I’ve been fascinated with the tiny living movement for years, but I knew it really wasn’t too practical for us to attempt it at this point in our lives, no matter how appealing the idea was. Then we began to toss around the idea of recreational vehicles and we were excited to get a taste of the tiny living experience while on the road.
We like to travel with lots of art-related stuff, so this is a challenge, but we found a camper trailer that suits our needs well. We chose the 2018 Coleman Lantern202RD. While we enjoy nice things, we aren’t too glamorous or gourmet. We like to keep things as simple and multi-functional as possible, foregoing unnecessary luxuries and interior amenities to spend more time outside.
We bought a used travel trailer (it had been used less than two weeks when the original owners decided they needed a larger RV), so we spent around $15,000 (including tax and tag) for a trailer that still had the new RV smell. There was also an additional few thousand spent on various supplies and services. That’s just the way it is, but after we did some research and shopping, we had a home-away-from-home that’s customized and accessorized to our specific needs. I spent a crazy amount of time researching products and checking reviews, so I’ll share the lists of our favorite products and finds I wish I’d had to begin with.
This travel trailer met Patrick’s requirement of a decent-sized bathroom with a shower he could stand in, along with my desire for a walk around bed with a somewhat private dedicated sleeping area. We both appreciate the back entertainment area with a jackknife sofa and a dinette that both convert into beds. I knew it was unlikely that we’d break down and set up a dinette every day, but the sofa is super easy to convert (think pulling out a futon). Our college-age son won’t be on trips with us often, but the sofabed works fine for him (even though at 6 foot 3 inches his feet hang off the end).
While the kitchen area is small, it came with a large fridge with a separate freezer compartment that I wanted and a roomy pantry cupboard, along with a substantial amount of storage. (As long as no one is pacing around behind you … ahem, Patrick … the kitchen area works well for our needs.) Again, I’m a lover of foil-packet cooking … no fuss, no muss (toss it on the grill or fire pit outdoors with minimal clean-up afterward), so I may be easier to please than the average cook in that
PATRICK LYNCH
ADVENTURE-SEEKER, MASTER OF PHOTOGRAPHY
My husband Patrick is a photographer and also enjoys ham radio. (I got my license as well and this can be a great way to communicate when he’s off on a photo adventure and I’m at the campsite doing my thing.) He created travel kits for his radio equipment and antennas, put an antenna holder on our back bumper and even hard-wired a jack into the wall in our dining area to plug it all into. He also travels with a lot of camera equipment, but this will usually ride in the truck with us to keep handy while traveling.
Patrick is a vintage camera collector, a photo club coordinator, an ignorer of instruction manuals, a voider of warranties and a mud magnet. His curmudgeonly sense of humor always keeps others guessing.
LAUREN LYNCH
ADVENTURE-SEEKER, AUTHOR, ARTIST, DESIGNER
I’m an author, artist, and graphic designer. I also enjoy taking photos. I wanted to be able to bring a laptop for writing, my camera, and art supplies. You might be wondering why I would want to drag all this stuff along with me while camping. Hardcore artsy types will understand. There is something inspiring about being in nature. If I didn’t have my creative tools with me, I’d feel like I was missing an important part of myself. It’s just the way I’m wired. I’ve created a streamlined travel art kit so I can let my creative juices flow while keeping it all compact. (See what I take along.)
We’ll share our journey with you … the good, the bad and the laughable. This way, you can learn from our mistakes and our victories, or even join us vicariously from your armchair at home. Either way, we hope you enjoy the ride!
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