O T;..teardrop camper travels!

[claybill]

i just bought a mini tear drop! i'll travel west to southern colorado in a few weeks..as soon as i get my hitch on..(pontiac vibe) next summer i will hitch up my p-15 and camp too.

wondering......where does one stop at night during the winter months for an overnight , while travelling...?

any safety tips? any deliveries! ?

claybill

[Captain Neon]

I recommend spending the night at truck stops and Wal*Mart parking lots. The truck stops, of course, expect you to fill up before you leave, and the Wal*Mart would appreciate some purchases before you leave as well.

The only safety tip I recommend is having a snubnose .38 handy. I don't carry one myself, but have thought that one would be advisable when traveling in unfamiliar country after dark. My brother has shared with me some scarey near-misses he's had when he did a lot of cross-country travel alone in unfamiliar cities. Otherwise park in well-lit areas close to donut shops.

When I am vacationing in my P15, I usu. map out a route and make motel reservations before I leave. However, on a few occassions, I have pulled into a truck stop or mall parking lot to get some shut eye when I couldn't continue to safely drive due to severe fatigue. I often debate the cost effectiveness of owning a teardrop trailer vs. staying at a cheap motel. My grandfather owned a few motor homes after he retired, he told me that unless one used a motor home A LOT (practically lived there all summer), one was better off to travel in a passenger car and then stay at a motel. I've not owned a teardrop so I can't attest to the cost of purchase and pulling one around vs. staying in a cheap motel.

[Normspeed]

For safety, be careful when backing up the rig. Tears are really short and will tend to "jacknife" really quick.

Depends on your own philosophy, but I do keep a handgun around when I camp. I tend to camp in some very out of the way places.

If you buy an annual Forest Service Adventure Pass, you can camp free all over the country at Forest Service campgrounds and there are a lot of them. Annual pass is $40.

Allow extra time at fuel stops and campgrounds, because people just love seeing teardrops and they will want to know all about yours. First question usually asked is, "can you really sleep in there?"

[Plymouthy Adams]

I've been out and about traveling on short notice and such and thus take the mini van...I get tired and need a rest, I usually pull into an all night gas station that is well lit...ask permission to park in the corner out of the way and catch a few zzz's...I have not been turned down yet...

[claybill]

i travel on interstates...truck stops sounds good....and asking permission is a good idea too.

a .38? dont know about that one!!!!

bill

[JIPJOBXX]

I carry a shotgun and a small 22 just to be sure no one bothers me or the wife. The shotgun is a pump action and when you hear the sound of it loading than you know it mean bussiness. I have stayed at Walmarts and they really don't care if you buy something or not and its always lite. I'm looking for a tear drop trailer also but kind of prefer to tow my 42 with my classic motor home. And now its 30 old I can have classic plates on it and no more yearly lisence fee's.

http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/1942dodge/Rebel%20Bird/Rebel%20Bird%20Custom%20Motor%20Home/?action=view&current=399cba9e.pbr

[greg g]

I have an old single barrel 12 gauge that travels in the camper with us. I only carry sporting clay loads but what they don't know could hurt them.

When we traveled out west we looked for campgrounds with a few RV sites rather than RV parks. 20 bucks a night as opposed to 35 40. Just wanted elect, in most cases rather than full hookups. We travelled in Sept and OCt. Took one of those oilfilled electric heaters instead of using the propane. furnace It was plenty for our 17 footer.

[teardrop puller]

The biggest problem with Wal-mart and truck stops with a tear is having to stay outside around the back of the trailer in a parking lot. I like state and federal parks, and then if I can find them little grassy RV places. If you got to fight the big rigs, it "aint" no fun. Now that little trailers are coming back, we are able to find better camping.

kai

[Captain Neon]

IWhen we traveled out west we looked for campgrounds with a few RV sites rather than RV parks. 20 bucks a night as opposed to 35 40. Just wanted elect, in most cases rather than full hookups. We travelled in Sept and OCt. Took one of those oilfilled electric heaters instead of using the propane. furnace It was plenty for our 17 footer.

If you're gonna pay to park, you might as well stay at a motel and have a hot shower and a TV. Most state and national park campgrounds close for the winter.

[BobT-47P15]

I guess we don't have any sense of adventure......we just "camp" at the

Super 8, or Motel 6 - or wherever.

The Mrs used to go camping in her former life, graduating from a tent, to a popup camper trailer

to a small travel trailer.

I used to camp in the Boy Scout days, but not lately.

However, when I see someone with one of the teardrops at a

swap meet or somewhere, standing out behind cooking breakfast

on the Coleman camp stove - it sort of looks like fun.

Provided it's not raining or real cold.

[Normspeed]

I guess that depends on the area. In the Southwest there are quite a few that are open year round and have hot showers. My favorite in AZ is Picacho Peak State Park. I've stayed there on several Thanksgiving and Christmas trips.

Picacho Peak AZ is the site of the westernmost Civil War battle. It's 40 miles north of Tucson.

Bob, you hit the nail on the head about teardrops. Warm and cozy in all weather but you gotta go outside to cook your morning coffee, rain, sleet or snow notwithstanding! In the lake photo, it started snowing shortly after breakfast.

[Don Coatney]

For the most part I had my fill of camping in the Army. I did take a few motorcycle trips with tent and sleeping bag, and went to the National Drag Races in Indianapolis a few times and Bonneville Speed Week sleeping in a tent. But all that has been several years ago. Like Bob Toft I now hit the cheep motels when on the road on my nickle. Traveling on business is a different story$

[Captain Neon]

Don't get me wrong. I am not anti-teardrop trailer. If some one is trying to save a buck, it may not be the way to go. However, if someone is going camping in the wild, they look like a great idea. I haven't been camping for years, but used to go all the time when I was younger. While I am only 35, I do wonder about the aches and pains of sleeping close to the ground in a tent. If I had an idea how much more fuel and oil I would use pulling a teardrop, I may consider getting one if I thought I was getting a deal. I have nieces and nephews that will soon be old enough for such adventures with their crazy uncle. They can sleep in tents on the ground, but the old guy might do well to have a more comfortable sleeping experience. I've had too many nights trying to curl up in the back of an SUV or the back seat of a car recently to not at least have enough room to stretch out when I choose to sleep out.

[Dennis Hemingway]

When we were at a RV Park in Pahrump, Nev. this rig was parked next to us.

Dennis

[Frank Elder]

I'll take camping and a fire with new friends at the park any day over a motel full of yahoo's.

[Plymouthy Adams]

I was at my favorite state park this past weekend...wife #1 and I usually camp in the tent but wife number two don't like sleeping on the ground..last time I was there I rented a travel trailer fromt he Rec Ctr on base...that was too much a hassle...so this time..I decided to rent a cabin for the three day weekend..now that was much better all around given the money and such for the camper and fuel....outdoor grill, picnic table, chairs by the fire pit, fireplace in the cabin, full bath, full kitchen one bedroom, screened porch with nice rockers and central heat and air....

[pflaming]

You all know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, each to his own. I still plan on driving my 52 pickup out to Indianapolis, IN when it is dependable and give it to my daughter. The drive may not be all that much fun, but the discussions at campgrounds with 'guys with memories' will be worth the trip in itself.

My friends snicker at my 'old truck' interest and my wife, well it's a better hobby than drinking whisky, so we all have our quirks and that is why I like old trunk enthusiasts as well as high school students, it certainly is not the money!

[Frank Elder]

Now that's campin'!

Esmey says I don't give a flip about where we are as long as we meet new people. We have quite a few lifetime friends that have been aquired through chance meetings, mostly on the road at state parks and such!

Everyone is equal in our eyes until they prove otherwise, foolish thinking some may surmise, but what a multitude of different slants on life we have witnessed. Good and bad even the indifferent are out there.

I wouldn't trade our encounters for anything.

[Plymouthy Adams]

the 6 hour round trip hike to the mountaintop to see the sights..magnificiant...you could not have asked for a better weekend weather wise..total blue skies..I let out two big gutteral yells so everyone is now looking for sasquatch...

 

Edited May 20, 2017 by Plymouthy Adams

[Furylee2]

When I joined the Prairie Region POC back in 1985, several members had those little tent trailers, and went to all spring nationals. So Linda and I bought a used pop-up, put a hitch on the 58, and never looked back. We drug that thing all over the US, even went to the spring national in Calgary in 1990. We bought a new one in 1994, but it was so much bigger, I couldn’t see around it with the old cars. That’s why I got the tear (first attachment) a couple of years ago. We really like it, and you don’t even know its back there. The second picture is north of Memphis on our way home from the fall nationals in Concord, NC last year.

[Furylee2]

Allow extra time at fuel stops and campgrounds, because people just love seeing teardrops and they will want to know all about yours. First question usually asked is, "can you really sleep in there?"

Norm, you are right there. Everywhere we go, people want to know about the teardrop as much as the car. They want to see inside, the kitchen, etc.

[Norm's Coupe]

I'm with Don Coatney and BobT on the subject of camping. I also had enough of that in the army. Think I was only camping out in the army for a total of 3 or 4 weeks in six years, but that was enough for me.

When we go someplace we don't want to drag our home behind us, then have to cook and clean it up. We want to be waited on. So........we stay in a nice hotel like the one below. They are nice medium range cost hotels. Always clean, maid service and a nice hot breakfast is included with the room rate. Nice clean room with TV and bed to sleep in. I'm not into the computer hookup, but they all also have that if you want. Nice pool and hot tub (which we don't use either). Exercise room (we do use that from time to time). Fruit bowl full of fruit in the dinning area that is full of fruit 24 hours a day, included in room rate also. If we happen to forget or run out of toothpaste or mouthwash etc., just call the desk and they will send some up to the room free of charge. Now, that's my kind of camping out. And, almost forgot. If you are in a hurry and don't want to eat breakfast in the dinning room, they will give you a breakfast bag to take out with you.

[Dennis Hemingway]

When we go on a trip I don't have to worry about finding Gluten Free food for me, I carry it with me. We have a Queen Bed, Dinning Room, Kitchen, and a Bath Room.

Dennis

[Reg Evans]

Here's our idea of roughin it. Either on land or water we have most of the comforts of home. On land we have our own shower and john,TV,DVD player,double bed,and kitchen. On the water the only difference is instead of a hot shower it's overboard with a bar of soap. Good way to clear the head from the previous nights fun.

Other times we'll take this rig out on the road.

[Norm's Coupe]

Dennis & Reg,

That's real nice, but you still have to shop for food, cook it and clean the place up your self. We won't even get into having to clean the toilet in a camper.

My older brother had a mobile home that stayed on his land on the lake in Kentucky some years ago. I remember once when he forgot to clean the toilet, then the thing overflowed because of it. What a mess. He was not a "happy camper" that day.