Great video! I am a T@B owner and spent this past summer season in an RV park. I loved it! The amenities were awesome and I met and made some lifetime friendships. RVers by in large are fabulous, friendly, helpful people. No life like it!
They’re great!! Really well built and easy to tow. If however you don’t like attention, best to avoid a T@B. It is incredible the number of people that want to see the inside and are surprised at how well equipped they are for such a small rig. I love mine!
I agree about RVers being a generally kind and helpful demographic. Even though I don't have an RV at this time, whenever we're in our "big town" for stuff like medical appointments, and have to stay overnight (it's a 2 hour drive with kids to those 8am appointments sometimes), we stay in a cabin in an RV park nearby. It's comparable to a hotel room in amenities, but there's privacy, the distance from my vehicle to the "room" is short enough where I can confidently unload my vehicle without worrying about my small children wandering off from a hotel room, and there are a lot of adults who will keep a bit of an eye on the kids if they are playing outside. I was just looking at cost for a weekend trip, and hotels are $160-200 a night, the cabin at the RV park I have a punch card to is $130 for the night. Having a decently equipped kitchen (with complimentary coffee!) and a bathroom is nice, too. I feel similarly safe traveling with kids if I have to stay at "trucker motels". It's not luxury accommodations, but it's clean and safe, and most truckers do have families and kids or grandkids, so they've got the same kind, helpful, even protective vibe when they see a mother with a gaggle of kids in tow.
Hi Alan here from South Australia after suffering a major work accident two years ago I was house bound for near 2yrs but thanks to your vlogs it made it better and gave me a dream of getting my own tear drop and made me not give up on my rehab and dream of traveling again so yesterday I put my deposit on a little guy camper made here in Oz just want to say thanks and to let you know how much your vlogs can make a change x Alan
Wow, we are really touched by this comment Alan. That is so neat to hear you were able to push through. And on top of that you have a new teardrop coming your way. How amazing is that! After you get some miles under your belt with that teardrop we may have to pop down to Australia to film your setup. Sounds like a good excuse for us to see your beautiful country. May and I often said if the world returns to slight normalcy it would be fun to make an Australian series. Again, thank you so much for the feedback. It makes all this so worth it!
Our favorite thing to do is spend a few nights out boon docking and then stay at an RV park for the last few nights. Our teardrop has a sink and is plumbed for water and electric hookups, and at the end of a trip it’s always nice to plug into those necessities. Not to mention getting a warm shower and doing a load of laundry. However, like it’s been mentioned, doing your homework and researching RV parks nearby is a must. Depending on where you are, some can be pricey so I like to make sure I’m at least getting hot showers, laundry and flush toilets. We’re boon docking at Yellowstone this summer for 3 nights and then staying in an RV park at Tetons for the tail end of the trip. The RV park has a heated pool and a great restaurant on top of the standard hookups. We’re so excited!!
Completely agree! When my family was young, we would tent camp at a RV park at the coast. They put the tents by the restrooms and pool. Super convenient! Also there was grass, so the sand was not as much of a problem. Made my family much more comfy. Thanks for the video!
Glad to hear you can relate. A few of our last comments said that isn't the case everywhere. That is a bit of a bummer, because for us it has been a real blessing when the option to camp there was needed.
Looks like we have some catching up to do on your channel. You have worked really hard putting out all those videos. Somehow we didn't realize you had so many teardrop build videos. Hopefully more folks on here get the chance to check out your channel!
I use RV parks in the summer. I have a dog house AC for my teardrop and having AC makes it easier than a Gen. I know what you are saying about the attention Teardrops get. I haven't been to a park yet where at least 10 people want a tour. I built mine my self and it looks commercial so it draws attention.I like meeting people and with a Teardrop I have met hundreds of people I would not meet when I had a pop up.
@@PlayingwithSticks I will have to figure out how to post pics on comments.I have pics on my I phone but not on the computer. As soon as I figure out how to move things I will post.
We’ve almost always enjoyed our stays at RV parks. The hot showers, the electric, WiFi, & water hook-ups, and the close proximity to all that a town has to offer are major advantages. We’ve met some really wonderful RV Park hosts, as well. Armed with local knowledge, they can really help you find what you need in the town. Happy Camping!
We second that. And at least in Alaska, I find that small campers are kind of a novelty in an RV park. Because of that, we get to meet people so quickly when they stop by to see the trailer. Another thing I didn’t mention in the video was that these people tend to hold so much knowledge regarding things to do in the area. Many of them have stayed in these parks for multiple seasons. So they’re almost like a local in terms of knowledge.
Kinda of obsessed with your channel. My wife and I enjoyed several episodes last night. Besides the great info, we enjoyed you family... your bride is so gentle and beautiful and you little guy is so adorable! In another note, we discovered your channel literally the same day we talk about visiting Alaska someday. Your videos highlight the beauty of the places majestically!
Dude you guys are living the life. Glad I found your videos. I just put my deposit down on a teardrop and should be ready within the month. I am pumped to take it out with my wife and make some amazing memories. You have some great knowledge and cool shots. Jealous you live in Alaska. Be safe out there.
Thanks Mathew! You will be living the life soon as well. To us the teardrop was an instant ticket to freedom. Your gear is always loaded ready to go. We find ourselves getting outdoors much more often then when we dragged around the tent setup. We are having our 2nd child in about a month and are sad to be outgrowing our teardrop. We still plan to have a teardrop in our life, but we are thinking a bit wider or at least room for a rooftop tent this round. Safe travels out there Mathew!
Since my youngest was born we have been going to KOAs at first renting their cabin or staying in a tent and now upgraded to an rv. I love rv campgrounds they have playgrounds, swimming pools, put put, giant jumping pillow, horseshoes, giant chess, basketball and volleyball, weekends they have movie night out on the big grass area, free arts and craft times, this is just some of the fun stuff. Not to mention great bathrooms with hot showers. I have always had great experiences at rv campgrounds! One thing I always do is have my kid and even pass out to other kids at camp glow stick bracelets and necklaces, just so that its easy to see them if its getting a little dark :) Oh the other thing I love is if you see a trailer that looks amazing or something that catches your eye, you can ask the people about it, I have been invited inside to look at some amazing trailers and this gives me ideas on what to do to improve my current rv situation or for buying my next one, also if you have any problems with your rv, people are more than happy to help you figure out what is wrong and figure it out (had problems a few times) people helped us with finding the pilot light and getting things set up since we were new to the rv life. :)
Makes us just want to go find a KOA! 5 years ago this wouldn't have sounded as amazing as it does today. With our growing family this would be a fun little break from our off-grid camping. And the SHOWERS, oh the SHOWERS! That sounds really nice.
We travel to (and from) National Parks. One thing we found is that at campsites (tent only, or no hook-ups) the restrooms and showers are in heavy demand, everyone uses them, but at an RV site so many of the rigs have bathrooms and showers the public washrooms get very light use. In no hook-up sites many RV's run generators but in RV sites with full hook-ups peace and quite - no generators.
That is a good tip. We didn't even think of that one. But, we have noticed we don't stand in line for a shower. And after a few weeks man does a shower feel good! And the generator noise, we didn't think of that either. Tom, we should have consulted you before making this episode. Truly we appreciate these comments.
Thanks for sharing your experiences staying at RV parks. A lot of people have mistaken preconceptions about what it can be like. HOWEVER, the experience in MANY of the RV parks in the lower 48 can be radically different that what you experienced. First, some RV parks will not allow any recreational vehicle that does not have its own on-board toilet. Second, some RV parks have age restrictions on your vehicle. That's right, regardless of how well you have maintained your rig, they won't allow it if it is too old. Third, many RV parks do have separate dumping fees. Fourth, some RV parks are very expensive. My guess is that your experiences may be more prevalent in Alaska but less so in the rest of the US. It pays to do your research and find out the specifics of whatever place you want to stay. I think people should consider RV parks, but they need to know that they are not all the same.
Thank you for this information. Also a bummer to hear as well. We were hoping the same experiences we have been having would transfer over to the lower 48. Great advice about the research. We have received comments on here from other travelers who have had similar experiences to us in the lower 48. However, now we know that is probably because they spent the time researching before selecting an RV park. Thanks again for this useful information. The folks watching this video will really appreciate the insight.
QuietStorm, Everything you said was exactly what I was thinking as I watched this video. In the lower 48 it's definitely different. I'll be 70 soon but I still prefer to take my Jeep into to the more remote areas. That may have to change as I age, but right now the RV Park does not appeal to me.
I'm winter camping in my Class C in NC and just across from me in another woodsy site at this lovely rustic campground is a cute "Little Guy Max" teardrop trailer. I'm in love with its size and shape. I may downsize eventually.
We think there is a time and place for both styles of campers. If you have the space why not have a class c and a teardrop trailer? We do notice though that we are out much more than our neighbors who have the larger motor homes. I think the smaller your rig is, often times the more often you use it on a whim.
I just got home from a 2 week camping trip. First I got to say I stayed at KOA campgrounds. I went to first one for 5 nights and it was around &60 a night which is a little high but it was a holiday weekend. Then I drove to northern Michigan and stayed at another KOA for around $50 a night. I bought the KOA rewards package for $36 a year but on this 2 weeks it save me around $70 for my 10% off for each night. And the reason was because KOA campgrounds has nice clean showers and bathrooms. They are close to highways and depending what one’s you go to you can hear the highway noice when outside of your teardrop. Now when I was in Michigan for 7 days I seen a Aliner there for a couple days and I Nucamp tab 320 was there for a couple nights and then a Nucamp tab 400 came in and was still there when I left. KOA campgrounds are a little pricey but there is a lot of activities there at each one of them plus some have free cable and they all have free wi-fi. So to me in my tag xl it’s worth a couple extra dollars a night for the nice bathrooms and showers. I am prepared for boondocking tho.
Some people do give RV parks a hard time. We prefer to boondock or camp in national parks, but some RV parks we've been to have been amazing! They are even better in a teardrop. Some RV park owners and employees don't know what to think or do about our tiny trailer, so they just stick us in the tent area. This is great since it's usually more shaded and private and we still get to use their amenities. One KOA in Montana had the most amazing pool, sheltered dishwashing and cooking stations, a great nature trail, and a bathhouse that was also a greenhouse full of plants. We would go back there for a destination!
We were surprised when we made this video to see all the positive comments about RV parks and teardrops. Like you mentioned we have heard quite a few people on the road say they avoid them like the plague. But now, we can tell them we really believe it depends on which one you go to. The community aspect for us is what sold us. We will probably intentional do an rv park every now and then, where as before we only said we would do it if there was nowhere else available to camp.
We sometimes stay in RV parks (called tourist parks here) and they typically offer cabins, Surfari tents, RV sites and tent sites. As you mentioned, TD’s are a grey area so we generally get allocated a powered tent site (with water!). We generally don’t connect (nothing to connect it to haha!) but the amenities are sure worth it. Especially the hot showers! I guess it’s a kind of glamping - when you need an easy weekend and don’t have time for all the prep. We keep ours good to go with only some food in a small Esky needing packing. Get home from work on a Friday and go go go! Brilliant 😎🇦🇺 and yes. People love these TD’s. Great conversation starter 😄
You nailed it when you said an "easy weekend." The biggest change for us going form tent camping to TD camping was the ease of having everything packed and ready to go. We used to camp a lot, but we camp even more now that there is less to tear down and put up each weekend. Glad to here you are enjoying some of the benefits of tourist parks as well Dan! There is nothing wrong with glamping! You are still getting away from the hustle and bustle, but enjoying some of the creature comforts we have come to rely on in this day and age.
I have a teardrop and agree with everything you're saying. I like being out in nature, but being able to access local amenities is just as good depending on the destination.
Its cool to hear we aren't the only ones who enjoy a bit of both worlds. When we posted the video we were excited to offer a different perspective on Teardrop/RV camping.
Camping in a Teardrop is great. They are small enough to park just about anywhere, easy to maintain and you still feel like you are actually camping. Getting a teardrop was a major step in the right direction from sleeping in a tent.
We agree! We are big fans of camping and really that is what teardropping continues to allow us to do. But, with all the benefits of hard sides and a comfy warm bed.
Lovey video, I have lived in a teardrop since 93, One thing i like about a teardrop over a traditional RV or van is my tow vehicle is normal size when i need to do normal things like visit friends or weddings I can fit in. Hope that makes sense. Salamat.
You have lived full time in a teardrop since 1993? We really appreciate having our little 4 cylinder as well. Your car comment definitely makes sense. Well, we don't know any Hindi but we remember a little Bahasa Indonesian- Salamat Sore!
@@PlayingwithSticks salamat is tagalo, your partner looked slightly Pinay to me. I am A over the road trucker so full time may not be completely honest, As some say Im houseless not homeless .
That totally makes sense. We get that from a lot of people. Up here most people think she is Korean or Japanese. She is actually Hmong. I would call your setup practically full time, at least when you aren't professionally driving. I love how you use the term houseless. Sounds like an adventurous life.
Thanks for the sweet comment. If you check the comments on this video you will see everyone who responded had the same experience. Who knew RV parks were awesome?!?!
The best way to communicate to your child that you love him is to feed him when he is hungry and to give him structure (sleep, discipline ) I think that you cover his needs in a timely manner , he will grow up to be a fine young men. About picky eaters; kids won teat when they are not hungry and parents then will give them treats and it re enforces a bad habit. Keep fresh veggies on hand when he is older, they dont mess up the car and he will get his nutrition while you are driving. Beautifull kiddo and video by the way. Many years from now you will look in wonder at these beautifull stories. Great memories! Take care
Thanks for all this great advice. Love the idea of fresh veggies on hand when traveling, especially the part about not messing up the car. These family adventures have been very memorable. I can't how fun it will be to look back on all these travels!
I specifically bought the model I purchased because a self contained unit gives me a chance to stay for a month at a time at a monthly rate. Sometimes I want to travel and boondock, sometimes I want to chill and enjoy the amenities near family.
I want something fully self-contained and a little bit roomy that I can park, and have a vehicle to drive around in. I absolutely loved my 24-ft travel trailer. I wish I still had it, and I hope to get another one soon, if I can find an older one. I don't like the modern ones!
We've been retired for over 12 years and have traveled well over 100,000 miles in that time. We started with a tent on the back of our truck, then a topper shell with a walk thru door, then went full out and bought a T@B. Then to a single axle 3500 lb travel trailer and then to a 6,000 lb dual axle slide out travel trailer. Unfortunately we discovered that all of these products built in the midwest were plagued by quality control issues and we had major issues and failures that discouraged us from the lifestyle. We went back to camping out of the back of the truck with the topper. Eventually we chose a small Runaway Range Runner, a 6x8 air conditioned box similar to your teardrop in size but we built the entire interior ourselves. That being the case, it was 100% reliable and more comfortable than any of our factory built units. But we still had to cook outdoors and still had one big adventure on our bucket list (Canada) so we looked into a the feasibility of a slide in truck camper. We are now on our fourth truck camper. We have a minimalist truck camper now (after downsizing) hardly bigger than your teardrop. My point to all this is that we've spent a fortune on campers and trucks and are now in a position that we have to boondock predominantly because we can't afford many RV Parks. The Passport America rates are reasonable but paying the $30 to $50 normal park rates is not really economical as you state. We travel for 6 to 8 weeks at a time and those costs really add up. I do agree with you about the community of this lifestyle ..... that is the one thing we hadn't anticipated and the one thing we now value the most. When I see your videos with East, I can't help but wonder what the world must look like through his eyes :-) Since you have a relatively small channel and don't seem to be monetized, I am compelled to subscribe :-)
You two sound like what we aspire to be. We, okay Drew loves to sell and trade items until he finds the perfect setup. We have a feeling we will go through a handful of campers like you did just trying to find what works best for our slowly growing family. I can't imagine the amazing sites you have seen throughout your 100,000 miles of journey. Like you also we love changing it up between boondocking and camping at campgrounds they both have so much to offer. Thanks for subscribing. We will definitely be checking out your channel soon.
So glad to read about your Range Runner! Senior as I am, I'm about to buy my first travel trailer, and that's the one that I picked! My Honda CRV can tow it, I can decorate the interior to my liking, I have all my camping gear to supplement any travel challenges, and I really like the story and people around the Runaway Camper story. I'm SO excited to get on the road this summer. Freedom!!!
@@WildWestGal Ww sold the Range Runner since we wanted to travel farther distances over longer periods of time and being able to cook without exposure to the elements became important for us.
@@TravelswithYoly I completely understand. While I'm still in very good shape for an old bird, I'm not of an age where I'm interested in doing battle with nature just to say I did. I will have it set up so I can cook inside, if needs be. And, I would have picked a bigger rig now if both my Honda CRV and my pocketbook could accommodate it. I don't want to go into debt, so we'll see how things play out. In the meantime, I'm just excited to get on the road... without having to set up a tent camp every night if I'm not in the mood. Thank you for your reply, good health and happy trails to you both!
@@WildWestGal After owning 3 conventional travel trailers prior to buying the Range Runner, I really loved the simplicity and reliability of the RR. It was so easy to deal with and once outfitted to our liking, super comfortable inside (much more so than the standard dinette seating in travel trailers). If you want to experience the outdoors and commune with nature, it's a very cost effective way to go. I have to believe that most people don't like the idea of dealing with tents and I am one of them so I understand your perspective completely. Safe travels to you and good health to you also :-) Oh Yeah, did I mention that I'm a big fan of Honda CRVs also (owned two of them in the past).
Another great video. I do a lot of trips that are two weeks or more, Most of the timeI’m Boondocking, but every four or five days, I hit an RV park. Not only is it nice to have the hook ups and usually Wi-Fi, but as you pointed out in your video they are generally pretty well placed and it’s a great homebase for exploring.
Great video. We pulled our tear drop from FL to AK and back. Three months on the road and agree; stopping in an RV park has tons of benefits. One thing we did notice; once we reached Canada, all of the RV parks charged extra to take a shower. They had coin operated machines and prices ranged from $2 for a minute, to $3 for six minutes. Not all took coins, some only took tokens.
Wow, what a trip! That sounds amazing. Good point on the showers. We also find the coin and token thing to be an issue with car washes. Lately we have said if we were to go full time we would bring our electric pressure washer just to avoid the hassle of broken change machines that we run into everywhere!
@@PlayingwithSticks YES! and I actually just bought the Panasonic G5 and can't wait to start using it...thank you so much again for the recommendation!
Thank you! What a fun adventure you have ahead of you. You are going to feel so good when you get that out on the road knowing you built that yourself and you designed it to work specifically for your needs. Have you stumbled across Camp and Camera's channel yet? Great resource for teardrop builders. Also, if you haven't checked out Cosmo Weems' channel, he is a fun teardrop channel to follow.
Only a dude from Alaska would be all casual and positive about a mama bear and cubs walking by their campsite, as if it were a feature of the campsite. That would be a traumatic, near-death experience for me.
Thanks again Hagen. I finally got the chance to integrate some titles into the videos. We plan on doing a lot more teardrop trailer tips,tricks, and review videos this summer and we thought titles would add a fun element to the videos.
Good observation Suzanne. We really don't mention them often. And this is actually purposeful. We are very fortunate in Alaska to not have near as many habitual bear incidents as the Lower 48. Because of this we don't want to give any guidance that could potentially put someone in the Lower 48 in an interesting situation. Not that we are lackadaisical, but we do keep our goods a little closer to the campsite then I would prefer if I was camping outside of Alaska. If I was in the lower 48 I would probably skip the bear bag in the tree method and just use a bear container if I had the space. If space was an issue, the food would be hanging in a tree quite a ways from site. All cooking, washing, etc. would also be far from site and water sources. This is a little overkill, but I have had my tent trashed, my thermarest ripped in two (all from residual smells and food from a previous trip). I have also woke up to bears in the campsite due to cooking too close to camp, at least that was my determination. Hope this helps a little.
Hi, this actually sounds like your RV parks have the amenities most European campgrounds have while in Europe the typical RV park is mostly stripped of most of those amenities (and mostly no caravans and thus no teardrops allowed).
Thanks Casey. We appreciate the encouragement. We were out there today filming and everything seemed to go wrong. This comment really reminded us why we do this.
I was wondering why your son looked so familiar, I had watched your wifes video about camping with children/toddlers a few months ago :D Great job guys!
I rather not be anywhere near a Sow bear and cubs ! I have a runaway camper for hurricane evacuation only . It stayed parked for years before I towed it . 2016 flooding in baton rouge area 2018 divorce rape had to move it , 2019 Hurricane Barry , other than that stays put. Great price is vague $15-35?
You aren't the first person who said they wouldn't be excited to be around the bears. It is so common here, I think you just get used to it and understand the warning signs if the sow is agitated. We love those little runaway campers. Low cost, simple design, and very customizable. Love the idea of using your Runaway as a bugout trailer. After the big earthquake here last year we have converted our teadrop into a winter bugout trailer as well. As for the price of camping, yes great price is vague. I should have said it was anywhere from $15 to $30 less than the RV rates. And yes, in Alaska most our sites were close to your guess $10-$20.
New follower.... number 172. All 14 vlogs were awesome and little East(?) is the cutest!!! Keep it up guys you’re surely gonna get the support you seek. 💖😊👍🏽 Im going on another road trip in 2019, so these have been amazing as far as info goes. If you come across info on RV traveling with a person in a wheelchair please let us know.
Thanks Marlee subscriber number 172. You are the first person who we have heard from who binged all 14 videos. That means a tons to us! Yep, you got the name right it is East. He truly makes these adventures a lot more fun. We will definitely keep our eyes open and let you know when we come across content that features wheelchairs and accessible RV travel. I have seen quite a few, but can't remember them off the top of my head. There have been so many advances in adaptive technology lately that have really opened the doors for travel with a wheelchair. I would highly suggest Alaska as a travel destination because it is surprisingly accessible to everyone. There are so many vistas, mountains, glaciers, oceans, rivers that one can pull an RV right up to. There are also quite a few places on the road system with trails accessible for people who use a wheelchair.
Hi Marlee, RollingRob, who uses a wheelchair, has a UA-cam about him visiting the Vistabule teardrop trailer factory. ua-cam.com/video/KADXbuzNaOg/v-deo.html
I am enjoying your channel. Do you have a top three list of teardrop manufacturers you would recommend? I believe you pay for quality once, so cost is low on the priority list (though I love a bargain just like the next guy).
We haven't had enough experience with teardrop manufacturers yet to make any suggestions. Up here in Alaska it is tough to find manufactured teardrops. We have never seen or tried a rustic tears teardrop. But, their videos and their design styles say to us that they put a lot of time and efforts into their manufacturing process. They are also very affordable. We also feel the same way about Oregon Trail'R Teardrops. They seem to really take time to notice the little details. The windows on the Luna Teardrop and the Lil Snoozy are pretty neat but the design of these two I don't know if you would consider them teardrops. Oh, and of course I left out the best the Vistabule teardrop. They are remarkably well made. If we were to purchase a teardrop we would want one with big windows, the possibility to add a roofrack, a hitch on the back for mounting bikes, and maybe even a canned ham style so we could stand up. Hope that helps a little bit.
Probably not the best huh Bettylou? I guess we have just become use to it over time. Valdez is kind of known for just having bears running everywhere through town.
I subscribed to your channel a few months back im presently car camping in my 05 magnum wagon. Im building a truck bed camper out of a 6ft chevy bed trailer i was given. Im on disability so im building it out on the cheap. Heres my question. Do you think that rv parks would be as welcoming for a decent lookingie not a hooptie looking truck trailer camper pulled behind my magnum. Im 59 and retired get along well with alot of people in my car travels. Anywsy curious on your take on it. Thx
In a situation like you were in would or did you use your tent along side your teardrop? I know you have shown several tents in your videos so don't know the time frame this one was shot in as to which tent you would have had. If I get a teardrop I am going to need that outside space to stand up in and to lounge around. Thanks in advance
In this situation we didn't use the tent. But, when we teardrop camp at the RV site in Hope we do throw up our side entry tent there. The side entry tent is in our opinion the best addition to a teardrop trailer.
Hey I’ve watched a ton of your videos… Thank you very much. You’re a young family and I’m curious as to what you do when you’re not camping. You seem to have a lot of time to do this so I’m thinking maybe you work remotely or something… Don’t think I’m being weird… I’m just an old retired guy wondering how a young guy has this much time LOL
Hi Karl. Good question. We are both educators. I am a school administrator and my wife teaches kindergarten. So we are blessed to have 3 months off a year together. And then in the winter I get a bit more travel because my schedule is more flexible than my wife's. Which is one reason you see me more alone in the winter. But, mainly it is because she can only handle about 3 cold weather trips a year. Haha.
Just discovered your channel and just subbed. Great info that is clearly communicated. I just ordered a Runaway Venturist adventure trailer for semi full timing (living in the Philippines part of the time). I want to be near family after years away and don't want to pay the huge rental prices. I'm going to an RV park next week after I move out of the garage apt I've had for a month. I have a Tacoma with a fiberglass shell with a/c I'll be living in until I take delivery of the trailer (16 weeks) I have bathrooms and showers, but how difficult for a 6'3" person to change clothes in one of those teardrop style trailers? I don't want to set up much more than an awning outside of the trailer. BTW, was that a wheel boot on your Scamp in another video? I'm concerned with security too and would like to get something like that too. Do you have a link? thanks
We had a few people say that on this video. We had planned on showing it, but sometimes I find my family needs a nice experience without the cameras out. Sorry about that one.
Do you have a video on how to store food, and cooked food so the animals can't get to it. Or could you point me in the right direction. I'm alone but I want to cook but I can't eat everything that I cook I still cook for the big family
We don't have a video on this yet. But We have a video coming out on Thursday that talks about our new refrigerator. My wife says it is the best thing we have added to our teardrop setup!
Awesome video! Instantly subscribed. We love our teardrop and can identify so much with this video. Enjoy the adventures with your beautiful family! Do you guys have an Instagram page?
In a heartbeat. Great question. RV parks are great, because everyone tends to have something in common. These are not people there for a picnic or to have lake access, etc. These are all folks from the same community who like you, want their valuable to be kept safe and secure as well. Also you have the staff at the RV park keeping an eye out for interesting folks.
That’s because we’ve been here 70+ years....it’s a wider perspective is all. Sorry you don’t like it. Jealous? Just wait. You’ll get there (and it’s fun!)
Good question. We actually used their shower because it was included in the cost. But, I would assume they wouldn't be super excited about it. You kind of stick out like a sore thumb in an rv park. So for us, we tried to look as rv like as possible 😂
Love the name Elyon by the way! The magnificent place is Valdez Alaska. Unfortunately it is most known for the 1964 earthquake and the exxon valdez oil spill. But, as of late it is most known for its heliskiing.
Backpacker meals when you live in an RV and camp out in the woods that's kind of ridiculous. The RV has all the comforts of home and you don't have to put up with the crowds at the campgrounds or the noisy kids and noisy dogs and the high prices of RV parks. I might use a State Park campground or something similar if it's free or very inexpensive and only during the winter when it is not crowded.
For us getting away from it all is nice. But, when traveling for weeks or months on end it is nice to join up with people and animals every once in a while to reset. A free state campground sounds great. Finding one of those up here would be pretty tough.
We use the DJI Spark. It is the smallest and most affordable DJI drone. Now however if we were to purchase a drone this small we would go for the DJI Mavic Air. We think we might go larger this summer and purchase the DJI Zoom 2. The big downer of the Zoom 2 is it costs a pretty penny!
Up here in Alaska we like to use an annual publication called "The Milestone." It is a gigantic book/magazine that tells you everything you need to know about Alaska highways and RV amenities.
papa54321 you are a wealth of information. You are definitely the type of person we were hoping to meet on this channel! Thanks again for all the great tips.
@@rudygeorgiamulesandcountry1594 They actually were being sarcastic, I tried to convey that in my tone in the video. But, they were really accommodating and respectful, even though they definitely could never see themselves living the small camper lifestyle.
How can you possibly say it's affordable? Everybody's affordability is different.Some people can afford to pay for a campsite every night and some people cannot. That's why they do boondocking on public BLM and national Forest land.
Good point Kerry Ware. Affordable is a relative term. In the context of the conversation of this video we considered rv parks affordable in comparison to standard tent camp sites. If you watch our other videos you will see that we spend the majority of our nights boondocking or camping in other free camping settings.
Haha, definitely not an rv salesman. We have learned through the comments pricing up here in Alaska must be a bit different. Our State and National Parks, depending where you are at in Alaska can be quite high in price. So in comparison sometimes the rv campgrounds can actually be a better deal, such as in Valdez where this video was shot.
Great video! I am a T@B owner and spent this past summer season in an RV park. I loved it! The amenities were awesome and I met and made some lifetime friendships. RVers by in large are fabulous, friendly, helpful people. No life like it!
+DL Mac Thanks for the encouraging comment. Sounds like you had a great summer. Aren't those T@Bs just great?
They’re great!! Really well built and easy to tow. If however you don’t like attention, best to avoid a T@B. It is incredible the number of people that want to see the inside and are surprised at how well equipped they are for such a small rig. I love mine!
@@dlmac5935 We had a feeling they would be pretty awesome to own! We enjoy watching Mandy Lea's UA-cam videos on her tab boondocking trailer.
I agree about RVers being a generally kind and helpful demographic. Even though I don't have an RV at this time, whenever we're in our "big town" for stuff like medical appointments, and have to stay overnight (it's a 2 hour drive with kids to those 8am appointments sometimes), we stay in a cabin in an RV park nearby. It's comparable to a hotel room in amenities, but there's privacy, the distance from my vehicle to the "room" is short enough where I can confidently unload my vehicle without worrying about my small children wandering off from a hotel room, and there are a lot of adults who will keep a bit of an eye on the kids if they are playing outside. I was just looking at cost for a weekend trip, and hotels are $160-200 a night, the cabin at the RV park I have a punch card to is $130 for the night.
Having a decently equipped kitchen (with complimentary coffee!) and a bathroom is nice, too. I feel similarly safe traveling with kids if I have to stay at "trucker motels". It's not luxury accommodations, but it's clean and safe, and most truckers do have families and kids or grandkids, so they've got the same kind, helpful, even protective vibe when they see a mother with a gaggle of kids in tow.
Hi Alan here from South Australia after suffering a major work accident two years ago I was house bound for near 2yrs but thanks to your vlogs it made it better and gave me a dream of getting my own tear drop and made me not give up on my rehab and dream of traveling again so yesterday I put my deposit on a little guy camper made here in Oz just want to say thanks and to let you know how much your vlogs can make a change x Alan
Wow, we are really touched by this comment Alan. That is so neat to hear you were able to push through. And on top of that you have a new teardrop coming your way. How amazing is that! After you get some miles under your belt with that teardrop we may have to pop down to Australia to film your setup. Sounds like a good excuse for us to see your beautiful country. May and I often said if the world returns to slight normalcy it would be fun to make an Australian series. Again, thank you so much for the feedback. It makes all this so worth it!
Our favorite thing to do is spend a few nights out boon docking and then stay at an RV park for the last few nights. Our teardrop has a sink and is plumbed for water and electric hookups, and at the end of a trip it’s always nice to plug into those necessities. Not to mention getting a warm shower and doing a load of laundry. However, like it’s been mentioned, doing your homework and researching RV parks nearby is a must. Depending on where you are, some can be pricey so I like to make sure I’m at least getting hot showers, laundry and flush toilets. We’re boon docking at Yellowstone this summer for 3 nights and then staying in an RV park at Tetons for the tail end of the trip. The RV park has a heated pool and a great restaurant on top of the standard hookups. We’re so excited!!
Completely agree! When my family was young, we would tent camp at a RV park at the coast. They put the tents by the restrooms and pool. Super convenient! Also there was grass, so the sand was not as much of a problem. Made my family much more comfy. Thanks for the video!
Glad to hear you can relate. A few of our last comments said that isn't the case everywhere. That is a bit of a bummer, because for us it has been a real blessing when the option to camp there was needed.
I built my own Teardrop camper at home for this very reason, you hooked me on your video of why a teardrop is better and that's why I built me one.
Looks like we have some catching up to do on your channel. You have worked really hard putting out all those videos. Somehow we didn't realize you had so many teardrop build videos. Hopefully more folks on here get the chance to check out your channel!
I use RV parks in the summer. I have a dog house AC for my teardrop and having AC makes it easier than a Gen. I know what you are saying about the attention Teardrops get. I haven't been to a park yet where at least 10 people want a tour. I built mine my self and it looks commercial so it draws attention.I like meeting people and with a Teardrop I have met hundreds of people I would not meet when I had a pop up.
We would love to see your home built teardrop. It is great to hear you have had the same experience we have had at RV parks.
@@PlayingwithSticks I will have to figure out how to post pics on comments.I have pics on my I phone but not on the computer. As soon as I figure out how to move things I will post.
We’ve almost always enjoyed our stays at RV parks.
The hot showers, the electric, WiFi, & water hook-ups, and the close proximity to all that a town has to offer are major advantages.
We’ve met some really wonderful RV Park hosts, as well.
Armed with local knowledge, they can really help you find what you need in the town.
Happy Camping!
We second that. And at least in Alaska, I find that small campers are kind of a novelty in an RV park. Because of that, we get to meet people so quickly when they stop by to see the trailer. Another thing I didn’t mention in the video was that these people tend to hold so much knowledge regarding things to do in the area. Many of them have stayed in these parks for multiple seasons. So they’re almost like a local in terms of knowledge.
Kinda of obsessed with your channel. My wife and I enjoyed several episodes last night. Besides the great info, we enjoyed you family... your bride is so gentle and beautiful and you little guy is so adorable!
In another note, we discovered your channel literally the same day we talk about visiting Alaska someday. Your videos highlight the beauty of the places majestically!
Thanks for the positive words Eli and Fawn. Any time you plan to come up to Alaska let us know and you have a place to stay and toys to take out.
Dude you guys are living the life. Glad I found your videos. I just put my deposit down on a teardrop and should be ready within the month. I am pumped to take it out with my wife and make some amazing memories. You have some great knowledge and cool shots. Jealous you live in Alaska. Be safe out there.
Thanks Mathew! You will be living the life soon as well. To us the teardrop was an instant ticket to freedom. Your gear is always loaded ready to go. We find ourselves getting outdoors much more often then when we dragged around the tent setup. We are having our 2nd child in about a month and are sad to be outgrowing our teardrop. We still plan to have a teardrop in our life, but we are thinking a bit wider or at least room for a rooftop tent this round. Safe travels out there Mathew!
Since my youngest was born we have been going to KOAs at first renting their cabin or staying in a tent and now upgraded to an rv. I love rv campgrounds they have playgrounds, swimming pools, put put, giant jumping pillow, horseshoes, giant chess, basketball and volleyball, weekends they have movie night out on the big grass area, free arts and craft times, this is just some of the fun stuff. Not to mention great bathrooms with hot showers. I have always had great experiences at rv campgrounds! One thing I always do is have my kid and even pass out to other kids at camp glow stick bracelets and necklaces, just so that its easy to see them if its getting a little dark :) Oh the other thing I love is if you see a trailer that looks amazing or something that catches your eye, you can ask the people about it, I have been invited inside to look at some amazing trailers and this gives me ideas on what to do to improve my current rv situation or for buying my next one, also if you have any problems with your rv, people are more than happy to help you figure out what is wrong and figure it out (had problems a few times) people helped us with finding the pilot light and getting things set up since we were new to the rv life. :)
Makes us just want to go find a KOA! 5 years ago this wouldn't have sounded as amazing as it does today. With our growing family this would be a fun little break from our off-grid camping. And the SHOWERS, oh the SHOWERS! That sounds really nice.
We travel to (and from) National Parks. One thing we found is that at campsites (tent only, or no hook-ups) the restrooms and showers are in heavy demand, everyone uses them, but at an RV site so many of the rigs have bathrooms and showers the public washrooms get very light use. In no hook-up sites many RV's run generators but in RV sites with full hook-ups peace and quite - no generators.
That is a good tip. We didn't even think of that one. But, we have noticed we don't stand in line for a shower. And after a few weeks man does a shower feel good! And the generator noise, we didn't think of that either. Tom, we should have consulted you before making this episode. Truly we appreciate these comments.
Thanks for sharing your experiences staying at RV parks. A lot of people have mistaken preconceptions about what it can be like. HOWEVER, the experience in MANY of the RV parks in the lower 48 can be radically different that what you experienced. First, some RV parks will not allow any recreational vehicle that does not have its own on-board toilet. Second, some RV parks have age restrictions on your vehicle. That's right, regardless of how well you have maintained your rig, they won't allow it if it is too old. Third, many RV parks do have separate dumping fees. Fourth, some RV parks are very expensive. My guess is that your experiences may be more prevalent in Alaska but less so in the rest of the US. It pays to do your research and find out the specifics of whatever place you want to stay. I think people should consider RV parks, but they need to know that they are not all the same.
Thank you for this information. Also a bummer to hear as well. We were hoping the same experiences we have been having would transfer over to the lower 48. Great advice about the research. We have received comments on here from other travelers who have had similar experiences to us in the lower 48. However, now we know that is probably because they spent the time researching before selecting an RV park. Thanks again for this useful information. The folks watching this video will really appreciate the insight.
QuietStorm, Everything you said was exactly what I was thinking as I watched this video. In the lower 48 it's definitely different. I'll be 70 soon but I still prefer to take my Jeep into to the more remote areas. That may have to change as I age, but right now the RV Park does not appeal to me.
You r talk about the community you found, made me smile.. I could judt see it..
I'm winter camping in my Class C in NC and just across from me in another woodsy site at this lovely rustic campground is a cute "Little Guy Max" teardrop trailer. I'm in love with its size and shape. I may downsize eventually.
We think there is a time and place for both styles of campers. If you have the space why not have a class c and a teardrop trailer? We do notice though that we are out much more than our neighbors who have the larger motor homes. I think the smaller your rig is, often times the more often you use it on a whim.
Depending on where you are in NC, it'd be more like rain camping this year 😉
I just got home from a 2 week camping trip. First I got to say I stayed at KOA campgrounds. I went to first one for 5 nights and it was around &60 a night which is a little high but it was a holiday weekend. Then I drove to northern Michigan and stayed at another KOA for around $50 a night. I bought the KOA rewards package for $36 a year but on this 2 weeks it save me around $70 for my 10% off for each night. And the reason was because KOA campgrounds has nice clean showers and bathrooms. They are close to highways and depending what one’s you go to you can hear the highway noice when outside of your teardrop. Now when I was in Michigan for 7 days I seen a Aliner there for a couple days and I Nucamp tab 320 was there for a couple nights and then a Nucamp tab 400 came in and was still there when I left. KOA campgrounds are a little pricey but there is a lot of activities there at each one of them plus some have free cable and they all have free wi-fi. So to me in my tag xl it’s worth a couple extra dollars a night for the nice bathrooms and showers. I am prepared for boondocking tho.
Some people do give RV parks a hard time. We prefer to boondock or camp in national parks, but some RV parks we've been to have been amazing! They are even better in a teardrop. Some RV park owners and employees don't know what to think or do about our tiny trailer, so they just stick us in the tent area. This is great since it's usually more shaded and private and we still get to use their amenities. One KOA in Montana had the most amazing pool, sheltered dishwashing and cooking stations, a great nature trail, and a bathhouse that was also a greenhouse full of plants. We would go back there for a destination!
We were surprised when we made this video to see all the positive comments about RV parks and teardrops. Like you mentioned we have heard quite a few people on the road say they avoid them like the plague. But now, we can tell them we really believe it depends on which one you go to. The community aspect for us is what sold us. We will probably intentional do an rv park every now and then, where as before we only said we would do it if there was nowhere else available to camp.
We sometimes stay in RV parks (called tourist parks here) and they typically offer cabins, Surfari tents, RV sites and tent sites. As you mentioned, TD’s are a grey area so we generally get allocated a powered tent site (with water!). We generally don’t connect (nothing to connect it to haha!) but the amenities are sure worth it. Especially the hot showers! I guess it’s a kind of glamping - when you need an easy weekend and don’t have time for all the prep. We keep ours good to go with only some food in a small Esky needing packing. Get home from work on a Friday and go go go! Brilliant 😎🇦🇺 and yes. People love these TD’s. Great conversation starter 😄
You nailed it when you said an "easy weekend." The biggest change for us going form tent camping to TD camping was the ease of having everything packed and ready to go. We used to camp a lot, but we camp even more now that there is less to tear down and put up each weekend. Glad to here you are enjoying some of the benefits of tourist parks as well Dan! There is nothing wrong with glamping! You are still getting away from the hustle and bustle, but enjoying some of the creature comforts we have come to rely on in this day and age.
I have a teardrop and agree with everything you're saying. I like being out in nature, but being able to access local amenities is just as good depending on the destination.
Its cool to hear we aren't the only ones who enjoy a bit of both worlds. When we posted the video we were excited to offer a different perspective on Teardrop/RV camping.
I don't like campgrounds, but think I'll try your tips on staying in a RV park on the Oregon coast. Thanks for your tips. Cheers!
Boondocking seems to be gaining a bit of popularity. Up here there are times where our favorite spots are taken which has forced us to try new things.
Camping in a Teardrop is great. They are small enough to park just about anywhere, easy to maintain and you still feel like you are actually camping. Getting a teardrop was a major step in the right direction from sleeping in a tent.
We agree! We are big fans of camping and really that is what teardropping continues to allow us to do. But, with all the benefits of hard sides and a comfy warm bed.
Thanks for all your videos, and I LOVE the life you are providing your child!
You are so welcome Lori! Thank you for the sweet comment.
Lovey video, I have lived in a teardrop since 93, One thing i like about a teardrop over a traditional RV or van is my tow vehicle is normal size when i need to do normal things like visit friends or weddings I can fit in. Hope that makes sense.
Salamat.
You have lived full time in a teardrop since 1993? We really appreciate having our little 4 cylinder as well. Your car comment definitely makes sense. Well, we don't know any Hindi but we remember a little Bahasa Indonesian- Salamat Sore!
@@PlayingwithSticks salamat is tagalo, your partner looked slightly Pinay to me. I am A over the road trucker so full time may not be completely honest, As some say Im houseless not homeless .
That totally makes sense. We get that from a lot of people. Up here most people think she is Korean or Japanese. She is actually Hmong. I would call your setup practically full time, at least when you aren't professionally driving. I love how you use the term houseless. Sounds like an adventurous life.
Y’all are so cute. Love your channel and content! Just bought a Tag and thanks to you, I’ve learned so much about teardrop camping!!
Wow this is great! I prejudged the RV Parks. We have owned our T@g for three years, so now we have to get out and try some new RV spots!
Thanks for the sweet comment. If you check the comments on this video you will see everyone who responded had the same experience. Who knew RV parks were awesome?!?!
The best way to communicate to your child that you love him is to feed him when he is hungry and to give him structure (sleep, discipline ) I think that you cover his needs in a timely manner , he will grow up to be a fine young men. About picky eaters; kids won teat when they are not hungry and parents then will give them treats and it re enforces a bad habit. Keep fresh veggies on hand when he is older, they dont mess up the car and he will get his nutrition while you are driving. Beautifull kiddo and video by the way. Many years from now you will look in wonder at these beautifull stories. Great memories! Take care
Thanks for all this great advice. Love the idea of fresh veggies on hand when traveling, especially the part about not messing up the car. These family adventures have been very memorable. I can't how fun it will be to look back on all these travels!
I specifically bought the model I purchased because a self contained unit gives me a chance to stay for a month at a time at a monthly rate. Sometimes I want to travel and boondock, sometimes I want to chill and enjoy the amenities near family.
Changing it up is our style as well. It is nice to have options.
@@PlayingwithSticks if I wanted everything to stay the same, why go on the road, lol?
Again Beautiful scenery...... So honest, nit picky perfect!
Glad you enjoyed the scenery! Nit picky describes us well!
I want something fully self-contained and a little bit roomy that I can park, and have a vehicle to drive around in.
I absolutely loved my 24-ft travel trailer. I wish I still had it, and I hope to get another one soon, if I can find an older one. I don't like the modern ones!
We've been retired for over 12 years and have traveled well over 100,000 miles in that time. We started with a tent on the back of our truck, then a topper shell with a walk thru door, then went full out and bought a T@B. Then to a single axle 3500 lb travel trailer and then to a 6,000 lb dual axle slide out travel trailer. Unfortunately we discovered that all of these products built in the midwest were plagued by quality control issues and we had major issues and failures that discouraged us from the lifestyle. We went back to camping out of the back of the truck with the topper. Eventually we chose a small Runaway Range Runner, a 6x8 air conditioned box similar to your teardrop in size but we built the entire interior ourselves. That being the case, it was 100% reliable and more comfortable than any of our factory built units. But we still had to cook outdoors and still had one big adventure on our bucket list (Canada) so we looked into a the feasibility of a slide in truck camper. We are now on our fourth truck camper. We have a minimalist truck camper now (after downsizing) hardly bigger than your teardrop. My point to all this is that we've spent a fortune on campers and trucks and are now in a position that we have to boondock predominantly because we can't afford many RV Parks. The Passport America rates are reasonable but paying the $30 to $50 normal park rates is not really economical as you state. We travel for 6 to 8 weeks at a time and those costs really add up. I do agree with you about the community of this lifestyle ..... that is the one thing we hadn't anticipated and the one thing we now value the most. When I see your videos with East, I can't help but wonder what the world must look like through his eyes :-) Since you have a relatively small channel and don't seem to be monetized, I am compelled to subscribe :-)
You two sound like what we aspire to be. We, okay Drew loves to sell and trade items until he finds the perfect setup. We have a feeling we will go through a handful of campers like you did just trying to find what works best for our slowly growing family. I can't imagine the amazing sites you have seen throughout your 100,000 miles of journey. Like you also we love changing it up between boondocking and camping at campgrounds they both have so much to offer. Thanks for subscribing. We will definitely be checking out your channel soon.
So glad to read about your Range Runner! Senior as I am, I'm about to buy my first travel trailer, and that's the one that I picked! My Honda CRV can tow it, I can decorate the interior to my liking, I have all my camping gear to supplement any travel challenges, and I really like the story and people around the Runaway Camper story. I'm SO excited to get on the road this summer. Freedom!!!
@@WildWestGal Ww sold the Range Runner since we wanted to travel farther distances over longer periods of time and being able to cook without exposure to the elements became important for us.
@@TravelswithYoly I completely understand. While I'm still in very good shape for an old bird, I'm not of an age where I'm interested in doing battle with nature just to say I did. I will have it set up so I can cook inside, if needs be.
And, I would have picked a bigger rig now if both my Honda CRV and my pocketbook could accommodate it. I don't want to go into debt, so we'll see how things play out. In the meantime, I'm just excited to get on the road... without having to set up a tent camp every night if I'm not in the mood. Thank you for your reply, good health and happy trails to you both!
@@WildWestGal After owning 3 conventional travel trailers prior to buying the Range Runner, I really loved the simplicity and reliability of the RR. It was so easy to deal with and once outfitted to our liking, super comfortable inside (much more so than the standard dinette seating in travel trailers). If you want to experience the outdoors and commune with nature, it's a very cost effective way to go. I have to believe that most people don't like the idea of dealing with tents and I am one of them so I understand your perspective completely. Safe travels to you and good health to you also :-) Oh Yeah, did I mention that I'm a big fan of Honda CRVs also (owned two of them in the past).
Love my teardrop, get many compliments, give many tours. Have shared this video on my facebook page.
Thank you Catherine for sharing our video. We always love to meet a fellow teardrop enthusiast!
Another great video. I do a lot of trips that are two weeks or more, Most of the timeI’m Boondocking, but every four or five days, I hit an RV park. Not only is it nice to have the hook ups and usually Wi-Fi, but as you pointed out in your video they are generally pretty well placed and it’s a great homebase for exploring.
Two week trips sound just right. We call the RV parks a vacation from our vacation 😁
I find these videos very helpful. Just bought a teardrop and am looking forward to exploring beautiful Colorado and surrounding states.
Great video, very informative and your family is beautiful!!! 👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you so much Bobby!
Good ideas. Thank you
Nice video, you have a beautiful family.
Thanks Ron for the really sweet compliment!
Thanks for sharing...always good to have a backup.
Great video. We pulled our tear drop from FL to AK and back. Three months on the road and agree; stopping in an RV park has tons of benefits. One thing we did notice; once we reached Canada, all of the RV parks charged extra to take a shower. They had coin operated machines and prices ranged from $2 for a minute, to $3 for six minutes. Not all took coins, some only took tokens.
Wow, what a trip! That sounds amazing. Good point on the showers. We also find the coin and token thing to be an issue with car washes. Lately we have said if we were to go full time we would bring our electric pressure washer just to avoid the hassle of broken change machines that we run into everywhere!
It’s official...we need to buy a teardrop trailer!!! Loved the video!
Love it. My wife says the same thing everytime she sees a creative photo of a Scamp. You can't help, but love these little trailers.
@@PlayingwithSticks YES! and I actually just bought the Panasonic G5 and can't wait to start using it...thank you so much again for the recommendation!
@@TheFifeLife We are hoping you find it to be very easy to use. I think our favorite thing about the Panasonic cameras us their ease of use.
My gf wanted me to return it to the dealer and now shes bugging me can we go there can we go there and i said yes
Wat cool! I used to travel/live full time in an RV and wasn’t an RV park fan but you put it in a different perspective. Especially in Alaska
I would love to travel/live full time in a small RV. I bet you have some amazing stories!
Your son is so cute.
I'm a grandma with 3 gboys,
thank you so much for all your info.
You are so welcome! What a joy to have 3 grandboys! We feel so blessed to have 2 boys now.
Again thanks for the videos on so many different topics… We will be picking up a teardrop tomorrow and going on our first outing!
Congratulations Karl! Welcome to the club. Where is your first destination?
Cool I love your videos! I’m building my own teardrop right now!
Thank you! What a fun adventure you have ahead of you. You are going to feel so good when you get that out on the road knowing you built that yourself and you designed it to work specifically for your needs. Have you stumbled across Camp and Camera's channel yet? Great resource for teardrop builders. Also, if you haven't checked out Cosmo Weems' channel, he is a fun teardrop channel to follow.
Only a dude from Alaska would be all casual and positive about a mama bear and cubs walking by their campsite, as if it were a feature of the campsite. That would be a traumatic, near-death experience for me.
We get the same responses in Scampy.
When we took out the Scamp it felt so big to us, but everyone who saw us thought it was so small!
Heck yeah, new video! Great as always!
Thanks again Hagen. I finally got the chance to integrate some titles into the videos. We plan on doing a lot more teardrop trailer tips,tricks, and review videos this summer and we thought titles would add a fun element to the videos.
Really enjoying the titles! Loving the quality content, can't wait for the next video! Merry Christmas from my family to yours 😄
@@hagenrule Merry Christmas to you too. What a great season this is!
Another great videos Drew, we are leaning more and more towards a Teardrop trailer when we retire and your videos are a huge help. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed the video! Do you follow Cosmo Weems? His channel gives you a great idea of how teardrops fit the retirement life.
@@PlayingwithSticksyes. I have seen some of his videos thanks
subscribed! excellent video, thank you!
Thank you Marian! Glad you enjoyed the video.
Awesome!💐💐💐
Great video. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the video info, I may have to try this soon.
You are most welcome. Someday once told us on here that it isn't always like this in the Lower 48. But, worth finding out yourself.
I was looking for one of your vids that mentioned bears - this was it so far. I’d like to know how you secure your food from bears when boon docking.
Good observation Suzanne. We really don't mention them often. And this is actually purposeful. We are very fortunate in Alaska to not have near as many habitual bear incidents as the Lower 48. Because of this we don't want to give any guidance that could potentially put someone in the Lower 48 in an interesting situation. Not that we are lackadaisical, but we do keep our goods a little closer to the campsite then I would prefer if I was camping outside of Alaska. If I was in the lower 48 I would probably skip the bear bag in the tree method and just use a bear container if I had the space. If space was an issue, the food would be hanging in a tree quite a ways from site. All cooking, washing, etc. would also be far from site and water sources. This is a little overkill, but I have had my tent trashed, my thermarest ripped in two (all from residual smells and food from a previous trip). I have also woke up to bears in the campsite due to cooking too close to camp, at least that was my determination. Hope this helps a little.
In an RV park just put your trash close to the camphost they are trained bear whisperers
Hi, this actually sounds like your RV parks have the amenities most European campgrounds have while in Europe the typical RV park is mostly stripped of most of those amenities (and mostly no caravans and thus no teardrops allowed).
Another good video guyz! Please do carry on! :)
Thanks Casey. We appreciate the encouragement. We were out there today filming and everything seemed to go wrong. This comment really reminded us why we do this.
I was wondering why your son looked so familiar, I had watched your wifes video about camping with children/toddlers a few months ago :D Great job guys!
Very informative video. Really enjoyed it.
Thanks Yulia!
I rather not be anywhere near a Sow bear and cubs !
I have a runaway camper for hurricane evacuation only . It stayed parked for years before I towed it .
2016 flooding in baton rouge area 2018 divorce rape had to move it , 2019 Hurricane Barry , other than that stays put.
Great price is vague $15-35?
You aren't the first person who said they wouldn't be excited to be around the bears. It is so common here, I think you just get used to it and understand the warning signs if the sow is agitated. We love those little runaway campers. Low cost, simple design, and very customizable. Love the idea of using your Runaway as a bugout trailer. After the big earthquake here last year we have converted our teadrop into a winter bugout trailer as well. As for the price of camping, yes great price is vague. I should have said it was anywhere from $15 to $30 less than the RV rates. And yes, in Alaska most our sites were close to your guess $10-$20.
New follower.... number 172. All 14 vlogs were awesome and little East(?) is the cutest!!! Keep it up guys you’re surely gonna get the support you seek. 💖😊👍🏽 Im going on another road trip in 2019, so these have been amazing as far as info goes. If you come across info on RV traveling with a person in a wheelchair please let us know.
Thanks Marlee subscriber number 172. You are the first person who we have heard from who binged all 14 videos. That means a tons to us! Yep, you got the name right it is East. He truly makes these adventures a lot more fun. We will definitely keep our eyes open and let you know when we come across content that features wheelchairs and accessible RV travel. I have seen quite a few, but can't remember them off the top of my head. There have been so many advances in adaptive technology lately that have really opened the doors for travel with a wheelchair. I would highly suggest Alaska as a travel destination because it is surprisingly accessible to everyone. There are so many vistas, mountains, glaciers, oceans, rivers that one can pull an RV right up to. There are also quite a few places on the road system with trails accessible for people who use a wheelchair.
Hi Marlee, RollingRob, who uses a wheelchair, has a UA-cam about him visiting the Vistabule teardrop trailer factory. ua-cam.com/video/KADXbuzNaOg/v-deo.html
Great video ! Thanks
Glad you liked it John!
I am enjoying your channel. Do you have a top three list of teardrop manufacturers you would recommend? I believe you pay for quality once, so cost is low on the priority list (though I love a bargain just like the next guy).
We haven't had enough experience with teardrop manufacturers yet to make any suggestions. Up here in Alaska it is tough to find manufactured teardrops. We have never seen or tried a rustic tears teardrop. But, their videos and their design styles say to us that they put a lot of time and efforts into their manufacturing process. They are also very affordable. We also feel the same way about Oregon Trail'R Teardrops. They seem to really take time to notice the little details. The windows on the Luna Teardrop and the Lil Snoozy are pretty neat but the design of these two I don't know if you would consider them teardrops. Oh, and of course I left out the best the Vistabule teardrop. They are remarkably well made. If we were to purchase a teardrop we would want one with big windows, the possibility to add a roofrack, a hitch on the back for mounting bikes, and maybe even a canned ham style so we could stand up. Hope that helps a little bit.
Playing with Sticks Thank you!
I am not so sure bears in the camp ground is a good thing. Mama bears are very protective of their cubs.
Probably not the best huh Bettylou? I guess we have just become use to it over time. Valdez is kind of known for just having bears running everywhere through town.
Beautiful videos! Subbed!
Glad you enjoyed it! Also glad to have you as a subscriber!
Great video dude and very informative thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it!
O.k., new kid here: how does one find these places ? When I was young (pre-internet) there were RV directories. What now ?
I subscribed to your channel a few months back im presently car camping in my 05 magnum wagon. Im building a truck bed camper out of a 6ft chevy bed trailer i was given. Im on disability so im building it out on the cheap. Heres my question.
Do you think that rv parks would be as welcoming for a decent lookingie not a hooptie looking truck trailer camper pulled behind my magnum. Im 59 and retired get along well with alot of people in my car travels. Anywsy curious on your take on it. Thx
In a situation like you were in would or did you use your tent along side your teardrop? I know you have shown several tents in your videos so don't know the time frame this one was shot in as to which tent you would have had. If I get a teardrop I am going to need that outside space to stand up in and to lounge around. Thanks in advance
In this situation we didn't use the tent. But, when we teardrop camp at the RV site in Hope we do throw up our side entry tent there. The side entry tent is in our opinion the best addition to a teardrop trailer.
Hey I’ve watched a ton of your videos… Thank you very much. You’re a young family and I’m curious as to what you do when you’re not camping. You seem to have a lot of time to do this so I’m thinking maybe you work remotely or something… Don’t think I’m being weird… I’m just an old retired guy wondering how a young guy has this much time LOL
Hi Karl. Good question. We are both educators. I am a school administrator and my wife teaches kindergarten. So we are blessed to have 3 months off a year together. And then in the winter I get a bit more travel because my schedule is more flexible than my wife's. Which is one reason you see me more alone in the winter. But, mainly it is because she can only handle about 3 cold weather trips a year. Haha.
Just discovered your channel and just subbed. Great info that is clearly communicated. I just ordered a Runaway Venturist adventure trailer for semi full timing (living in the Philippines part of the time). I want to be near family after years away and don't want to pay the huge rental prices. I'm going to an RV park next week after I move out of the garage apt I've had for a month. I have a Tacoma with a fiberglass shell with a/c I'll be living in until I take delivery of the trailer (16 weeks) I have bathrooms and showers, but how difficult for a 6'3" person to change clothes in one of those teardrop style trailers? I don't want to set up much more than an awning outside of the trailer.
BTW, was that a wheel boot on your Scamp in another video? I'm concerned with security too and would like to get something like that too. Do you have a link? thanks
Hi, are teardrops charged the "tent site" fee? What is a typical daily rate for a stay at a KOA or equivalent for a teardrop?
You didn’t show a picture of the bald eagles feeding :-)
We had a few people say that on this video. We had planned on showing it, but sometimes I find my family needs a nice experience without the cameras out. Sorry about that one.
Do you have a video on how to store food, and cooked food so the animals can't get to it. Or could you point me in the right direction. I'm alone but I want to cook but I can't eat everything that I cook I still cook for the big family
We don't have a video on this yet. But We have a video coming out on Thursday that talks about our new refrigerator. My wife says it is the best thing we have added to our teardrop setup!
Awesome video! Instantly subscribed. We love our teardrop and can identify so much with this video. Enjoy the adventures with your beautiful family! Do you guys have an Instagram page?
Thanks Liz! Thanks also for the Instagram idea. We will have to do that soon. What style of teardrop do you have?
Playing with Sticks We have a 2013 Little Guy Silver Shadow. It’s been so much fun.
@@lizlmori That is a great model. Love the silver shadows.
At the rv park would you leave your tear drop trailer parked and go to city for whatever reason without worrying about getting you trailer stolen?
In a heartbeat. Great question. RV parks are great, because everyone tends to have something in common. These are not people there for a picnic or to have lake access, etc. These are all folks from the same community who like you, want their valuable to be kept safe and secure as well. Also you have the staff at the RV park keeping an eye out for interesting folks.
What is the cost ?
I hate it when young people say, “When I was younger...”
😁
Haha. We try to be careful not to say when we were young. But at 37, our teenage years are starting to feel "younger." 🙂
That’s because we’ve been here 70+ years....it’s a wider perspective is all. Sorry you don’t like it. Jealous? Just wait. You’ll get there (and it’s fun!)
Curious if the rv park allowed you to put up your shower/toilet tent?
Good question. We actually used their shower because it was included in the cost. But, I would assume they wouldn't be super excited about it. You kind of stick out like a sore thumb in an rv park. So for us, we tried to look as rv like as possible 😂
Hi sir, may i ask where this magnificent place is? Thank u!
Love the name Elyon by the way! The magnificent place is Valdez Alaska. Unfortunately it is most known for the 1964 earthquake and the exxon valdez oil spill. But, as of late it is most known for its heliskiing.
Oh, thank. I dont remember seeing this part of Alaska... im not sure. But thank you, its a sure hit for RVers! Happy trip!
Backpacker meals when you live in an RV and camp out in the woods that's kind of ridiculous. The RV has all the comforts of home and you don't have to put up with the crowds at the campgrounds or the noisy kids and noisy dogs and the high prices of RV parks. I might use a State Park campground or something similar if it's free or very inexpensive and only during the winter when it is not crowded.
For us getting away from it all is nice. But, when traveling for weeks or months on end it is nice to join up with people and animals every once in a while to reset. A free state campground sounds great. Finding one of those up here would be pretty tough.
What kind of drone do you use?
We use the DJI Spark. It is the smallest and most affordable DJI drone. Now however if we were to purchase a drone this small we would go for the DJI Mavic Air. We think we might go larger this summer and purchase the DJI Zoom 2. The big downer of the Zoom 2 is it costs a pretty penny!
Is there an app or a. Ook to find where these rv parks are?
Up here in Alaska we like to use an annual publication called "The Milestone." It is a gigantic book/magazine that tells you everything you need to know about Alaska highways and RV amenities.
TAB 320
Such a fun little camper. I had the chance to walk through the Boondock version when I was down in California this winter.
If you got WIFI get a ROKU streamstick for your Teardrop, gives you tons of free channels and lots of cartoons
papa54321 you are a wealth of information. You are definitely the type of person we were hoping to meet on this channel! Thanks again for all the great tips.
@@PlayingwithSticks I'm a dad too
Even if you have a Iphone get the apps Tubi and Plutotv. Free tv/movie/cartoon channels
Yeah, they're N0T all like that !
Some dont even want you.
How dare they! I had a feeling there would be some out there that wouldn't be so accommodating. It may be the Alaska spirit!
@@PlayingwithSticks "How cute, do you really sleep in that could have been sarcastic?"
@@rudygeorgiamulesandcountry1594 They actually were being sarcastic, I tried to convey that in my tone in the video. But, they were really accommodating and respectful, even though they definitely could never see themselves living the small camper lifestyle.
people down thumb you!!!what ?are they the zombies you need protection from?hang on brother, help is on the way!!!lol
Love this comment! Thanks Bob for making our morning.
How can you possibly say it's affordable? Everybody's affordability is different.Some people can afford to pay for a campsite every night and some people cannot. That's why they do boondocking on public BLM and national Forest land.
Good point Kerry Ware. Affordable is a relative term. In the context of the conversation of this video we considered rv parks affordable in comparison to standard tent camp sites. If you watch our other videos you will see that we spend the majority of our nights boondocking or camping in other free camping settings.
Everything except Co$t RV park salesman?
Haha, definitely not an rv salesman. We have learned through the comments pricing up here in Alaska must be a bit different. Our State and National Parks, depending where you are at in Alaska can be quite high in price. So in comparison sometimes the rv campgrounds can actually be a better deal, such as in Valdez where this video was shot.