Family of 6 in 13'?

[nam11]

Trying to get a few ideas/opinions about trailers (sorry for all the threads) because I am having a hard time finding a trailer and have zero experience with trailers (never camped in one let alone owned one).

Do you guys think it is possible/smart to buy a 13' trailer with a family of 6? We know we don't want a bathroom regardless of trailer size and do like being outside when we camp. We want a trailer for ease of setup/packing/being ready to go and for those rainy days. With a Scamp we could have the dinette bed for the adults and then try to extend the bunks, build out a triple bunk or floor cot for the kids. The sleeping situation would be tight and would take some work. The kids now are 7, 4, 2, and a newborn in 2 weeks so hopefully as they get bigger they migrate to a tent. But what about daily camp living? On a rainy day or a quick setup up or family time could we all hang out in a 13'? Haven't really been in too many small trailers and videos often make them seem either too small or surprising spacious.
Sorry for all the post just trying to figure everything out.

Nick

[Jim Bennett]

Personally, I would never try it in a 13' trailer. Maybe two kids. Armadillo makes 3 bunks in the front so 5 could fit. You could not camp in very cold weather or condensation would be an issue with all the expelled breath in there.

For six to hang out in a 13' trailer could be done, but after a while it could get bothersome. For the most part it is quite easy to set up a covered area outside.

Why not consider a larger trailer? You are right that kids will like to tent it for the most part once they get into their teens a ways, though you can't bank on it.

To be honest, there are not many moulded fibreglass trailers that claim to sleep six, even if some of them are small.

An Escape 19 with a bunk option comfortably sleeps 5, and you could quite easily sleep 6 if you put 3 on the full sized queen, two on the dinette and one on the bunk.

Keep firing away with questions, it is a good way to figure things out. Another is to hit up a moulded fibreglass rally, where you can check out a lot of different trailers, and see what you think would, or would not, work for you.

[nam11]

We like the Scamp 16' due to weight/price/ability to mod easily. Without a bathroom we have come up with some ideas that would sleep 6 that would be some building of bed extensions/hallway cots etc. I know that every FG trailer will be tight just wondering if people had experience. The condensation problem I never really thought of, thanks something I will have to look into.

[Raz]

Do you guys think it is possible/smart to buy a 13' trailer with a family of 6?

Might be a little tight.

[Postman]

NO WAY!!!

[Raz]

One solution is to put some of the kids in a tent. My guess they will fight over who's gets to be in the tent.

[MK Evenson]

Nick, we are only 2 people and if money, and storage space on our property were not considerations I would go longer than our current 17'

Tents certainly are options, and the older kids would feel more independent but during rain or very cold weather a 13' IMHO would be way too small.
If you like camping frequently, make it as comfortable and enjoyable as possible .

I would suggest going to a rally , with all the family, and ask the owners of the trailers if you could all go inside , just to get a feel. Of course a few minutes will be nothing like 24 hrs. Some storms can be pesty!

Mark

[Bruce Thomas]

Practice in your car tonight

[Randy P.]

A tent trailer would be my suggestion. Roomy, easy to tow and relatively inexpensive.

13 footer - nope.

[skalywag]

I wonder how many shoes that trip would include? Reminds me of a trip I made with my family (total of 7) to Mammoth Cave Park as a kid (ca. 1959) in an Elkhart TT - I believe the trailer was named "Gotel" that my Dad had rented. We had 3 days of heavy rain and I will always remember the smell...
Having said that, It could be a good bonding experience.

[rbryan]

If you're willing to put the kids in tents outside, sure. Otherwise, no way, no how. In fact, I doubt there is a small light molded fiberglass trailer out there that can sleep 6 comfortably and practically.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Randy P.

A tent trailer would be my suggestion. Roomy, easy to tow and relatively inexpensive.

13 footer - nope.

This is a great recommendation if you wish to remain small for towing. The bed space in a tent trailer is just as big as the living space, providing not only lots of sleeping space, but a place for kids to hang out as well.

[Wayne Collins]

One of our Scamping friends has a 19ft Scamp, that "SLEEPS 8 — 2 at a time"

[garycarolyn]

Originally Posted by nam11

Trying to get a few ideas/opinions about trailers (sorry for all the threads) because I am having a hard time finding a trailer and have zero experience with trailers (never camped in one let alone owned one).

Do you guys think it is possible/smart to buy a 13' trailer with a family of 6? We know we don't want a bathroom regardless of trailer size and do like being outside when we camp. We want a trailer for ease of setup/packing/being ready to go and for those rainy days. With a Scamp we could have the dinette bed for the adults and then try to extend the bunks, build out a triple bunk or floor cot for the kids. The sleeping situation would be tight and would take some work. The kids now are 7, 4, 2, and a newborn in 2 weeks so hopefully as they get bigger they migrate to a tent. But what about daily camp living? On a rainy day or a quick setup up or family time could we all hang out in a 13'? Haven't really been in too many small trailers and videos often make them seem either too small or surprising spacious.
Sorry for all the post just trying to figure everything out.

Nick

A pop up might work for a few years (we did it) where there are 2 full sized beds when opened up and a lot of walking around room inside with awning or tent attached at the door for added space, pottie, cooler, bikes, storage. Plenty of room to read, play on the beds in rainy weather. Then get a bigger FB down the road.

[Kai in Seattle]

Many good ideas.

Depending on the tow vehicle, you can sleep some of the kids (or the adults!) inside that. If a van, a station wagon, or a truck with a canopy, then sure, at least two will fit in there. Still, it's going to be tight.

Consider renting a trailer to find out how a 13' works with six. I'd say spend the first night in it in your own driveway for best results. Many areas do have someone who offers them for rent. Also, there are van tailgate type tents that slip over the hatch on some vans...two and even three area tents, too, fairly spacious. But it depends on the van you have.

BEST
Kai

[emij]

There are five sleeping spaces in a Scamp 16 layout 7, and a newborn could sleep with parents, or put a small pack and play in the center aisle. We have a family of four and traded our Scamp 13 with front bunks for this layout this past summer.

Several rainy days and nights, we would have 6-8 people inside of our Scamp 13, playing board games and trying to stay dry (this was before our friends bought their own camper and were miserable in their tent.) You can comfortably sit four at the table and three to four on the sofa when it isn't in the bunk position, but there isn't room for anyone to be moving around or switching places. You'll also find that storage space is incredibly limited and requires moving people out of the way to access under bunk and under dinette storage.

I grew up camping with my family of seven in a tent trailer, and it always felt spacious and roomy.

[David B.]

With the kids so young, you could sleep two on the bottom bunk (head to foot ), the oldest one on the top bunk, and then build a small bunk over the mom & pop sleeping area for the infant. There was a write-up in an earlier posting of someone modifing their scamp 13’ with the infant bunk. Use the “search” toward the top of this page and a drop down with two search boxes (use the bottom box for better results) to find the posting.
Best of luck with your search.
Dave & Paula

[Roger C H]

Do be aware that the rear bed is usually a 3/4 size, not a full. It is difficult for two adults to sleep there. Then there is the problem of night time potty trips...
Our 13' is just the right size for us two.
We used to camp in one tent with our 5 kids which became two tents and a dining fly.

[Jon in AZ]

Possible? Yes. Practical? Not so much.

2- and 4-year-old on upper bunk (sleeping opposite ways, need a good safety rail), dad on lower, mom with newborn and 7-year-old on dinette bed.

One tidbit: a mattress sized for a portable crib (38" long) just fits on the floor. Problem is there is no place left to walk and no good place to store the mattress during the day.

Bigger problem Is how fast kids grow. They will outgrow the arrangement I described in a season or two. Will they be ready for a tent? Will you want to bother with a tent? Until they're old enough to set it up and take it down themselves, a tent makes more work for you.

Depending on the vehicle, your tow vehicle might have the answer. Our Pilot folds down flat to sleep 2 easily. Less work than a tent and safer in bear country.

Daytime use is no problem. Four at dinette and two on front sofa is comfortable. Storing bedding is an issue. Tow vehicle, maybe...

Don't make any big mods and it will resell easily in a couple of year when you have outgrown it. Keep looking for that 16' bunk/side dinette model.

[Lenna K]

I have to say that 6 in a 13' would not be pleasant. We have camped with our 5 year old in our boler with front bunks and just her "stuff" took up the second bunk space. When I was a child, with 3 siblings, our family camped in a tent trailer pulled by the family car, and it was quite spacious and comfortable. The cost is also a factor as fibreglass campers can cost a bit more than some of the other trailers out there. Good luck with your search and happy family camping!