In February, with a one year old. Any tips or do we just say screw it and get a hotel? Of course I’m not even sure DH would be willing to camp without the tiny human if its around freezing. I have a tent, fabulous air mattress that unfortunately takes up almost the whole tent, and that’s about it. Trailer isn’t fully enclosed so no camping in there with a heater.
Horse is accounted for with round pen panels.
Would you have access to power? I camped in some bitterly cold weather in the back of my truck with a cap and a small ceramic space heater. Toasty warm!
Need more info, like temperatures at night. I ride endurance, and camp with my BP without a heater. I’ve done rides where it’s below freezing at night, and with a fantastic sleeping bag it’s ok. Tips - I put a folded comforter on my air mattress as an extra layer, because those things conduct cold like crazy. Also, I put on foot warmers before getting into bed for the night.
That said, I do not have an infant. You have to consider other things, like cold once you’re up and out of bed. And a lack of running water / lack of warm water. With a baby I’d Prob suck it up and do a hotel… provided someone can stay with the horse(s)?
Its near Dallas, so the lowest would be in the 30s. We do have a generator and a heater, no running water but there is somewhere to shower nearby. Tent says it sleeps 6 but you know how that goes. I don’t think we could all fit inside the truck. I’m not dead stuck on the air mattress either. I do have 6" of memory foam toppers I could take.
I used to camp in the horse space of my trailer all the time. what worked for me was the airbed set on top of a few bales of hay or shavings and a few others set up as small tables. I made sure a few windows were open otherwise it would get really damp really fast.
you can hang pretty blankets/sheets along the walls to hide horse poo stains and to help insulate.
I also use a mosquito netting hung from the ceiling to keep my space bug free.
as for the baby, just tuck him or her in between the two of you for warmth.
I’m going to say heck no with an infant if I had the choice of getting a room. I’ve slept in my BP trailer when the temp was down right cold and I had multiple blankets on, and if you can get completely covered up it’s bearable but cold.
How long will you be camping? One night, or a week or more? If one night, then do it and have fun. If 4 or more days, get a hotel. The fun ceases after the 3rd night in a drippy, drafty, smelly, cramped, open-to-the-elements horse trailer, even if you have a tent erected inside.
If 1-3 days you might have a grand time. I don’t think the baby will mind one bit - they may even like it better because you get to cuddle together all night long. Best cold weather items are microfleece jammies, microfleece blankets - both will keep you super warm. You also want a place to have a table and chairs set up (like a pop-up tent) where you can enjoy some outside time, and baby has a protected environment in which to play.
I don’t recommend camping near Dallas in February. Can still get ice storms there. Not pleasant while changing diapers.
I not-so-fondly remember camping trips with my best friend the first couple years after she had her baby. In my experience primitive camping with a child that young is a massive headache. After a couple tries we threw in the towel and only went to horse camps that had rental cabins or bunk houses. No way we would have considered leaving the horses in camp overnight unattended while we stayed in a hotel either.
Just one night. If the weather is predicted to be too nasty, I’ll stay home. I’m not one to ride in anything too miserable anyway.
[QUOTE=pheasantknoll;7380091]
I don’t recommend camping near Dallas in February. Can still get ice storms there. Not pleasant while changing diapers.[/QUOTE]
Haha not hardly. It’s hot in Texas, I’m in Houston right now but I went through Dallas last week and as usual in winter there, it’s borderline hot. Tee shirt weather for sure. Sweatshirt weather at best at night.
I think you’ll have a blast, OP. I know I would have LOVED camping in a horse trailer as a kid.
Note feb 4 th , ice storm predicted in Dallas. I lived in Texas almost all my life. Dallas is known for its ice storms.
IN Pony Club, they taught the kids ( and moms) some terrific ways to retrofit your horse trailer as “living quarters” during rallies. However, I would NOT NOT NOT attempt to do this in the freezing winter temps! Even in Texas. Nope.
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