If you’re wondering How To Pick The Best Camper For Your Family, you’ve arrived at the right place. Not only are there a ton of varieties of campers to choose from but if you don’t know what you’re looking for, it can be a very overwhelming process as well. Camping is one of those outdoor adventures that everyone needs to try at least once in their life. Being able to hit the open road in search of the perfect campsite is just what it’s all about. And even though you may not have ever camped before, it’s the perfect time to start planning on how to pick the best camper for your family.
This also doesn’t mean that tent camping isn’t wonderful…but there is something nice about being able to stay warm and dry in the confines of some sort of camper. Buying a camper isn’t an easy choice. There’s a good chance that you’re going to be paying a pretty penny for any type of camper you choose. And what that means for you is that you’re going to want to know a few things before making any sort of permanent decision. Here are a few of our favorite ways to pick the best camper for your family.
How To Pick The Best Camper For Your Family
Now that we’ve touched on a little bit about campers, let’s dive in on a few more specific details on how to pick the best camper for your family.
- Know your limits when it comes up upkeep and maintenance
Here’s the deal…even though campers are built well, they’re still being pulled down the highway at speeds of 70 MPH when traveling. And what this means is that, without a doubt, there are going to be signs of wear and tear. Getting a camper that is full of bells and whistles might look nice, but if you don’t have the money or knowledge to fix all the things that go wrong, it’s going to cause you more frustration in the end.
- Educate yourself on the weight limit that your current vehicle can tow
One of the biggest considerations you need to make when figuring out how to pick the best camper for your family is weight, Make certain that when you’re looking at campers, you find out the dry weight of the camper and how much it will weigh once it’s loaded down. Once you have those numbers, you’ll need to find out what the maximum weight is that your current vehicle can tow. Towing a camper isn’t hard but you don’t want to be near or over the tow limit on your car because that can be dangerous for everyone involved. And the last thing that you’re going to want to do is to have to buy a brand new truck that is strong enough to be able to pull the camper that you just bought…talk about busting your budget quickly.
- Know the difference between a pop-up camper or a hard-shelled camper
This is an important step in determining how to pick the best camper for your family. Depending on who you ask, the verdict is always split. Some people love having a pop-up camper because they’re light and easy to set up. Others will swear by having a camper that is always ready to go at the drop of a hat.
The pros of having a pop-up are the fact that they are small and can be pulled easily. The negatives are that the canvas can easily rip and when it rains, you have to make certain to let the canvas dry out, or else it will mold. On the other hand, hard-shelled campers have positives as well such as always being ready to go and are sturdier during heavy rains and storms. The negatives are that they are harder to tow and often are bigger than the camping spots are campgrounds.
While there isn’t a perfect camper for families, it’s up to you to decide how you want to spend your hard-earned money. And honestly, if you’re asking me, as long as you’re going camping, I think that any type of camper is going to be a win-win. Just make certain that you buy a camper is that is enough for your family, fits your budget and is easy for you to set up and tow. The rest of the details in regards to campers are small in comparison.
Before you decide what camper to buy, make certain that you make it a family affair. Get the whole family engaged in trying to pick the best camper for your family. Tour the campers, get a feel for them and how they work with your family and make the buying process fun. After all, you’re choosing a camper that you’re going to make wonderful family memories in!
- Look for used before brand new
Buying brand new is nice, but if you can find a use for half of the price, why wouldn’t you? Check with local dealerships, online or even with family and friends to see if they know of anything who is wanting to sell a camper. You’ll be amazed at the deals that you can get when you just put out the world that you’re interested in purchasing a camper.
- If you are going to buy new, wait until it’s prime time to shop
Camper shopping is really no different than buying any other big-ticket item…there are times of the year when campers are discounted more than others. Buying a camper during camping season is going to cost you because that is when they are in demand. Good months to look for campers are the end of September through the early part of March.
How long do campers last?
Lastly, on our list of ideas for how to pick the best camper for your family, you will want to consider the longevity of your purchase. This is also important to know when you’re purchasing a travel trailer camper or RV. The average timespan for a camper of any kind is going to be between 8-12 years. (You may be able to get longer out of it but you’ll want to be meticulous about the upkeep and maintenance.)
When you’re trying to choose the best camper for your family, you’re going to want to find one that will be able to grow with your family as your family gets bigger, too. Even though you and your spouse may not be growing anymore, your children definitely aren’t done! Don’t max out your budget on a travel trailer that is only going to last you a year or so. Find one that will last and is affordable.
If you loved learning how to pick the best camper for your family, be sure to pin this to your favorite vacation board on Pinterest so you can find it again. Post a photo of your vacation and tag us on social media @DadLifeLessons. We love seeing people use our tips!
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