Odd Question. How do you camp in a TD?

[chartle]

Why you all wet and muddy anyways ? mud bogging?

You camp your way I'll camp my way.

[whitefishpoint]

But when we camp now we have a tent. OK its raining, my tent either has an overhang or an awning. So you can either leave your wet shoes/poncho outside or at least walk inside and have a "mud area" to change before you get to your sleeping bag.

With a TD, you open the door sit down and boom you are in bed. Muddy shoes and all.

I have seen some TD's with side awnings but mostly without. Also my profile on my yet to even have a place to build it TD is maybe 5'2 tall. So if I added some awnings it would OK for my wife but not for me. Also I don't want to deal with an Easy Up canopy.

So what do you do?

I built a bigger trailer.

I had 2 TDs prior and I not only get into rainy situations but also cold & rainy situations. I have to hit the outhouse every night and I got really tired of having to put my shoes on either inside or sitting in the door opening putting them on outside in the dark and in the cold. Plus I don't sleep very well if I try to sleep fully dressed, which is what I would have to do in order to get up in the middle of the night.

So with this trailer, the bed is in the front, the doors are on the back and there is a 6ftx5ft area where I can stand or sit to put on my clothes and shoes. I sleep like a baby in it now.

[canned o minimum]

Rather well said thar Cowboy ! And ,, "I" might add.. nobody will criticise ya fer the way YOU camp..

We mostly look at reasons to invite ya into our camp rather than look fer reasons to exclude ya.

HAPPY TRAILS !

[iSpy]

I have a CT for that very reason ........ where do you do 'all those other things' ..... when your are not wanting to sleep in the bed.

Also I have an area to sit and a very thick rubber mat ...... to put my muddy shoes .....




The rubber floor area is 4ft x 3ft 6ins.

my CT is only 8ft long and 4ft wide ....... much the same as most Teardrops ......except my CT as two slide-out to give me that extra room.



It's all in the planning ...... before the build.

[eaglesdare]

i camped maybe 7 times this year, 5 of which it rained. the first trip out was at french creek pa. it was probably the worst of all the trips, on top of the pour down rain, it was COLD! but we had no problems with any of the issues, mudding shoes or whatever. i put a tarp over the trailer. kept everything under nice and dry, not warm, but dry.
shoes we just stuck on the wheel frame thingies.

i have camped as long as i can remember in a tent. but i love the td camping, so much easier to get out of car and hop in camper and go to sleep.

[starleen2]

But when we camp now we have a tent. OK its raining, my tent either has an overhang or an awning. So you can either leave your wet shoes/poncho outside or at least walk inside and have a "mud area" to change before you get to your sleeping bag.

With a TD, you open the door sit down and boom you are in bed. Muddy shoes and all.

I have seen some TD's with side awnings but mostly without. Also my profile on my yet to even have a place to build it TD is maybe 5'2 tall. So if I added some awnings it would OK for my wife but not for me. Also I don't want to deal with an Easy Up canopy.

So what do you do?

I think you ruled out any possibility of a teardrop in you "qualifications" for a teardrop camper. teardrops are just that - they do have their limitations - If your're not comfortable with the workaround solutions - then perhaps a teardrop is not for you? That's why many have went another route - such as a tiny trailer - instead of a teardrop.

[hoytedow]

Our last camping trip we had 2 inches of water under the wheels, so we took off our shoes and went barefoot to the TD, leaving our shoes in the truck. There was no mud, but we were in a low spot on asphalt.

Next time we will carry a plastic 5 gallon bucket with a weighted lid to hold our shoes just outside the door.

[Wolffarmer]

Plus I don't sleep very well if I try to sleep fully dressed, which is what I would have to do in order to get up in the middle of the night.

That is what was cool about camping at Burning Man. Nobody cared if you got dressed outside or at least stepped outside to finish dressing or beginning to undress. And late at night calls of nature. Nobody said anything when I just got out and walked to the porta pots. And i only wear anything to bed when it is cold.



Back to normal camping situations. Yes camping in bad weather has challenges. And I am with you about not wanting an EazyUp kind of thing. I went to the TD to get away from having to set up tents. I am working on a way to attach an awning to mine. Have tried a few things but not there yet. My current TD is a bit higher than most and the awning would almost let you stand up beside the TD.

As I am single and the way I built the TD I convert the bed into a couch and with the foot well I can set up in there and change clothing. Not easily but even a fatty like me can. But that would not work for two. Well it might but would be a lot of elbows in the ribs and would have to step outside to set the bed up again. As it is I can convert it while I am inside. Not easy but can be done. For my shoes I use a reusable grocery bag to hold them and then at the foot of the bed. Works well for me.

And did I mention I can stand up in my TD?



I put a trap door in the bottom of the footwell and I can now stand up in there. As it was an after thought it is a bit small but it is usable. And really impresses the tourists. But again in bad weather a person would probably have to step out into the weather for at least a bit. Specially if there are more than one person.

Have fun teardrop camping. There are many paths to the way that fits you.

Randy

[stumphugger]

I spent 4 nights and 3 days getting muddy and camping. I volunteered for building up a creek crossing with rocks, on a hiking trail. The State folks opened up the group area for us to camp in. The water was turned off, and a clean, but stinky pit toilet opened.

After work, I drove a couple miles down to a pay shower. Then back to camp.
I had an REI canopy set up for a covered porch. I took my hiking boots off there, and wore Crocs around camp. I have a rubber door mat outside my door.
I kick off the Crocs and they stay outside.

I'm lucky. I can change clothes inside my tear. We former firefighters learned to change clothes while in a sleeping bag. The tear is way easier than that.

By morning, my muddy pants were dry. I put them on in the tear, and brushed the dirt out of the bed. It's camping, and dirt is OK.

It poured rain at night. I did have problems with my shelter canopy sagging. I think I'll sew more velcro on it to hold the fly up better. I agree with Wolffarmer, part of my reason for a little trailer was to get away from putting up and taking down tents. I don't think I'll get anything more elaborate than the canopy tent.

[eaglesdare]

Plus I don't sleep very well if I try to sleep fully dressed, which is what I would have to do in order to get up in the middle of the night.

That is what was cool about camping at Burning Man. Nobody cared if you got dressed outside or at least stepped outside to finish dressing or beginning to undress. And late at night calls of nature. Nobody said anything when I just got out and walked to the porta pots. And i only wear anything to bed when it is cold.



Back to normal camping situations. Yes camping in bad weather has challenges. And I am with you about not wanting an EazyUp kind of thing. I went to the TD to get away from having to set up tents. I am working on a way to attach an awning to mine. Have tried a few things but not there yet. My current TD is a bit higher than most and the awning would almost let you stand up beside the TD.

As I am single and the way I built the TD I convert the bed into a couch and with the foot well I can set up in there and change clothing. Not easily but even a fatty like me can. But that would not work for two. Well it might but would be a lot of elbows in the ribs and would have to step outside to set the bed up again. As it is I can convert it while I am inside. Not easy but can be done. For my shoes I use a reusable grocery bag to hold them and then at the foot of the bed. Works well for me.

And did I mention I can stand up in my TD?



I put a trap door in the bottom of the footwell and I can now stand up in there. As it was an after thought it is a bit small but it is usable. And really impresses the tourists. But again in bad weather a person would probably have to step out into the weather for at least a bit. Specially if there are more than one person.

Have fun teardrop camping. There are many paths to the way that fits you.

Randy

wolffarmer, i have never seen that one before. but it really impresses me!

that is the one main reason for building your own, build to suit your style.

i can also change clothes inside my td, i have a porta potty inside also (when solo), (which is the majority of the time). i just now have to figure a way for when others do camp with me.
i have an ez up but will only use it if others are with me, too hard for just me to put up. i prefer the tarp, i can do that myself, that and i can stick my porta potty outside if need be and no one can see it.

[Wolffarmer]

My next trailer will also have the foot well and what I call "The Alice Door" to the rabbit hole. But will not be an after thought so it should be better.

Randy

[canned o minimum]

Randy ! WOW ! What afantastic idea( the Alice Hole )

Ya see.. THIS is what "I" love bout this place... so MANY different ideas and ways to solve "campin" prolens.

[Wolffarmer]

Canned O

Thats RABBIT HOLE. RABBIT HOLE. Alice door to the rabbit hole.


Not PC to call it the Alice Hole



So far this is the only TD like this. Am looking for other examples. I did the mods in the late winter of 2010.

Randy

[bdosborn]

I built a bigger trailer.

Me too, I've got room to change or take a shower if needed.



Sometimes we double up and use an EZ Up too:



Of course we still get dirt in the bed as Misty never wipes her feet:



Bruce

[canned o minimum]

Faux pau.. MY BAD ! Fruadian slip even..but as fer politically correctness...


Well.. I jus can't say how I feel bout all that PC ..BS ! LOL !