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can tent camp, but the negatives to that are too numer-
ous to list. So, to launch a trailer-camping hobby, one
would think it’s easy, right? After all, you just pick out a
nice trailer that appeals to you, then buy it and go. Right?
Nope, there are decisions to make before you get to that
point. What size trailer? Do you want people to go with
you, and sleep in your camper with you? Or, are you
like us? We don’t want people sleeping in our trailer.
Let me put it this way, try getting up in the middle of the
night, then make your way to the bathroom, stepping
over people on the way, tripping over everyone, who
hears everything you’re doing ... . NO, thanks. We want
our privacy. So for us, the original choice was a smaller
camper, about 23 feet.
But, really, the first decision should be -- what are you
going to pull it with? Are you planning on using an exist-
ing vehicle, one you already own, or do you need to buy
a truck? It all depends on the weight of the trailer. Now,
here’s a fun question, do you want a bumper-pull, a fifth
wheel or gooseneck?
Sounds too complicated. Ha! Welcome to the world
of towing a camper. I originally bought a bumper-pull.
I already had a half-ton pickup and it met the weight
requirements, so I thought I was golden. However, after
wrestling with the hitch apparatus a couple of times, I
found out I would rather bungee jump off the Empire
State Building than hook that thing up. The hitch yoke
and stabilizing bars probably weighed in excess of 80
pounds. I’m not sure which was more expensive, camp-
ing or my back doctor.
Now the fifth wheel or gooseneck is an option; they
hook up to the hitch that you have had installed in the
bed of your truck. But, there is a drawback here. They
are usually heavier trailers, and you will probably need a
3/4 ton truck. More money — 3/4 trucks are more expen-
sive and extremely popular. Give this all some serious
thought. What suits you best?
Next, the most fun aspect of trailer camping is pull-
ing the trailer. Actually, pulling is not so bad, just make
sure you understand how the trailer brakes work, and that
you have your hitch connected correctly. I still can’t help
thinking of what would happen if I forgot something in
that process, and I forget everything, so I need backup.
Speaking of backup, here is the most fun you can
have in the whole RV experience — backing your trailer
into the camp spot you have selected. First a tip: try to
scope out the campgrounds and look at the spots, write
down the numbers of ones you like, figure out which way
to approach backing into the site. It is just priceless when
you try backing your rig into the site the first time, and
of course everyone’s watching you. Usually your wife
is trying to help guide you in, and you literally wear out
your transmission pulling forward to straighten up and
trying the approach again, back and forth, back and forth.
It can be stressful, so practice somewhere far away from
people. Maybe a Denny’s parking lot.
Water conservation and holding tanks — this is a
pivotal subject. How much water (and the world of
camping has great names for water: drinking water,
grey water and black water) can your camper tolerate? I
refuse to define it here, but suffice it to say, the camper
only holds so much for sink water, bathroom use, etc.
… So water conservation becomes important. You never
let the faucet in the kitchen or bathroom run like you
would at home. Only use your bathroom for #1. Wash
dishes outside; usually your camper will have an outside
hose. You will also have a cute little display to let you
know the status of your tanks; live with it! The main point
I’m getting to is you and your camping companions must
be OK with using the facilities at the campgrounds —
bathrooms, showers. And this means that if you must use
the bathroom in the middle of the night for something
other than #1, you must trudge down to the bathroom
buil