Pop up camper advice

[ccgirl]

HI there,
I would like to buy a pop up camper and have no idea to begin. I am hoping you can help me out. I have no idea how much they cost or even what I should look for in one. As we don't camp a ton I would like to start there and maybe move up to a C if we feel we need it. I have two children ages 7 and 2. My husband has a Chevy Silverado to pull it. Would like to spend as little as possible and don't mind used at all. Help!!!

Thanks!

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Well I don't know much bout pop-ups,,but
WELCOME to the wonderful world of "camper" camping !
There are several fine folk here who know much about them and I'm sure they'll be here to help you soon.

here is a wonderful site that you may enjoy looking over and it may help you in your questions,,

http://www.title-3.com/FWFacts.htm

 

[anolefan]

We went for a larger box with our pop up (our first camper). I would recommend checking craigslist and ebay in addition to your local dealers. We decided to get a popup to get our feet wet to see how we enjoy camping and now are hooked. We had to get a larger one because we are a family of 5 and also tote along our dog most of the time. There is a great forum dedicated to popup's and has a board for first time buyers. I would suggest cruising around there for some great advice.

We love our camper and are happy we went the route we did.

http://www.popupportal.com/index.php?action=forum

 

[DaveInTN]

First off, have fun shopping. As far as what to look for...if you plan on taking it to Disney in the future, look for one with A/C. We bought our first popup when we lived in Buffalo, and it didn't have A/C. Many of them up north do not...and I see you live in MA. You can get away without it most of the time up there, but if you plan on lots of summer camping and/or will head south with it, A/C is very nice to have!

Also, think about sleeping arrangements for the kids, especially the little one. Make sure the bed situation is one you can live with. And some pups have more storage than others which is always good.

Finally, another consideration with kids is: do you want a toilet? Some pups have onboard cassette type toilets. Ours didn't, so we brought along a portable one. Think about whether you mind nighttime walks to the bathhouse or would prefer to have an option in the pup for the kids to "pee".

Good luck!

 

[ccgirl]

I just wanted to thank you all so much. You all seem so friendly on the camping board.

You have given some great tips and links. I will check the links out. Thanks again for sharing your information. It is much appreciated!

 

[mickeywho?]

I'd also suggest taking a look at the weight restriction of what your vehicle will tow (TV). This may limit you and is a starting point in looking at pups - we have a RAV4 and it definitely limited us to a few different models.

 

[bama_ed]

Mickeywho is definitely correct in that your tow vehicle will be the limiting factor.

Buy the biggest trailer your tow vehicle can handle and you can afford. Most areas have RV shows in the spring where you can walk through several models and get an idea for what you like/need.

There is an expression that says, "Buy your second camper first". Too many times people buy too soon before they've done enough research and within a year or two wish they had bought something else.

If there are any RV dealers in your area that rent pop-ups I would suggest trying that first so you can get a feel for it without the financial commitment.

Also try going camping or cabin camping where there are pop-ups and strike up conversations with the owners. Most pup owners (like myself) love to talk about their pop-ups and their experiences.

Also consider how or where you will store the pop-up. I have an unfinished basement off the garage so I roll the pop-up through the single-wide garage door (I have two teenage sons to help push) and being kept indoors has kept it fresh and in very good shape. I feel sorry for pop-ups that sit outside all year long but I know people are doing all they can.

Don't buy a Fleetwood (Coleman) camper from 1996 to mid-2003 as they had roof problems (laminated layers came apart and it was a big warranty problem). But newer Fleetwoods are good as are Jaycos (which I own).

With two kids you can probably get by without a slide (we have 3 kids so we like the slideout dinette in our pop-up which gives us more room but adds weight). Also consider if you will just camp at the Fort, state parks, and the like or whether you want a pop-up that can sustain you in the middle of the woods with no hook-ups (tank, potty, water heater, battery power, etc). We're state park/Fort campers all the way.

Most used pop-ups are at either ends of the age scale - either very new ("only used five times") or very old (cheap 10-year old pup "in good condition"). But be patient if looking for a used and if you find one you like ACT QUICKLY. Be honest with yourself if you can get and clean up a "fixer-upper" or if it needs to be in good shape when you roll it out the door. We bought new with the intention of holding onto it for a long time (had it 6 years now).

We love our pup and it has allowed us to have lots of family memories plus it lets us go to WDW cheap. It has more than paid for itself versus a hotel room and restaurant meals. We eat in alot and use the stove and fridge and use the savings to go more places like the beach more frequently or interesting places on vacation. Once you start sleeping "in your own bed" and you are up off the ground (not tent camping) on vacation you'll love it. I like the canvas bunk ends in that I can still hear the crickets at night, etc. It still "feels" like camping but it's more comfortable.

Good luck to you!

Bama ED