Thinking about a camper trailer?

Wow 7 kids between 9&14 you got your hands full there.

I would be asking myself how are they going to handle sleeping in the camper trailer environment ? Would a big tent plus a few small ones be a better option?

I am guessing for a camper trailer with enough space for that many , a soft floor type may be better as they seem to have extra rooms easily added. I was looking at our hard floor camper and thinking how would I have enough room for that many. Even with the annex closed in it would be tight but doable.

I guess the benefit of the trailer is the kitchen, water and extra space to carry items , compared to tenting where you would need to carry that stuff in the vehicle.

Do your homework because there are some very average so called offroad camper trailers out there.

Good Luck

Cheers Ean

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Originally Posted by DiscoMick

As a side note, consider buying the kids a dome swag each. They can be had for about $100-150 each. Anaconda's Dune range are better quality than the 4WD Supercentre ones.
My nephew did this for his six kids and it works well. Each kid gets their own personal space to set up where they like. In rainy weather they can be under the camper awning for extra protection.
That way you can focus your dollars on the camper.
For $10k new it will be imported, or a good used Aussie made one. Focus on these points:

Strong frame and suspension
Comfortable bed
Practical kitchen
No leaks
Ten minute setup
Not more than about 1200kg to tow
Water tank at least 50 litres
AGM battery with chargers to run a fridge
Electric brakes

With these basics covered, you should be fine.

Buy a kit of LED lights

No need to overspec your camper. Just cover the basics.

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+1
Those single dome swags are the best thing since sliced bread as far as my grandkids are concerned and they Love them.
It gives them their own "Space" and they Love the fact that they can make their own little camp up.
If your wife is able to tow a box trailer to stow the 7x swags you will need and you tow the camper you will be able to fit everything in.
The box trailer will also come in handy to stow all the extra water you will need for 7 kids as they tend to use heaps of water.
Also an awning on both vehicles will give the kids extra shade/protection and still keep them from being underfoot all the time.

Yes, agreed. One of the advantages of single dome swags is they roll up sideways, not length ways, so they're much more compact than the double swags, which roll up longways and are very bulky.
Giving swags to the kids means a smaller camper can work as a base station, because you're not trying to fit the kids inside the camper, as they are outside.

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Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Yes, agreed. One of the advantages of single dome swags is they roll up sideways, not length ways, so they're much more compact than the double swags, which roll up longways and are very bulky.
Giving swags to the kids means a smaller camper can work as a base station, because you're not trying to fit the kids inside the camper, as they are outside.

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My double swag rolls up exactly the same way as my single swag, both width ways

A lot of food for thought here.
We had thought about swags for the kids, I will look at dome swags.
The reason we decided not to just tent it were, a kitchen set up would be good, storage, self contained would be used for weeks & getting to bloody old to sleep on the ground.
SWMBO & I have read through all post so far, have decided against the GIC due to your comments & continue our search.
The good side is we are looking at holidays in September/October but I would like to have it in plenty of time to do some local shakedown camps & fix any problems. This is the land of wait awhile.
I would like it to have has much kit as possible because we intend to use it for long trips & for regular week-end trips & the option of the odd night in a motel isn't an option.
We are defiantly looking second hand & I don't have a problem with going & getting it, though closer the better.
Thanks
Jonesfam

Sleeping 9, a large soft floor although the more canvas the more involved the setup is.

8 swags will also take up a lot of room........plus you need a wet wetter plan.

A mates mate had five kids....the setup up a bus, sit up front and sleep down the back.

I have an ARB awning and got one of those rooms that you clip onto the awning, A bit of a PITA to set up But I recon you could fit 7 kids into it if you had to.

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Originally Posted by trout1105

I have an ARB awning and got one of those rooms that you clip onto the awning, A bit of a PITA to set up But I recon you could fit 7 kids into it if you had to.

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Yes we have walls for the vehicle awning. Good for keeping rain off. We can set up two swags on stretchers in ours.

Chris ( Rangieman ) had a soft floor camper that would nearly fit the brady bunch in, it folded out both sides to create a huge amount of living space.
All that canvas comes at a cost of setup and packing up time but with 7 kids that is a given anyway.

Hi, I've been looking into this and best one I have found so far is Camper Trailers | Sergeant Camper Trailer

This will be one for me when I do get to convince the other half that we need one.