Just bought a popup.

[Liberty Belle]

I should have posted this prior to buying one, but...

My husband and I go to pick it up (used from dealer) tomorrow and they're supposed to show us how to use it, etc. I'm a little nervous because we've only tent camped previously, but am very excited, too!

We bought a 2007 Palomino Yearling 4125. Everything seems to be in good shape.

My concerns are: My husband and I are not lightweights. Do we need to get extra support to put it under the bed end? Also, is there something we should know about towing? We have a Volvo XC90, that I believe is supposed to be capable of towing 4500 pounds.

Any other tips or tricks as far as setting up, modifications/hacks, water/electricity, etc?

I very very much appreciate it! I'm super excited about getting it tomorrow, if you can't tell!

 

[bama_ed]

Liberty Belle,

Congrats on the popup. I'm a long time popup guy too.

Hard to find much stats on the 4125 (Unloaded Vehicle Weight [UVW] or its max allowed weight (with stuff packed in it known as Gross Vehicle Weight Rating [GVWR]). All popups should have a sticker by law with the GVWR and the dealer may have more resources to tell you what the UVW might be close to. If you can secure an owner's manual it might be in there too. Or just get it weighed.

Based on photos on the net, it looks like a nice small, light unit so you should not have trouble towing it. The trailer should come with brakes on it of some kind (hydraulic or electric) and you need to know which. If they're hydraulic, that means there is a reservoir of brake fluid and when you brake the car, a lever in the hitch flexes as the car slows but the camper keeps moving and engages the brakes. Like all fluid levels, it's something to check periodically. It's all automatic and means the plug between the car and trailer is probably the flat 4-pin type. Your car will have to have a matching plug receiver. If it's electric, the plug is probably a round 7-blade and you need a suitable reciever plug on your vehicle. With electric brakes you need a brake controller which is usually placed under the dash on the drivers side which wires into the dash and senses when the car is braking. There is a simple way to calibrate the controller so it doesn't under- or over-brake the trailer. But if you have electric brakes you will need a brake controller (about $100 for a simple one). I had hydraulic brakes on my first popup and electric brakes on my current one.

Searching the net I see your tow vehicle for most past years with stock tow ratings between 4,000 and 5,000# and your trailer should be half that or so meaning no problem there. The hitch will have to be sized for the "drop" so the camper tows level. Different vehicles run at different heights meaning the hitch receiver (the 2" square hole) could be high or low so you buy a hitch and mount a ball on it to tow level. There are different drops based on how much high or low change you need but they are standardized based on weight ratings.

Bunk ends are usually strong enough to hold plenty of sleepers. Just make sure you mount the poles into the frame securely because the first time you climb into the bunk, if they weren't secure before, you will feel the bump as they become secure.

I'd suggest posting pictures, seeing if it comes with a manual, documentation, weight stickers, etc. before we discuss hoses, pressure regulators, water filters, and such. Towing a trailer means you aren't as zippy as a car alone (duh) so we run about 5 mph slower and of course, even with the tow profile being lower than the car, you accelerate slower and you need more time/distance to brake. Set it up in the driveway this weekend for practice before trying a weekend campout nearby. Oh, and a good website for towing stuff is www.etrailer.com.

Congrats again and I look forward to pictures and follow up. Tent camping is okay but getting up off the ground to sleep is WAY better.

Bama Ed

 

[peg110]

Where do you intend to "Sleep"? In the wing(s) or on the center? In my experience the Wings can handle quite a bit of weight, particularly if they have the extra support rods when extended (our OLD OLD PUP had them)

If you can tow 4500 pounds, you should be good. It looks like the Trailer is just under 2000 pounds. Not sure if that is the Gross or unladen weight, but I think you will hit the capacity of the trailer long before you have issues towing it.

 

[peg110]

On a side note, the DW and I are also not "Petite" (or even close). When we first got our used TT Coachmen Capri 27TBS, The queen bed was framed okay but the supports going across the frame were 1x1 pine boards. The base on top of it was little more than Luann (quarter inch) and well, the first night as we were getting into position.... CRACK. Fortunately I had some basic tools to "Repair" it temporarily. I slept the rest of the trip on the couch so as not to push our luck on the bed. Once we got home, I reframed the supports (across the bed) with 2x2 lumber AND gave it a "Downward" support to the floor in the middle for extra security. Since then.... No issues.

Hopefully yours will come with the owners manual and you should be able to find the weight capacities of the wings. I would think that would be an important fact to publish. Again, our Capri 27TBS had a bunk in the back. Top bunk was only rated for 150 pounds. For us it was okay, fortunately newer TTs have ratings (for a twin bunk) of 300# or more. We looked at a bunkhouse model that had a double for a bunk and it was rated at 800#

 

[Liberty Belle]

Thank you so much, Ed and Paul! Such excellent information! We were going to take it out nearby for an overnight, but maybe we should do the driveway first.

Oh, forgot to answer - We will likely sleep in the wing (and we have two sons who will likely occupy the other wing and possibly the couch). I also have herniated discs, so if the couch feels better on my back, I may move there. I have ordered two gel cooled memory foam (2") mats for the beds.

Ugh - so much to learn!

 

[peg110]

So much to learn, but I think you are on the right track. Good luck. I am sure you will love it.

 

[Liberty Belle]

So much to learn, but I think you are on the right track. Good luck. I am sure you will love it.

Thank you!

 

[5kidsmommy]

Congrats on your new popup. I have no advice to offer but just wanted to congratulate you.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Congrats on your new popup. I have no advice to offer but just wanted to congratulate you.

Thank you! The interior is grey and tan and I've already bought a few dark orange items (a throw, a couple of dish towels, and a basket) to spice it up a little. I can't wait to take it out!

 

[bama_ed]

I have ordered two gel cooled memory foam (2") mats for the beds.

Excellent move. That would have been on the list. We had a 2" mf on both bunks which helped TREMENDOUSLY. Got one now on my Aliner which is great except that has a sofa that converts to a bed for us and I need to find a way to easily wrap the mf up and let it out at night. I don't want to keep it in the bed config ALL the time.

Good luck on bringing it home. Does it have AC? (do you live where you need/want AC?). How are you going to store it?

Bama Ed

 

[Liberty Belle]

Excellent move. That would have been on the list. We had a 2" mf on both bunks which helped TREMENDOUSLY. Got one now on my Aliner which is great except that has a sofa that converts to a bed for us and I need to find a way to easily wrap the mf up and let it out at night. I don't want to keep it in the bed config ALL the time.

Good luck on bringing it home. Does it have AC? (do you live where you need/want AC?). How are you going to store it?

Bama Ed

It has AC and heat, yep. We always want AC lol. I'm not sure. We've may have to just keep it in the driveway, at least until we clean out one side of the garage.

I'll be happy to post pictures,

 

[4077]

Doesn't happen to be from Camper's Inn, is it?

 

[Liberty Belle]

Doesn't happen to be from Camper's Inn, is it?

No. Did you own one?

Actually, we're buying it from a dealer in Lexington, KY, but it came from Pennsylvania. If it was yours, thank you for keeping it in excellent condition! It looks new!

 

[4077]

No. Did you own one?

Actually, we're buying it from a dealer in Lexington, KY, but it came from Pennsylvania. If it was yours, thank you for keeping it in excellent condition! It looks new!

No, didn't own one of those...lol. But I did go googling your exact "2007 palomino yearling 4125" to see what exactly it was like and came upon that exact year model at a Camper's Inn store...when I clicked the link all the pics and info were still there but it said "sold". I must say, the one they selling looked pristine as well.

 

[amcc]

We got our popup last year and we LOVE it! We aren't experts at it and only just got a Suburban that can tow it, our stuff, and ourselves. As a matter of fact, most of the time bama_ed writes about something, I learn something new (I learned the cargo weight maximum of my truck from him ) so he is a great resource (and a good guy!). Now I have to go check because I'm pretty sure we aren't towing level and I'm wondering what that means.

Water is the nemesis of popups and I'm obssessive about it because we had to replace the entire roof when we got ours. Always make sure that there is a slight drop to your roof and that the water from the A/C is running off.

I'm not small either so I just sleep closest to the main part of the popup just in case. Check your canvas before you go out - lie in it during the day at home and check to see if you see any pin holes of light so that you can repair them. We chose to reseal all the seams and rewaterproof the canvas as part of our remodel since we live in and camp in Florida and rain is part of life. We also installed LED lights although I want to change them out and put lights with remote controls on them. I read before bed and I hate having to get up and turn off the light. Lazy, I know We removed the sink and the stove so I don't have to worry about tanks or hoses or valves and we spend most of our time outside.

It has been extremely rewarding as a family to go out and camp. I know that I wouldn't be happy tent camping so this is the perfect balance. Have a GREAT time with your popup - maybe we'll see you at the Fort!

 

[makodad]

Congrats!

 

[rideswithchrist]

Congrats! We just got a NTU Popup too.
Can't wait to see pictures of yours- customizing it is pretty rewarding and like everyone has said, you will learn a lot from the people on here (I am always asking questions and getting info!)