campinghistorybyrig

Our Camping History - From Tent to Fifth Wheel

While working on our family history and reviewing photos for inclusion in the project, I happened along several photos of our camping rigs (starting with the ole army tent) and decided that they surely had a place in our family story. Here is that story:

This is our first "rig". The ole army tent. It was 9 foot by 20 foot, had a HUGE ridge pole (came in 4 pieces) and took at least 45 minutes to 1 hour to put up and take down. This is Al's mom, a few years before Al and I started using the tent. We started our camping experiences in 1973 with 2 kids, and a very large Collie! Al's mom and dad would frequently join us, so we slept 4 adults, 2 kids and the Collie and still had room for several long aluminum tables and when it rained a card table with 4 chairs where we would play cards. We used the tent for 4 summers, 2 weeks at a time.

This is our Porta-Cabin popup trailer. We purchased it new in 1977 and used it for 6 camping seasons. (That is our middle son getting a drink of water from the hose in the lower right hand side of the photo.) This was surely a step up from the tent, no more sleeping on the ground (with newspapers under the sleeping bags to keep us dry).

Here is the Porta-Cabin, for sale, well used, well loved, and lots of memories.

Above, is our 1979 Yellowstone Bunkhouse Travel Trailer. We purchased this in about 1983, we sold it in 1989 for more than we paid for it! This was a great unit for camping with 3 boys, their bedroom was behind a wall in the rear raised portion of the rig. Mom could not see their messes, although they had to clean up the area once a day. We once slept 4 adults and 5 kids in this unit in late fall when it was brisky cold in Michigan, great fall camping!

Inside Yellowstone, kitchen to the left, Carol, Troy and Al at the table, Todd and Trent cutting up from one of the top bunks! This was probably taken at Lake Placid New York, just weeks after the purchase of this unit.

Above, Al and his 97 Ford F 150 and the 1989 Layton Celebrity Travel Trailer. Purchased the truck and trailer both new. Trailer was hauled from Maine to Oklahoma City and the UP of Michigan to Ft. Lauderdale Florida. We camped in smothering heat in Okahoma with no power cept for a generator and blizzards in Gaylord Michigan. That trailer had a lot of miles on her and so many memories. There was a front kitchen, a rear bedroom, large walk through bathroom and a "front room". The Layton was sold in 2003 when we purchased our Montana 5er.

Our 2004 3295RK Montana and 2003 GMC to haul her with! Purchased both new in late spring of 2003. Photo taken in one of our favorite campgrounds for fall camping in Michigan, Portage Campground in the Waterloo Recreation Area, near Jackson, Michigan.