This is The Camping Machine and our tow vehicle amid the scenic red rock cliffs of southern Utah.
As
I mentioned on the home page, The Camping Machine name came courtesy of our then four-year old son. We went to
the local RV show on a cold, blustery February day for something to do. We had no intention of buying a recreational
vehicle. When we walked into the convention center my son stopped dead in his tracks and uttered the words, "Dad,
look at all these camping machines!"
I was struck by how he categorized the vehicles he was looking
at. In his world (at that time - he is now eight years old) machines have a purpose. Garbage Trucks are machines
to take away the trash. Dump Trucks are machines to haul dirt. Staring at the massive motor homes and 5th Wheel
trailers, he put them into his own frame of reference. These were machines to go camping.
The Camping Machine in Grand Teton National Park
After the RV show my wife and I started talking about possibly buying a entry-level travel trailer and taking our two
boys camping. As a family we have made a lifestyle commitment to pursue outdoor activities with our kids instead
of spending quality time in front of the TV. Living as we do in the Rocky Mountain West we have the pleasure of residing
in one of the most scenic areas in the United States. Neither my wife or I grew up out here - I'm originally from
New York, of all places - but we both love to ski and hike and we like to be physically active. We want to take advantage
of our location and keep our family active and healthy. Having a Camping Machine would allow us to explore the beauty
of the area we live in and spend more time outdoors. We thought if we started doing these things with our boys while
they were young we could instill a healthy, active lifestyle with them that would last throughout their lives.
Inside The Camping Machine
Ours is a 2005 model
After much discussion we decided to invest in a travel trailer and
solidify our lifestyle commitment. I did months of research, looking for an entry-level model from a quality manufacturer.
We wanted bunk beds for the boys, a decent amount of storage and a place where visitors could sit without having to use
our bed. We selected a new 2005 Crossroads Zinger ZT27BH model. As you can see from the floor
plan it has bunk beds - the lower one is actually large enough for our two boys to share. We have them in sleeping bags
head-to-toe and it works out fine. In a few years our older boy will move up to the top bunk, but for now we use
that for storage.
If you are unfamiliar with the model designations of many RVs, the model number tells
you about the size and layout of the trailer. This trailer is 27 feel long and has bunk beds - hence the 27BH in the
model number. We considered a 24 foot long version, but it did not have the couch outside the bedroom and after some
discussion we decided we wanted the couch. This is where I sit and unwind with a good book when everyone else has gone
to sleep. The rest of the floorplan is pretty straight forward.
Set up at camp
The trailer weighs about 4500 pounds dry and has 40 gallon fresh, gray and black water tanks. It
has an overall length of nearly 29 feet. I was looking for a (relatively) light trailer with larger tanks and this one
fit the bill pretty well. It tows nicely behind my 1/2 ton Suburban, although once we're loaded up it is a bit slow
going up hills - and we can't go anywhere around here without climbing mountain passes. For example, climbing up
Logan Canyon on the way to Bear Lake, we may go as slowly as 35 mph on some of the steeper sections near the top of the pass
- but we get up and over. And as you can see from the picture below, it's absolutely worth it.
The Camping Machine visits Bear Lake
Now that we are in our fourth year
of camping and taking our trailer on the road, we've run into a few additional issues with construction quality and 'fit-and-finish.'
The bedroom has a small space on either side of the queen bed that is like a half-wardrobe, where you can hang a few shirts
on a small hanging rod. The front of each half-wardrobe is a mirrored door. In the last year each of the two mirrors
has come un-glued from the inside of the door. In one case if fell out as my wife opened it and very nearly broke.
This is a function of the glue drying up and losing its hold. Still I would have thought it the mirror could have been
secured in a more stable, reliable fashion. Also the hook that holds the shower wand at the top of the shower stall
came off, and the screws went right down the drain. Finally in the bedroom the mechanism that holds the blinds to the
wall above the window came apart. All in all these are not big deals, but they are frustrating and speak to the overall
attention to detail and quality of construction (or lack thereof) in this unit.
If I were using this trailer more
than three or four times a year I'd be a bit more upset. Still, for what it is and what we paid for it, it is a
very serviceable unit and once we are out on the road, having fun, we overlook those inconveniences - well, except for the
mattress. And I've gotten over the holding tank drain handles being mislabeled. Almost.
Camping in Southern Utah
As with many first time purchases, I would do things differently the second time around. I would love to have a
slide out, because even though the floorplan is fairly open it would be nice to have the extra room when we are housebound
at camp. I think next time I will look at getting a 3/4 ton pickup truck as the tow vehicle and get a large
5th wheel instead of a travel trailer. I've heard they are easier to tow and negotiate tight turns better than travel
trailers, and it would be nice to have the master bedroom a bit farther away from the entertainment area. I'd also
look for a model with more and larger windows - our unit could stand to have more natural light.
But overall we
are thrilled with our rig and the opportunity it provides us to get out on the road and go camping. And it is accomplising
the goal we hoped it would when we first made the decision to embrace this lifestyle. This March, when I took the cover
off The Camping Machine and was cleaning it out in preparation for de-winterizing, I opened the trailer door and let the boys
go inside to play. I was leaning inside one of the pass-through storage areas and I heard the boys talking from inside
the trailer.
"This is so great," my younger son said to his brother. "I can't wait to
go camping again!"
"Neither can I," the older boy said. "We're going to have so much
fun!"
Yes you are, fellas. Yes you are.
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