Technorati: rv camping, littleguy teardrop trailer, tent camping
The joy and convenience of RV camping has taken a hit this summer with outrageous gas fill up costs of $500 to $800. If you feel compelled to let your RV sit at home this year, take the opportunity to try out other forms of camping. Summer won't be summer without a few nights under the stars.
Option 1. Tent Camping - If you own an RV, one of the reasons is likely to be that you don't like the hassle of setting up tents (and breaking it down). But when was the last time you looked at camping tents though? Today's tents are light and weather-proof, and are a snap to set up. The Wenzel Timber Ridge Sport 9-by-7-Foot Four-Person Dome Tent takes only a few minutes to set up, even for beginners. At $39, even if you resume RV camping, it's a spare handy shelter to have for kids to sleep and play in.
If you are willing to invest more, the tent I recommend (double-coated rainfly, and built-in remote-controlled lights) is the Columbia Bugaboo Four to Five-Person Family Dome Tent.
Option 2: Yurt Camping - Check your local state parks and campgrounds if they offer yurts. Yurts are move-in-ready tents. When you check-inn at the campground office you will be given a lock combination code or key that will open the door of your yurt. Did you hear that? A door. Yes, a Yurt has a door. You open that door and you find furniture, simple appliances - some even come with linens and utensils. Read my earlier post about this unique outdoor camping style: yurt camping.
Option 3: Tagalong Trailers - If you've been considering scaling down your outdoor abode, maybe it's time to consider travelling with a small tagalong trailer, instead of a living room on wheels. The Mercedes class of these is the sleek Airstream Basecamp. At $26K list, I will need to trade in my kid's college savings to afford one. Don't think my hubby will go for that.
A more affordable version is the LittleGuy TearDrop Trailer which starts at $5,495. You can see pictures of the manufacturer's web site: http://www.golittleguy.com. It's still not chump change. It's like deciding to buy a scooter to drive to work and leave your Hummer at home. Want to save even more? Build it yourself, just like Mary and Myron did (see video below).




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