Please tell me all you can about your pop-up camping experiences at Ft. Wilderness!

[minkydog]

Before you plunk any money down you need to do some research. I recommend you take the next 4 weekends to visit camper dealers and actually look inside some pop-ups. Don't be swayed by the bells & whistles--figure out what you *need*, not just what you think you want.

It took us several months of looking to narrow down what we really needed. We looked at a lot of icky campers during that time--I can spot mildewed canvas instantly. In the long run it saved us some money, because we were able to by used. We recognized "our" camper when we found it and made a bid on the spot. What we got was "someone else's mistake"--a 1 yr old pop-up that had been used 2-3 times and traded up for a trailer. It's perfect for us. Sleeps 7, got a couch, A/C & heat, no potty, and clean as a whistle. It's still a lot like tent camping but off the ground and dry inside.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

It's still a lot like tent camping but off the ground and dry inside.

That's how I sold my wife on camping 23 years ago. I was a tent camper, she was strictly a hotel girl. A pop up was our compromise and now camping is the vacation of choice for us.

 

[DisneyDotty]

Hi OP!
Please--definitely follow Gillian and tim5050's advice about checking what your Explorer can handle before you start looking at pop ups. Unless you're prepared to also buy a new tow vehicle, you don't want to be looking at anything out of your towing range. Check your owner's manual and the side of the driver's door for more info, too. I've seen firsthand the catastrophe of using the wrong vehicle to pull a pop up.
We have a Coleman (I think Fleetwood bought 'em) with an A/C, fridge, couch, tip out kitchen etc. I love having the couch area--family tends to congregate there.
We camped at Ft. Wilderness once. Loved it, though setting up was chaotic--our hot water heater sprayed sand all over DH, and somehow a bird got in our camper as we were setting up. It was wacky.
The campground itself is fantastic--lots of amenities, clean bathrooms (I swear someone lives in the bathroom--it was ALWAYS clean!) The only caveat is the internal bus service--can be a little tiresome after a while.
Good luck in your purchase decision!

 

[Gillian]

tim5055, that is great advice! I didn't know you could do that.

As I said, I wouldn't trust the dealer either. The salesperson told me a newer model (2005, I think it was at the time) Explorer without the factory towing pkg could tow ~6000 pounds. The actual number was ~3300!!

I didn't pursue it further, but I believe the differences were in the engine, and not just adding a class iii hitch (which the same saleperson told my SIL that was all she had to do to tow more. grrr).

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Towing packages cover much more than a hitch and wiring. They will include transmission cooler, addtional oil cooler sometimes, different differential, sometimes heavier suspension. Towing without the towing package may void the tow vehicle warranty. I also change my oil more frequently when I tow. I usually change before a long trip like to FW, and then again when I return.

 

[HeatherPage]

Great advice everyone, I'll take everything you say into account Okay, so after I check my owners manual, etc. Where do I need to go to get the proper hitch, tow ball, electrical hookup, transmission cooler, additional oil cooker, etc. etc. installed? The dealership? We have a place called Raleigh Hitch nearby, someplace like that?

I'm so confused now, I thought this would be fairly simple

 

[F4disneyfan]

Towing packages cover much more than a hitch and wiring. They will include transmission cooler, addtional oil cooler sometimes, different differential, sometimes heavier suspension. Towing without the towing package may void the tow vehicle warranty. I also change my oil more frequently when I tow. I usually change before a long trip like to FW, and then again when I return.

Our car dealer told us exactly what our montana would pull the trailer shops were trying to tell us if we just added a class3 hitch some anti sway and weight distribution we could easily haul 6000 lbs when teh vehicle was only rated for 3500. Our van has a factory installed tranny cooler rated to the 3500 lbs for cooling but it had nothing else we went to U Haul for the hitch mailny due to the nationwide warranty and we could get service on it in the US if something were to happen to it there also. The place my wife got her trailer was by far teh best run most honest shop we had visited they broke it down for us in regards to the trailer weights and what they reccomended for use with the van it was actually a great experiance dealing with them.

 

[rbork]

ditto Gillian and tim5050. Towing capacity is very important for the safety of your driving/towing and costly repairs for towing too much with too little on too many mountainous roads.
Ford SUVs vary greatly depending on model and engine liters etc...
We had people tell us towing with a minivan would be fine. WRONG - a transmission later. So ..that good deal on a pop up ended up being 30k between the cost of the pop up and new tow vehicle. I have again switched tow vehicles from an Explorer to an Expedition. There ARE differences in how Ford SUVs feel while towing.
That being said... love our coleman Sante Fe. a/c was the best investment! We ride out storms IN the pop up. Worse part is doing the awning dance at 2am!
I would do alot of research as stated before and not hesitate to buy a used pop up in excellant shape.
Good Luck and Happy camping!

 

[HeatherPage]

This is what I've found out so far for my 2001 Ford Explorer XLT:

- It has 4 wheel drive
- It has a V6
- It has 15 inch tires (guy at hitch place said he needed to know this)
- We just got our transmission re-built about 12,000 miles ago and an external transmission cooler was added.
- On our back bumper it says tow capacity 3,500 and then goes on to read "this is for bumper capacity only, check manual for further limits)
- We don't have owners manual (bought used)
- I've registered at myford.com and haven't had any luck yet there.
- Ford Dealership said for 2001 if we stayed under 5,000 lbs we'd be okay (but I've read all your comments about not trusting the dealer).
How else can I find out the towing capability of my Explorer? Thanks again for any help.

 

[OK GRUMPY]

I would look at several different pop ups. I would even try setting them up see how that goes. We brought a used Jayco Pop up and it was pretty old with ac (1988). It was in great condition. We went to FW many times. We had it for 7 years and finaly moved on to a trailer. I wouldn't buy one off of Ebay but it doesn't hurt to look at the picture see the layout ask question. Good Luck!!

 

[F4disneyfan]

I would look at several different pop ups. I would even try setting them up see how that goes. We brought a used Jayco Pop up and it was pretty old with ac (1988). It was in great condition. We went to FW many times. We had it for 7 years and finaly moved on to a trailer. I wouldn't buy one off of Ebay but it doesn't hurt to look at the picture see the layout ask question. Good Luck!!

Great reccomendation go look at them and try putting it up that was a big concern for my wife as she is the one using it alone with the kids so she wanted something very easy to put up and take down. She loves teh Jayco for how easy it cranks up and goes together she tried a few and the rockwood was by far the hardest to fenagle into getting put up.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

This is what I've found out so far for my 2001 Ford Explorer XLT:

- It has 4 wheel drive
- It has a V6
- It has 15 inch tires (guy at hitch place said he needed to know this)
- We just got our transmission re-built about 12,000 miles ago and an external transmission cooler was added.
- On our back bumper it says tow capacity 3,500 and then goes on to read "this is for bumper capacity only, check manual for further limits)
- We don't have owners manual (bought used)
- I've registered at myford.com and haven't had any luck yet there.
- Ford Dealership said for 2001 if we stayed under 5,000 lbs we'd be okay (but I've read all your comments about not trusting the dealer).
How else can I find out the towing capability of my Explorer? Thanks again for any help.

That value on the bumper is for a hitch ball placed in that hole Ford puts in the rear bumper. I would not recommend towing off that with any weight. The amount you will be able to tow is determined by the tow vehicle specs and the type of hitch you buy. You might consider getting your hitch (get a class 3) and wiring set up before you buy the trailer - many dealers will allow you to do a "test tow" so you can see how the trailer handles. I'm gonna guess, but this is just a guess, that your Explorer will be close to that 5000lb limit, but this is based on what I remember from my '01 Sport Trac with the same engine. Keep in mind, however, that when figuring your weight it will be the WET weight of the trailer, plus weight of passengers and luggage. That will decrease the size of the trailer you can get. A rule of thumb would be to reduce the towing capacity of the tow vechicle by about 1500 lbs to give you a rough idea of what size trailer you are looking at. With today's lightweight materials, that would give you a pretty decent sized pop up.

By the way, some of the advice you are getting is most excellent and is coming from some pretty experienced campers. Tim's web site is probably one of the best sources of pop up info on the web.

 

[Gillian]

We had people tell us towing with a minivan would be fine. WRONG - a transmission later. So ..that good deal on a pop up ended up being 30k between the cost of the pop up and new tow vehicle. I have again switched tow vehicles from an Explorer to an Expedition. There ARE differences in how Ford SUVs feel while towing.
That being said... love our coleman Sante Fe. a/c was the best investment! We ride out storms IN the pop up. Worse part is doing the awning dance at 2am! teeth:

We find our Toyota Sienna minivan tows our Santa Fe just fine! But there are differences in minivans, just like in SUVs. And, sadly, minivan transmissions seem to be unreliable even without towing. I've heard complaints about both Chrysler and Honda transmissions.

I'm shopping for a BIG truck for us though. Not that we're buying. Just shopping.

 

[F4disneyfan]

We find our Toyota Sienna minivan tows our Santa Fe just fine! But there are differences in minivans, just like in SUVs. And, sadly, minivan transmissions seem to be unreliable even without towing. I've heard complaints about both Chrysler and Honda transmissions.

I'm shopping for a BIG truck for us though. Not that we're buying. Just shopping.

Honda tranny's are weak at best some frineds bought a new Odyssey in 05 and within 2 months the tranny was cooked and they don't pull anything mnd you that whole van was a waste of time especially at 800.00 a month on a lease. They had in less than 6 months time the power sliding doors break and the power lift gate break the tranny went and the LCD screen for the DVD system.