As you could see from a previous post that I m thinking of pulling a rental camper to Colorado. About a 800 mile trip each way. What I m wondering is would it save anything to pull that trailer all that way. I know that maybe there would be some family bonding. Any thoughts???

 

Probably not,but it's all up to you and what you want to do with your vacation. There's nothing like camping out I'm not a tent person so I love campers,and Colorado man that's going to be some great views. Good luck and have a safe trip.

 

Although it's not Colorado, my wife and I decided to rent a tow behind camper rather than get a hotel to go to Indio, CA for the Stagecoach Concert. There were a BUNCH of reasons, such as we were drinking and driving to a hotel who knows where was not an option...it ended up being about a hundred bucks cheaper overall and last but DEFINITELY not least...I LOVE driving my truck and pulling things! LOL It was REALLY fun for me...plus, things just feel more "adventurous" when you're overnighting in a camper than it does going to a hotel...just my two cents!

 

I vote for the camper idea. I always take my slide-in camper on trips. I love camping. No if's and and's about. And with our CTD's, fuel mileage really isn't too much of a concern.

 

I've got a popup cabover on mine and it beats checking into a $100+ motel every night. Campgrounds get you into the wild and usually provide showers,bathrooms,etc. Sitting around a campfire is so comforting compared to watching the news. You can always check in and do your laundry every few days.

 

If you are going to be able to rent a camping spot where you are going then I would say yes!! 800 miles is short and you can leave out at 0100 and have the wife sleep on the way. By the time you get through with the first tank the wife will be awake and can drive the rest of the way while you sleep. Get where you are going and get a room. I'm sure that it will be allot less stressful just getting a room (depending on where you are going)..... Camp if you want, but get a room if there is any doubt! JB

 

I think it would be awesome to pull a camper with one of our trucks through the mountain passes. It would be so awesome. The one thing about pulling a camper out there is there would be pleanty of room for all of the stuff that goes along with taking a todler. Also I love the idea of loading and unloading just once.

Funny sidenote: When I was talking to the camper salesmen he was telling me how this camper weighs like 3300 lbs and that you may want a newer pickup to pull this because it can be heavy. Then he asked what I was going to pull it with. Then I told him I had a Dodge with a Cummins, his response was, OH well in that case, you won't even know that this baby is back here. I just laughed.

 

We usually found that the expensive part of staying in a motel was eating out 3 meals a day while on vacation. Its cheaper to buy food and cook in the RV. Plus you don't have to pack/unpack every day. I would take the camper and stop to smell the roses.

 

Yeah, what he said.

 

I'm getting ready to do a little traveling myself next month. Usually when we travel to Minnesota for the every so often family get together, we just get a motel room along the way and one for the week where we are going. Eat out 50% or the time, otherwise eat with family. I have to tell you that motels are a pain, I am an early riser, like coffee maybe rea the paper, etc. Most motels have a continental breakfast that starts a little too late for an early riser. Many motels can be noisy, and also expensive, eating at restauraunts can also be expensive a couple meals a day. We take along our little dogs - chihuahuas - cost us more for the dogs to stay than us, they are counted as extras like children.

This year I picked up a nice, small used 21-1/2 ft 5er and it will be going to Minnesota. If we feel like stopping along the way and resting it will a piece of cake to find a pull-over and do so. Even if it means the WalMart parking lot, we will be able to just stop and be comfortable. When we get to Minnesota we can just drop it and stay at the farm. We will be able to have our normal foods, be relaxed in our home away from home, and the dogs will be able to be just as comfortable. If we decide to take a different route, sight seeing a little, we will not be tied down to motel reservations or having to make last minute changes. FREEDOM to do whatever best describes a trip with your own hotel room tagging along behing you.

Plus, all the chemicals that are used to clean hotel rooms are really harmful. Too much road food can make your body a toxic mess with all the additives used in cooking. Then if you happen to get in a room next to a very busy bunch of people you will not get any rest and relaxation. I stayed at a Motel 6 one time, only place available. The room next door had a couple ladies that were very busy all night. Quite the party, lots of traffic in-out, hard to explain to my then 8 and 10 year old kids. That was the tie breaker for buying my first bumper pull trailer and doing it the better family way.

CD

 

I definatly vote for the camper idea. My wife and I did the exact same thing 4 years ago and decided for sure with out a dought that a camper was in our future. We cheated though and parked it in my moms driveway, but that wasent so bad as she has a veiw of Pikes Peak from her front yard. She lives in Florence wich is 45 miles south of Colorado Springs. Now last year we bought a camper and have been taking it all over the place ever sence. We bought a toy hauler so we can take our ATVs with us. Anouther idea is to get a camper there. A freind and his GF are renting a camper rite there in Colorado this July so they can go Camping /ATVing with us. Just drive out empty and pick it up and go camping then return it and drive home empty. Best of both worlds. Great milage on the road plus having the camper while there. He rented his from a place in Buena Vista wich is in Central Colorado rite near where we are headed. If ya want the name oand number of the place I can get it for ya. Just let me know. I dont know how much of an adventureer your family is but we like to boondock out in the midle of nowhere. Then there is no camping fees or anything just pick a prety spot and set up camp. No neigbors or anything just the wildernes around you. Here are a couple pics from last year and the year before. The first one is of our new toy hauler and the others are of the rented camper with the veiw from our "camp site".




Yup I vote definatly get the camper and go away from where the people are. There are plenty of places to go and things to do out there that get you out and way from the masses and thats what camping is all abought if ya ask me. I hate campgrounds. Then everyone is so close and that sucks.

 

Another vote for a camper. It'll be a trip your 7 year old will always remember.

 

I have always wondered about the beds in hotels. Could someone the night before expired or have been created in the bed. I like my camper.

 

I love when i take our 37ft 5ther for one **** reason. My woman has a blader the size of a walnut. Every 30mins she has to pee. With the camper there is no need to find a dirty gas station. Just pull over turn the water on and go to town.

 

If you are just going site seeing and doing the tourist thing....then a hotel is prob fine and maybe even more desireable.


But, if you want to get outside and enjoy an RVing lifestyle, campfire, scenic views etc....definately go RVing.

Like Bkrukow, I just bought a Toyhauler myself to bring the ATVs along. I haven't used it since I bought it, except for our N. Texas DTR GTG. But I am making a trip soon to Arkansas with the ATVs. Where im going the only expense will be fuel, beer, and food.