I might be giving it up.

[PolynesianPixie]

I keep toying with the idea of selling my 5'er and getting a toy hauler pop up. They make one that holds two four wheelers and you still can put one in the truck. It's cheaper to pull and you get a little discount at FW if you stay in 2000 or 1500. In order to hook up my 5'er it needs to be a minimum 3 day trip or it's not worth it. The only thing I don't like is not having the full shower and toilet. I guess since the comfort stations at the fort which is about the only place we seem to camp are so clean I could handle it. My question is, how hard are they to set up and how often do you have to replace the tent part? The one I looked at has a shower toilet combo but no black tank. I'm sure my smart buddy BDD could engineer one lol.

Ours has a shower/toilet combo. It is very spacious, too. As a general rule, we use the CS, but if they are really bad-believe me, we've seen some scary ones then at least we have ours just in case.

 

[Brer Bear]

I keep toying with the idea of selling my 5'er and getting a toy hauler pop up. They make one that holds two four wheelers and you still can put one in the truck. It's cheaper to pull and you get a little discount at FW if you stay in 2000 or 1500. In order to hook up my 5'er it needs to be a minimum 3 day trip or it's not worth it. The only thing I don't like is not having the full shower and toilet. I guess since the comfort stations at the fort which is about the only place we seem to camp are so clean I could handle it. My question is, how hard are they to set up and how often do you have to replace the tent part? The one I looked at has a shower toilet combo but no black tank. I'm sure my smart buddy BDD could engineer one lol.

We downsized to toyhauler in sig for that very reason. It's only 25', but I like the height of a toyhauler (I'm 6'3") better than a regular camper. Our FW was loaded and my kids didn't want to go outside! It was too comfy to stay inside and watch the 25' TV, etc. I'm very happy we downsized. I looked at the unit you are talking about, but we camp without toys more than with, so our trade made sense to us. Each to their own!!

 

[abbdrey]

My question is, how hard are they to set up and how often do you have to replace the tent part? The one I looked at has a shower toilet combo but no black tank. I'm sure my smart buddy BDD could engineer one lol.

The pop up camper is very easy to set up. It does take a little time, as you have to crank it up and push out the beds. I have to replace the linens each time we use it, as I do not store it with the bedding on it. All the set up takes a little more time than a traditional travel trailer, but we enjoy ours. We do not have a shower or toilet in our unit. We have a Fleetwood Cheyenne. The comfort stations at Disney are very clean and we have used them every time we have camped.

I am not sure how often you have to replace the tent. We have not had this one that long. I know we were in a monsoon at Ft. Wilderness not long ago and it did not leak at all. I was surprised because the weather was terrible and several tornados touched down.

By the way, my sister and brother in law are teachers as well. We let them set up camp on our site each time we go camping. They have two small children and not alot of expendable funds. Plus, it is fun to have more people to camp with!!

 

[abbdrey]

Ours has a shower/toilet combo. It is very spacious, too. As a general rule, we use the CS, but if they are really bad-believe me, we've seen some scary ones then at least we have ours just in case.

What kind of pop up do you have?? We have a Fleetwood Cheyenne. It is okay for four people, but I would not put too many more in there. It does not have a slide or shower/toilet combo. We may have to upgrade when the kids get a little bigger. We have looked into a TT or Class A, but they are really expensive and our pop up works for now.

 

[proudmomof4]

I keep toying with the idea of selling my 5'er and getting a toy hauler pop up. They make one that holds two four wheelers and you still can put one in the truck. It's cheaper to pull and you get a little discount at FW if you stay in 2000 or 1500. In order to hook up my 5'er it needs to be a minimum 3 day trip or it's not worth it. The only thing I don't like is not having the full shower and toilet. I guess since the comfort stations at the fort which is about the only place we seem to camp are so clean I could handle it. My question is, how hard are they to set up and how often do you have to replace the tent part? The one I looked at has a shower toilet combo but no black tank. I'm sure my smart buddy BDD could engineer one lol.

Hey Donnie...

I am checking in on April 4th and IIRC that is the day you are checking out, so if you want to hang out and wait for us you can help with the set up, or we can let you do it and we'll watch from the picnic table You saw the inside of our pop-up last June when we met, do you remember? It has a good amount of room.

Denise

 

[abbdrey]

just got back from the fort on sunday night and i know what you mean by the high expenses involved in travelling down by motorhome and staying at the fort. we were there two weeks and stayed in the 300 loop(330). starting on the friday before presidents day the rate went to $92/night and when you add the $310/week for the golfcart and the cost of fuel($2,100 return) it makes the poly or wilderness lodge look pretty reasonable.
despite my whining we had a great time

We were there for President's Day weekend as well. It was very expensive, but we had a great time too!! We usually eat at the Trails End once for dinner and once for breakfast and cook the rest of the time. It keeps the costs down some, but allows you a night out to still feel like your on vacation.

 

[PolynesianPixie]

What kind of pop up do you have?? We have a Fleetwood Cheyenne. It is okay for four people, but I would not put too many more in there. It does not have a slide or shower/toilet combo. We may have to upgrade when the kids get a little bigger. We have looked into a TT or Class A, but they are really expensive and our pop up works for now.

We have a Fleetwood, too. Coleman? I'll go check, I'm not good at remembering names, but it is definitely a Fleetwood! I think. Anyway, it is supposed to sleep 9. There are 2 king slide outs, a table that turns into a double and a sofa that sleeps one. When we camp, hubby and I take one king, the 3 girls take the other and I leave the other "Beds" in their daytime positions. When we take friends, the other spaces are used for sleeping. We have a sink and stove on one side and a shower/toilet combo on the other that kind of pops up itself. Most of the time we keep it down and it doubles as counter space. It is something like a 12 ft box. I can't remember what it expands to. It is really nice though! It feels spacious and has more storage than you would expect!

In this pic, the laundry bag is on top of the shower/toilet:

 

[abbdrey]

We have a Fleetwood, too. Coleman? It is really nice though! It feels spacious and has more storage than you would expect!

It is very nice!!! It looks brand new. It looks like the Williamsburg body style. I only know this because we just recently bought a new one and I looked at every style they made. I wish we had gone a little bigger. We have the 10 ft cabin. It would be nice to have the extra 2 ft and the slide out. Maybe in a couple of years. We still need to pay for this one!! I am not sure if the trade in on campers is as bad as trading in a vehicle.

 

[PolynesianPixie]

We have a Fleetwood, too. Coleman? It is really nice though! It feels spacious and has more storage than you would expect!

It is very nice!!! It looks brand new. It looks like the Williamsburg body style. I only know this because we just recently bought a new one and I looked at every style they made. I wish we had gone a little bigger. We have the 10 ft cabin. It would be nice to have the extra 2 ft and the slide out. Maybe in a couple of years. We still need to pay for this one!! I am not sure if the trade in on campers is as bad as trading in a vehicle.

Thank you! I don't know about trade in, since this is our first camper. We always did tents before. It is a 2004, but I'm still not sure about all the other info. I like it better than a tent and that is all I care about It is actually more comfortable than my regular bed! We bought it gently used for (I think) a steal! It seemed brand new when we got it, and I have been very careful to store it in pristine condition. I've been known to clean it with a toothbrush, but I am nutty like that. It says it sleeps 9, but realistically, I'd say 6-7. How often do you really put 3 to a bed? Don't answer that, it is a hypothetical question!

 

[stacktester]

Hey Donnie...

I am checking in on April 4th and IIRC that is the day you are checking out, so if you want to hang out and wait for us you can help with the set up, or we can let you do it and we'll watch from the picnic table You saw the inside of our pop-up last June when we met, do you remember? It has a good amount of room.

Denise

We have a Fleetwood, too. Coleman? I'll go check, I'm not good at remembering names, but it is definitely a Fleetwood! I think. Anyway, it is supposed to sleep 9. There are 2 king slide outs, a table that turns into a double and a sofa that sleeps one. When we camp, hubby and I take one king, the 3 girls take the other and I leave the other "Beds" in their daytime positions. When we take friends, the other spaces are used for sleeping. We have a sink and stove on one side and a shower/toilet combo on the other that kind of pops up itself. Most of the time we keep it down and it doubles as counter space. It is something like a 12 ft box. I can't remember what it expands to. It is really nice though! It feels spacious and has more storage than you would expect!

Denise, I do remember seeing yours and how much room it had. I was very surprised. Even though I love my 5'er we just don't use it enough and even when we do, we sleep in it and that's it. If I had a larger family I might consider keeping it. I'll probably sell it and as soon as I do Miss Right will come along and have a kid or 2 lol. That's how my luck goes.

PP are those illiegal refillable mugs? I'm gonna post that pic at Trails End lol. I see your Dis'er sticker in the window. Would've never met PP in person had it not been for that.

I'm just thinking we'd go more often and buy a better cart if I downsize. It makes me sick to see this thing sitting there for weeks at a time and not being used. Maybe I'll ask Tina to put it in her fleet if she get's a request for the same week. At least I'm not in the same boat. I have a lot of friends who make the same payment I do and their camper is sitting and depreciating.

 

[PolynesianPixie]

Denise, I do remember seeing yours and how much room it had. I was very surprised. Even though I love my 5'er we just don't use it enough and even when we do, we sleep in it and that's it. If I had a larger family I might consider keeping it. I'll probably sell it and as soon as I do Miss Right will come along and have a kid or 2 lol. That's how my luck goes.

PP are those illiegal refillable mugs? I'm gonna post that pic at Trails End lol. I see your Dis'er sticker in the window. Would've never met PP in person had it not been for that.

I'm just thinking we'd go more often and buy a better cart if I downsize. It makes me sick to see this thing sitting there for weeks at a time and not being used. Maybe I'll ask Tina to put it in her fleet if she get's a request for the same week. At least I'm not in the same boat. I have a lot of friends who make the same payment I do and their camper is sitting and depreciating.

Those were NOT illegal mugs!!!! They were 2007, and we were there in 2007. Just because I got them on Ebay, does not make them illegal!
We hardly used them anyway. TE was too far away!

 

[abbdrey]

How often do you really put 3 to a bed? Don't answer that, it is a hypothetical question![/QUOTE]

I will answer anyway. My two girls and I fit in the King size bed in our camper. I have been looking for something to make our mattress a little more comfortable. You may have a better mattress than we do.

I will have to keep any eye out for all of you. We go pretty often and drive around on our golf cart to check out everyone's decorations. I still do not know everyone very well, but maybe after a couple of weeks, I would actually be able to recognize you if I saw you at the Fort.

Well, it is time for bed. I have to get the girls to bed. We have a big library field trip tomorrow, so I want to be well rested!!

 

[stacktester]

Those were NOT illegal mugs!!!! They were 2007, and we were there in 2007. Just because I got them on Ebay, does not make them illegal!
We hardly used them anyway. TE was too far away!

Never thought about buying from Ebay. I'm sure some good deals can be found. I wish I had the older kind with Mickey in the Class A. I got a pin and tag with that logo recently and am always looking for that or Musket Mickey to collect.

 

[PolynesianPixie]

How often do you really put 3 to a bed? Don't answer that, it is a hypothetical question!

I will answer anyway. My two girls and I fit in the King size bed in our camper. I have been looking for something to make our mattress a little more comfortable. You may have a better mattress than we do.

I will have to keep any eye out for all of you. We go pretty often and drive around on our golf cart to check out everyone's decorations. I still do not know everyone very well, but maybe after a couple of weeks, I would actually be able to recognize you if I saw you at the Fort.

Well, it is time for bed. I have to get the girls to bed. We have a big library field trip tomorrow, so I want to be well rested!![/QUOTE]

I was thinking 3 regular sized people....never mind. Dh and I can fit quite comfortabley with a DD in king size, but how practical? We're shorties. Anyway....
Ours are pretty darn comfy! They are just dense foam. I love them! I have back pain constantly because....well, lets just say I carry too much weight in an area. Enough said. I wake up with NO back pain when I sleep in the pop-up!!!!! It is this amazing panacea!

I will be there July 4th weekend, and the whole family will be there in December. I'd love to hang out! Goodnight!

 

[PolynesianPixie]

Never thought about buying from Ebay. I'm sure some good deals can be found. I wish I had the older kind with Mickey in the Class A. I got a pin and tag with that logo recently and am always looking for that or Musket Mickey to collect.

I'm always looking for mugs and pins on Ebay. Mostly for my own collection. The resort specific mugs are gone like the dinosaur, but I still like having them because it reminds me of vacations "past." Before the last trip, I found 5 -2007 mugs for the price of one. I figured I had a dishwasher with a sanitizer setting, so why not?

I have found some incredible pins that are priceless to me on Ebay, too!

 

[stacktester]

I have found some incredible pins that are priceless to me on Ebay, too!

My faves are the haunted hayride and mickey's not so scary pins. I usually buy Annie a pin each trip. She won't trade them for anything. Even though she throws the cards away (makes them worthless if she ever wanted to sale them) she says she doesn't want to part with them. I guess that's good because that means the trip was that more special.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

I sold my HARD ROCK CAFE collection of pins on ebay and made like 4grand on them....I got $1250 my my 10yr service set alone. I had no idea they would bring me that much $$$.

Im an Ebay fanatic.

 

[PolynesianPixie]

My faves are the haunted hayride and mickey's not so scary pins. I usually buy Annie a pin each trip. She won't trade them for anything. Even though she throws the cards away (makes them worthless if she ever wanted to sale them) she says she doesn't want to part with them. I guess that's good because that means the trip was that more special.

My favorite I found on Ebay is a Cinco De Mayo pin from 1999. I got that for Alexis because that was the day she was born. We took her to WDW for her last birthday and she wore that pin, plus her birthday button all weekend. It makes everything so much more meaningful when you know your child gets it and has those sentimental things!

 

[luke6417]

Thanks for all the encouraging words. I was a little worried that I was going to get flamed for this post.
Like many of you have assumed we are fairly young (26, 25). We have been married for 7 years (yep that's right 7). We worked our way through college racked up some credit card debt in the process (it's manageable). When we both finally graduated, we felt nearly entitiled to reward ourselves. We loved camping, and had been borrowing her parents pop-up so we bought our own travel trailer. Like I posted before, our expenses have jumped over $2000 per month in the last year and this has made camping nearly impossible. We are both teachers so our jobs are considered to be fairly stable even with the economy somewhat in doubt.
We have a plan to get to where we want to be, and the decision to sell our camper had to be made. Going by our scheduled raises and pay scale, our net monthly income should increase be nearly $300 per month every year. This helps. Also, within the next three years we are both hoping to be finished with our masters degrees. This will really help, and if my wife gets her National Board Certification like she's planning, we will be much better off.
The reason that I am pouring out my business here is for some encouragement. We are not destitute; we are grateful for everything we have been blessed with and we are not done camping. Within 6 years I plan on buying the fifth-wheel that I really wanted when we bought our travel trailer. Right now though, I'm trying to better our position.

 

[Gatordad]

I will answer anyway. My two girls and I fit in the King size bed in our camper. I have been looking for something to make our mattress a little more comfortable. You may have a better mattress than we do.

I will have to keep any eye out for all of you. We go pretty often and drive around on our golf cart to check out everyone's decorations. I still do not know everyone very well, but maybe after a couple of weeks, I would actually be able to recognize you if I saw you at the Fort.

Well, it is time for bed. I have to get the girls to bed. We have a big library field trip tomorrow, so I want to be well rested!!

I was thinking 3 regular sized people....never mind. Dh and I can fit quite comfortabley with a DD in king size, but how practical? We're shorties. Anyway....
Ours are pretty darn comfy! They are just dense foam. I love them! I have back pain constantly because....well, lets just say I carry too much weight in an area. Enough said. I wake up with NO back pain when I sleep in the pop-up!!!!! It is this amazing panacea!

I will be there July 4th weekend, and the whole family will be there in December. I'd love to hang out! Goodnight![/QUOTE]



carry too much weight in an area? Do you have a big ol head like me and Rog?