Trip for 4 with a 2 person tear, questions, opinions?

[rowerwet]

the foam/air combos are better than the cold hard ground, the vinyl ones make it worse as the blankets underneath you are compressed and don't offer much insulation.

[S. Heisley]

The girls both deer hunt, the older girl fell asleep leaning against a tree deer hunting last winter. Guess I'm probably thinking of my own heater. I thought of the drawback of the topper, opening and closing the tailgate, I designed a side opening tailgate in my head, but sometimes have trouble going from the design in my head to actual product, besides my welder is broke. So my current plan is plenty of blankets, (maybe an electric blanket or two, already have an electric throw), primary plan is tent, with topper as backup, have them bring warm bed clothes. Have a camp cot, and a reclining lawn chair that can suffice as a bed(unless I run across a cot on a rummage sale). I like to avoid air mattresses, I must have lead in my butt, cause my butt sinks, then I arch my back, and wake more sore than if I had slept on the ground. And most of all relax and have fun. Food is another thing altogether, one neice eats anything the other is a picky eater, the nephew falls somewhere in between, so I want to come up with ways to get them involved in food prep. Plan on buying them pie irons. Need to experiment to downsize magic beans recipe to serve 4 as the older niece was upset that I didn't make magic beans for Easter.

Look here: http://www.yummly.com/recipes
The above is a nice website because you can tailor it to your tastes and it will sort things to bring your taste preferences to the top.

I have slept very comfortably in a tent on the ground with a piece of carpet covered with a foam mattress pad. ...In the 30's? To help keep the heat in the tent, I have added a blanket or sheet between the tent and the rainfly with some success (maybe 5 or 10 degrees) because the sheet or blanket lays against the "roof" screen, blocking the warm air in. That was better; but, still c-c-cold.

[doris s.]

Here's another idea...

I took my kids out west to the grand canyon and beyond for a month, we slept in a tent every night. I bought folding cots with thin foam mattress from walmart. I set up our 4 person tent and put in the four folding cots and sleeping bags with an extra blanket. We were up off the ground and warm. It was easy to unfold the cots and set up. It sounds like a lot of work but compared to blowing up an air mattress every night it was a breeze to just unfold the cots.

I'll see if can find a pic.

Doris

[Aaron Coffee]

I have one folding walmart cot (think it is a Coleman), been looking at them lately, ouch $60, will watch rummage sales and auctions. have a nice relcining chaise lawn chair that will suffice otherwise, the plan is to take turns sleeping in the teardrop. Made reservations today, now just have to wait until we get there to find out if we can double up(tear and tent in one camp spot), if not 2 will have to sleep in pickup box/topper, shhh, don't tell the park ranger. I think I am more anxious than the kids, can't wait.
Here is the tent I have, have to work on a few ideas to hook it to the side of the teardrop.
http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/largeImagePopup.jsp?productId=735025&cImage=s7_512246_045_01

[aratman]

I cut some 2X4s and a sheet of plywood for my truck. The bed in my truck had built in spots for the 2X4s, I have a short box so the end cuts of the plywood filled the rest of the bed. It moves the bed over the wheel wells for more room, gives you storeage under and keeps you off the cold metal bed. I spent a grand total of $20 and topped that with a futon matress I had.

[Verna]

I have one folding walmart cot (think it is a Coleman), been looking at them lately, ouch $60, will watch rummage sales and auctions. have a nice relcining chaise lawn chair that will suffice otherwise, the plan is to take turns sleeping in the teardrop. Made reservations today, now just have to wait until we get there to find out if we can double up(tear and tent in one camp spot), if not 2 will have to sleep in pickup box/topper, shhh, don't tell the park ranger. I think I am more anxious than the kids, can't wait.
Here is the tent I have, have to work on a few ideas to hook it to the side of the teardrop.
http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/largeImagePopup.jsp?productId=735025&cImage=s7_512246_045_01

Aaron, all of the campgrounds I've stayed at seem to allow one camper and one tent (for sleeping). I think you should be fine with the tent as the 2nd sleeping spot.

Also, check Walmart again for non-Coleman cots. I bought a light blue one about 4 years ago and it was only $30. It's comfy and it's sturdy. EDIT: I just checked and the price has gone up to $49.97 for the cot I have (at least on-line). It's the Ozark Trail Camp Cot. There is one that is $39.97, but it seems like it may only be available on-line.

I wish you were closer so you could borrow my two cots.....but I don't think you're coming through Hoosier Land.

[doris s.]

All the places we camp allow us to have the teardrop and a tent. It's never been a problem. Yeah, the cots are a bit pricey but I still have mine after 10 years. They held up very well. I like the new cots that look all comfy. Amazon.com has a nice selection of cots too. They seem to be a little cheaper. You might want to take a nap on one to make sure it's comfy before travel.

Doris

[Aaron Coffee]

My nephew was going rummaging with his mom, told him to watch for a cot. He bought this for $1.

I tried it and could hear the canvas ripping, nearest fabric store is about 60 miles away. Walking around Wal Mart I saw the heavy duty tarps (just under $11)and grommet kits (had to buy three at about $5 each), some stiff wire to reinforce the edges (free), some double sided duct tape and spray paint(leftovers from another project) and this is what I ended up with.

Not sure how well the tarp will last, but it was big enough that I could replace it 2 or 3 times. Here it is with a cushion off of a bench out of my motorhome.

Total investment under $30.

[ukuleleblues]

I bought one of these for my camper shell truck:

http://www.eatel.net/~dacinc/DAC/campertoptent.html

It takes less than two minutes to set up if you are trying to see how fast you can attach it. It makes it easier to get in and out and adds to the length of the bed since you keep the tailgate down.

I put down MDF over the ridges in the bottom of the bed, and some I/O carpet. I keep that in there to make it easy to load stuff when not camping. When I camp I put down a queen foam pad and down pad from my bed and top it off with thermarest pads and sleeping bags. I think it is more comforatble than my bed.

[Cliffmeister2000]

I didn't read all the posts, but I would put all 3 kids in the teardrop, and I would sleep in the back of the truck.

[Aaron Coffee]

Cliff,
that's an idea, sure would make traveling quite, oh did you just mean while camping? I have come up with a deterant to the arguing and fighting, any major disagreements and all electronics(game players, dvd players, etc) get shut off and I pick the radio station(50's on xm should provide enough torture).