We started out with a Jayco 22FB thinking that would be plenty of room for the two of us. A couple of trips proved otherwise. We were constanly having to dodge each other to move around. The sofa, because of location seated one, and that left the dinette with cheap foam cushions that got pretty uncomfortable, pretty quick. It took us about 8 months the make the switch to an Outback with BR and RL slides and I have no regrets.
We seriously considered this at the end of the 2011 season. However, the camper (one of the few things I've financed) is underwater and I would have had to write a $6,000 check to get out of it. Although the new RV was sweet, I wasn't willing to blow my camping budget for two years on the upgrade.
Mike Butts
DW+DD+DS+Camping Poodle
2013 Sunset Trail 29SS, 2004 Ford Expedition 5.4L with H.D. Tow Package
Honestly, if you were to significantly change/upgrade your TT to a quad bunk with a slide, outside kitchen, etc, you will want a more capable TV. Most families are not willing to compromise on a 3/4+ ton TV for 5-8 long weekends a year. Enjoy what you have.
To your question: I upgraded my TV after two seasons with my TT. While I am always researching nicer RVs, I have no serious plans to change for at least another few years.
A & A parents of DD 2005, DS1 2007, DS2 2009 2011 Suburban 2500 6.0L 3.73 pulling 2011 Heartland North Trail 28BRS 2012 VW Passat TDI
My thought is if it's working for me, don't change it. For us, it's easy to get caught up in the latest and greatest when we go to the RV store and decide to look around a bit. I keep telling my wife and daughter, who would have us changing ad upgrading yearly, that we have what we have until something makes us change it. When I remind them that just two years ago we were tent camping and moved to a used Popup and now to a new TT, they kind of realize that we need to make do without all the latest and greatest. As long as I can remind them of the old days and how good we have it now with limited packing and loading of the truck, no cranking and realitively minimal setup, I think I have a chance of holding of buying aything else until we retire.
As for a boat, if you have the money and time to use both a camper and a boat and not feel like it's too big an investmet for the limited use it would get when splitting time off between the two, then go for it. I love the water but have learned the hard way that when you only have a limited number of available weekends, it's silly for me at least to have two payments on things I'm only going to use a half dozen times a year. Making a payment on one or the other I will use 10-15 weekends out of 52 is a little more reasonable to me.
Good luck in your decisions!
2011 Silverado Crewcab 4x4
2012 Passport 238ML
Hope your travels are safe and the friendships made camping are lasting.
Couple of things come to mind:Your boys are just starting to get into school activities and your family schedule will be changing. As they get into sports, band, other, there will be less time alloted to other activities. Just the birthday parties seemed to be major events in our little universe (we have twins, too).
You want a boat, Id get one (or two)
We revised our campin needs when our kids went off to college. My son commented, " geeze dad, you get a new camper when we move out". If our needs don't change, our rig won't either.
Alright I'll chime in. And I have kids. Our bunk room is a quad bunk with no slides. Also our bedroom is no slides. Just one big slide in the main area.
Bunk rooms are for sleeping, if were on a trip why would the kids be inside?
Of course you still can use the rainy day test. How would it be if you had to spend a rainy day in the camper with the kids. It's going to happen.
We had a 19' Fleetwood mallard with bunks and a convertible dinette. Spent 2 days in the rain. Got back and bought a 5er.
Great replies everyone. There's no question that for us, upgrading our trailer falls under the want to have, not the NEED to have category. As I mentioned previously, we already have a 34' (when expanded) trailer with bunk sleeping for 4. It doesn't leak and everything works.
We absolutely want to get a boat eventually, and as someone else pointed out, they aren't easy on the wallet. It won't be a big boat; probably a bowrider in the 18-22' category. Still, they aren't giving them away (even used), and the price of gas makes every boat trip a $100-$200 day on the water when fuel, food, etc. are taken into consideration.
The other big unknown with our family has to do with how we'll use our "toys" as the kids grow older. At only 6 years old, they're not overly involved with activities. That's going to change over the next few years. How much will we really be able to camp when they're 8, 9, 10? Getting the family out on the water for a day is less involved (where we live, anyway) than planning a 3-day camping trip.
When I was growing up in the 60.s my folks rented a camper every summer for our 2 week vacation,
very enjoyable. But we had a small fishing boat which we used often. As I get older the fishing trips and
picnics are better memories than the camping trips. Plus you live in a great boating, fishing part of the
country. Again just one older persons thoughts. Plus you have the camper.
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