Camping trailers

[petev]

I am in a situation where I am thinking of buying a camping travel trailer for work, since it looks like in a few weeks I will be on a few different sites, and too far from home to commute. This idea has also lead me to think of how I could use it for hunting trips up in the Adirondacks, or even ice fishing, who knows maybe up to Ontario even. But, after looking in a book listing campgrounds, they all seem to close around mid-Sept. here in the north. So my question is, does anyone on the forum use a camper for hunting/fishing expeditions at any time of the year, and how does it work out. You see, I am still deciding whether or not to buy one. Thanks in advance.

[rossman40]

I only went hunting once in a buddies canvas topped pop-up, d**n near froze to death.

[jims]

Rossman: That sounds like it would greatly reduce the chance of getting lost anyways. ;D

[fowlplay]

I always been a tent camper. My wife talked me into a travel camper two years ago. Now I take my family camping all the time and also use it for deer camp. Looking back I wonder why I waited so long to get one. Buy it, you won't regret it.
Steve

[mkjstep]

Have a prowler 31G, 2003 model with 1 slide out. Have taken it camping many times for deer. Sometimes we dry camp and mostly we find COE or State campgrounds close to the public land wew hunt on.

I highly recommend using one! If you have never camped in a trailer you may need to get with an old timer for tips.

Michael

[youp50]

I work away from home. Some of us use campers and some do not. I choose not to.

If you buy one, check out the tax advantges. Your travel and housing are detuctable. Make sure that your tow vehicle is capable.

There are 'four season campers'. It has to do with winter and pipes andwater. The guys that I know that use them for work say that is preferred.

I have camped and hunted several different ways. Like Rossman I was rather cool in a tent camper ONE deer season. I have a buddy with a travel trailer we hunt from. It has a thermostatically operated furnace, I find that much more comfortable than a woodstove in a tent. The very nature of the camper offers more security than a tent. Certain critters both four and two legged can wreck a tent trip. I do like a tent. I can usually find a place to camp where I can be hunting right out side the 'door'. I would not like to tent camp for work.

If there is a big construction job in the area it seems one or more campground operator will stay open in the winter. I think that many people take advantage of the system and use electric heaters. Campground operators can lose money that way.

[Dave W]

Went turkey hunting a couple years in the southern part of our state, first year we tent camped, temps dropped into the 30's and we froze, next year we took my pop-up, much more comfortable.
A friend hauls his travel trailer regularly on fishing trips but it is during the summer and spring seasons.

Pop ups are nice, easy to get in tight places, you can move them around on solid ground by hand, easier to tow. More work is involved with a pop-up though. Travel trailers are pretty much like camping in your house, shower and bathroom with hot running water although I think the newer pop-ups have water heaters also, TV aerial. You might have to get one with an arctic package if you plan on using it in cold temps, never used ours past October.

[Harley]

One of my hunting buddies has what I guess might be called a "summer" pop-up with mesh and plastic side curtains. He's parked it semi-permanently at our camp, erecting a "carport" over it. Even at 25* temps (pretty rare, here) he says he's warm with his BigBuddy portable heater.

Harley

[petev]

Before I moved to upstate N.Y., I used to stay in an old 16' FAN camper on my property when I came up for a weekend. One night about 15 years ago, the temp dropped to somewhere between 26 below to 40 below. My dog's water bowl froze solid, INSIDE the trailer! That was cold. But it was a great old trailer. Now it's hard to find a small, more no-frills style camper. I tend to like the Spartan style. Always have. But I probably will get a trailer here shortly. After checking with campgrounds, I am surprised at how much they charge. You're not paying that much less than for a motel. But it would be great to stay in my own place, when working a couple hours away from home. I think the 24' or more trailers require a little more know how such as using sway bars, but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

[huntingmike]

PETEV,
I use a Yukon Wilderness 19' camper during our hunting season. With two deep cycle 105 amp batteries I can have power to hunt for about a week most of the time. When the temp drops in the low teens the gas furnace will run more and then it will take 3 fully charged batteries to keep the blower going and the TV and lights on. The self contained water supply is not enough for very many showers so you must conserve it.

You are right about most RV parks closing early in the season. Their facilities are better with power and water but I personally enjoy being in the mountains away from the crowds.
The use of sway bars are easy and give you much more control of longer campers.

[petev]

Thanks hmike. 19' is right around the length I am looking for. I will look up the Yukon campers.
By the way, for those in N.Y. State, the fairgrounds in Syracuse has an RV show from this Thurs. thru Sunday.

[KerryB]

I have owned a 32' Holiday Rambler AlumaLite for a few years and the quality is certainly there. The plumbing is sealed up in an insulated floor and it is home away from home when on fishing trips. My parents have had a Jayco for several years and it has been a good unit as well. Lots of good trailers out there.......just decide on a floor plan and compare different brands with similar designs. With the economy sliding downhill, it is a buyers market right now...................