Both? Right now I'm down to 4 dogs and a cat. A bit much for me to handle when I'm soloing on my first trip.
25 years ago, when I was a tad younger, I hauled a 20' TT, had 2 little kids and 7 dogs. We travelled the dog show circuits, eastern US and up into Canada. Oh, yeah, I also had a husband back then. But I might as well have been soloing, if you know what I mean. ;-)
I provide the sound system and announcing at kite festivals around New England and do about half of them solo. The biggest thing I miss when I'm alone is my spotter. Fortunately, most of the time I'm camping with others who are attending the festival and are more than willing to help (possibly because I feed them).
The few times I've camped alone and had nobody around to help, I just took my time and got out and looked.
One indispensable piece of equipment for setting up late on a Friday night is a headlamp. I take 2 with me for all the types of camping I do from TT to winter tent camping.
DW and I in our Gulfstream Amerilite 21MB
Chevy Silverado 2500 HD - Duramax Diesel 6.6L - Allison Tranny
"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area." - Major Mike Shearer - British Army - Basra, Iraq
I just took a solo 2 week trip the end of May. I enjoy those trips for reasons already stated. I take a day or so to get used to traveling alone and then I settle in. I've become very good at backing in sites and I too use those orange cones to mark the best spot after I've found a level spot for my MH.
I've taken longer trip to CO and NM too. So good luck and bring several good books!!
I'm a 62 year old grandmother who has mostly traveled alone since buying my trailer a little over four years ago. Most trips are within a few hours of my home in Louisiana, however I've made three trips to the Southwest, the longest of which was for six weeks. Clearly there were things to learn before setting out, but trust me, there is nothing about any of it that requires brute strength. Why, I even figured out that I needed to hook up the sewer hose BEFORE pulling the blackwater tank release valve.
* This post was
last
edited 07/04/08 05:41pm by MotherOwl *
View edit history
You can do it! I go camping solo, just bought my camper at the end of last summer. I gradually have learned things about it, and if there is anything I am stumped about, I can usually find someone at the campground to ask.
The first trip I took was straight from picking it up from the previous owner. I knew zero other than what he had told me. All I had known was about popups.
The backing up was hard to learn, but I just take my time. If I get it backed in crooked, I start all over again! A couple times men have stopped and volunteered to 'rescue' me....and of course I let them! I do much better when I don't have an audience...haha!
I enjoy the peace and quiet, and my dog is my camping buddy...but there are times when it gets lonely. I sometimes have friends nearby and we all gather around the campfires and have a good time. But sometimes I know no one else but whomever I meet while I am there. And, that's okay too.
If I feel like cooking I do, if I don't..I eat whatever. If I want to take an afternoon nap, I do.
I ride my bike 2 or 3 times a day, all through the campground loops...that's fun. I read a couple books during the time I am camping.
Some people look at me very strangely when they find out I am alone out there, and some kind of have a look of ...'oh, you poor thing'...but it's a choice I made. I wanted to do some things while I am still able to. Used to camp when my kids were younger, back when I was married...and now it's time to camp again, no matter the situation.
Have a great time! Just be aware of your surroundings, and keep an open mind and a safe eye!
I may not get to be fully solo... but more often than not, I am solo from when I leave the house to up to 24 hours at the campsite with 4 year old twin boys. We plan our trips where my DH can drop his Super B trailers and bobtail in his rig over to the campground. If I waited for him to get home, I would never get to go camping.
Things I do which make driving solo and setting up easier? Back up camera for the truck for hitching... turns a 10-15 minute ordeal into a 30 second with one GOAL instead of 1500.... I have bins in the trailer and bed of truck for specific things like a sewer bin, fresh water bin, toy bin (for kids ) and a set of walkie talkies. When I get to a site, I walk to the site and figure out the approach, and if there is anyone around who can assist me with backing up for spotting, I ask. I don't have a problem with backups, just like having the extra eyes in case something jumps out.
go slow and easy and I agree with keeping the pups at home for at least the first trip out. Great company, but still distractions. good luck and enjoy!
TV - 2007 Silverado Crew cab shortbox with 5.3l engine
TT - 2007 28BHS Passport
campers include me and my 4 year old twin boys and occasionally DH