Thank goodness I found you...now how do I??

[zlee]

I think that was it, thanks Nancy Mac!

[maccamper]

Originally Posted by zlee

I think that was it, thanks Nancy Mac!

Go Team!

[zlee]

teehee!

Well, at least Snailip doesn't need six bunks...

[Travel Bird]

Originally Posted by SnailLip

P.S. TravelBird, your blog will now become my newest hobby

SnailLip, thank you so much for your kind comment about my blog. I'm having a lot of fun with it. Looking forward to staying in touch with you and hearing more about your adventures! Cheers!!

[SeeMore]

Shoot a message to PizzaChop, Ron & family (7 kids) are an absolute delight! We camped next to them last fall at the Falluminum weekend and those two have mastered the art of building a cohesive family camping unit. Oh, by the way, they entertained everybody when dad and kids broke out the instruments and played after dinner for ~80 people. The same weekend, there was another bunk house attending with a family of 5 kids!

Personally, some of my best memories of early family life were the camping trips. My folks headed out with four of us youngsters (each three years apart) in a 1960 VW bus my Dad customized. Those were days of sardine living: the front bench seat made a bunk for the two eldest, under the fold-down dinette bed (parents) was another area which included the space by the door, and the back cubby over the engine was the for littlest. At least it was dry and an upgrade from the canvas tents we used initially. Airstreams are light years better and everyone has amenities!

Now, it is just the wife and I, and our travel buddies - two Great Danes over 160 lbs each.

[Gene]

I think some families can pile into a small RV and do fine, but others will be at each others' throats. Best to test the family for this with a rental unit and see how everyone does and check it out a few times to see how it wears. Real small kids may adapt better, but teens may be a problem.

Gene

[starcraft]

If you are General Contractor will lots skills any old trailer is going to work. If you have zero time to fix one up your looking $20k plus for decent one. Heck ebay has dogs for 20k. How about trying a big ass tent, I picked one up sportsmanguide 14x20 with 6foot door $75. Plan on bringing with my AS lots extra sqft. Small tents are wack infact I need to unload couple. Small trailers can be delt with and easier to park,tow,store. I would never buy something for kids sooner than later they will be grown up. If I had kids stuff there arses in Mini Cooper make them deal with it. This post reminds me of Osmonds clan singing playing all night in wee hours at my camping spot, whole bunch tents. I do have one question for ya, do you think Honda Odessy can haul 9 people and 1000 pounds of gear lol, not to mention trailer out back.

[TouringDan]

SnailLip

I have also admired Airstreams for a long time, just as I admired Porsche autos and BMW motorcycles. But in each case, I started small and worked my way up. Airstreaming is just camping in the worlds best trailer, IMHO.

I recommend you start out by buying a tent- actually two tents for your family. One for you and your husband and the 3 small kids and one for your daughter. Buy a dining canopy, stove, cooler, some sleeping bags, some air mattresses and just go camping. Camping is about being outside and doing stuff with your kids. It does not really matter what you sleep in. In warm weather, it is better to cook outside anyway. Try this for a while and see how you like it. Your Honda minivan will be the perfect vehicle for this also (plus maybe a roof top carrier). After you camp in a tent for a while, you may want to move up to a pop up camper. These are great for sleeping lots of kids and your Honda could tow it as well. All the while you can be studying up on Airstreams (both you and your husband) and just maybe take that giant step sometime in the future. In the meantime you need to start camping with your kids and start making some good family memories. Remember, it does not really matter what you sleep in all that much. Just do it!

I have an Airstream and I love it. But if I am going a long distance for a music festival by myself, I just take my camping tent, my car and my bicycle and I enjoy myself just fine.

Dan

[Skatiero]

Any update from the original poster? SnailLIp, where are you? We have a 1989 Excella 29' we extensively renovated for our seven kids. We absolutely love it and have towed it about 16,000 miles total in the past year. We camp almost every weekend. We love it so much we are considering selling it and renovating another one so we can get a 34' to try to (almost) full time summers when I am not teaching. We love it! If you want bunk advice, contact us!