What else could we possibly need?

Kevin is a Class C 2021 Jayco Greyhawk.  If you don’t know what any of that means, don’t worry.  Neither did I.  To break it down, a Class C RV is a driveable with an overhead bunk above the cab. From the trailer you step down a bit to enter the driving area. It’s different than a Class A bus where the floorplan is all one level. We have two bunks in the back, a master bedroom with a door, (This is a really big deal, you guys. In fact, I would say it’s a game-changer. We can all change clothes without kicking everyone else out of the camper. You can shut the door and take a nap… in short – AMAZING.) and a couch and dinette that also can be converted into sleeping space. There’s a good sized-kitchen and a bathroom with a shower, toilet, and sink.

One of the biggest differences from the travel trailer is the storage (*cue angels singing).

We. Have. Drawers. And. Cabinets.. And. A. Pantry.

Even the bathroom has a tiny medicine cabinet and the bedroom has a little nightstand. It feels so spacious, all 31 feet of it.

Having a drivable camper is great for a couple of reasons:

1. You can all travel together. It was tough finding a vehicle that can seat six of us, plus two dogs and haul the trailer.
2. It keeps everyone entertained. Kids can sleep, sit at the dinette and play games, or watch TV on the couch all while driving. They can also use the bathroom, get a snack, and charge their electronics (yup, we allow electronics – not even sorry).
3. It’s cool.  Well, it’s “campground cool”.  If you’re a regular at campsites, you know what I mean.

Now for the bad news.  

Even though you drive the camper to your destination, you don’t really want to have to move it until you leave.  It is big and slow and tall, which means you have to be careful when going in tunnels and under bridges or around corners.  I absolutely do not want to be the one who shears the AC unit off the roof.

This means if you want to sightsee outside of the campground or even just run out for ice cream, you will need to tow a vehicle.  The vehicle is affectionately known as a “toad” or a “dingy.”  We are flat towing a vehicle, which requires a towbar to be installed in the back of the  camper and a series of no less than 15 steps to prepare the vehicle to be towed.  Also, you need a breakaway cable and this device that steps on the brake in the vehicle in case of a quick stop – there is a monitor on the dashboard to let us know if everything is working properly.  If you are thinking that sounds complicated, you are right.  

In my quest to be able to do all the RV things, I am learning how to not only drive and park Kevin, but also to attach the “toad” to the towbar.  I sit in the front of my Jeep Cherokee (I traded in my go-go-grocery-getter Kia Sorento just to be able to have a vehicle to tow behind the camper. I L-O-V-E this vehicle. Why didn’t I get a Jeep sooner?) with the manual on my lap and read through the steps, shifting, braking, putting the car in the neutral position and testing it to see if it moves on its own.  Rob could definitely do this a lot faster on his own, but it makes me feel useful and more capable to be able to help. It’s a lot like when your toddler wants to “do it herself” and ends up making more work for the mom.  It’s me. I’m the toddler.  But, after all, Kevin is 50 percent mine, so I’d better know what to do, even if I slow us down. Significantly.

So, after a HUGE shopping trip to stock the pantry and adding some small personal touches like a chalkboard, a wall organizer for remotes and charging cables, swapping the horrible RV bedding for a soft and comfortable bedspread and our own pillows, we are pretty ready for this weekend.

What is this weekend, you ask? Well, it’s our annual Father’s Day camping trip to Pine Meadows Camping Resort in Oakham, MA.  

But, Jenn, I thought you were going to Montana?

We are.  This is practice trip – a dress rehearsal, if you will.  Even though we are only an hour from home, we packed up three kiddos and two dogs (and one “toad”) and ALL our gear for two days of fun with friends.  This is where we will see what goes wrong, what needs to be tweaked, what we forgot… 

This is where we get the jitters out because in only 48 hours, we will be on our way to Big Sky Country!

“Adventure is worthwhile in itself.”

~Amelia Earhart