Hello from Annie & Dave in Boulder, CO (550 U#17)

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telemarque

Newbie
Hi All,

My fiancee Annie and I are picking up our new (to us) Camp-Inn 550 Ultra ('03 demo model, serial #17) from Cary, Craig and Croo in Necedah in mid-May. Looking forward to regional jaunts this summer, and travel across country for Fall in New England. Annie's heading off to grad school in the Boston area (where I'll be on sabbatical from CU), then the teardrop and I will come back to Boulder for the Spring semester (and certainly some bachelor camping jaunts w/#17 to the mountains and the desert, when I'm not out visiting my other shapely girl ;-).

We're excited to soon be part of the Camp-Inn community, coast-to-coast, here in the intermountain West (our long-term home), and in New England this Fall. We feel especially fortunate to be able to join the Camp-Inn community in such short order (made first contact with Cary two weeks ago, signed the adoption papers yesterday, and are picking her up in 3 weeks!).

We're not new to the teardropping community (owned a silver T@B for a couple years), and have long been admirers of the Camp-Inns (Petenwell is to Thor as Maserati is to...Hyundai?). We had a lot of fun in the T@B, but quality and efficiency were definitely lacking. We look forward to a long relationship with #17 (and are even considering how to have her be a part of our 2011 wedding - crazy, given that we haven't even met her yet!).

I feel compelled to put a plug in for Cary (preaching to the choir in this forum, I'm sure). He's been incredibly responsive and helpful over the past few weeks, and from the looks of it, he's very engaged in this forum as well. We look forward to meeting Craig, Holly and others at Camp-Inn (quality people making quality trailers). Beautiful, timeless, and inspired design, quality construction, and superb customer service -- this gives us confidence that we are making a great long-term investment. Can't wait to get rolling!

Looking forward to meeting some of you, virtually and out there on the road.

Cheers,

Annie & Dave
Boulder, Colorado
 
Welcome, Annie and Dave.

Yes - preaching to the choir here, however, it is very helpful to read things like this when one is first trying to find info on Camp-Inn trailers and their company.

Congrats on your purchase and upcoming wedding!
 
Annie and Dave,

Cool, you found your way here already.

Craig and I were just having a conversation about trailer serial numbers and you came up. We consider the 25 and under numbers kind of the special group of trailers out there and we have noticed lately the owners of these low serial numbers have come to realize that is somewhat significant. I occasionally get emails from the low 25 owners asking me about this.

So, even though it is an older trailer and maybe not as nice as a nice new shiny one off the production floor in a way you just joined a pretty small group of low number owners. That is pretty cool and will only get cooler.

That brings up a question. How many low serial number owners are on this forum? Any one with a low number shout out on here and let us know.

Cary
 
Re: Hello from Annie & Dave in Boulder, CO (550 U#

Hi Cary,

It's funny you mention the 'mystique of low serial numbers', as I was having a conversation with a friend recently about where my love of trailer camping came from. It starts a dozen or more years back, before I decided to move to a landlocked state. For me, trailer camping is the closest I come to sailing/cruising out here in Colorado.

Back in 1998 my company got sold and I bought a 1967 Alberg 37 Mark I sloop to set out on a ~3k+ nm voyage and eventually live aboard in Boston (Charlestown, technically). "Tempus Fugit" was hull #7 out of the Whitby Boat Yard, and when we encountered other A37 owners (mostly Mark II), I could sometimes see the envy in their eyes, as the early A37s were known to be particularly elegant, and utterly overbuilt (one drunk former Whitby employee told me "that Mark I is built like a brick sh*thouse" - which was meant to be a compliment ;-). When I had to part with the boat to pay for grad school (a long and painful separation process), its current owner (also named David) definitely saw the low serial as a selling point.

As for Camp-Inn #17, well, I'm sure you've figured out a few things over the course of building subsequent trailers, and by all accounts your quality has certainly not worsened, but Annie and I are proud to be the (soon-to-be) owners of a "classic" (an updated classic to boot - psyched about the new faucet/backsplash and electric brakes!). Mind you, we have no plans to part with our new trailer, but if we decide to have a family, and need to move up to a Raindrop, I'm sure the 'classic status' of #17 would have some cache to a would-be buyer ;-)

Looking forward to picking up our Prairie Schooner in a few weeks!

Cheerio,
...dsp
 
Welcome to the party!

Annie and Dave,
Congrats on your decision to adopt a new teardrop. We bought our CampInn last year and have been impressed with the build & design quality as well as the ongoing customer service provided by the group in Necedah.
We looked pretty seriously at the T@B, but for the reason's above decided on the CampInn and are glad we did.
Sounds like you've already got some big plans - I hope you enjoy your new trailer.
Ken & Peggy
 
Re: Welcome to the party!

Thanks for the welcome from the windy city, Ken & Peggy. LOVE the drawing (or is that a photoshopped photo? Regardless, it's beautiful). Annie will miss being able to dance in our trailer (the one benefit, but also one of the biggest drawbacks of the T@B - its height), but I've already promised her a side tent of some sort for dancing ;-) See you out there! ...dsp
 
Re: Welcome to the party!

Dave and Annie,
Since you are going to be in New England in the fall; I would like to extend an invitation to you to join us at Mi Te Jo campground in Milton,NH. We will be there the weekend after Labor Day. It's less than an hour north of Boston. Even if you don't have #17 out here come on up for the food and campfire and meet the gang.
 
Re: Welcome to the party!

Dave P said:
but I've already promised her a side tent of some sort for dancing ;-)
Click to expand...

I have been singing the praises of the side tent lately - we used ours for the first time this past weekend and it makes a huge difference. I'd definitely recommend it.
Ken

My avatar is a photoshopped image of our trailer, & thanks.
 
Re: Welcome to the party!

Looking into side tent / portable dance hall options and am deciding btw the Camp-Inn model and something like the Kelty Carport. Might try the latter and will report back..

As for your avatar, you are a Photoshop artist - well done!
 
Re: Welcome to the party!

Dave,
Those are interesting, we looked at something like that a few years ago to use with the SUV. I think the issue with the one you linked to will be the height. It says it will be determined by the height of your vehicle's roof rack. The teardrop is not going to be tall enough to let you stand up inside the tent - a deal killer for me. I have seen others use what looks like a conventional tent, probably using the tent doors awning or rainfly to somehow attach to the teardrop. It's a possible way to add a lot of room, that's for sure.
Ken
 
Re: Welcome to the party!

We LOVE the side tent! The more we set it up, the faster it gets. Tim is tall -6'5" , so being able to almost stand upright is a big bonus for us. PLus it is small and light weight, easy to use for overnighters when we don't want to mess with larger shelters.
Eileen
 
Re: Welcome to the party!

Hmm, the Camp-Inn side tent is very compelling. We're counting our pennies and might just spring for one when we head out to Necedah in May. Ken and Eileen certainly make compelling arguments for it!

Seperately, Alan - I have the Mi Te Jo outing in my calendar, but it's tough to know what our schedule is going to be just yet (Annie will have been in grad school for less than a month). Hoping to make it, with some sort of side tent as well ;-)

Thanks to you all for the warm and helpful welcome and advice!

- Dave & Annie
 
Re: Welcome to the party!

Dave and Annie,
good luck in grad school! What are you studying?? and Dave what department at CU?
We are University folk too, and sailors to boot. Our 1969 Cal 34, has made setting up the trailer so much easier. I have learned to be compact and to edit what I REALLY need -so basically I duplicated the boat galley items for the trailer. Also -being in the trailer to read and sleep is like snuggling in the V berth : )
Not sure what your #17 has in the way of options, and we know pennies are important -but we really suggest you look at the side tent. The nice thing is, you can always buy one later.
EIleen
 
Re: Welcome to the party!

After we had bought the camper, while we were picking it up, Cary said, "I want you to buy two things. One, the spray hose, and the side tent" We bought the hose and the side tent. The spray hose is now standard equipment. How long before the side tent is just figured into the sale price?

Side Tent...Don't leave home without it.

Steve and Ellen #338 550 Classic SUV
 
Re: Welcome to the party!

Steve'nEllen said:
How long before the side tent is just figured into the sale price?
Click to expand...

Right after this year's price increase... :)
 
Re: Welcome to the party!

Hi Eileen,

Thanks for the note, and great to 'know' another sailing and teaching couple! Funny, I think the image of the "yachting set" is of overprivileged snobs and their fancy yachts, but my Alberg (and I'd guess your Cal) cost me what many folks pay for a car, and it was my home for a couple of years to boot! Further, while I occasionally saw late-model Hinckleys and the like out on the water, with their ascot-wearing weekender helmsmen, I'd say I met more educators out on the water than any other profession. Summers off is a good thing, and while the money ain't great, I can't think of a better job than teaching ;-)

What department are you in, and where? I teach business ethics and sustainability in the MBA program at CU's Leeds School of Business ("Topics in Sustainable Business" and "The Socially Responsible Enterprise"), as a half-time faculty member (non-tenure track). The rest of my time is spent writing and consulting in sustainable business strategy (contracts here and there, most recently with IKEA, which was a lot of fun). Annie is heading to Harvard for a Masters degree in education (Ed.M., higher-ed admin focus) - an intensive, one-year program. Should be fun for both of us.

Oh, btw, I just Emailed Holly this morning and added a side tent and water sprayer hose to our accessories order for #17. I'm taking all of your advice ;-)

Cheerio,
...dsp
 
Re: Welcome to the party!

Hi Dave and Annie,
Spent the weekend looking at the stern of an Alberg! We did a short harbor hop and had a guest slip facing an Alberg ! They sure don't make those sweet lines these days! Our Cal is a rather spartan oldie in need of work, but we'd rather sail than varnish, wax and paint...

Tim and I are Entomologists -yep, thats bugs. We are at UC Riverside. He is tenured faculty working primarily on insects associated with trees -bark beetles and Eucalyptus pests. I worked as a research associate/lab manager/field entomologist for 20+ years. My most notable project was probably working with the City of Santa Monica to control American Cockroaches in their sewers in an environmentally friendly manner! A slew of family health issues found me taking more and more time off, so I finally quit work. While financially not the smartest move, I'm glad to have had the time with my Dad. My Mom just had heart surgery, and is doing OK, but I'm glad to know I will have the time to help when needed.
Meanwhile I'm gardening, birding, quilting, reading and taking the dogs to agility., as well as planning and preparing for for a 3 week camping trip up the coast.

Your work sounds like my sister's -Diane Osgood, an economist, who just left BSR in SF.

Enjoy looking at everyones ideas on how to set up storage and all kinds of tips. There are some great ideas! This is a great community! We look forward to hearing of your trips with the trailer!
Eileen
 
Re: Welcome to the party!

Hi Eileen,

Small world indeed, on many fronts! As for last weekend, I can think of worse views than the stern of an A37 - those CCA rules made for some very beautiful designs half a century ago. I've always been a big fan of the long overhangs and low freeboard, but she was a very wet ride, especially in rough water, and not particularly roomy either. But heck, who needs 'roomy'?! ;-)

You mention agility training with your dog, so I feel compelled to share a link to my 'Aunt-in-Law' Tricia McConnell's website. I'll be staying with her in Wisconsin on my way home from Necedah in a couple of weeks! If you're not familiar with her work, I think you'll enjoy surfing her website, and maybe even picking up one of her books (e.g. "The Other End of the Leash"). I never could stay there prior to the trailer purchase, as her farm is overrun with dogs, cats, sheep, and other decidedly not 'hypo-allergenic' critters. Looking forward to sleeping well on the farm in #17!

As for your work and research, again, small world (literally in this case ;-)
It's good to know (at least virtually at this point) a couple of Entomologists, at long last. I'm a long-time fan of E.O. Wilson's (have used his biophilia hypothesis in some of my green building writing and consulting, etc.) - have you read his recent novel "Anthill"? I heard him interviewed about it recently and it sounds fascinating - it's on my summer reading list - entomological fiction!

As for your sister Diane, I'll drop her a line via LinkedIn or some such - it'd be interesting to hear more about her work. My work has been focused in the 'eco-efficiency' aspect of sustainable business for the past ten years (since 'drinking the Kool-Aid' at RMI), but my recent teaching and writing have definitely turned towards a more values-based, 'social responsibility' orientation, and BSR is certainly a pioneer in this realm. Would love to connect with Diane.

It seems a bit funny to be swapping these personal messages on a Camp-Inn "meet & greet" forum, but then again, part of camping (and cruising) is about sharing stories and making connections, right? I do hope our paths cross in person sometime. Who knows, if Annie and I have a few spare minutes over Memorial Day Weekend (somewhat unlikely), and you happen to be around, we'll be doing the LA family tour, which will likely include trips to Simi Valley, Claremont, etc. (Annie's folks and both her uncles are Pomona grads, and they didn't stray very far ;-). If not this trip, then I'd say the odds are pretty good that we'll be rolling out there with #17 within the next 18 months or so. We'll drop you a line for sure!

Thanks again for the warm welcome, and it's great to connect with you and others through this forum!

Cheerio,
Dave (and Annie)
 
Re: Welcome to the party!

Eileen,

Funny you should ask. Dave just left a bit ago. I imagine it won't be long before we hear from on here.

Cary
 
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