Desperate for a Raindrop

[famlyman]

Cheers. New member here and I just got my price quote from Camp Inn (Ouch). I have not yet seen one outside of the Web, so I ask: Am I crazy? I've got Three children under 3, and continue to manage convincing myself that this is IDEAL. I'm certainly not rich and am "old enough to know better".
At the very least should I be considering a larger trailer? Thoughts on this are welcome.

[jdarkoregon]

I think you are nuts! teardrops are great, BUT 5 people in a tear just ain't happening.

I built a big teardrop (and the jury is still out as to IF it is a tear) Mine could do three people (father, mom and the black lab)

Do keep looking at a teardrop, but you might also be looking at a smaller vintage trailer (16 feet or less) They are fun, cute and old fashioned camping is very cool.

I really am sorry to not be more positive, building a teardrop is an adventure of a lifetime, I couldn't do what you are hoping to do

Good luck

John

[eaglesdare]

i have done 3 adults, and 1 child, and i have done 2 adutls with 2 kids.
i think it could be done with 2 adutls and 3 kids under the age of 3. but not for too long, it will get crowded in there, and it gets hotter inside also with all those people.

i am with the above poster, i think you might want to consider something else.

read some more on here, there are others that have children, i think a few of them were building for 5 also.

good luck to you and enjoy yourselves no matter which way you go.

[hoytedow]

Tow the teardrop with a camper. Problem solved.

[Alleged User]

Sounds to me like you already know the answer to your question.

If it were me, I'd save the Raindrop for when the kids are old enough to sleep in a tent or too cool to camp with Mom & Dad.

There isn't much cooler than a vintage tiny trailer. Still have the cool/cute factor, but you can be much more comfortable with your family. Might consider one of those.

[Shadow Catcher]

Once they are old enough they go in the tent next to one of the doors, remember our goal as parents is to get them out of the nest

Our situation was somewhat analogous, we started out with a fairly large tent that all this could fit in, when they were small. We graduated to us having a three person tent and the boys sharing a two-person tent and my daughter in her own two-person tent.

Noted their tents got further and further away from our tent as they grew older

[Alfred]

Hey FM,

I think the Camp-Inn's are a great camper. But I think they would be tight for 5, as the kids grow. A lot of people put on a side-tent for the kids. I know there is a family on the list who have two teardrops, one for the adults and one for the kids, which they tow in tandem. Then they park them side-by-side, and have a little bridge that connects them at the doors.

I built a modified Weekender, for our family of 5. In order to free-up space for a bunk bed, I had to forego the traditional galley. I have lower cabinets, but no upper bulkhead or cabinets. The bunk bed slides back into the area where the upper cabinets would be otherwise.

There are some pictures here of my modified Weekender with sliding bunk for a Family of 5: http://flic.kr/ps/225piC



Maybe you could contact Camp-Inn, see if they have any modifications they could do, to accommodate kids. I can definitely understand liking the Camp-Inn, I have seen a few of them in person at the campgrounds, and they are a very nice, quality product.

If you decide to build your own, there are several of us here on the list who have built different types of campers, different strategies, for use by the whole family.

AL

[AceMan]

I think a classic standee would be the camper to look for!

Welcome to the forum

[BrwBier]

For a good portion of the country the camping season is ending or has ended. Before making a decision you might or might not be happy with I would suggest wait until spring, watch for a gathering and go and see how things fit. I don't know where you are from but camp-inns have migrated to most parts of the country so chances are good that you would see one at a gathering.
The other possibility is a winter getaway to Wisconsin Dells, the water park capitol of the world, and it is then only a few miles up to Camp-inn headquarters.
Brwbier

[Roly Nelson]

The first time I saw a Camp-Inn Rain Drop, I was amazed how much room they had for a large family. The front couch doubles into a stacked pair of beds, long enough for kids in their teens. The mattress on the floor surely would be large enough for Mom, Dad and a little one with no problem. If you have the bucks, I'd consider this rig, the fit and finish on this trailer is fantastic.

You failed to tell us what part of the country you are from. If in the midwest, take a trip into central Wisconsin, and bring your check book. Often times, buying an old stand-up trailer will require a bit of corrective work, unless you find one that is all cherried out and ready to roll, but if so, the price may surprise you. Good luck on your search, Famlyman, and I too welcome you to the forum, I'm glad you found us.
Roly,

[dreadcptflint]

Our little dude started sleeping in the tent when he was four. (Much to the Mrs' horror). Big side tents and start working to tent of their own.

[jfocallag]

If you ask Cary at Camp-Inn, he can give you the names of people who have raindrops in your area. If you are in the Portland, OR area, I have a raindrop and would be happy to show it to you. I know of someone else in southern Oregon and Olympia, WA area who also have raindrops who would be happy to show you. I don't have children but the person in southern Oregon has two little ones and the person in Olympia has a six year old so they could answer specific questions regarding a raindrop with children.

Below is a link to a website where Camp-Inn owners and wannabees go share and ask questions. Cary may already have mentioned the website:

http://www.campinnforum.com/ubbthreads/ ... p?ubb=cfrm