Boat & Camping Can it be done

[Toba]

I currently have a 17' Mr. Pike and love fishing out of it. I also have a two year old and one on the way. We used to camp with a tent before our first child and would like to get back into it. I can't see fishing without the boat and my wife can't see camping with kids and with out some type of camper. How have others dealt with situation if you have run into it.

[Down Deep]

I've done family camping both ways. When my kids were still at home we would go to VNP and boat to a campsite and tent it. I also had a truck camper and used that many times with trips to Canada and various lake around northern MN. If your wife wants to have all the conveniences of home then you might want to look into a 5th Wheel. That way you can have a large camper and drag the boat along.

This is just my opinion, but I think my kids gained a lot on those island tent camping trips where they didn't have all the conveniences of home and had to be somewhat self-sufficient. When they are home on the holidays and for summer visits they don't talk much about the trips to Disney World etc, but they do talk about all those trips we took to VNP, B-dub and Canada.

[yaggie]

Can be done with a 25 foot 5th wheel camper pulling the boat but would need a good tow vehicle and thinking ahead when ever you drive into a convenience store or the camp ground.

[LegattoAD]

I think going with a slide in camper would probably be the more practical route. Depending on the tow vehicle you have and the type of camping you do.

[BobT]

Camping does not include a camper. Just my opinion.

If you tented it before your kids were born, you can now too. We took our son with us as soon as he could walk and he loved it.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Look into camper cabins at some of the state parks. Kids are a lot of work for moms and so is camping. If she is already tired and worn out from caring for them tenting just sounds like more work for her. If you pick up most of the camp work she will learn to love tenting. Good equipment is a must too.

[pulleye16]

My wife won't sleep in a tent also and I NEED a boat. Got a camper that fits in the back of a truck! problem sloved. If you're worried about space, there should be plenty for the four of you at their age and when they get a little older...they'll WANT to sleep in a tent!

[teamfish]

Just got back from a houseboat trip in Canada, at Lac Seul Lake. Great way to go, we go with 4 couples. Everyone just loves it.

[herefish101]

I agree, camping does noy include a "camper". Why they even call them campers, who knows..... I just have a very large, very waterproof tent that works awesome for my two boys ages 3 and 4 and my wife and I to have plenty of space, sure theres no a/c or heat and most times no electric or water, but that is what camping is all about. If you have tv's and video games and all that other stuff, then whats the point, you could have made smores in your back yard.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Could get a motorhome.

[wkngmomof2]

We tent it and LOVE it, we keep everything in totes and other than packing clothes and food we grab the totes and go. I actually like the tent better as there is less upkeep, no one is hanging out inside of it all day, it is used strictly for sleeping. This weekend we were up in Isle and we stayed at Father Hennepin in the Maple Grove campground, no electricity at the site, but there is a lot of space between campsites compared to the Lakeview Campgound, with electricity, where the folks with campers stay and they didn't have half the room we did. Same thing with Big Sandy last weekend, nice quiet tent site, but we did have electricity there. here are a few pics from Big Sandy - The one thing I HATE about tenting it is when we have to camp by the 5th wheels, and rvs and listen to air conditioners at night,....

[mustang1966]

Most definitely go for the tent and pull the boat. We have a similar sized boat...with our 2 and 4 years old boys. They absolutely love the entire process of tenting. From the packing, to the campfires, fishing from the boat and everything.

And no, using RV's and an any camper besides a pop-up with minimal ammenities is NOT camping. To second a previous comment, there is nothing more annoying then the A/C or furnaces running on units on the other side of the camp grounds...

[MN_Jay]

You could always buy a camper and find a seasonal resort at a good fishing lake and leave the camper there, you could leave the boat there too if you don't use it through the week.

A big benefit of doing it this way is you and your wife will get to know your neighbors and your wife will have people to visit with while your fishing. And you know the saying "If mama's happy, then everyone's happy"

[Ice_Fishin07]

My wife and I love tent camping. But gotta say that It's lot more work for her with little ones.

[LightningBG]

A tent is going to be a tough sell this summer if she's preggers. And having a baby in a tent doesn't sound like much fun either. Feeding in the middle of the night, in a tent? Yuck. Once they are 3-4 it might be less of an issue.

So here are your options to get the boat and sleeping quarters....

Rent a camper that is already in place.

Rent a cabin (yeah, yeah, not really camping)

Buy/rent/borrow a fifth wheel, so you can tow a boat behind it

Buy/rent/borrow a pickup camper

Buy/rent/borrow a motor home.

[solbes]

We have 2 kids, 7 and 4 yrs old. My wife and I tented TONS when in college and when we were married before kids. After our oldest was born the tent got a lot less use. Maybe a trip per summer. We are just now getting back into tenting again as everyone is potty trained and doesn't need a daily nap.

My advice is to keep the wife happy. If you don't have a large truck that can pull a 5th wheel camper or have slide in, rent some cabins for a couple of years. There are cheaper ones out there that make life so much easier. There's always plenty of time to get back into tenting once the kids get older.

My other piece of advice is around getting a camper. We have a 28 foot model at our lake place and have stayed there 100 times or more. Although it was the only option we could afford up there, the number of times we've moved it to go camping elsewhere is very few. It's just too expensive with gas at near $4 and the truck getting 9-10 mpg pulling it. You drive even 150 miles round trip and you've spent $60 in fuel. Camper sites are usually $25-35/night. Add in the cost of the camper. Add in storage fees. Add in wear and tear on your truck. You begin to see pretty quickly that you could rent rooms for 3-4 summers and still be money and hassle ahead.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Buy a pop up and store it up north. Then tow boat to site and go get camper. You still need to find a place close to where you are going, but it's an option.

[Chode2235]

I would agree to look seriously at renting a cabin. You can get a week pretty cheap, as there are lots of good deals out there.

It is a nice way to split the difference so to speak. You can get out and enjoy the woods and water, and still have a nice 'home base' with all the things that make traveling with kids a lot easier.

We did our first trip with my sister's 3 yr old, and I can't imagine doing it in a tent.

[amateurfishing]

our family has been lookin to get state park cabin for past 2 years, just have not been able to pull trigger cause they can be reserved up to 365 days in advance so the holiday weekends always go fast. Chech DNR HSOforum, some parks have multiple cabins while others only have 1. Boys and I want to go camping bad but mom likes small modern conveniences. Thought this wouldl be great way to start for $45 ish a night. Then all u need r sleeping bags for bunkbeds, your food, & your fun.