Hello from the Hunter with a what to buy question

[NewieCamper]

Hi,

Its been a long time since I camped every holiday as a kid, I've recently rediscovered it and found my boys (7&5) love the outdoors and adventure of camping. Last quick weekend camping trip (last summer) it got me down that the amount of time away was almost equal to the time packing and unpacking. I decided that a camper trailer would be good way to prepack all the camping gear then we just need to assemble clothes and food.

Had a break from camping until son 3 arrived recently and have come into a little extra cash so it's time to find the right camper now.

Question for the experienced: how tight would a hard floor camper be with a portacot and 2 kids on the floor? If the hard floor camper works out then for longer stays we'll take a little tent for 2 kids. I'm wondering if anyone can enlighten me on wether 5 in a hard floor with kitchen under awning would work for an overnight stop during an extended tour.

[Bunyip]

Hi NewbieCamper,

Welcome!

We just picked up our KK Hard floor and I would say that at a squeeze you could fit two stretchers on the hardfloor. Not sure about the portacot (had to re-read that and wondered why you wanted a portapot in the camper with you  ).

Most of the hard floors come with a bedroom option, where you could put the two kids and have the cot on the hardfloor, that way the young ones are still easily reachable should it be required.

Bunyip

[bushbandit]

Welcome mate from Pt Stephens

[NewieCamper]

Thanks, definitely not putting a portapot in 

I'm looking at the lower end of the market, 2nd hand if possible, but there's not that many around. I like the idea of the hard floors, flip it open and you are out of the mud and the hardcover when not I use. I wouldn't mind a little bit cramped for an overnight on a tour, not sure about the other half  , and as I said would aim to set up additional space for a longer stay. I remember having great camping trips as a kid and getting to sleep in the little tent next to mum and dads.

If a hard floor just won't work no matter how I try I'll opt for a soft floor. The option of sleeping one in the car as i also did as a kid won't probably won't work to well either.

[bushbandit]

Thanks, definitely not putting a portapot in 

I'm looking at the lower end of the market, 2nd hand if possible, but there's not that many around. I like the idea of the hard floors, flip it open and you are out of the mud and the hardcover when not I use. I wouldn't mind a little bit cramped for an overnight on a tour, not sure about the other half  , and as I said would aim to set up additional space for a longer stay. I remember having great camping trips as a kid and getting to sleep in the little tent next to mum and dads.

If a hard floor just won't work no matter how I try I'll opt for a soft floor. The option of sleeping one in the car as i also did as a kid won't probably won't work to well either.

Thats what we said but there will come a time no way out lol

[GGV8Cruza]

Welcome to MySwag, my guess with three kids would be a soft floor, it also depends on your budget. If you are set on a hard floor I would be looking for something with a kids room which is attached to the end or side so for those longer stays you have a bit of room.

The beauty of the soft floor is a bit more room, especially if you get a walk up model. I have two kids and we have a good amount of room when the kids are in the trailer due to the weather turning bad, most of the time they are out playing anyway but it is great when needed.

Good luck with your search and ask away if you have any more queries, and also keep your eye on the classifieds, bargains do appear

GG

[Heiny]

Hi and welcome to My Swag

Brett

[Willow Girl]

if you say you are on the end of a lower kind budget, with a family I would suggest something like an Austrack or Swag campers tent. you can get them in a 9 or 12 foot, and you can also get an additional room that goes onto the drawbar side.

[LB]

Hi Newie Camper,

Welcome to myswag. As many have mentioned most of the big name hardfloor campers can have an extra bedroom attached. Maybe though you should look at a Cub, they have a version with permanently set up bunks which would leave heaps of room for the cot. Some of the cubs have a floor section which would probably be big enough to take bunks and the cot.

LB

[KingBilly]

Welcome Newie Camper.  Good luck with your search for a CT.  Don't discount the soft floor CTs.  The floor straight on the ground is not a big deal.  Just need to put a tarp or shadecloth (what we do) under it.  Plenty of room in our 12" tent and we don't have to put up a separate room for the kids.

Happy camping
KB

[GeeTee]

Hoo roo from down the Bay

[NewieCamper]

Thanks for your responses. I havent discounted soft floors yet. I really need to see a hard floor in the flesh to get a feel for the actual size. So far lots of net searching and no window shopping.

[elkay]

Hi Newbie, do what we do and go to any camping shows in or near your area.  We are in Melb and are going to drive 3 hrs away to show in Bendigo on the weekend to look at campers.  It is best to see them in the flesh as you say just to get a feel for them and work out which you like and which would fit your family. (Mind you we dont have little children). Good branded secondhand camper is a great place to start your travels. Cheers Lesley

[britts]

We have a liberty hardfloor (read Chinese) and recently did a 2.5week trip covering the QLD dinosaur trail 2 boys on oztrail stretchers left about 1/2 meter walkway down 1 edge at night and we just stacked them ontop of each other until bedtime. but don't discount bunks for your boys,if you need to fit the cot in, for longer stays we use a 3 man tent which the stretchers also fit in for the boys

[NewieCamper]

Now leaning towards a soft floor for the next couple of years, wait for the kids to get a bit bigger and get a hard floor for a 'big trip'. Im setting a budget of $4ish k for the first soft floor in 2nd hand. Would have stretched the budget further for a hard floor. I wont need a proper off road CT as the Captiva wont be going too far off the beaen path, but if something pops up in that range the all is good. I will also happily mod away to make minor improvements being relatively handy with the drill etc. Have looked through the classifieds, but if you have something in that range let me know!!

[Hairs]

G'day NewieCamper,

To MySwag,
As your kids grow, you'll find that your needs and wants change.
We have three kids and started in a tent and my work trailer full of gear, then moved to a trailer tent and now have an old Swan. Just about to get a tent for the two older girls, then I guess the young bloke will want his own tent in a year or two.
With kids we have found our needs and wants are continuing to change.
We've keep most of our gear from our tenting days, so this will help with setting the kids up with their tenting.
Anyway, good luck with it all and hope you enjoy your time here.
Happy & Safe travels.

[timneva]

G'day NewieCamper,

I reckon you can't go wrong whichever way you end up going. As long as you and family are out there, then that's the most important thing. We've got three kids and went through a similar dilemma. We ended up going the hard floor and very happy with the choice. Keep in mind there's all different sizes/lengths too.

We have a set of bunks for longer stays and use the quick setup stretchers for overnighters and find this fine with the outside kitchen and annexe. As some of the other guys have mentioned, there's options of extra rooms etc which add plenty of additional space if you need. Our eldest has actually taken to his swag in the last few trips so this makes it easier again setting up the other two for sleeping.

Good luck with the decision 

[bussoboy]

our Adrenalin hardfloor has the 2nd annex which gives it a huge extra room, just as much as a lot of soft floors

we've only ever used this 2nd room twice, once as a bedroom for the mother in law and once as a bathroom in the middle of winter. the beauty of it is it "fully encloses" - this includes blocking out under the trailer which keeps snakes and other critters out

At around $27K (i think this is the RRP?) its cheaper than some other hard floors but its still a fair bit more than a soft floor and i've not seen a 2nd hand for sale