Small Camping Trailers

Can an old lady with no camping skills handle a motor home?

My grandma wants to buy a motor home or conversion van to take us kids camping around the U.S. this summer. We know nothing about camping and hooking up to electric /water in these camp sites. Any suggestions besides getting motels(we tried that)she wants to camp.Are there Camp grounds that set up for u?Books or web sites?

Public Comments

1. Ha ha! That's probably one of the funniest things I've heard today! Ok so anyways, NOT a good idea! If you know NOTHING, you should LEARN before you go out and buy one! At least RENT to start out with! =]
2. I don't see why not. Hooking up is not so difficult - you plug in power, hook up a water hose, and if there is a septic, then that too. If you can plug in a toaster, and use a garden hose, you should be fine. Most camps would be happy to show you anyway - takes about 2 minutes to do. Also, wherever she buys it should show her how to do it. It really is not that hard, although the toilet hose is not a lot of fun!
3. My biggest concern would be in driving it. They are big, have bad blind spots and are vulnerable to wind. Turning radius is bigger so that means turning is different then in a car. You must cut the turn much wider. Backing is another concern. It will take two people to that, one to drive and one to guide. After that there is the set up which like said before can be learned in a short time. You have one big advantage. Where ever you go you will run into people that will be more then happy to help. Campers are very nice people. One thing your grandmother needs to know: motorhomes are like boats, a big toy that you throw money into. Now is a great time to buy one though. I think your grandmother has a great idea. You all will have a wonderful time camping.
4. Yes you can!! Camp sites are everywhere, they are inexpensive and most have lakes & recreation activities. Motor homes are simple, and whether you rent or buy they will assist you on basic operation and the rest you learn as you go. water & elec. hook-ups are easy and if you don't want to use and dirty up campers toilet most campgrounds have bathrooms w/ showers. I would say go for it. Even if you want a break from the outdoors you pull the camper into a hotel parking lot and check in.
5. I have to say, no problem at all. I am a senior citizen with an RV and hooking up is rather easy. When you buy a RV, they show you how to do everything. Maybe one of you grand kids can go with her when she buys one. Don't let her buy anything over say 22 feet or so. In fact, the smaller the better. My RV is a pick up with a camper on it, so it is not much different then driving a regular pick-up. I also have senior friends that have a van conversion. They are great too. So, I think it is a great idea.
6. What a terrific grandma you have! It's a great idea -- my mom and her girlfriends took van camping trips all around the US for 20 years after they retired and I went with them several times. As some other answers have suggested, stick with the smaller conversion vans -- easier to drive and less gas guzzling. Buy one of the annual Campground atlas guides (Rand McNally always publishes them) which have very complete lists of campgrounds and what services they offer. Your best experiences will be to avoid the chains (like KOA) and go to the family-run campgrounds and the government managed ones in National Forest areas (the National Park ones can be nice too but tend to be very crowded in peak season.) Most campgrounds have shower houses and bathrooms, so you don't need to get a camper van with that included if you want to save size and cost (though having an onboard toilet can be handy for older folks.) We've had delightful times doing this: the family-run campground in Montana where the owner brought us hot coffee and fresh cinnamon rolls in the morning, another in the foothills of the Grand Tetons in Wyoming where we sat out in the evening and watched shooting stars and listened to the coyotes howling in chorus (you could hear their pups yipping along), the fantastic campground at Redfish Lake in Idaho where we could catch a salmon and throw on the campsite's grill for breakfast or walk to the restaurant beside the lake. Enjoy your adventures!