camping with pets

[Magicbus]

Ditto! They enjoy camping SO much in fact, that they made us buy them a new TT just for them.

That's a really nice looking rig. Looks huge. What is it?

The neighbors named our MH the Buddymobile after Buddy. Can you find him in the photo? He has the run of the place. It's his castle. No kids or dogs to compete with. When we first got it, he tried to get as far away from it as he could.

Before you ask, it's a real flame fireplace. Works great on a chilly Florida winter morning. It can get chilly in the winter in FL. The wife insisted on it.

 

[des1954]

What about cats? No one has mentioned cats!!! The whole reason we have a motor home is so we can take our kitties with us! They've been going to the Fort since pets were first allowed! We even sneaked them into POR in 2001 when they evacuated the Fort due to a tropical storm!

I've taught my cats to say "We're going to Disney World"!!

I also take a couple of Otters. Wynottah would disown me if I didn't take her!

 

[des1954]

That's a really nice looking rig. Looks huge. What is it?

The neighbors named our MH the Buddymobile after Buddy. Can you find him in the photo? He has the run of the place. It's his castle. No kids or dogs to compete with. When we first got it, he tried to get as far away from it as he could.

Before you ask, it's a real flame fireplace. Works great on a chilly Florida winter morning. It can get chilly in the winter in FL. The wife insisted on it.

I found Buddy!! Do I win a prize?
Wow! The inside of your coach is beautiful!! What's the make? We had a Travel Supreme that had a plasma mounted in the same fashion as yours, but they did cabinets around it. The cabinets were worthless because they were so shallow. The fireplace & stone is sweet!

 

[BradyBz12]

That's a really nice looking rig. Looks huge. What is it?

It's a 33' Open Range Roamer. The floor plan pretty much sold us. Instead of needing a full bunk room for the dogs, this one had the street-side 2nd slide bunk that fit 3 crates perfectly with about 2" to spare (we brought the tape measure shopping!)

The neighbors named our MH the Buddymobile after Buddy. Can you find him in the photo?

I see him! I see him!

Very lucky little guy to have his very own MH.

... it's a real flame fireplace. Works great on a chilly Florida winter morning.

Love it!! The Open Range was my way of keeping DH off the MH kick for a few more years. I can't show him this photo or I'm doomed.

 

[freshlybarked]

Ditto! They enjoy camping SO much in fact, that they made us buy them a new TT just for them...

...and of course the first thing we did was rip out the extra couch/bunk and install 3 luxury suites (er... crates)!

Wow. What a difference from the hybrid. You should have some elbow room in that beauty.

 

[freshlybarked]

Our dogs go with us everywhere in the RV. We travel about 2 weekends out of the month as a vendor at dog performance events in Florida and about another 3 weeks a year as vacation time, usually at the Fort, but they have been to TN and GA. I know they like being with us and they love exploring new places. It has been a big plus for all of us.

 

[Magicbus]

I found Buddy!! Do I win a prize?
What's the make?

The prize is free bus rides at WDW for your entire stay.
It's a Four Winds Mandalay.

 

[Cindy F]

Ditto! They enjoy camping SO much in fact, that they made us buy them a new TT just for them...

...and of course the first thing we did was rip out the extra couch/bunk and install 3 luxury suites (er... crates)!

That was a great idea! Would you mind taking a few pics of the crate modification the next time you're out and posting them?

 

[BradyBz12]

Wow. What a difference from the hybrid. You should have some elbow room in that beauty.

Oh you betcha!! First thing I did was stand in the middle with my arms out and spin around.

(First thing Brady did was check out his plush new "cave" - aka the U shaped dinette with actual carpeting on the floor. Score!)

We LOVED our hybrid, but after 5 years well..... we're getting older (and lazier ), and hauling/setting up crates from the car to the camper was wearing thin. Especially for weekend trips.

And really, we managed 3 weeks at the Fort in November ok, but the acquisition of a new 30lb spitfire last spring really put us over the max for what is a reasonable number of border collies in a 20' hybrid.

So now we have 3 crates permanently mounted in the street slide (couch/bunk are carefully wrapped and store in the basement for later resale) and "setup" consists of leveling and pushing 3 buttons.

Can't wait to break it in for real at the Fort in November!!

 

[Cindy F]

That's exactly how we feel about the new hybrid! Don't get me wrong, we all loved the pop up but like you said....all the breaking down and setting up was starting to be a pain.

I'm sure after 5 or 10 years we'll be at the same point ya'll were about your hybrid- then it will be time for a big travel trailer for us too!

ETA- we're taking the hybrid out for the first time this weekend....I hope we don't break or ruin anything ~grin~ I absolutely can't wait to take it to the Fort in December!

 

[BradyBz12]

That was a great idea! Would you mind taking a few pics of the crate modification the next time you're out and posting them?

Ask and you shall receive...

 

[Cindy F]

That has got to be so much easier! I wish we had some type of set up like that.

Other than folding up the bunk ends- I really don't know how I could leave our dog in the camper and not worry, we couldn't get a cage big enough in there.
I don't think he would try to get out since
A. That would require him to get up and
B. pulling a curtain across the laundry room keeps him out so he's not really a "I can figure how to get out" kind of dog.
but still...I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving him out with those bunk ends.

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

Ask and you shall receive...

This is fantastic! So smart.

 

[BradyBz12]

Other than folding up the bunk ends- I really don't know how I could leave our dog in the camper and not worry, we couldn't get a cage big enough in there.

We definitely couldn't trust our wackpack not to make a break for it. Heck, one of them fell out of the bunk end while we were setting up once!

Crate setup was definitely our biggest headache - especially when we were at the point that we needed to squeeze THREE 24x36 crates in one end. They fit, but getting them in there and setup was a pain even though we used the folding wire ones. It was a little easier putting them in from the outside folded flat before the tent was secured and THEN setting them up - but that still involved 2 people and we had to be super careful not to snag the tent on the crate.

And in our case we were transferring the crates out of the truck to the camper so.... take them out, break them down, slide them in, set them back up. X3. Then reverse to pack up. Ugh.

Like I said, we made it work for 5 years, and it wasn't as big a deal for the longer trips at WDW, but it really stunk for weekend trips.

I don't think he would try to get out since
A. That would require him to get up and
B. pulling a curtain across the laundry room keeps him out so he's not really a "I can figure how to get out" kind of dog.

LOL!! Sounds like the perfect camping dog.

But yeah, those tent ends aren't anywhere secure enough to trust with a dog loose inside. I've had friends who's dogs haven't even tried hard and managed to get out of their popup tent ends, and the hybrid's aren't really any different.

 

[owensmama2007]

We've owned a camper for almost 10 years now and our Lhasa apso has been everywhere from The Fort to Nascar races to the beach. She goes everywhere with us with no problem. She's 13 years old now and gets around really slow and prefers to be inside the camper sleeping instead of mingling with the other dogs.

 

[Cindy F]

...

LOL!! Sounds like the perfect camping dog.

But yeah, those tent ends aren't anywhere secure enough to trust with a dog loose inside. I've had friends who's dogs haven't even tried hard and managed to get out of their popup tent ends, and the hybrid's aren't really any different.

Yes he is but if only he was about 100 pounds less!!

We've never left him alone in the pop up but this past May we did leave him alone in the camper van with the air on, tv on, and a window open (just in case something happened) long enough to go watch the fireworks on the beach.

I was a nervous wreck! (pathetic, I know) When we got back, I jumped off the golf cart and went running into the van to make sure everything was ok. He was still laying on the bed- then he looked up at me and yawned. I'm assuming that meant he wasn't as stressed as I was

We were in that first loop near the stables so it's not like we were miles away for Pete's sake.

 

[BradyBz12]

... this past May we did leave him alone in the camper van with the air on, tv on, and a window open (just in case something happened) long enough to go watch the fireworks on the beach.

I was a nervous wreck! (pathetic, I know)

DH is *exactly* the same way with our "kids"

He has backup contingency plans of all sorts whenever we leave them... and still worries like crazy.

This year his plan is to hookup a web cam in the camper so we can check in on them while we're in the parks. (I kid you not) Of course the bonus for me is that I "need" a new Droid phone in order to make this master plan work.

I keep telling him we'll just be watching them sleeping, but still...

I used to work from home and even with me in the house all they did was lay around all day.

We've snuck back to the camper and peaked in to see what they're all up to, and guess what... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[Cindy F]

...

This year his plan is to hookup a web cam in the camper so we can check in on them while we're in the parks. (I kid you not) Of course the bonus for me is that I "need" a new Droid phone in order to make this master plan work.

I keep telling him we'll just be watching them sleeping, but still...

You realize I am now planning on setting up the webcam right?!
DANGIT! Why didn't I think of that? That would have saved me so much grief!

Hmmm...I wonder if my Tilt2 would work. If not, I guess I'll just have to get a new Droid or Evo. Sigh....poor me, I guess I'll just have to make that sacrifice

So you just leave the laptop up and webcam on and have it feed to some kind of live video website then you access the site with your phone? Or do you have a special app or something?

 

[BradyBz12]

So you just leave the laptop up and webcam on and have it feed to some kind of live video website then you access the site with your phone?

I think so, but I'm actually not sure - have to do a little more investigating.

 

[Tab2Disney]

WOW, I can’t believe I got so behind on my post!! It’s great to hear so many people love to travel with their fur babes!

Magicbus-- Your pup, Buddy reminds me so much of our Yorkie… his first trip to the Fort was so amusing. He is always chasing the squirrels in our yard. (I must mention here they run away from him and far far up into a pine tree.) BUT while at the Fort he would chase the squirrels which were as big as he is, and they would run about 3 feet up a tree turn around and start chattering at him. Reality check for the both of us!!!

BradyBZ12 --- Cool new TT!! I have seen your set up in the past. I will have to keep a sharp eye out for the new rig. I know you’re excited to get it on the road! I have seen people at the Fort with a couple of dogs before but three. HHMM, especially boarder collies. (my sis has 2) You’re brave, very brave. (And they are beauties)

Lil’Lisa—My Yorkie LOVES to ride in the basket on the bike. It is one of his favorite things about camping!