Our First Trip in OUR Camper: A Labor Day Redemption Story

After the ER Disaster, We Needed a Win

Remember that borrowed camper trip that landed us in the emergency room? Yeah, we needed a redemption story. Badly.

So when we finally purchased our 2014 Forest River Salem 38' fifth wheel in summer 2024, we were equal parts excited and terrified. The dealer threw in 21 free camping days through an affiliate campground network—basically the universe giving us a second chance to not mess this up.

We thought we were prepared this time. We went HARD on Amazon, ordering everything the internet told us we needed: sewer hookup supplies, heavy-duty gloves (because apparently RV ownership means touching things you'd rather not think about), electrical fuses, RV-specific toilet paper (yes, it's a thing), and fresh bedding for all the camper beds.

We had supplies. We had a camper. We had determination.

What could possibly go wrong?

The Labor Day Weekend Gamble

"Let's book a campsite for Labor Day weekend!" Stephan said, full of optimism and approximately zero planning skills.

Here's what nobody tells you about holiday weekend camping: Everyone and their mother books those sites MONTHS in advance. We were out here trying to secure a spot less than a week before, like absolute rookies.

Every campground: BOOKED. My confidence: PLUMMETING. My internal monologue: "Why did we wait so long?! Book WAY in advance! Places fill up faster than concert tickets!"

Then, like a camping miracle, the campground closest to us—just two hours away—had ONE opening.

We pounced on it faster than my kids on a bag of marshmallows.

The Great Site Switch of 2024

We pulled into the campground, kids bouncing with excitement, ready to officially christen our new home on wheels. I walked into the office to check in, gave them our reservation, and they hit me with: "Oh, we had to move your site."

My brain: Immediate panic mode activated

I smiled and said it was fine while internally spiraling through every worst-case scenario. Were we getting the spot next to the dumpsters? The site with no shade in August? The one where everyone walks past your windows?

Turns out, there was a greater purpose for our moved campsite.

They moved us from our original spot to a site on higher ground with better shade and a perfect view of the grassy area where kids were already playing. Right across from the camp store—which I initially worried would mean constant traffic and noise.

Plot twist: That store location was actually PERFECT.

The Angel Neighbors We Didn't Know We Needed

Here's where our story goes from "pretty good" to "restored my faith in humanity."

As we pulled into our new site, a couple from the neighboring spot walked over. My husband has towed campers professionally for YEARS, but these folks offered to help us back in anyway. And you know what? My husband graciously accepted because that's what good camping neighbors do—they help each other even when you technically don't need it.

That simple act of kindness snowballed into the most beautiful camping weekend we could've asked for.

These neighbors—who instantly became our camping guardian angels—treated our boys like doting grandparents. They hung out at our site. We hung out at theirs. They shared food, stories, and made our kids feel like they'd known them forever.

The peak moment? When our oldest came back from their campsite one morning and delivered this devastating news: "Sorry mom, but his French toast was SO GOOD! His is better than yours by... this much." He pinched his fingers together to show me the microscopic margin.

Listen, I make some decent French toast. But apparently, I'd been dethroned by a campground legend, and my son was not about to sugarcoat it. I'd rather have the brutal honesty of my eight-year-old than make terrible French toast for the rest of my life. I did get the cook's secrets to making his epic version of French Toast. (Hint: it's not what you think it is.)

Their kindness just hit different, you know? It wasn't just about the French toast (though that clearly made an impression). It was the way they cared for our kids, included them in activities, and made us feel like we belonged in this camping community we'd only just entered.

The Part Where Everything Actually Went RIGHT

The campground itself was like someone designed it specifically for families with energetic boys. Pool? Check. Putt-putt golf? Check. Tractor rides? CHECK.

Our kids dove into every activity, made friends within approximately 12 minutes of arrival, and spent the entire weekend in that beautiful state of childhood bliss where time doesn't exist and every moment is an adventure.

Meanwhile, I was a paranoid MESS.

After the ER trip, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. For someone to get hurt. For something to break. For disaster to strike at any moment.

But it never came.

Instead, we got three perfect days of exactly what camping is supposed to be: kids playing freely, parents actually relaxing (somewhat), s'mores by the fire, and that rare feeling that you're exactly where you're supposed to be.

The Moment That Sealed Our Camping Fate

Every night, when the boys climbed into their beds (on bedding we remembered to bring but pillows we definitely forgot—more on that disaster in a second), they said the same thing: "This was the BEST day of my life."

And then they'd immediately ask, "When can we go camping again?"

THAT moment—watching our kids' faces light up, hearing them beg to come back, seeing them make friends and memories—that's when my husband and I looked at each other and knew: we'd made the right choice. Every penny we spent on that fifth wheel was worth it for these moments.

The ER trip was scary. The financial investment was significant. The learning curve was steep.

But this? This made it all make sense.

The Pillow Situation (Because Nothing Goes PERFECTLY)

Okay, so we weren't completely disaster-free. Remember that wild Amazon shopping spree where we bought literally everything for the camper?

Well, we forgot pillows. PILLOWS.

After a full day of camping bliss, my husband and I, crawled into our fresh new bedding, ready to lay our heads on our... wait. Where are the pillows?

Cue my husband and me staring at each other in disbelief while the kids snuggled their pillows from home. The scratchy, tiny decorative pillows from the RV couch, yeah those were my husband and mine for the whole trip.

Look, you can't win them all. At least this time, nobody needed stitches.

What This Trip Taught Us

After the borrowed camper ER disaster, we needed proof that camping could be magical instead of medical. This Labor Day weekend gave us exactly that.

Here's what we learned:

1. Book Early or Prepare for Panic Holiday weekends fill up FAST. Like, months-in-advance fast. We got lucky this time, but I learned my lesson. Now I book camping trips like I'm trying to get Taylor Swift tickets.

2. Community Makes or Breaks the Experience Good neighbors can transform a camping trip from nice to unforgettable. Those angel neighbors showed us what camping culture is really about: helping each other, sharing what you have, and treating everyone's kids like family.

3. Site Changes Aren't Always Bad When they moved our site, I panicked for nothing. Sometimes the "inconvenience" turns out to be an upgrade. Roll with it and trust that things work out. Also, if I REALLY want a certain site, pay the extra ten bucks to lock in my site. (Yes there's an extra fee if you want the site YOU chose vs just a "site" the campground puts you in.)

4. Kids Remember the Feelings, Not the Perfection We forgot pillows. We were still figuring out our systems. We made rookie mistakes. But you know what our kids remember? The friends they made. The tractor rides. The feeling of adventure. The French toast that was apparently life-changing.

5. It's Okay to Be Paranoid (For a While) After a traumatic first experience, I spent this entire trip waiting for disaster. That's normal. That's processing. Eventually, you realize not every camping trip ends in the ER, and you can actually relax and enjoy it.

The Redemption We Needed

Our first camping trip with the borrowed camper taught us we could handle emergencies and chaos. Our first trip in OUR camper taught us that camping can actually be everything we dreamed it would be.

The ER trip didn't break us—it prepared us to appreciate when things go right.

This Labor Day weekend showed us why we took the leap into RV ownership. Why we spent the money. Why we're building this lifestyle.

Because watching your kids experience pure joy, make unexpected friends, and create memories they'll carry forever? That's worth every forgotten pillow, every site change panic, and every "sorry mom, his French toast is better" moment.

Your Turn: What Was Your First "Real" Camping Trip Like?

Was it magical? Disastrous? Both? Drop your first camping trip stories in the comments—especially if you also forgot something crucial like PILLOWS. Let's normalize the beautiful mess of figuring this whole camping thing out together! 👇🏻

Want to follow more of our camping adventures (and misadventures)? Join our tribe here for honest stories, practical tips, and proof that you don't need perfection to create magic.

See you on the trail! 🫶🏻

P.S. - I've since created a comprehensive camping checklist that includes pillows. PILLOWS. In bold. Highlighted. Impossible to miss. You're welcome, future me.