Whether you’ve been camping for years with your partner or are trying camping for the very first time, camping with kids is an entirely new ball game that you want to be ready for. Part of that includes choosing the best camper trailer for family use, so that your kids grow up loving camping and cherishing the memories of family trips in the rig. Choosing the best camper trailer for family trips isn’t as simple as it sounds, but these 10 tips to choosing the right one will make it more than manageable.
- Space to Grow
Your family might be tiny now (but in number and height), but they’re going to grow. A lot. You want to choose a trailer that can grow with your family over the years so that it doesn’t start to feel too small. If it feels tight when you buy it, it’s already too small.
- Beds
You also want to consider the number of beds the trailer offers. If any of the kids have to share a bed, that’s fine now but when they’re a grumpy tween or teenager, that’s definitely not going to fly. If you plan for that now, you lower the risk of your kids resenting the family camping trips when they’re older.
- Outlets
The more outlets, the better. As much as we’d like to think nature is all the entertainment we need, it’s simply not realistic with kids. The more outlets you have for charging phones, game systems, portable DVD players, etc., the happier they’ll be (and the less arguing over whose turn it is to charge there will be—hopefully).
- Cooking
There’s nothing like a hungry kid to derail your trip! Having plenty of room to pack food and to be able to cook that food is key. You’ll need to figure out how long your average camping trip will be and how much food you’ll need to bring to figure out if the travel camper has enough space for your family. It takes a lot of planning, but it’ll be worth it when you have enough room to spread out and cook a feast for your hungry clan.
- Storage
Aside from food, there are a ton of other things you need to bring on your camping trip, even more so with kids. Your trailer needs to be able to accommodate your family’s belongings with ease, or else you’re going to have a frustrating trip without everything you need. Look for hidden compartments under beds, tables, and countertops that can help squirrel away extra items.
- Set Up
There’s two ways of looking at setting up the trailer when you camp with kids: either you have more hands to help with the set up or fewer. If your kids will be helping, you can go with a more complex set up, but if not, it’s best to stick with a camper that can be set up and taken down in a few minutes. You should also consider how long you’ll be camping for usually; if mostly weekend trips, it doesn’t make sense to have a big trailer that takes longer to set up and take down.
- New vs Used
The best camper trailer for family use is one that’s safe and durable, lasting your family years to come. A used camper trailer is riskier, since you might not know about any issues until you’re out in the middle of nowhere, so a new camper trailer might give you more peace of mind, especially if it comes with a warranty.
- Easy to Clean
Camper trailers inevitably get dirty; after all, you’re surrounded by nature. But the best camper trailer for family use will be super easy to clean, with surfaces that wipe down easily, seat and mattress covers that can be thrown in the washer and dryer, and great airflow to avoid mould and mildew.
- Living Area
The best camper trailer for family use will take into account that the trailer can get pretty crowded, and you’ll need an outdoor living area to breathe. An awning helps shelter the area around your trailer, which is also a great spot to set up a makeshift kitchen area, circle the camp chairs, set up tables, and put down a mat to keep things tidier and homier.
- Customizable
The best camper trailer for family and kids will be customizable to your unique needs. Every family is different, so being able to customize the configuration, add on accessories and amenities, and even choose an off-roading package will make your camper trailer truly your own.
