FAMILY CAMPING

By Byron Hutchins

Family Camping today is the "In" vacation for millions of Americans. More than one million Americans "camp-out" every night of the camping season. In Illinois, over 275,000 families are now camping.

Millions of lawyers, ministers, teachers, librarians, farmers and almost any profession you can think of, plus all the small-frys and teenagers in their families have for the first time discovered the magic of a campfire, the mystery of the woods at night and the real meaning of RE-creation.

Maybe you're an old timer that remembers how camping used to be. Dad would load a tent and camping gear, mom and the kids in the family car, and head for the campground. After a trip or two of sleeping on the ground, fighting bugs, trying to fix meals over a fire that kept going out, and a couple of rainy days, mom decided to forget it. Dad was left by himself. It was anything but a family affair.

What has brought about this new popularity? American ingenuity. We now have overcome the inconveniences with travel trailers, camping trailers, pick-up campers, and motorized homes. We have private and public campgrounds with flush toilets and showers, electricity and dumping stations.

Even our tents are lighter and easier to erect with water-proof floors and zippered flaps. And there are modern stoves, lanterns, coolers, heaters, air mattresses, folding cots, sleeping bags and insect repellents. Now mom can take along conveniences that are as good or better than she must leave at home.

Part of the magic of travel camping is that each trip you make is your own. You can't duplicate anything but someone else's itinerary. The rest of the adventure, the people you'll meet, the places you'll stay, will never be the same twice.

Let's look at the different kinds of equipment now used in camping. Tents are the oldest shelters we have and there were still one million tents sold this year. Tents, properly taken care of, can last 25 years—longer than many expensive rigs. A major trend is underway in family tents.

Years ago the umbrella tent with a center pole was the most popular. Now the cabin or cottage tent, with external frames, is gaining in use due to its roominess and ease of erection. There are also pop tents, adventurers tents, and pup tents.

You should allow 27 square feet per person. A 9' by 12' umbrella tent is large enough for 4 people. An estimate of the cost for getting started in tent camping is from $150 to $317, depending on the equipment selected.

Perhaps you've decided that tent camping isn't for you. You prefer a camping trailer, pick-up camper, travel trailer or a motor home. There are over 3 million recreation vehicles in use.

The camping trailer puts your tent and camping gear on wheels. It is also called a tent trailer or "Rag Top." You can rent a camping trailer for around $75 a week or you can buy your own in a cost range of $500 up to $2,000. The lower-priced trailers sleep four but the larger trailers can accommodate eight people.

Tent camping showing the umbrella style (right) and the external frame font (left).

Camping trailers have a low profile so that it tracks smoothly behind a standard or compact car with a simple hitch. The hitch weight is rarely more than 75 pounds so the car rides on an even keel.

The folded top occupies only about 25% of the space in the trailer box. The rest is used for storing camping gear instead of overloading the car and crowding the passengers. The gear can be left in the trailer between trips, eliminating loading and unloading and making possible a quick getaway for weekend trips. You don't have to be an expert at backing a trailer as you can maneuver most models by hand.

The most popular vehicle is the travel trailer. Many owners are graduates of the tent and camping trailer group that have proven to themselves that camping is their cup of tea.

They range from the compact 12 foot model up to 35 footers and the cost can jump from $700 up to $15,000. Rental fees will range from $85 a week for the compact units to $200 for the larger, self-contained models.

Anyone who can drive a car can handle a travel trailer. The severest storm finds the camper safe and dry. Getting meals is as easy as at home. The 16-foot model is probably the most popular size. It will sleep four to six persons.

The best way to decide on which kind to buy is to talk with experienced friends and a reliable dealer. Every camper will respond when asked "How do you like your rig?"

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The self contained trailer has complete cooking facilities, lights, refrigerator, and toilet, with a hot water shower. It carries its own LP gas in tanks that supply fuel for cooking, heating, and refrigeration.

The only factor to contend with is an occasional stop at a sanitary station to dispose of wastes and replenish the water supply. The luxuries you may want depend on your bank balance or your credit rating, but too many conveniences crowd out your outdoor experience that you were seeking in the first place.

Since the hitch weight of a trailer is equal to about 10% of its own weight, a 1500-pound trailer will exert a hitch weight of 150 pounds. An equalizer hitch is necssary to level both vehicles to a more even keel. The correct hitch should be determined by your dealer.

One suggestion for new owners is to borrow the parking lot of your nearby supermarket on a Sunday afternoon to practice backing your unit. The painted parking spaces make ideal targets.

A new recreational vehicle that's getting much attention is the fifth wheel trailer. It is usually towed by a pickup truck and the fifth wheel hitch is mounted in the bed of the truck. Hitching and unhitching is simple. The upper level bedroom area is ideal for small children.

The advantage for this vehicle is the ease of towing. Like a semitrailer, you can maneuver the trailer without fear of jack-knifing or side-sway and it has a 90-degree turning capacity.

Another popular vehicle is the truck camper or pick-up camper. Sportsmen like them because they permit travel into remote areas. The most popular is the 10 1/2 foot slide-in model that fits most 1/2 ton pickups. When not in use, it can be easily parked with special jacks.

Larger models, 11 to 18 feet in length, which weigh 1,000 pounds or more, require a 3/4 ton or larger truck. In fact, many campers find the 3/4 ton truck desireable for carrying even the 10 1/2-foot slide-in campers and larger units.

The truck with accessories will cost from $3,500 to $4,000 and the 10 1/2-foot camper will cost $2,250 to $2,550 fully equipped. The high resale value takes some of the edge off an outfit that costs as much as a luxury Cadillac automobile.

A cab-to-camper passageway is a good investment but adds another $300 to the cost. The 10 1/2-foot slide-in camper should be 7' 6" wide.

It comes with only a range, icebox, 16-gallon water tank and water pump, and 5-gallon propane bottle. A toilet, shower, hot water, gas-electric refrigerator and furnace are extras.

A unit to haul on your own truck will rent for about $85 a week, depending upon the facilities included. Both truck and camper units can be rented at a fee from $90-$135 a week plus a flat rate per mile travelled.

There are a few disadvantages to consider. When you go into town, you have to take your entire rig. Then if you use your pick-up for other things, it takes 15 to 20 minutes to demount the camper. It isn't well suited for couples with children although some brands have a sky-view seat in the overhang over the cab where they could ride.

Now let's look at another type of travel vehicle—the motor home. It has the fastest get-ready time of any recreational vehicle—just get in and drive away.

The travellers can talk, eat, sleep and move about as the miles roll by. Most owners don't think much about the cost to own and operate because they don't want anything to detract from their enjoyment.

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FAMILY CAMPING . . .

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Most of us would need to share a 5-year mortgage with our banker, since this is the present time limit allowed on a motor home loan. The range in coaches is $6,000 to $20,000 and $3,000 in additional equipment is usually needed.

The economy in owning a coach must come from constant travelling. By using one 11 months out of the year, and comparing the cost against motel and restaurant charges, you may find you can rationalize yourself into finding the down payment.

A typical 27-foot motor home costs $13,750. In comparing the cost versus staying in a motel and eating in restaurants, overnight accommodations would be 87% less, food costs 50% less but gasoline would be 33% more. Operating costs in the 27-footer averages 6 cents per mile. Depreciation is figured at 10 cents per mile. The rental rate for a motor home will range from $250-$285 per week plus 10c a mile.

Another entry into the recreation vehicle field is the family camping wagon, converting from a Volkswagon station wagon. The car plus the conversion kit costs from $3,700-up.

The roof is raised with an expandable top for an upstairs bedroom for 2 adults. The rear seats convert into a full-size bed for 2 more adults. Two children can sleep in a bed mattress on the swing-down back seat. For more people, a 10 x 10 guest tent can be attached to the sliding side door.

There isn't room for much equipment but a two-burner gas stove, icebox and sink are included in the unit.

Dodge, Chevrolet and Ford vans can also be converted into midget motor homes. Brochures and prices are available from your truck dealer.

Now you're ready to take to the road. Where are you going? One of the most interesting winter pastimes is planning your summer vacation. Every state has much information which can be obtained by dropping a postcard to the appropriate address.

You may decide to stay at public or private campgrounds. There are many interesting state and national parks where camping is allowed for a small fee.

Private campgrounds are apt to have modern toilets and showers and other conveniences at a cost of $3.00 or so a night. There are still out-of-the-way places where you can pitch a tent or park a pickup camper without charge but you must accept the fact that fees are necessary if you expect any facilities.

Travel trailer is self-contained for more efficient operation.

What does it cost for a camping vacation? You can have a wonderful time as a family of 4 on $20 a day. Eating at restaurants and staying at motels would be closer to $50 a day for your family.

The $20 would be divided into $8-$10 for food, $4-$6 for souvenirs and park amusement fees, $1-$2 camp fee, $4 for gasoline for an economy car. This is not exact for each day but will average out over a vacation period of a week or two.

For a book on camping, Bill Riviere is one of the best-known authors. For a camping magazine, Better Camping, is one of the best. The magazine is published at Woodhall Publishing Co., 500 Hyacinth Place, Highland Park, Ill. 60035.

Directories of campgrounds are available from any bookstore or sports center. Woodall's and Rand McNally are two of the better known publishers.

If you would like to join an organization, the largest is the National Campers and Hikers Association.

A new trend that is developing is the leasing of a campsite at a privately operated campground for the season. Seasonal rates vary from $125 to $300, depending upon the campground and the facilities they offer.

"Rag Top" or tent trailer is also called pop up camper.

This is popular with camping families that don't care to travel but like a place near home where they can spend weekends. Many long-lasting friendships have started with other families who prefer to camp at one site all year.

Some developments sell campsites and offer many recreational opportunities with a private-club atmosphere. A permanent campsite location with some camping families. The cost is usually from $3,000 to $5,000.

AND, SO

The group campfire, the comparing of rigs, the making of new friends, the exchange of camping tips, are all part of the adventure. But you'll also remember your children as they excitedly try to catch a bullfrog, the smell of coffee and pine drifting across your campsite and the drive home in the family car on Sunday night with children asleep in the back seat exhausted from their invigorating outdoor week-end.

Family camping adds new vigor to family life. It also puts you in contact with other people of different creeds and races, which brings about understanding and tolerance. You can't ask much more of any human activity.

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