Rv To Tent Questions

[kimluvswdw]

We just sold our 33 foot motorhome tonight and are going to have to tent it if we go to Disney in the near future. I have never camped in a tent and have no idea the things to take or tips to make it go smoother. Anybody got any advice on this? Thanks.

 

[Shannone1]

We just sold our 33 foot motorhome tonight and are going to have to tent it if we go to Disney in the near future. I have never camped in a tent and have no idea the things to take or tips to make it go smoother. Anybody got any advice on this? Thanks.

Ok I gotta ask....why did you get rid of the motorhome ??

 

[Gatordad]

Personally, I'd pack a 35 foot motorhome.

 

[kg66]

Good luck! We sold our Motorhome in the spring, and bought a travel trailer! We didn't have a truck, so we decided to go seasonal at a local campground. The kids wanted to go camping, so we bought a tent, sleeping bags, air mattresses, etc....the whole gear! What a reality check when you're used to everything being at your fingertips. First morning, the girls wanted in the van, to get their bags, so I grabbed my keys and rolled over to click the remote for the van, and my Tinkerbell keychain, punctured a whole into the air mattress!! My DH was furious OOPS!! Let me just say, it was OK, but when we returned that night, we went right to a dealership and bought a truck!! We leave for Disney with our TT in tow, 2 weeks from tomorrow!!

 

[bradisgoofy]

We just sold our 33 foot motorhome tonight and are going to have to tent it if we go to Disney in the near future...

 

[Us3]

Surprisingly there is so much to buy to get even close to the comforts of your motor home! Air mattress, sleeping bags, blankets, lights, lanterns, Coleman stove, food storage boxes etc etc. If you're anything like us, you'll be visiting the RV dealer again soon!

 

[4mickey2]

i am so sorry for your loss...

it's been said before. so , much to buy.. visit the camping area at wal-mart and pull out the credit card.. also have a lot of room in your vehicle for your camp supplies...

 

[kimluvswdw]

Ok I gotta ask....why did you get rid of the motorhome ??

I sell Real Estate and with the slow market I just couldn't handle the payment anymore with all the other bills we have. I was kind of sorry to see it go.

 

[kimluvswdw]

Good luck! We sold our Motorhome in the spring, and bought a travel trailer! We didn't have a truck, so we decided to go seasonal at a local campground. The kids wanted to go camping, so we bought a tent, sleeping bags, air mattresses, etc....the whole gear! What a reality check when you're used to everything being at your fingertips. First morning, the girls wanted in the van, to get their bags, so I grabbed my keys and rolled over to click the remote for the van, and my Tinkerbell keychain, punctured a whole into the air mattress!! My DH was furious OOPS!! Let me just say, it was OK, but when we returned that night, we went right to a dealership and bought a truck!! We leave for Disney with our TT in tow, 2 weeks from tomorrow!!

We will look into going back to a travel trailer when finances are better.

 

[CottontailCurl]

If you're talking about just Disney, you don't have as much to get initially because of the electricity at each site. We get by with a travel coffee pot, one burner electric cook doo dad (http://www.target.com/gp/search/602...ric&url=index=target&ref=sr_bx_1_1&x=14&y=17), a couple metal pots that also serve as bowls (they nest inside one another for saving space - http://store.thekoshercook.com/en3boneset.html, you can mix and cook in them. If we were doing more cooking at the site we bring the electric griddle for making many meals http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/602-6475898-5234269?ASIN=B0000Z6JMS&AFID=Froogle&LNM=B0000Z6JMS|Presto_Professional_22_Jumbo_Electric_Griddle_-_07039&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=B0000Z6JMS&ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001.

Check around right now for clearance sales, it's end of season and they're marking a lot of camping stuff down. I saw a Coleman shade that looked pretty cool and was marked down to $100 today, if it's good quality it will pay for itself in the long run. It looked like this: http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=9391-144&categoryid=11050, we don't spend much time at the campsite in the heat of the day so we've never taken one. Get your tent, tarp for over it that extends out at least a foot from your tent (we bought one that is way longer than our tent and pull the picnic table under instead of using a dining canopy), tarp that is an inch or so smaller than the floor of your tent (CKelley suggests a thick plastic sheeting for under to save on space and weight, I'm going to try that next time), an air mattress and sleeping bag for each person (unless you won't go to WDW in the winter, then just a sheet set and mattress). Camping things you might not have in your RV supplies; a pump for your air mattresses (I found the best to have is battery operated so you don't need anything else to power it), extra pegs, mallet, extra rope, whisk broom. Oh, I almost forgot our cooler/refrigerator; it's the kind that uses an adapter to run while you're in the car and on the way and then switch to another to use with electricity at the site. That has paid for itself many times over, like this one; http://www.amazon.com/Koolatron-P75-Cooler-Capacity-Required/dp/B000QIN2YM. (Wanted to add outdoor extension cord in case you don't have one with your camping equipment).

Those are the main things, the little things you most likely already have for camping with your tt. When is your next trip to Fort Wilderness?

 

[Shannone1]

I sell Real Estate and with the slow market I just couldn't handle the payment anymore with all the other bills we have. I was kind of sorry to see it go.

I hear you !! We own a title abstracting business and it is sooo slow right now. We have also been selling things we aren't using as much and focusing on things we do. Things will turn around, eventually. Sigh. It's tough all over Michigan right now. I hope things pick up for you soon

Back to the topic on hand....I would suggest sticking to the basics for now...and many things you can bring you may already have at home (microwave, heater, crock pot, sleeping bags and pillows, camping chairs). You can get a tent fairly cheaply if you shop around. You may also look into travel trailers...with times being tough all around there are lots of used ones for sale. They are a lot less to keep up and much less maintenance.

 

[terri01p]

We have seriously considered selling our tt, just because it's becoming so darn expensive to camp and the gas . If not for our constant desire to take a pet with us on vacations it's almost cheaper to stay in a hotel anymore. I know that doesn't answer your question about tent camping, just wanted to say " I feel your pain ", that's the only thing good about my 2000 cedar creek, it's payed for . But my truck payments are enough to make anyone

 

[Katie Dawn]

Hi Kim,
Do you have any friends that camp that would consider loaning part of their gear to you? If you're seeing this as a temporary situation that would be the most cost effective option. I know in the past DH and I have lent out some of our gear to "newbies" who are interested in trying out camping.
I'm thinking:
*Camp stoves/cooking equipment
*Sleeping bags/bedding
*Tarps
*Tent

You get the idea. Good luck!

 

[mamaloya]

If you plan to eat out much at WDW, then you don't need to worry too much about kitchen type gear.

Our first tent trip to the fort we simply brought our tent, air mattresses with sheets and blankets from home, 3 coolers (1 borrowed), a lantern and flashlight, and an electric skillet. If you are a coffee drinker, you can bring an electric percolater or an electric tea kettle. A tea kettle is great because you can use it for so many things like hot cocoa, instant coffee, cup o soup, and oatmeal.

I usually organized it this way....

1) a large rubbermaid bin for our kitchen stuff - electric skillet, electric tea kettle, paper plates and cups, plastic forks and spoons, cooking utensils (don't forget the spatula for pancakes and eggs), aluminum foil, ziplocs, salt and pepper, plastic tablecloth, etc.

2) a small rubbermaid bin for every 2 people to pack clothes in. These are better in a tent because they are waterproof in case it rains, stack easier, and can be used as a table as well.

3) 3 coolers - 1 for foods that need to stay cold like milk (I usually start off with 1 frozen) and meat, 1 for drinks like soda and juice boxes (this one is going to be opened often) and 1 for things that need to be cold, but need to be accessed often.

4) a small toiletry bag for each person to bring to the bathhouse. In the camper you can share soap and shampoo, but if you all go to the bathhouse at the same time, you each need to have your own.

5) Of course don't forget the tent. Some people also bring a screen house to set up over the picnic table and to set up a kitchen, but we never did, we just put our kitchen stuff back in the tent when not in use. Of course we had a double dome tent with 2 entrances and used one for gear and one for sleeping in.

I hope this helps you. As you see, most of the stuff you should already have. And, as someone mentioned, tents are being clearanced out at Walmart right now. Just keep an eye out for the right price. Don't rush. Borrowing one is also an option.

Happy Tenting!!

 

[des1954]

I sell Real Estate and with the slow market I just couldn't handle the payment anymore with all the other bills we have. I was kind of sorry to see it go.

I feel your pain!!

DH just got out of the modular home sales business & went back to cars. With no commission checks coming in for about 6 months - we really tapped into our savings. It even caused us to cancel some weekend ressies at the Fort!!

I hope you came out of the sale of your MH ahead of the game! When real estate sales get back to normal, you'll get another MH!! (You've been spoiled for tent camping!)

Debbie ♥

 

[kimluvswdw]

If you're talking about just Disney, you don't have as much to get initially because of the electricity at each site. We get by with a travel coffee pot, one burner electric cook doo dad (http://www.target.com/gp/search/602...ric&url=index=target&ref=sr_bx_1_1&x=14&y=17), a couple metal pots that also serve as bowls (they nest inside one another for saving space - http://store.thekoshercook.com/en3boneset.html, you can mix and cook in them. If we were doing more cooking at the site we bring the electric griddle for making many meals http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/602-6475898-5234269?ASIN=B0000Z6JMS&AFID=Froogle&LNM=B0000Z6JMS|Presto_Professional_22_Jumbo_Electric_Griddle_-_07039&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=B0000Z6JMS&ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001.

Check around right now for clearance sales, it's end of season and they're marking a lot of camping stuff down. I saw a Coleman shade that looked pretty cool and was marked down to $100 today, if it's good quality it will pay for itself in the long run. It looked like this: http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=9391-144&categoryid=11050, we don't spend much time at the campsite in the heat of the day so we've never taken one. Get your tent, tarp for over it that extends out at least a foot from your tent (we bought one that is way longer than our tent and pull the picnic table under instead of using a dining canopy), tarp that is an inch or so smaller than the floor of your tent (CKelley suggests a thick plastic sheeting for under to save on space and weight, I'm going to try that next time), an air mattress and sleeping bag for each person (unless you won't go to WDW in the winter, then just a sheet set and mattress). Camping things you might not have in your RV supplies; a pump for your air mattresses (I found the best to have is battery operated so you don't need anything else to power it), extra pegs, mallet, extra rope, whisk broom. Oh, I almost forgot our cooler/refrigerator; it's the kind that uses an adapter to run while you're in the car and on the way and then switch to another to use with electricity at the site. That has paid for itself many times over, like this one; http://www.amazon.com/Koolatron-P75-Cooler-Capacity-Required/dp/B000QIN2YM. (Wanted to add outdoor extension cord in case you don't have one with your camping equipment).

Those are the main things, the little things you most likely already have for camping with your tt. When is your next trip to Fort Wilderness?

Supposed to be December 6-16 of this year.

 

[LarryJ]

Supposed to be December 6-16 of this year.

I have a deal for you. I have a Sears 10x14 tent, that I think is still in good shape. I have pics somewhere of it and will even try and check to make sure it's till good. It is old ... bought back in like 1972, but has only been actually up and used for like 3 weeks in all that time. I paid like $150 for it back then so it's not cheap and the last time we used it was at FW I think back around 1996 and was still in great shape then. I think this tent was when Sir Edmund Hillary was teamed up with Sears for outdoor gear. I live just outside of DC about 4 1/2 hours from you and if you want it it's yours "FREE" and I'll even throw in a white gas two burner coleman stove with about a gal of white gas again like 10 or so years old, along with a fairly new blue "poly tarp" that is 20'x40' that I used one or two years to cover my trailer in for nothing. All you have to do is come up and get it and we/I or probably DH and me can set up the tent in my backyard. The tent is called a "chalet tent", one room, but has great high sidewalls so the usable area is very, very good. The canvas is really heavy and rolled up is like 14" x 36". If your serious I can at least get it out and lay it out in my drive and take pics of it if that will help make your decision Sometime tomorrow I will try and find some pics of the tent and post them there. I would also ship this stuff, to you but you would have to make some sort of pre paid arrangements UPS or whatnot.

If serious post here and we can work out the details via PM or e-mail.

BTW, DW just retired or more accurately turned in her RE license this May after almost 18 years in the business so having suffered thru the early 1990's RE slump we understand your situation.

Why do I still have this, last time I looked it was still good and am not into trying to sell things and can't stand to throw away something that is still good and could be used.


Larry

 

[ntsammy5]

We have seriously considered selling our tt, just because it's becoming so darn expensive to camp and the gas . If not for our constant desire to take a pet with us on vacations it's almost cheaper to stay in a hotel anymore.

DSis has to do the same thing because of her cats. I love to camp, and have done it most of my life -- all in tents because that's what I like. Unless I come alone and stay with my DSis in her Winnebago at FW, it's MUCH cheaper for DW and I to stay in a resort, even a luxury resort, than it is to do the whole RV thing. Mind you, I am able to use SoG which is a huge advantage. I like RVs, they're beautiful, but it's just not for me and doesn't make financial sense for us, especially since I enjoy tent camping so much and DW merely puts up with camping. It's been pointed out in these boards that RVing is not about saving money but more of a life style. That's the truth!

OT: I know what's happening in the RE market. I work a lot with commercial real estate. Our projections are for a 2-5 year slump. I feel your pain.