Hello everyone. My wife and I are picking up our '98 Scamp 13 on Friday. We've not camped in 20 years, and are looking forward to getting back to it. For those of you who never stopped, or, like us, started again after a long hiatus, I'd be curious what you think has changed - technologically, socially, in the camp-culture generally? What will surprise or delight or concern us, a pair of Van Winkles waking up in a fiberglass egg two decades later? Also, a word of thanks - as we narrowed our options, the knowledge available on this forum was incredibly helpful, and no doubt will be even more so once we've brought the trailer home.
Tue, 11/02/2021 - 17:07
#1
Camping, 20 years later -
people like to play their music, and loudly for the whole campground to hear. i hate it. but they do it. i find if you camp during the week it is more respectful campers who are there for the peace and quiet, obviously most are retired folks. the weekends are usually packed at state parks and a lot of people are just there to party, so it can be loud and obnoxious. i try and camp mid-week as much as possible.
where do you live? if you're up north or in the midwest, the season is still the same, memorial day to labor day sees the most activity. if you are able/willing to camp outside of that time, i find fall camping to be wonderfully quiet, campgrounds empty, but some services are cutback (ie. only one bathhouse open, full hookup sites become electric only due to freezing, etc.). it might be chilly but if you have a heater you'll be fine at night. i camp through thanksgiving and we just make it work.
as far as tech instead of seeing people outside reading books or talking it's folks just staring at phones/devices now. due to COVID there is a massive increase in camping in the US so you might notice it's a lot busier than you remember.
1987 Scamp 16
Thanks for your observations - we're in northern Minnesota, so the season's nearly done. Might squeeze in a quick cool-weather trip, my favorite kind anyway. With regard to summer crowds I've noticed a trend toward dispersed camping, which seems tailor-made for Subarus and Scamp 13s. Another recent development is the Harvest Host idea - haven't tried it, but it sounds interesting, and opens some doors.
1998 Scamp 13
My first boondocking with the new Scamp was on the way home from the factory. I used Lake Itaska state park the first night to test a site with electric and water. Night two was at Six Mile Lake. It had it all, poison ivy, mosquitoes, and heavy rain. It was a great way to test the new rig in boondocking conditions. (best of all, it was FREE.)