Just how many in total attended the 2010 Vous??

How did that compair to past years?

There were 6 people at my camp site. (As its always said - 1 more than last year is the official count)

Yeah I was going to say one more then last year. I think there were more campers though. I guess I don't blame them I would like the comfort also. But we do okay at our site.

Well, I do blame them. This is a biker event. It's one thing if all of the campers were filled with older folks who really needed the support vehicles instead of younger "tourist" who are just coming to ogle at bikers and hope to see some nudity.

It's always hard to judge the size of the crowd at Rendezvous. I saw a lot of people hanging in thier campsites this year - maybe because of the opening and they didn't get thier normal spot.

It was packed as much as usual on the side hill when the fireworks were going off.

They never release an official annual gate count. Probably good. I have seen in the past where they have noted that they expect 5-7,000, but I think it far exceeds this.

Well said, Ed; "tourists, looking for nudity". You hit it exactly right.

Out of the 25+ folks I camp with, 3 couples are unable to sleep on the ground any longer so they bring two chase vehicles (pickup truck and a van) and pack large tents. In each of those tents go a couple of fold up, cot-style foundations. On top of those, go queen-sized air mattresses which they then lay out with full sheets and bedcovers. I'm willing to bet their setups would rival the sleeping comfort of any camper, and I've often looked enviously at their arrangements as I crawl out of my crash-pad setup. (But I still wouldn't trade - there's nothing like riding in with everyhing you'll need for the weekend strapped right to your bike.)

The giant campers and 5th wheel setups should be banned. Seriously. They take up too much space, they cause headaches on the roadways outside the gates, and most importantly; they fly in the face of everything this event stands for.

Ok, getting off my soap box now (for the moment, anyway...)

I will admit that I am a "camper man", but I drag mine in with my Softail....

I'm seriously looking for one of those, Ed...Very impressive !!

my bike,tent,sleeping bag and a lot of fun !!!! thats all i need

Here you go Mike - a "local" one for you like my old one. Great motorcycle camper for $350!

http://hartford.craigslist.org/rvs/1818275564.html

Thanks Ed !!

Ain't nuthin' wrong with that setup, Ed. I've looked into those myself, but the tent still works, so I haven't pulled the trigger yet.

Dave - I still do the tent thing with air matress quite often if I'm going alone or for only one night, but after crashing and breaking collar bone, multiple ribs and 4 vertabrae, I'm happy to still be able to ride long distances. The camper has been real nice...... keeps me on two wheels!

Keep on riding... hope to see you at Crossroads Rally or UBM Statewide Later this Summer.

that is a nifty little contraption, i never woulda guessed it was a camper

Have a look at http://www.trailmasterinc.com/ ...friends of ours have had one for years n love it..

Cool trailer Ed. We never ran into each other last week, that I remember, wanted to check out your camper.

The crowd on the hill looked like the normal number of people, but it did seem kind of quiet and not too crowded in the campground.

thats a nice setup ed. you got nothing to hang your head about! at least you ride out and to pull a trailer with your bike is awesome! id like to do that someday!

I doubt you'll see the day when campers are banned, at $150.00 a piece to drive through the gate, I'm sure it's not worth throwing them to the curb.

Sorry, you can ridicule me all you like, I like to ride, and yup, I like to use the camper, I like having my own shower and bathroom, if that makes me not a biker in anyone's eyes....oh well.. I think it bothers other people more than it bothers me.

I don't have any problems with the campers. I may even bring one there myself someday.

I use a tent and an easy-up.
Just sayin'.

Yup I go admire the bikes/bikers *drools*
Had my tent but I ended up sleeping in Big Red (My trusted 4 wheel Aztek) love that suv.

I've never been under the impression that bringing a camper removes you from the status of being a biker - granted, most of our crew rides out, but a few of us drive vehicles out to carry the "supplies" - someday I'll get to the point of a small camper as well, as again, Chainsaw and I both have back issues that aren't getting better anytime soon - even an air mattress won't be an option at some point. With my shoulder/neck issue that flared up right before this year, I would have killed for a real mattress. If it comes down to me bringing a small camper, or not going, you bet your ass you'll find me in a camper.

My only other thought is - if the camper is as big as your house - it should be in RV only.

Folks, some of us need to pay closer attention to what people specifically write. Never have I said that all campers are evil, or that all campers should be banned. What I have always said (when I'm standing atop my soapbox and getting myself all worked up) is that the "giant" campers and 5th wheel setups do not belong at the 'vous.

Besides the fact that it's just a 3 night stay, this is above-all-else, a motorcycle themed event. This is not a "Let me bring my obnoxiously large road house along and show it off" event.

I have nothing against those for whom terra firma is no longer a comfortable option. In the circles I've run in, I've had more than one brother in that very situation, and for them, I fully understand, accept, and even encourage them to avail themselves of any and all options to alleviate their discomfort. And if that means a camper, then have at it - Hell, I'll even do the maintence on it for you. But there is a significant difference between a camper you bring to a 3-night biker event, and something that you can hold a convention in.

Further, from my experience and observations, it's not the old timers who are showing up in these enormous aberrations. It's not the unfortunates who have crashed and broken who are showing up in these gigantic absurdities. It's folks who don't "get it". It's perfectly able-bodied "tourists", to use Ed's apropos terminology. And yeah; they bug me.

But to clarify things again; not all campers are bad. My complaint is with the oversized ones.

Again; just my opinion. I shall once again step off the soap box. But I'm keeping it next to me, for I fear it'll be needed again soon...

Dusty - let me stand on that soapbox for just a bit with you - No matter what your bringing know how to drive it! (Which includes backing up and turning). We also had someone show up late with a huge rig who of course could not find a place to park that they could manuver into - well, duh.

I believe its because of these kind of rigs and the issues they get into that the camper pass keeps going up. (and should keep going up to discourage those huge houses on wheels).

I don't have a problem with any size of camper or RV. I'm certain people who have one use it at other events and camping and didn't purchase it just for the vous. If they happen to have a big one they shouldn't have to shop for a smaller one just for the vous. The Class A monsters should be in RV camping and there should be a seperate gate for them there. For the record....I don't own a camper....yet.

Just another angle;
Some folks travel the U.S.A year round just to attend these events.
Most of those folks use those big rigs.
I don't mind occasionally seeing them but, would rather not see them.
I say just get there.
BTW, there is one field dedicated to RVs only.