Camping cot or other sleeping ideas?

[skeptic]

Much more costly, but I love my trailer! Room for 4, room to stand, mattresses to sleep on,.. although I would like to upgrade them a little...i think they're fine for most people, but my fat butt and bad back could use a little more comfort. Fully contained, and I cab haul all kinds of stuff on top of I want/need to.

This was actually my first thought. Depending on the model I could keep everything other than food/drinks ready to go. Just hook up, toss a few duffel bags on top if needed, and go. Having my SUV basically empty inside would make the dogs and boys more comfortable. Unfortunately this has a few drawbacks. First, it limits me to where I can camp and limits exploring while towing. Nothing I can't work around, but this last trip even though I eventually camped in a place I could have taken the trailer I did run into a few tight turn around spots that would have been extremely difficult with a trailer while looking for the best camp site. Second, I don't have a place to store a trailer. As it is, I have a 3 car garage and 5 vehicles. I suppose I could widen my driveway and cement the garage side of my house, but that's a lot of effort and expense just to have a place to park a trailer. Finally, the cost of the trailer itself. I'd like to think if I had a tent trailer I'd camp more than I already do but the reality is my work doesn't really allow for more than about 1 completely free, work phone off, weekend a month. If I could get out 3 or 4 times a month then sure, but when I'm only making 2-4 trips a year I just can't justify the expense.

If I had the money, space and time I'd love something like a 12' Jumping Jack trailer with a 4 person side-by-side on top. Heck, I'd even take a small toy hauler.

 

[CobraNutt]

This was actually my first thought. Depending on the model I could keep everything other than food/drinks ready to go. Just hook up, toss a few duffel bags on top if needed, and go...etc...etc...etc...

If I had the money, space and time I'd love something like a 12' Jumping Jack trailer with a 4 person side-by-side on top. Heck, I'd even take a small toy hauler.

All great points!! I read and re-read these two threads a million times before I pulled the trigger: "Is a Rooftop Tent (RTT) For Me?" and "Will An Off-Road Trailer Work For Me?". The trailer was a LOT more expensive, but it won out, which had a bit to do with my current rig as well ('04 Liberty) and the fact that it is a daily driver. I really didn't want the tent on top all the time. Yes, I've already gotten myself into a couple places that I shouldn't have been with my little 10" long X4, but I'm learning its (and my) limits, and having a blast doing it. I still believe this was the best option for me because I have a horrible back, and this still allows me to get and and be comfy without sleeping on the ground. And...It is really nice to be able to pack up, hook up and be on the road in less than 1/2 an hour!

That said...If I was younger, had a better back, and wasn't a fat-butt, I'd definitely be happy with a nice cot and a Spring-bar.

 

[DAA]

I'm old and have a really bad back too. But I routinely pack up my Springbar and cot etc. in under 1/2 hour. I'm not too sure how it would be possible to take more than 1/2 an hour to do it.

We have a travel trailer too - different beast than a small off-road or tent trailer, I know, but it takes me longer to get it loaded, hitched up and deal with all the bull crap associated with the tin turd tanker, and my back hates it a LOT more, than dealing with my tent outfit. It's kind of like I take everything I would on a tent trip, except the tent, but then add ten tons of bull crap that I wouldn't take on a tent trip. That's just me and my family and my take on trailer life so far though... Yeah, it's nice to leave everything in it, but it still takes more work to get it on the road than my tent outfit does.

Jumping Jack strikes me as the worst of both worlds. Seems like all the PITA of a trailer and all the PITA of a tent, combined. It reminds me of living with a girl without marrying her. You think you're getting all the benefit of being married without the commitment but what you really end up with is all the bull crap of being married without the security. Again, just my take and I am not hating by any means, whatever works for anyone else is fine-fine-fine by me! But, to haul a trailer AND setup a tent? Same tent you could just throw in the back of the truck and setup just as easy, but instead it's on top of a trailer you have to deal with. What, exactly, is the appeal?

- DAA

 

[Box Rocket]

If you need more information on RTTs let me know. I sell Tepui tents and you can take a look at a couple that I have if you'd like. I can get you a good deal on one.

 

[mesha]

A roof top tent is not that much different than tent camping. It is the same as sleeping on a foam pad on the ground, IMO. I loved my RTT. I will probably buy another, but it is not anymore comfortable than sleeping on the ground.

I don't like cots, but many people love them. I know a lot of people that swear they are the best. I have slept in them and never felt like they were better than a pad on the ground. The cot is nice to sit on while putting on your boots etc. It gives you some storage underneath too.

The quality of the pad makes a big difference. The thermarest dreamtime is my all-time favorite pad and I have tried most of them. I also really like my exped pad. I have been taking my exped car camping this summer just to save on space and I loved it.

Maybe I need to give the cot thing another try.

 

[jeeper]

I have kind of thought about a jumping jack vs RTT also. The appeal about the JJ to me is that the whole family can fit, and it is standing room inside. But then it reality (and price) hits.. then a spring bar is just as appealing.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

A roof top tent is not that much different than tent camping. It is the same as sleeping on a foam pad on the ground, IMO. I loved my RTT. I will probably buy another, but it is not anymore comfortable than sleeping on the ground.

I don't like cots, but many people love them. I know a lot of people that swear they are the best. I have slept in them and never felt like they were better than a pad on the ground. The cot is nice to sit on while putting on your boots etc. It gives you some storage underneath too.

The quality of the pad makes a big difference. The thermarest dreamtime is my all-time favorite pad and I have tried most of them. I also really like my exped pad. I have been taking my exped car camping this summer just to save on space and I loved it.

Maybe I need to give the cot thing another try.

We have a pair of the Dreamtime XL pads and will never use anything else, the 2 inch air pad combined with the 1 inch memory foam is just amazing after a long day of hiking and fishing or bouncing around on a trail in the Jeep. We have used them in a regular tent on the ground, in our springbar with a cot, and in our off road tent trailer. So far we have about 70 nights on them and still feel like new, and if there are ever any issues we can get them repaired or replaced for free. Only downside is they no longer make the same version of the ones we have.

 

[Kevin B.]

I'm old and have a really bad back too. But I routinely pack up my Springbar and cot etc. in under 1/2 hour. I'm not too sure how it would be possible to take more than 1/2 an hour to do it.

We have a travel trailer too - different beast than a small off-road or tent trailer, I know, but it takes me longer to get it loaded, hitched up and deal with all the bull crap associated with the tin turd tanker, and my back hates it a LOT more, than dealing with my tent outfit. It's kind of like I take everything I would on a tent trip, except the tent, but then add ten tons of bull crap that I wouldn't take on a tent trip. That's just me and my family and my take on trailer life so far though... Yeah, it's nice to leave everything in it, but it still takes more work to get it on the road than my tent outfit does.

Jumping Jack strikes me as the worst of both worlds. Seems like all the PITA of a trailer and all the PITA of a tent, combined. It reminds me of living with a girl without marrying her. You think you're getting all the benefit of being married without the commitment but what you really end up with is all the bull crap of being married without the security. Again, just my take and I am not hating by any means, whatever works for anyone else is fine-fine-fine by me! But, to haul a trailer AND setup a tent? Same tent you could just throw in the back of the truck and setup just as easy, but instead it's on top of a trailer you have to deal with. What, exactly, is the appeal?

- DAA

See, you need to stop making sense. You're ruining my dreams.

I have a little tiny tent trailer thing similar to a jumping jack, but much older. I like that it's a sturdier shelter than a nylon tent, and I really like the additional storage the trailer brings when I've got the family packed into one of the little 4Runners. I'd love to trade up to a modern jumping jack in a couple years. But you're right, the tent doesn't have to be part of the trailer I suppose.

How often do you Springbar guys find yourselves in a place where you can't drive stakes?

 

[jeep-N-montero]

This was actually my first thought. Depending on the model I could keep everything other than food/drinks ready to go. Just hook up, toss a few duffel bags on top if needed, and go. Having my SUV basically empty inside would make the dogs and boys more comfortable. Unfortunately this has a few drawbacks. First, it limits me to where I can camp and limits exploring while towing. Nothing I can't work around, but this last trip even though I eventually camped in a place I could have taken the trailer I did run into a few tight turn around spots that would have been extremely difficult with a trailer while looking for the best camp site. Second, I don't have a place to store a trailer. As it is, I have a 3 car garage and 5 vehicles. I suppose I could widen my driveway and cement the garage side of my house, but that's a lot of effort and expense just to have a place to park a trailer. Finally, the cost of the trailer itself. I'd like to think if I had a tent trailer I'd camp more than I already do but the reality is my work doesn't really allow for more than about 1 completely free, work phone off, weekend a month. If I could get out 3 or 4 times a month then sure, but when I'm only making 2-4 trips a year I just can't justify the expense.

If I had the money, space and time I'd love something like a 12' Jumping Jack trailer with a 4 person side-by-side on top. Heck, I'd even take a small toy hauler.

Or you could build something like this that goes anywhere http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...arted-another-project-Apache-Raven-revision-2

 

[DAA]

How often do you Springbar guys find yourselves in a place where you can't drive stakes?

Not very often, but it has happened. So, if I think there's a chance that I won't be able to find enough soil to hold a tent stake, I take a free standing tent. Of course, every time I take the free standing tent (a Mountain Hardwear), it ends up the Springbar would have been no problem.

But, yeah, it's happened to me before (I just slept on my cot without a tent when it did).

- DAA

 

[DAA]

Oh, forgot to add, for a few trips, I've taken a cordless drill with a masonry bit and made holes in sandstone for tent stakes. Not very enviro friendly though, I don't do that anymore. It worked like super great though .

- DAA

 

[skeptic]

When I threw out the Jumping Jack idea it was because it's not only a tent trailer, but also an ATV/UTV trailer at the same time. You know, if I had money to burn and the time to use them. Why I also threw out the toy hauler bit (if I had even more money to burn). I don't have nor do I plan to buy an ATV or UTV, so if I were really going to buy a tent trailer I'd be searching for a more traditional used trailer, something more like a small Livin Lite Quicksilver or Bearcat.

My 8 or so year plan (when my youngest is 18 and out of high school) is to move to Oregon and buy a few wooded acres just out of town (not sure which town yet, probably Salem area). Dropping thousands or tens of thousands on wilderness toys would be counter productive.

That's not to say I wouldn't pick up a trailer if a screaming deal came along. Hopefully within the next year one of my vehicles will be in Oregon at my father's farm, and my 15 year old will get his license and be driving another. I guess you could say I'm wishy-washy on this. I really believe a cot, and probably a roof rack, would address all my current issues, but I also think a tent trailer would be even better other than the much higher cost.

Here is a request for Keven B. and others - post pics of your small tent trailers.

 

[frieed]

Dreamtime mattress(or similar) on a cot gets my vote..

 

[CobraNutt]

I hear ya Dave (DAA)...trailers certainly not for everyone. It works for me what I use it for. I like the fact that it's always ready to go, I can haul whatever on top of it if i want to (My kayak resides on it at the moment). I keep a bin in my jeep at all times that has all my basic camp gear, so all i need to pack is food. That probably takes up 20 of the 30 minutes i spoke of earlier. There are definitely pros and cons, but for me it just works and beats sleeping on the ground in a smaller tent. For me, it's an affordable compromise between a really nice tent, bedding, table add a full blown camp trailer complete with a kitchen and queen mattress. I'd love a Moby 1, but they are 4-5 times more expensive than my X4.

 

[Caleb]

Not considering the shelter (clearly everyone has their preference on that, and it's a completely different discussion ) I've used a cot and pad for years and if I hand't gotten married, would still be using it today. I think what DAA said pretty much sums them up, I used a collapsible one but it was always a PITA to setup. Once setup it was fantastic and worth the hassle of setting it up...I eventually got pretty good at it too. My favorite sleeping arrangement was on a cot with a pad under the stars. I'd sleep like that in any weather besides if it's raining or snowing (didn't want to deal with a wet bag).

 

[Kevin B.]

Here is a request for Keven B. and others - post pics of your small tent trailers.

All I have right now is posted on page one of this thread - http://www.rme4x4.com/showthread.php?104769-Uintahs-camping-expedition

 

[CobraNutt]

Here is a request for Keven B. and others - post pics of your small tent trailers.

 

[skeptic]

Cobra - is that a Jumping Jack? I'm no good at identifying tent trailers on sight.

Ok, so clearly the wife and I are not exactly on the same page. Last night just for kicks I was browsing craigslist just to see what's out there for what price. She happened to look over when I had a Coleman tent trailer pulled up and said that's perfect, exactly what she was thinking of. When I told her it was $3,500 for a used 10 year old model she said we can buy one next summer. When I asked where we would keep one she gave me the look and told me I could get rid of a couple cars in "that" voice. You guys know what I'm talking about.

I still want to just go with cots in our existing tent, but I may be overruled and buy a tent trailer to keep the wife happy.

 

[jeeper]

If you are going to buy a trailer, buy it in January. Prices are waaaay lower on summer stuff in the dead if winter.
Buy your snowmobiles in June

 

[DAA]

...but I may be overruled and buy a tent trailer to keep the wife happy.

Most of us are familiar with that concept... I wouldn't own a travel trailer if it weren't for the women, both wife and daughter. Glad it worked out that way though, we all have fun using it. It was a solid family move and no regrets. Completely different world than what I'm accustomed to though.

- DAA