Do you Use your TT Enough?

ryand · 10-04-2013, 09:51 AM

This year was a big one for me....We bought a new house and took a non camper vacation. Both my wife and I are in my brothers wedding next weekend and the work up for that pretty much requires a lot of time leading up to the event so this month is gone. Here we are in October and the season is coming to a close quickly. Our oldest started school this year so future planning is now going to be necessary. I cant help but think that we have already started down the path of using the RV less and Less after only 2 seasons of ownership. Our last trip was cut short due to a bearing failure before we even got started...I do have a trip scheduled at the end of the month but after that it will be one night at the local RV park for closing out the season and winterizing the trailer. Fall is my favorite time to camp and If i had my way we would be out every weekend this month. It does not hurt that the Cardinals are in the Post Season....Love that on the radio around a campfire but realistically its just a little disappointing not being able to enjoy it.

Old car · 10-04-2013, 09:56 AM

Not sure you can ever use them enough unless you are full timing it. We will have about 40 nights in ours for the second year in a row and the first year was right at 30 if I remember correctly. We tried to stay on the every other weekend schedule but lost most of August when the TT was back in Indiana for a wall crack repair.

PSUFan1 · 10-04-2013, 10:00 AM

We purchased our first TT this year and ended up going on 4 trips and one more to go next weekend for a total of 15 nights. Next year I'm targeting to push 20+ nights, which I think is a good amount with kids in school and one kid in fall sports.

SaskCampers · 10-04-2013, 10:00 AM

Nope not even close. Kinda makes one think of what they could do with the 30k+ of the RV and the 30 or 40k the TV cost. WHen it gets used maybe 15 days a year. Now I still do need a truck to haul my other trailers but an old 90's 3/4 ton of any brand and trim level would work fine for that. Some times I kinda wish we never bought one.

Bryan2503S · 10-04-2013, 10:08 AM

No......and you guys are bumming me out man.....It's FRIDAY!!!

Old car · 10-04-2013, 10:09 AM

Waiting on 3PM so we can go out this weekend. Everything is loaded in the trailer and truck except for me and the DW

Bryan2503S · 10-04-2013, 10:11 AM

Look at it this way, we all have a huge advantage when the Government collapses and/or the Zombies come...

**ependydad** · 10-04-2013, 10:14 AM

I'm lucky to be in the opposite corner- we got out 47 nights this year. Work got in the way this past month, but it worked out as we emptied the camper for it's trip back to the factory.

Hopefully we'll eek one trip in over Thanksgiving to somewhere a little warmer than here. But then she'll be buttoned up for winter.

Prothos · 10-04-2013, 10:17 AM

purchased my New TT at the end of JUNE and have used it 18 nights so far. and have about 6 to 8 more noght planned this year

OldCoot · 10-04-2013, 10:22 AM

We have used our 108 days so far and with leaving 29Nov for the rest of the year, we'll end up with 141. Thought we would hit 170, but TOWTA changed her other mind about leaving 01Nov for FL.

PSUFan1 · 10-04-2013, 10:23 AM

Unfortunately, the Pennsylvania weather pretty much shortens our camping season. Although we are currently enjoys one more glimmer of summer this week (80's).

One more trip next weekend the TT will be winterized and stored away for next year. But I'm already planning our trips next year so something to look forward too.

Our TT wasn't a huge investment, so I still think it is money well spent. Great family time especially with our puppy.

another_newfie · 10-04-2013, 10:24 AM

Our family 'activity' is camping. We've made many sacrifices along the way to ensure all the money we have tied up in our truck and fifth wheel makes sense. We don't do 'non-camping' vacations. Any vacation time we have is spent in our 5'r. With that being said we try and vary our destinations and activities, with such things as theme parks, visiting new cities etc. That way our 14 year old won't be bored.

We also camp year round and we LOVE winter camping. If I had to take a guess I'd think we average up to 80 or so nights each year. For us it is worth it.

mjones12 · 10-04-2013, 10:31 AM

We make it a point to camp once a month, every month, year-round. We've been doing this for about 8 years, with trips ranging from three days (our minimum) to 10 days.

I know life can produce lots of conflicts, but when we have them, we simply pick another time of the month to work in our camping fix. We haven't gotten tired of this routine yet and hope to even increase it as our work schedules wind down, which is happening right now.

We don't mind winterizing and de-winterizing 4 times or so during the relatively mild North Carolina winters. And crowds are nowhere to be found.

So the answer is: No, we don't use ours enough.

tomjsas · 10-04-2013, 10:37 AM

We definitely don't get enough time in ours. It is an expensive "hobby" but love the time we do get. Allows me to wind down from work for a bit.

youroo · 10-04-2013, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by another_newfie

Our family 'activity' is camping. We've made many sacrifices along the way to ensure all the money we have tied up in our truck and fifth wheel makes sense. We don't do 'non-camping' vacations. Any vacation time we have is spent in our 5'r. With that being said we try and vary our destinations and activities, with such things as theme parks, visiting new cities etc. That way our 14 year old won't be bored.

We also camp year round and we LOVE winter camping. If I had to take a guess I'd think we average up to 80 or so nights each year. For us it is worth it.

You (Tow) your unit around Ontario in the Winter? Most C/G are closed?

Youroo!!

another_newfie · 10-04-2013, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by youroo

You (Tow) your unit around Ontario in the Winter? Most C/G are closed?

Youroo!!

Most are yes, but not all. There are several C/G's that are open all year round. In fact there are a few that have 'on site' winter programs that allow you to leave your trailer on site all winter.

Mew Lake in Algonquin is open all year, and we have camped there in February and it is FANTASTIC. Also MacGregor point provincial park, Pinery, and Valens conservation area are others that are open all year round. I've towed through blizzards, snow, you name it. No issue at all. We love winter camping, in fact we enjoy it more that 'in season' camping.

sideout1961 · 10-04-2013, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomjsas

It is an expensive "hobby" but love the time we do get.

I noticed camping got more expensive right after the Sept 11 attack. Campgrounds capitalized on trend of more people camping for fear of traveling. We have a local campground here that went from 1100 to 1800 for seasonal right after the attack.

Vern · 10-04-2013, 11:26 AM

hope springs eternal! Would have loved to go more this year, but there are just times where it is harder to get away for a wide range of potential reasons. As long as one of those reasons is not that you no longer enjoy camping, I say hang in there and look forward to your next trip, whenever that is. There are just years where life's priorities and the many things in life which we do not control line up to prevent us from getting away. Don't judge by quantity, judge by quality! We had a couple of short trips this year which, alone, justified the effort and expense of having the TT at the ready.

**ependydad** · 10-04-2013, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by another_newfie

Our family 'activity' is camping. We've made many sacrifices along the way to ensure all the money we have tied up in our truck and fifth wheel makes sense. We don't do 'non-camping' vacations. Any vacation time we have is spent in our 5'r. With that being said we try and vary our destinations and activities, with such things as theme parks, visiting new cities etc. That way our 14 year old won't be bored.

We also camp year round and we LOVE winter camping. If I had to take a guess I'd think we average up to 80 or so nights each year. For us it is worth it.

There isn't enough propane in the world to keep my wife comfy in the winter months.

But, you

out there. I'm jealous!

StephanieLynn · 10-04-2013, 12:05 PM

Dh won't go for less than 5 days. No weekends or 3 day trips. So, we do 4-6, 5 day trips per year. All between September and May. We like the cooler months. It works for us, both of our jobs are flexible. 20-30 days off per year compared to zero vacations before the trailer. I think we use it enough to justify it.

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