How do you haul it all?

[loveDmouse]

We have an enclosed trailer that we use for our golf cart and we can throw other stuff in. Makes it nice for extra storage for larger items.

 

[shocker]

We make the kids walk and strap bundles to their backs!

That's sounds fine. This year DH can't go because I need his seat space and feet space to put stuff. Sorry Honey, maybe next time.

If it helps anyone else, you could try shipping items there in advance and then shipping them back home. Or, buying once there.

 

[VACAMPER]

I would leave my DH at home but, he won't let me drive the TT. One would think that he doesen't like my driving.

 

[loriandmatt]

i can shove alot of stuff in that old pop up of ours. the e-z up w/screen room, all the blankets/towels. all my cooking items including my crock pot, meds/toiletries, camp chairs, snacks that can handle the heat of travel in Fla in the summer with no AC.....pretty much everything we could possibly need. that pop up is the smallest made, but it has TONS on hide away spots and i have them all crammed full of stuff.

We also take the back seat out of the mini van and in there goes any luggage that i can't cram in the camper, the cooler with frozen food items prepurchased for the vaca and car snacks/drinks for the trip down, the pesky mini fridge - the only item i can't fit in the pop up....too tall.

the bikes go on the bike rack that gets strapped to the back of the van.

We are on the edge of growing out of that good old pop up tough and i dread the thought of trying to revamp my system. i just got all the kinks worked out.

 

[PolynesianPixie]

i can shove alot of stuff in that old pop up of ours. the e-z up w/screen room, all the blankets/towels. all my cooking items including my crock pot, meds/toiletries, camp chairs, snacks that can handle the heat of travel in Fla in the summer with no AC.....pretty much everything we could possibly need. that pop up is the smallest made, but it has TONS on hide away spots and i have them all crammed full of stuff.

We also take the back seat out of the mini van and in there goes any luggage that i can't cram in the camper, the cooler with frozen food items prepurchased for the vaca and car snacks/drinks for the trip down, the pesky mini fridge - the only item i can't fit in the pop up....too tall.

the bikes go on the bike rack that gets strapped to the back of the van.

We are on the edge of growing out of that good old pop up tough and i dread the thought of trying to revamp my system. i just got all the kinks worked out.

What kind of van do you have to pull your PUP? Do you have a tow package on it or did you just put on hitch? I'm not sure mine can handle pulling ours.

 

[loriandmatt]

ok, not a car chick but i will try to tell you what i know without sounding like and idiot.....

we have a ford windstar 6 cylinder with a non factory (it was cheaper and just as effective, so we were told) tranmission cooler. (we investigated that. it wasn't a necessity, but it is a nice little bit of insurance. the pop up dealer said we would probably need it more towing up the big hills in the Poconos than down 95 in August to Fla.) We did have the dealership install the hitch (for free) when we purchased it.

We have a small (i think it is a 9 foot box) Viking pop up. just the basics. we had the AC unit put on after market, but it did add considerable weight.

With the pop up as it is and loaded down for a big FW trip....and with all the other stuff in the back of the van....we are pretty much maxed out for tow capacity.

We understand that if we step up to a TT we are going to either tow with our Ram full size pick up or figure something else out....thus the element that is holding us back from that step. new camper is one thing....new tow vehicle is another story all toghether.

- lori

 

[LarryJ]

Short of having a Toy hauler, how do you get all your stuff to the fort? Or any other campground for that matter? Right now we're trying to figure out how to transport the camper, bikes (DH made a brilliant bike rack for the truck), canoe, coolers, suitcases....oh and US, too!

Yesterday I saw someone had a conoe strapped to the top of there PUP. I guess that would work, but I'm worried it would be too heavy. Some of you then take golf carts, too! How do you do it??????

A one ton full sized diesel van and and a big trailer and packing right. This last time for a 40 day trip we not only had our 7 cu ft frig filled, but I got a 75lb NORCOLD frig/freezer and filled it to the brim and then stuffed things everywhere. For 40 days we had to buy very little new meat or frozen items, mostly fresh stuff and things we just ran out of. The Norcold refer/freezer we got is pricey, but worth it's weight in gold since it more than doubles our freezer capacity.

We actually had 20 gal of extra fuel, 72 liters of seltzer, 4 cases of bottle water, 5 wine/liquor boxes full of extra food/cans in the Van. That in addition to a 4' artificial X-mas tree, X-mas presents for the sons, and more other stuff in the van than you could shake a stick at.

Full sized vans properly laid out are just amazing in what you can stuff in them. Of course I now have 30 years of experience with them so am a little bit ahead of most.

Going down we tipped the scales at almost 17K lbs and still got better than 10.5 MPG with the diesel.

Larry

 

[We4mickey]

I agree. We did the mini van thing and blew the transmission. We have a full size now and love it for traveling.

 

[PolynesianPixie]

I agree. We did the mini van thing and blew the transmission. We have a full size now and love it for traveling.

Ah! Mini van pulling the camper is not a good idea then!

We have a truck, but the back seat is awfully cramped. If the kids get much bigger we may need to get something else. As it is, I'm already switching out with DD11 some. I fit back there about as well as she does at this point.

Er, we could use more toys...but don't want to pay for them. Having no car payments is a really nice thing..... I want my cake and eat it too!

 

[disney4dan]

Our used TT came with a bike carrier connected to the rear bumper, big enough for 4 bikes. We were very happy to see that, until we put the 4 bikes on it and headed on down the highway to our first beach week. Nancy was following with the van because it was a close trip and I planned on working during the weekdays and would need a second vehicle.

About 5 minutes down the highway I get a call from Nancy and the kids in the mini-van giving me an update that the bikes were hitting the back of the trailer every time we went over a bump. By the time we made it to the campground, we had several dents in the aluminum panel .

We'll probably look into something to put the bikes in the bed of the truck securely for the next season. Just trying to keep the costs down because we just found out that the oldest needs to have his wisdom teeth removed and our out of pocket costs will be a little more than a thousand . I'm considering giving Grandpa a pair of long pliers and letting him have at the kid!

 

[PolynesianPixie]

We'll probably look into something to put the bikes in the bed of the truck securely for the next season. Just trying to keep the costs down because we just found out that the oldest needs to have his wisdom teeth removed and our out of pocket costs will be a little more than a thousand . I'm considering giving Grandpa a pair of long pliers and letting him have at the kid!

Oh no! Don't forget the whisky to dull the pain!

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Aint nuttin like a lil family dentistry!!!

 

[chief19spixi]

oh geeze!!!!

 

[auntie]

Our used TT came with a bike carrier connected to the rear bumper, big enough for 4 bikes. We were very happy to see that, until we put the 4 bikes on it and headed on down the highway to our first beach week. Nancy was following with the van because it was a close trip and I planned on working during the weekdays and would need a second vehicle.

About 5 minutes down the highway I get a call from Nancy and the kids in the mini-van giving me an update that the bikes were hitting the back of the trailer every time we went over a bump. By the time we made it to the campground, we had several dents in the aluminum panel .

We'll probably look into something to put the bikes in the bed of the truck securely for the next season. Just trying to keep the costs down because we just found out that the oldest needs to have his wisdom teeth removed and our out of pocket costs will be a little more than a thousand . I'm considering giving Grandpa a pair of long pliers and letting him have at the kid!

We have a bike rack..attached with a hitch to the back of our TT...never had any problems with the bikes banging the trailer. Although, now that I think of it..our spare tire is back there also..and maybe that's a buffer between the bikes and the trailer.

As far as wisdom teeth...it's all relative.
We had my daughters removed last year..$2300.00... ALL out of pocket. No dental coverage. OUCH. Our medical didn't cover them anymore either. They used to cover impacted ones.

 

[mrsscooter]

Man, I will never complain about the Navy Dental plan again.......I had all four of my wisdom teeth out last year and only paid 75.00 for all of them. And that was only because they dont cover anestesia (sp?) Hubby just retired and DD will need braces probably next year, so we are bracing for that bill.

 

[PolynesianPixie]

Man, I will never complain about the Navy Dental plan again.......I had all four of my wisdom teeth out last year and only paid 75.00 for all of them. And that was only because they dont cover anestesia (sp?) Hubby just retired and DD will need braces probably next year, so we are bracing for that bill.

So glad my thread has gone to dental care. So, to not get OT, my hubby has super dental care. I had mine removed a couple years ago, not because they were impacted, but because I had TMJ and the doc thought not having wisdom teeth would take some of the pressure off. I don't think we paid a dime. I didn't realize just how lucky we were. They don't cover caveties, though. DD7 had some....expensive suckers! Oh, and yes, braces are most definitely in our future!



DH and I discussed all the advice on this thread last night and I think we have a plan. Thank you all so much for your tips! you are all most helpful and wonderful people!!!!!!

 

[BigDaddyRog]

I have paid OOP for 2 sets of braces so far....I assume the 11yr old is next, although her teeth are nowhere near as bad as the older 2s were....they looked like a matching set of can openers when they smiled for pictures!!!

 

[PolynesianPixie]

When we started having kids, I hoped for my hubby's personality and my teeth and eyes. Bless his heart, he is sweet as can be but blind as a bat and his teeth never grew straight. I, on the other hand, am very high maintenance but have straight teeth, never had a cavity and I see 20/15. My plan hasn't gone....as planned. Our oldest daughters now wear glasses and they will both need orthadontia. I'm not sure about our youngest, but dang she is a firecracker!!!!!

 

[loriandmatt]

they looked like a matching set of can openers when they smiled for pictures!!!

ok, i gotta stop reading these boards while at work. i laughed so hard that i ended up snorting and could be heard thru the "soundproof" glass in the control room. so now Dr. DiGregorio's pharmacology lecture recording will have the sounds of my hysteria and snorts in it. Great.

 

[chief19spixi]

Omg !!! Lol