When Does the "Gotta Have" Shopping List End?

I'm new to the site -- and my wife and I are seriously considering the 550 Ultra to enhance our retirement travel plans. We are minimalists and enjoy simplicity.

So as we contemplate and try to decide when to order, we started building the 550 Ultra list of options & accessories. Then since we have so much time on our hands we began the "wish list" of the equipment and add-ons we'd absolutely need.

So... we've managed to get the Ultra price up to $21K+ and the equippage list to the shadow of a penny under $3K. I figure by the time we add a good salt & pepper set we'll be at the price equivalent of a 42' Diesel Powered Bounder or Winnebago.

When -- or better yet, does it ever stop?

 

never stops but is so much fun! You'll get a lot of responses to this question . . .

 

Ed, welcome to the forum… this will be fun. But as Kathy & Bob mentioned, it doesn't stop… well eventually it probably does, we're just not sure when.

I think the best advise any of us could give you is to read every post on here. There's a ton of information to sort through. Use the search box then ask questions if you can't find what you're looking for.

Most of us at one time or another have posted information on how we outfitted our trailers, it's all here... somewhere. Read the threads regarding what owners would add or delete now that they've had their trailer for awhile. They're pretty up front about why they would change things. It will help you narrow the scope of your project. Hell, it took me six months to figure out what I wanted and I have to admit, I'd probably change a couple of things.

How you build your trailer is completely up to you. The good news is Camp-Inn offers enough options to cover almost any scenario you can dream up. The bad news is CI offers enough options to run the tag up to $21K+… WOW, you have to be going for the full monty, even I couldn't spend that much money! Just really think long and hard about how you will use it. List all your options and think again about how you'll use it, then cross off the ones you don't really need… that price tag should start to come down.

If you haven't seen a 550 up close and personal contact Cary for names of a few owners in northern Virginia. If you want to take a three hour ride south I'll be more than happy to show off ours. I'm willing to bet it's one of the newest 550 Ultras in Virginia.

 

For us it has slowed down, but then you get out on the road and realize something was missing, or you meet up with other tear drops and see their set ups, and the wish list gets even longer. All part of the fun. We try to keep it simpler, but the season of camping varies for us, as much as our weather. We definitely pack more for wet camping than dry. I think it all depends on your camping style. We were formerly backpackers, so we had most of our kit already. Only bought a few things. But then you get folks like George, who have cast iron collections, and are pretty much master chefs with them, and they are pretty inspiring.

There is always something, right? Enjoy!

PS-welcome to the forum!

 

Welcome, Ed. We've had our trailer for 2 years now and haven't bought anything for a few months now - a new record for us (unless you count the new tow vehicle).

When looking at options, pay the most attention to things that can't be added later. You can always buy the 12v fridge, but it's not so easy to add the furnace or AC once your unit is built.

 

Ed & Bev we are always looking for something new to make our comping experience easier and more fun.For us the spending never stops.Steve

 

Good advice all, and thanks.

In selecting the options and accessories we pretty much went with the full Monty. I kicked around brakes/no brakes with a Subaru Outback and 2500# tow capacity. But since I'm a suspenders/and belt guy, we decided to keep the brakes. Easier to have them than to try to add later.

The only thing I'm really kicking around is the furnace. Really don't want to give up the front storage space. I know the bulk of our camping will be in campgrounds with at least water and electricity, we'd use a small electric ceramic heater when needed. When there isn't electricity, I figure the enclosed space and good sleeping bags should provide warmth retention. Then there is always zipping the sleeping bags together...

 

The option choices are much easier when there are less available. That opportunity came & went with #002.

It was top of the line in it's time but is pretty bare bones compared to what is available in a CI today. It is amazing what you can live without (well, at least me, anyway). I like mine just the way it is (although it has since had a few upgrades which were more out of necessity than want).

Outfitting it evolves with usage & will eventually slow down. Take the time to use it, decide what will work for you & then look for those items. You don't need everything all at once & as this is a different way of camping/traveling, you don't know yet what will work for you.

Other than replacing some items, I haven't changed much in ours in the past 4-5 years...more tweaking than anything. This year, it's getting a spring cleaning & I'm removing anything I haven't used for 2 years.

Outfitting it was a big part of the fun for me. Kind of like a puzzle, trying to find the piece that fits & being patient enough to know you will find it.

Have fun!

 

When I mentioned my wife & I were minimalists -- I failed to note that was with a capital "M". When I retired from the AF we downsized (big time). We had sold a house years ago having a set of orders to move to London. Ever since we've rented apartments and tried to stay as minimal as possible.

I am in Bossier City LA running two Booz Allen contract jobs at Barksdale AFB LA. My wife stayed in the apartment we had in Alexandria VA. That was a studio apt in a high rise with just 570 sq feet (for two people). We had no storage unit so everything we owned had to fit in the apartment.

My wife is in the process of clearing it now because she is going to move down here with me in Apr until my contracts end in Sep and I'll be retiring full time and we'll move to PA then. In clearing the apartment she gave all our furniture to our son living in MD. She boxed everything up, and two Forester loads delivered all the boxes to my daughter in VA to store for us. She's in the apartment with an air mattress and a Bose radio for entertainment.

It will be interesting to watch her organize and "fill up" all the expansive space of the Camp-Inn.

 

Ed, we found that the Camp-Inn has more than enough storage space - even with the heater. And if you can't fit it, then you don't need it.

 

Ed, I may have been unclear in a previous post - we do have a heater, which we might use for 5 minutes and it gets us through the night. We don't have air conditioning - we live in the pacific northwest, after all! Kathy

 

I will say we got the furnace and have been very happy with it. We use it mostly in wet camping to help dry things out (we string a line from hook to hook and crank her up a bit). We haven't really missed the storage space, to be honest. As Evan said, the trailers have lots of storage areas. And I agree with Kathy and Bob, we didnt go with the AC...which also hasn't been missed since our summers have been so cool and wet lately (as soon as we got the trailer 1.5 years ago,our weather changed...I had no idea we had such a bit impact on the weather!). I think one thing every agrees on, you just need look at your camping style and where you plan to camp, and go from there. It varies so much across the US. If I lived in the south or planned to spend a lot of time there, I would have gotten the AC and no heater.

Good luck!

 

We are minimalists too. We did not get the heater or the AC, TV etc. and realy enjoy the storage space which we use for clothes. To keep things simple we ask "what can we not do without" and "where do we put it if we need it". It is sort of a game to organize and simplify. Maybe not as much fun as finding alot of accesories but simpler for us is enjoyable. Just what we need. Everything has a place and when used goes back in its place. And we leave our outside finish "natural" soap and water only. This gives us more time for camping and enjoying nature. And in Minnesota our season is short.

 

All great comments and things to consider.

Now I'm reporting all of you to the DEA. I called the VA this morning and this afternoon they called me back to tell me there is no known Teardrop methodone treatment program. They said I'm on my own this new obcession. I know all of you will tell me the treatment is simple -- it just involves a Papermate pen and a blank check.

I read all the posts on this forum. The thread started by Theresa from NC when she was deciding I found most informative and really ought to be made a stcky for anyone considering a Camp-Inn and what options & accessories to consider.

After settling on a 550 Ultra I thought about the grand childern I know are going to wind up camping with us. I also thought about how Bev's lithe 5'5" body can consume so much space in a queen size bed. I considered that I always sleep with my legs bent so my 5'4" body would easily fit a 4'8" lower bunk space. And then added in the fact that we really like lots of light, and on rainy days it would sure be nice to extra space to just sit and read -- and darned if a 550 Ultra didn't change into a 560 Raindrop Ultra.

We'll be camping in New England, Canada, Upsate New York -- and we may not always have electrical available -- so we've decided heat is way more important than front storage so the heater is back on the option list.

We have daughters and grand children in MD, VA, and FL so southern camping is definitely on the agenda. Not only that when we move and retire to PA we are not planning on spending our winters in that "white, slippery, skid stuff" so that drives a need for A/C.

Electric brakes although not really needed are still a good idea to reduce wear and tear on the TV as well as enhancing safety -- so those stay on the option list.

At our age night time stolls to the facility are -- well, nightly. So the side tent (with a PETT porta potti) is more than a luxury, it is a necessity.

AC/DC Cooler will be what we would use for food -- we'll add a separate cooler with ice for drinks.

No TV -- we'll use a iHome speaker set and recharger for iPod & iPhone to provide music. Entertainment will be talking, reading, games, and getting to know other campers.

Solar prep will allow me to add a panel at a later time -- much better than not ordering the solar prep and then trying to do a mod later. Same thing with adding the battery isolater and AGM battery. Those are just good things to add for enhanced reliability and convenience.

Then of course will be all the cute do-dads -- many with real practicality -- but really, we'd get them just cuz they are so darn cute -- S/S bumper, wind screens, doors screens, Hi-Lo mirror, etc. Of course I'll buy a set of S/S mugs and T-shirts for us, and then if it rains with the Fantastic Fan open and the rain falls on Bev's head she'll point out, "You bought mugs and T-shirts but no Rain Sensor for the Fantastic Fan. What were you thinking." So the sensor is on the list.

Equipping is a whole different matter -- but will include the REI Alcove, Quickshade, shower tent, aluminum roll-top table, folding chairs, camping cookware that all stores inside itself, tableware (because man cannot exist just using paper plates), etc.

And then of course there is Evan's modification of the sink mate cutting board that gets a 5-star award for absolute cutness combined with practicality.

The only thing left is convincing my higher power to scratch that Papermate on a blank check.

 

You certainly have done a lot of reading, Ed - some of those posts go wAYY back. You know, if their had been iPads two years ago, I doubt that we would have stuck with the TV.

And, yes, the cutting board does get high marks for 'cutness' - but I think most cutting boards share that quality as well.

 

... you observant devil!! Didn't notice the misspelling of "cuteness" turned into "cutness" talking about a cutting board. Talk about a serendipitous mistake.

 

Well, if you're a minimalist, I'm a Maximus... hmmmm does't sound right.. but anyway...

Heater:
I have it mighty glad I've got it. Heating pad when I have electric and 650 or 700 down quilt. It all works to gether, but the heater was top on the list for PNW year round camping..

Never used the leveling jacks, hardly use the water/sink but would still get it (sink)

Outfitting:
That's the fun of it, but truth be told, I don't try to Cram everything into the Drop.. I have bins that hold my dry goods, another for the misc power cords, chocks, trash bin,etc.. Just load them up in the truck with Chair, canopy and water jug.. the basics.. Outfitting is half the fun...

It's a kick.. heheh..

 

Frank -- that's 'Maxumust have'!!

 

Oops -- 'Maximust'