Any Large Family RVers....help us make it happen

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by sourdough

tk - you are experiencing what I suspect most RVrs have gone through. Heck. when we bought this RV, owning 2 vacation homes, it was one of the most analytical things we had gone through....just to decide if it was smart to get one. After that trying to decide if it would work, what would work, what it would take to tow it etc. is a brain filling experience. For us, as a retired couple looking to "look around" and wanting the most room in the best accommodations we could find it took a lot of time to get what we wanted. Looking for a larger family is much more difficult and time consuming. We have discussed most/all of the aspects that you have to consider when you move to this decision. Ultimately it will be hard, you will have to delete things you want and then make a decision on.....what you think is important.

Well said!! Last purchase was a 3 year search.

[itat]

If you have all 8 of you travelling to the campground, you'll have to either take 2 vehicles or have a 1 ton-based van (like a Ford E350) with enough belted seating positions to handle that many passengers and still have enough payload capability to tow a good sized trailer.

As for the camper, sleeping 8 is a big challenge, especially if they are mostly adult sized. I know many people love their bunkhouses and they are fine for young children, but once they hit their teens the bunks become too small, especially if they are the 26" wide variety. When our kids hit their teens we opted to go with a U shaped dinette and air mattresses on the pull out couch and the floor. We looked at the double sized bunks but they were just too short to be usable. However, we only had to accommodate 3 teenage boys, far shy of what you're looking to do.

I wonder if opting for a toy hauler might be an option to get extra space to sleep everyone. Either that or 2 campers with 2 vehicles including one that you'd be prepared to drive, or one of your eldest kids?

Good luck with your decision. I hope you're able to find a way to get everyone out camping. It's a great family activity.

[mrb2222]

We bought a Hideout 29bks for the bunkhouse to handle our grandkids and we tow it with a 2012 Expedition. However we don't haul the kids in it. They come in a second vehicle. If we were going to haul the kids we would have a large van as someone else mentioned. The Expedition works for the wife and I and that's it.

[Double b]

I understand your question. We have 4 children and love to camp. We decided to go with a Chevy Silverado crew cab, with the bench set. Also we have a 2014 Laredo 320tg. Its a triple rear bunkhouse with the full outdoor kitchen.

Funny thing is, our kids tend to sleep on the pull out couches and drop down dinette instead of sleeping in the bunks. They are still quite attached to Mommy.

Our kids are ages 9 to 15. 3 girls and 1 boy.

If you have any questions please feel free to PM your questions.

Our biggest thing is finding a place to put all the shoes!