Just got back from our first camp out!

[Rland8228]

So we just got back this morning from our first trip in the pop up. We stayed at Seashore Campsites in Cape May, Nj and can i just say I really wish that we would have bought a Pop up sooner. DH wants to eventual buy a 5th wheel or travel trailer after his truck of course. But I really enjoy our pop up right now. We left on Tuesday after work and didn't have any issues towing with the van it was actually really easy. But when we checked in I did see someone else towing with a van and let me just say the bumper was almost scraping the road, the guy was looking on his hands and knees under the van.

Cooked with the stove because they had fire pits but no grates even the girl next to us said ever campground they go to at least has a grate. So we went the the local Walmart and bought a tri-pod not sure if we will ever use it but maybe. The only thing that really got on my nerves was using the portable AC unit and feeling so damp inside I really hate that feeling. So if anyone has any ideas that would be great. Left this morning and we hit a curve and the wind hit us and the trailer really fish tailed. Not sure if it was the wind or if my husband was just a little confident and took it to fast. So was thinking about getting sway bars. Also made a list of some things we need. But I am so excited we are looking at going next weekend somewhere new. Thank you all so much for your advice over the last year and the well wishes. I know we will get to the fort hubby is saying maybe August or October. August we could stay longer. But I really would love to be at Halloween at the fort.

 

[KristinU]

Awesome! Glad to hear the maiden voyage was a success!

Re: the sway you had, how big/heavy is your pop-up? And what are you towing with? Sway bars won't hurt, but I'm thinking you might want to see if it is a continuing problem or like you said, a zealous driver that maybe forgot that the trailer was back there.

Would you recommend that campground to others? Would you go back? We're on the lookout for a recommendation for somewhere to go in Jersey so we can add the sticker to our map - silly but true Sounds like you had a great time.

Congrats and happy trails!

 

[bama_ed]

Happy to hear abt the first trip Rland.

But I dunno about next weekend if u r refering to Labor Day weekend. Most camprounds r fully reserved for the last gasp of summer.

But good luck.

Oh and I vote for october too although my vote is worth zero.

Bama ed

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Congrats glad everything went well, almost. Sway bars are never a bad idea,,I've watched people over the years with all size RV sway all over the place during winds etc.,,even if it doesn't bother them, it sure looks spooky from behind them.

Once ya'll get the camp'n thing down ya'll will havta start bring'n yer fish'n gear,

 

[2goofycampers]

Try a dehumidifier for that "damp" feeling.

 

[Grammyof2]

Seashore Campsites in Cape May is my old stomping grounds. We had a travel trailer with attached porch there for 15 years. I hope you liked your trip. We are actually going there next month in our new to us Class A for a maiden voyage close to home.

KristenU I would recommend Seashore. We camped my whole life growing up and I have been in probably every campsite at the Jersey shore. It is located close to both Wildwood and Cape May, has a pool and a lake for swimming and during the summer has activities for the kids all day. They have specialty weekends that are really fun. Nightly movies for the kids and a hayride around the campgrounds every night. We really like it there.

 

[Rland8228]

I would definitely recommend it. It was the first campground that we have been to since I was a child, so I don't really have a ton to go off of. The only thing and I will get my flame suit on is, It really kinda annoyed DH that there was a 5mph speed limit for the cars (not that he was upset about that)but that people and I mostly mean young adults were driving golf carts extremely fast and had no control of them. The other thing is the kids on the bikes, I guess I am just a worry wart and maybe I am a strict mom but if my DS was riding around and acting like some of the kids I saw, lets just say a line from the 70's show comes to mind, I want say it but it involves a foot and a behind. I know kids will be kids and I am fine with that but I can see where there are problems with kids getting hurt or sometimes god forbid hit. But its camping lol.

I can say that we will definitely go again. I did ask when I made the reservation to be close to a bath house, being type 1 diabetic and not a very controlled one at that I get up several times through out the night to go to the bathroom and they were really great about it.

The other thing is that I have never been so I don't know how close other campgrounds put sites but we were pretty close together. But like I said we will definitely be going back!

 

[Grammyof2]

I hear you on the golf carts and kids on bikes. It is like that at all the campgrounds at the shore. Drove my husband crazy too. Since we were in the back my kids were only allowed on certain roads in the campground on their bikes and never up front. Believe it or not I only know of two accidents in all our years there but I worried all the time about that.

Seashore does have quite a bit of shading compared to a lot of the other campgrounds at the shore. And you need to get cozy with your neighbors when you camp

 

[North of Mouse]

Glad you had a good first trip! But, I would definitely go with the sway bars. That could be very dangerous for you and for others. If the wind 'caught' you and did that, a little lower speed probably would not have made that much difference - better safe than sorry.

Some pop ups are lighter than others, but it doesn't take long to 'load' them down - also the weight inside your van matters also, also the distribution of loaded weight inside the pop up. We've only had one pop up years ago, but still remember some of the issues.

About the AC on and still leaving a 'wet' feeling inside - there must be a problem with the portable, or set up. The whole idea is getting the humidity 'out', so it's not doing it's job somewhere. I also hate that 'damp' feeling - just 'one' of the reasons I would never make a tent camper.

Hope you continue to have 'many' happy camping trips (it is our way of life - of course we fall in the 'camp' of 'roughing it gently' - pun intended).

 

[ChrisinNJ]

I am glad you had a great first trip with your camper/ I am also glad to hear that Seashore was nice as we we are planning a weekend there soon.

We just got back fro Jellystone Park in Woodridge NY. We had a wonderful weekend! Like you, as we were riding home, all I could think is "Why didn't we do this sooner?"

I hope you enjoy many happy years of camping, and that you get to the Fort soon!!

 

[prowlerregal335m]

I would try shell bay campground in cape may court house next.I've been going there since 86.They have a nice pool with a tube slide,tennis courts,playground and basketball court.The owners are super nice.I think you will like it there.If you go tell them ed turner told you about the campground.I have a set of 4 satabilizering jacks you can have for free if you need them.I live in Williamstown.PM me if you want them.

 

[Rland8228]

I am glad you had a great first trip with your camper/ I am also glad to hear that Seashore was nice as we we are planning a weekend there soon.

We just got back fro Jellystone Park in Woodridge NY. We had a wonderful weekend! Like you, as we were riding home, all I could think is "Why didn't we do this sooner?"

I hope you enjoy many happy years of camping, and that you get to the Fort soon!!

Hey ChrisinNJ we loved it we are trying to go back this weekend before school but not sure. We were actually thinking about trying the Jelly stone In Quaryville, PA we have heard good things from a couple of people.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

Hey ChrisinNJ we loved it we are trying to go back this weekend before school but not sure. We were actually thinking about trying the Jelly stone In Quaryville, PA we have heard good things from a couple of people.

We tried to get in to Seashore, my DH's cousins were there for a week and we were trying to catch up with them for a weekend. Unfortunately they had no spots for our size rig on the weekends they were there.

My DH made a large purchase at Camping World and they gave us a free night camping at a Good Sam Resort. Seashore is on the list. Since it is just a 2 hour ride for us, we will probably do a weekend in either Sept or Oct to check it out on the cheap, off season. If we like it we will try to book something for next summer.

Beachcomber resort in Cape May is nice as well, just not great for us as it is not big rig friendly. I also hear good things about Ocean View Resort in Ocean View NJ (pkwy exit 17). Unfortunately I have found that most of the NJ shore campgrounds want 1 week bookings. If I am going for a week, I want to go someplace further/different. I live only 15 minutes from the beach, I don't need to camp there.

We stayed at the KOA Newburgh NY a few weeks ago. The Jellystone was about a half hour further, but we all liked it so much better than KOA that we booked a weekend in Oct. to take advantage of the Halloween events going on. For 2 night trips we try to stay within about a 2 hour drive.

We are going to the Fort in November.

Next year we plan to go to Mt. Rushmore (2 week trip), but I am overwhelmed at planning that trip, as it is all new to me, and it is further than we have ever driven. We also have a week at Castaways in OC, MD booked for next summer, so between those 2 trips, we will probably skip Disney next year and just try to hit a few local campgrounds for weekends.

I hope you can find a spot for this weekend! Let me know where you went and how it was.