Did you get the camping bug after you bought the van, or was it just
that was the van you wanted, and you would look into campers later?  Can
the towing capacity be increased? (i.e. a tranny cooler?)

I don't know about the shower, I *have* looked at cassette potty models,
and though they seem to be very proud of these (read - expensive for the
CP), I would buy one if the price was right.

I'm going to guess that if you *really* want your own shower, you might
do better to wait until you have a big enough horse to pull a TT.  Given
the weights of PU's with all the bells and whistles, there are some TT's
that are not (if at all) more weight to pull.

See above.

None that I have seen, unless the dealer has it set up that way - IOW,
the price includes a porta-potty.

Remember, that even pulling a relatively light weight camper, the weight
of your camping buddies, all their clothes, the food, drinks, cooking
utensils, etc. etc. comes out of that 3,500#.  You would have to have
quite a light weight camper to be able to tow it, and have 3 other
people and their gear aboard.

Kids old enough to put in a small tent next to you?  An option I see
from time to time...  Kids seem to like it, as they get a feeling of
freedom.

No.

As well as anything else in a pop-up!  ;)

As long as you didn't take anyone or anything else, or had them follow
you in another vehicle, probably.

Sorry I couldn't be more positive, or of more help.

Karl & Angela
`02 Durango
`96 Taos

Hi,

I've seen this raised in the past and there are usually many varied
opinions on this. Some people don't like the idea of "going" and
showering near where they cook and eat. Some people are concerned
about condensation in the trailer from the shower (false concern BTW),
some people prefer campground or RV Park showers and bathrooms,
etc... So you may get some negative comments about this?

OTOH, some people like us, love the privacy and convenience of
having an onboard shower and toilet.

My wife and I love it. We have a 2002 Coleman Westlake and
we use it's bathroom and shower every time we go out.

They do work and depending on what your tolerences are they'll
work for you. The shower will be cramped, but I personally prefer
it to showering elsewhere. That's me though.

I don't mind the chemical toilet in the least. On our camper, it
pulls out of the side for dumping. You might be able to get something
like a thetford recirculating toilet to replace yours if you insist on
something more conventional. They are pretty expensive, about $500,
but they don't require a black water tank. Don't know if they fit
however?

HTH,
Rockett Crawford

Ranch Country RV of Northwest Texas near Caprock Canyon and Hwy 86
http://capella.haela.com/RanchCountryRV/RanchCountryRV.htm

Hi,

The wife and I have camped in a tent, 16' TT, 24' TT and now back to a
pop-up. We have a small chemical toilet that is stored in a cabinet in the
pop-up. I liked each type of camping that we have done over the years. My
favorite is tent camping. Momma wanted air conditioning since we live in
Florida. I agreed since it would increase our camping season.

Now, my opinion on showers and potty's. I am rather large and found that the
potties in the TTers were relatively small and not very comfortable. Potty
in the shower is common. Passing wind next to the food and kitchen is not
something that I like.

I have never minded the camp showers and potties. Granted, some are
extremely clean and others are not. I'm a die hard woods camper. In the old
days the potty was made via a small shovel. Yes, poop in a hole and cover it
up.

In campground bathrooms, I don't go barefoot. Warts and athletes foot are
possible. Soap on a rope and a small mesh bag that can be hung from the
faucet are handy. Don't sit on the shower seats. I use flip-flops or sandals
in the shower.

Our family uses the pop-up for primarily sleeping. Cooking, relaxing, and
enjoying the outdoors is best done out side! I believe a shower is a waste
of good space that could be used for storage of other incidentals. In a
pop-up, storage is at a premium. Weight sounds like it is a factor. The
shower and potty will add to the weight of the pop-up. However, the wife
convinced me to purchase a small toilet that is stored in one of the
cabinets. She or the girls will use it if they have to go in the middle of
the night. Makes it easier than to have to get dressed to make the run to
the camp bathroom. They have used it about three times in the two years that
we have had it. is it worth it? I guess, anything to keep momma happy!

Only you can make the decision of how important a shower and a potty are for
your family. Hopefully, all of the comments in this topic will help with
your decision.

BTW, the kids love to camp in a small tent next to the pop-up!

Good luck and happy camping!

Halon

Have you checked out the Trailmanor TT's.  They are pricey, but some models
weigh not more than a similarly equipped pop-up [you said you seemed to
really want a hybrid rather than a pop-up], and could squeeze in to your
towing limit if not overloaded with gear, and people in the van.

I towed my 2000 lb pop-up (actual weight) over 10,000 miles with my
Dodge Grand Caravan with no problems....front wheel dirve vehicles
don't make good tow vehicles, but they can tow light loads....
We had no shower and only a porta-potty.  We used the campground
facilites when possible....
Two main considerations for an enjoyable camping/RVing lifestyle are
(1) Your personable style (2) your budget...
I know some tent campers that are happy with that..and some who have
large Class A's and wouldn't be caught dead in a tent...
Leon in Texas

No, but with that requirement, you are chasing the Holy Grail of RVing (not
"camping"):  Weight.

Yes.

Now I'll take a chance and suggest that camping may not be for you.

We tent camped with three, little girls for several years before we bought a
popup camper.  While tenting, we camped with a porta crib, high chair, potty
chair and all the other stuff required to sustain toddlers and very small
children.  (There is a mere 2-years, 8-1/2-months between the oldest and
youngest child.)

We slept on air mattresses on the floor of the tent (ground) and used the
public facilities.  In Rocky Mountain National Park, where there are only
flush toilets, we erected a shower "stall" at our campsite, made from sheets
and blankets hung from clothesline.  I heated water on the Coleman stove while
my wife bathed the three girls and herself.

When I special-ordered our (then) new Starcraft popup camper, I got EVERY
option except two:  Air conditioner and shower.  My logic was that "it's a
tent (on wheels) and, therefore, an air conditioner is more luxury than I felt
I wanted".  A shower would have taken WAAAY too much valuable interior space.

I never regretted these omissions.

We bought a Thetford Porta Potti<tm> on the very first outing.  It is a FRESH
WATER (not chemical) FLUSH toilet.  It was the best purchase I made after the
popup.

In those campgrounds where there were not showers, we found them in the nearby
town.  We swam - and bathed - at the Estes Park, Colorado, community center
once.  In a pinch, we would take a "bird bath" inside the camper using the
sink with hot, running water.

We never found a public shower that was so bad that we wouldn't use it.  Only
you know your standards.  Ours isn't VERY high, but I do have an aversion to
filth.

If you have never camped with your family before, you should do so using a
tent or RENTAL camper before you "take the plunge" and buy an RV.  The
classified ads in newspapers all over, a few months into summer or even early
fall, have listings for almost BRAND NEW campers.  They were used a couple or
three times only to have one or the other adult decide that camping wasn't
their cup of tea.

Buying a vehicle with a tow rating is NO reason to buy a camper.

For all practical purposes, no.

With a "full profile" trailer, such as a hybrid, weight is only ONE factor.  
Wind resistance is the other.  Even if you were successful in keeping the
weight within the tow rating (forget any 75% rule-of-thumb), the wind
resistance would hold you back like you have never experienced.  (I've done
just that.)  It's VERY fatiguing to tow with your foot on the gas AS FAR AS
YOU CAN but still not causing a downshift.

A front-wheel drive minivan, even with a "towing package" and tow rating of
3500-lbs is not a very capable towing platform.

You should restrict yourself to a 10-ft box popup with electric brakes.  Even
that may have you too close - or over - your tow limit.

Good luck.  Short of going to church, there is NO better family activity than
camping.  Just be safe doing it.

           :)
JR

Along with our pop-up we bought a privacy tent with a battery powered
shower. It serves double duty with the addition of a Porta Pottie.

Bye
Growl <growldeep-news1@yahoo.ca> Tue, 23 Aug 2005 13:03:52 -0230

here are some light weights you could google for under 2000 pounds a
fiberglass egg, R vision cassette and a TAB.  you would have to add a
potty with the cassette and TAB but each has room for one. there is a
large size teardrop with a queen bed and at the end for small kids 2
little buck beds but not sure if a potty would fit. easy to make a
little add on room to hold potty and shower. you can get a tall tent
like changing room for about 20.00 to put potty in, it has a floor so
would not work for shower unless you cut the floor part out. yes they do
sell the tent shower rooms but these cost alot.

You do not need to limit yourself to a Pop-up only.  I tow a small 16'
fiberglass trailer with a Dodge Grand Caravan  (capacity 3500 lbs).

See

You do not have to limit yourself to a pop-up type trailer.  I
successfully tow a small fiberglass trailer with a Dodge Grand Caravan
 (tow rated 3500 lb.).

Go to:   http://casitatraveltrailers.com/home.html
        http://www.scamptrailers.com/

JRM