How many nights a year do you spend in the trailer

Hi I don't own one yet but am working on the significant other to make it happen. More on that later in the financials post!

I am wondering how many nights a year do you typically spend in your trailer?

Many Thanks
Cosmo

PS Thanks for this great forum. It has answered many questions I have.

 

We have had our trailer 3 years and are up over 60 nights. That doesn't seem like much compared to other folks, but we picked her up in October and she sat in the garage for almost 6 months...then we decided if we didn't camp in the rain we were never going to get out. We got wet playing in the day, but the trailer did great and kept us dry at night. I find that each year we have more and more nights. This last summer we had around 35 nights.

I think it is really going to depend on your camping style. For us, we have a child, so school and other things get in the way some times. My husband works, so he often doesn't get out with us. Our camping season has been extended with our trailer, but we tend not to camp much through the winter, unless we get a slightly drier streak (plus we are skiers, so we start spending our weekends in the mountains).

It really varies!

Welcome to the forum!

 

Becky and I did 102 our first year and with what we have planned for 2014 it probably will be close to that again.
Everyone is different, just depends on how much each person can get out.

 

Howdy and Welcome....

When working I was pretty limited to weekends and would get out at least one weekend a month, a few months 3-4... but those would be just 2-3 nighters.

Once retired, I've done longer trips, the last big one was for 22 nights... and got so I was missing it when staying at home.. heheh.

It is my belief that one adapts to the situation and modifys/adjusts to make it comfortable, so sleeping becomes second nature after about the 7th night in a row if not sooner..

Obviously the trips are getting longer as I "Branch out" in the real world...

Numbers right now are around 160+ or nights, I don't really keep track so not really sure... probably more...

Hope that helps...

 

as we are not yet retired like some lucky folks, we average 30-35 nights/year...our season is April to November. We try to do at least 1 long trip (2 weeks or more) and then long weekends at least 1-2 times a month. Would love to do more but ...

 

I would say, we dont get out as much as we like. However we finished out the first full year with about 30 nights. It would have been more, but I changed jobs and had family illnesses that cut our vacations short last fall and this summer.

I would suggest contacting Camp Inn to see if they can set you up with a local owner for a tour.

 

Great info. These responses answer my second question which was going to be what is the return on investment!

I cant pass up the opportunity to ask some uber users a few more questions.

How do you manage your floor space?
Looks to me the floor space of the 500/550 is about the size of a queen sized mattress I estimate about 31 square feet - same as some of my tents. My tents have a vestibule which I store gear and tomorrows clothing in. When occupying the tent we can slide the sleeping bags to one side and we have floor space. Do you use tubs or something under the trailer to hold some items such as wet clothing after a hike?

The 560 looks like it adds about 8.5 square feet on the bench surface and as a bunk bed double that for more storage surface.

In the sofa arrangement have you figured out a table top sort of work surface type arrangement for small work or eating?

Thank You
Cosmo

 

http://www.campinnforum.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=4507&Searchpage=7&Main=652&Words=amazon&Search=true#Post4507

We use these trays and they work very well.

 

We've hand ours 2 full seasons, and get out as much as we can. Typically we to mostly 2 night trips, a couple 3 nighters, and at least 1 full week. Look at my signature. It's based on that time. More is our plan, but work and life gets in the way far too often.

Typically we start in mid to late April, and will winterize in November. The camper is dry enough and if power is available to 400 watt will do just fine keeping you warm enough to sleep comfortably.

http://www.amazon.com/Lasko-100-My...8747417&sr=8-1&keywords=Small+personal+heater

The only thing that will keep me at home is cold that even my home furnace and pellet stove has a hard time competing with...like we are about to experience (Monday is a projected high of -1)

I know 20 degree nights are doable, I have. but there does come a point where it becomes work and not fun. If I were full timing nomad like bear and Jenn it wouldn't be a problem...about November, I'd move to greener pastures. Florida and Georgia are both fine places to be in January.

The other stopper is salt on the roads. I know CI does an awesome job, frankly the best I've seen anywhere in the RV spectrum, but it's a peace of mind issue for me. Maybe if I can finally get mine treated with an aluminum sealer this will change a little. But I doubt it.

My ultra 560 is also my port in a storm. Especially in spring and fall....12 volt lights, Television, and a full working galleys with refrigeration (dometic 12 volt) and power outages a non event. I'm good for about 2 to 3 days without skimping. More if I turn off the TV and plug in the solar panel. Throw a personal generator that runs as 62db and can run for a couple days on a 40lb propane bottle and you've got AC...all the comforts of home. If the situation doesn't improve in those 2 days, hook up the tow vehicle and go some place else.

One bit of advise,...keep yours loaded and ready to hook up. We have camping wardrobes separate from out daily wear. We keep the camper ready to roll except for the final packing of meat, bread (liquid as well) and other parishables. We do keep a stock of dried foods as well. Simply for convenience. If on a Friday we decide to leave right after work, packing is a 15-30 minute ordeal....we can be rolling in no time, This is something we couldn't do before we had Serenity.

Darn it....now I'm thinking camping and am 10 minutes late for leaving for work,

 

We don't use ours as much as we want to, with school and work and all that. Honestly we are luckly to do 30 nights a year. back in BC times (before children), we camped a lot more, also weekend jaunts, but way more of them. Our 560 also acts as our emergency shelter/supply holder in case of earthquake/natural disaster, so that adds value to us beyond when we can camp. We hope to camp way more as kids get older and can help out more.

 

We'd have about 20 more than we do but we had 2 vacations upset by family illness. We've determined this summer were not telling anyone when we got . My 36 nights are a little shy of where I want to be...

 

Hi, Cosmo. Since picking up "Cutie Pie" in September, 2011 we've slept 151 nights in the trailer. A non-advertised perk of the teardrop, if you store it at home, is you have an extra "bedroom" if you have overnight guests. We give the guests our room, and sleep in the teardrop - feels almost like a little vacation.

 

I was truly surprised with the responses I received when I did this post. Some of the responses were way higher than I expected. I figured the knee of the curve would be 14 nights a year.

WOW was I ever wrong. The responses have brought all kinds of insights understanding not only the trailers (I am a newbie still evaluating the right trailer for me) but also the wonderful people who enjoy these trailers.

I still have a ways to go at this point. But I am down from 4 choices to 2 and I am getting more comfortable all the time.

The helpful advice and patience has made the what started out as a stressful decision into a quest for adventure and forming a retirement plan that makes sense and is monetarily sustainable.

I get your point on guests. I am thinking – some guests might give me incentive to hitch the trailer to my car and leave until they are gone. Of course once I do get out on the road – they can expect a visit from me.

Regards
Cosmo

 

How many nights....gee, I've lost count. We sneak out as much as possible, but have been grandbaby sitting lately, so now we plan long hauls, usually a month long and about seven thousand miles. Jim and I bought Spamalot just under three years ago and have crossed the US as many times (next stop, Canada-eh). Lots of short hops (three days to two weeks) and anything else we can manage.

As for stuff needed or used, you'll find out what works best for you. Trial and error is half the fun...then there's Cabellas and Bass Pro "sigh". Toy heaven.

Jenn tells us you guys are going to meet up and she's giving a tour. Can't ask for a better person to represent the group...or the trailer.

I think you'll find the Camp Inn is the best thing on the market. We looked at lots of options for several years, too, but hands down this is pure cream.

You'll see.

Oh, and welcome to the forum, by the way.

Camp On,

Sue and Jim (says)