 mins before the monsoon rains arrive . lts the can do kind of people that go out to become their dreams that enjoy camping . To others 5 star is as far as they go , sadly they miss the 1000000star options :cheers:
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You have to take the good with bad no matter what you do. My last hotel holiday was 1 year ago in Port Stephens on a long weekend. It was $300/night for modern 5 star hotel that was packed to capacity and had a big footy team present on their end of year trip.
They spent 3 days drinking in the car park and practising swear words in front of all the kids plus drinking beer from glass bottles in the kiddie pool. Point being that all holidays can go south sometimes, just gotta not expect too much and always just enjoy what you've got.
Now if you want to see people give up on a new found pastime on the first day, just go to the snow fields during school holidays on a day with a mini snow storm raging.
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People tend to think of camping as roughing it. If you have cheap, rubbish gear then it is roughing it. Get some decent gear, and you can have most of the luxuries you have at home.
I've found since upgrading my gear it is a lot more enjoyable!
Aaron
having quality gear helps, but some of our best memories are of camping with a dome tent, an esky and a gas lantern, and all cooking done on an open fire (even under a beach umbrella as it rains which we had to do often). we used to sleep on the ground in the tent with just a sleeping bag and pillow, and about the only other item we took along was a chair to sit in and a communal tarp to sit under.... as it rained every time we went away.
personally i think camping is what you make of it, even when it rained we used to love sitting under the tarp playing cards and having a laugh with mates and family whilst enjoying a few drinks, don't really play cards these days but still manage to have a laugh with mates when it's raining.
maybe all our early camping experiences were good ones hence why we love it so much, i can see how a bad first trip out might change someones view of the experience though.
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i have had bad camping trips too, but still go, cos I enjoy 4wding and camping is part of the experience and to get anywhere decent you have to camp.
I dont go anywhere on long weekends, its way too crowded for me.
Peter,
iPad with IOS 7.0.3 using Tapatalk HD
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We carry a dome tent in the vehicle at all times, even with the camper behind, as the wife & my modus operandi when travelling is:
1-3 nights...Tent
4 or more nights....Camper
The tent's handy when you come across a nice spot but only want to stay the night.
Also, 90% of our camping gear stays in the vehicle drawers with the Engel sitting on top so doing a "Drop of the Hat" o/nighter is no biggy!
Good for those long, into the morning parties too :cheers: :cheers:
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I think you have to make it easy. Easy to get away, easy to set up, easy to pack up, and easy to clean when you get home. The harder it is the more there will be excuses not to go. Different set-ups work for everyone and whilst having the camper trailer works perfectly for us as a family, my humble bivvy bag works perfect when I'm by myself.
Secondly it is a lot harder to get kids used to camping and the outdoors if they haven't experienced it until later in the years. All of my kids have been camping/travelling since they were babies, and as a result they travel well with minimal complaining. If anything I have the kids pestering me when the next trip is.
Third camping/travelling with kids can be hard work. Sickness, sleepless nights, bad weather etc etc. Thankfully it all gets easier as they get older, but those early years can be quite hard work. IMHO it is well worth every bit of effort.
Lastly there will be bad times. Vehicle issues, weather (again), usual marital arguments, being bogged, track closures etc. Its how you deal with those issues that can make a huge difference. It can either be the trip from hell that stops all future trips, or it can be the one (of many) that you laugh about in years to come.
Cheers
Chris
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I think you have to make it easy. Easy to get away, easy to set up, easy to pack up, and easy to clean when you get home. The harder it is the more there will be excuses not to go. Different set-ups work for everyone and whilst having the camper trailer works perfectly for us as a family, my humble bivvy bag works perfect when I'm by myself.
Secondly it is a lot harder to get kids used to camping and the outdoors if they haven't experienced it until later in the years. All of my kids have been camping/travelling since they were babies, and as a result they travel well with minimal complaining. If anything I have the kids pestering me when the next trip is.
Third camping/travelling with kids can be hard work. Sickness, sleepless nights, bad weather etc etc. Thankfully it all gets easier as they get older, but those early years can be quite hard work. IMHO it is well worth every bit of effort.
Lastly there will be bad times. Vehicle issues, weather (again), usual marital arguments, being bogged, track closures etc. Its how you deal with those issues that can make a huge difference. It can either be the trip from hell that stops all future trips, or it can be the one (of many) that you laugh about in years to come.
Cheers
Chris
x2 well said.
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I dont go anywhere on long weekends, its way too crowded for me.
x2 well said.
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And how many try to give it up?
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Some would say a CT isn't really camping.... So be careful of 'camping' snobbery ;D
I lived in a van off and on as a kid and even back then my grandfather would take me camping in a canvas tent with no floor. So it's all relative.
I've had (and still have ) tents of various types. Moved across to a tiny Jayco when it was just me, missus and two dogs. Eventually ended up in a bogie axle van. Then back in tents, up to a big tent, now an old Jayco Swan.
What goes around.........
I'd get out more but I have two pre-teen girls who are into dancing and that takes up most Saturdays, so free weekends are a rarity. I'd guess many are in a similar position and can't see value in having $12k+ sitting in the driveway taking up space and gets used once a year.
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That is why we only spent 6k and it only gets used once a year, at the moment.
With the kids school, Army wanting to do Army stuff core most school holidays, Christmas is the only time it gets used.
However, our new year res this year, to see Inaminka and Birdsville and spend at least a couple of weeks away next Christmas.
We had the money to drop on a Trackabout, Customline or even an Outback Dove by Jayco.
We just don't use it enough to justify the cost of a garden ornament.
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Our set up isn't a true campertrailer, but a tent ontop of a trailer.
All of my closest friends don't camp, to be honest they never try! But they're alway's jealous of our trips away and commenting "did you go away again?" after quick trip and are in awe of our surrounding's. They think it's all too hard and expensive, our set up is certainly not expensive. Basic camping can be reasonably cheap these day's with the gear available.
Often people use kids/infants as an excuse to not being able to do it, if only they had seen the the amount of people travelling with young tackers when we did out N.T trip!
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Loved it then.
Love it now.
It's always going to be 5,000,000 stars for me.
5 stars is nice ... but ...
Kit_e