popup campers

[Disneymommie]

We need suggestions on popup campers. We have never owned our own but have been camping in them. Now with the 3 kids we would like to start camping. Can you guys give us ideas on what to look for, besides design. Helpful hints anything a first time buyer may need to know! Thanks for any help!!!

 

[OK GRUMPY]

I would suggest setting the pop up yourself. some are easier than others. We had a used Jayco which went up real easy. It had the AC on in the back on the bottum so when you cranked it up you didn't have the weight of the AC on the roof. We had a lot of sleeping room and floor space. We didn't have alot of room for clothes and I never figured out how to except to carry alot of totes. Good Luck!!

 

[tmt martins]

I used regular car jacks under each axel to level it from side to side and keep the weight off the tires (still chocked and didn't raise off ground ) .Then you just set the front to back and put down stabilisers and it was done.

 

[tim5055]

We need suggestions on popup campers. We have never owned our own but have been camping in them. Now with the 3 kids we would like to start camping. Can you guys give us ideas on what to look for, besides design. Helpful hints anything a first time buyer may need to know! Thanks for any help!!!

First of all, check out Pop Up Times, lots of great pop up information there.

Next, check out my Pop Up Camping FAQ

Then, for more information check out other pop up camping dedicated web sites

I used regular car jacks under each axel to level it from side to side and keep the weight off the tires (still chocked and didn't raise off ground ) .Then you just set the front to back and put down stabilisers and it was done.

Dexter, the manufacturer of most pop up axles now recomends NOT jacking up under the axle. There are easier ways to level the pop up.

 

[SandraC]

We bought a shiny new Jayco Qwest 10 foot box [opens to about 22 feet] in 2003. WE LOVE IT! It's easy to tow behind our 2000 Taurus. Takes about 10 minutes to set up. No A/C but fans keep us cool in the hot summers. It has a king sized bed and two doubles. S

 

[We4mickey]

First off make sure that you have a vehicle that will pull the weight of the camper you are interested in. One of the things that always bothers me when I look at pop ups is the counters. Many have low counters and if you are washing dishes or cooking you would be hunched over. We have a Coleman and don't have that problem. It is just one of my personal preferences. Also the extra storage on the front is a big plus. Good luck!

 

[tinkerjo]

We have a palomino 12 ft box with front storage(a must) It has a king bed on on side and a full on the other. A couch opens easily into a twin bed.It also has a tip out where the table is(makes another full sized bed) The tip out gives it so much more room. Ours has a shower/toilet in it but we dont use it. I would have rather had more cabinet space. but we got a leftover from the previous year, so we got such a good deal we couldnt walk away. we sleep 6 and 7 all the time when the kids have friends. good luck.

 

[Disneymommie]

Thank you for all the help. I will check out those web sites. As far as our car goes we can pull just about any popup. We have an 04' trailblazer tow weight of 5100lbs. I also do not have a problem with the low counters as I am only 5 foot! (beside I will not be doing many dishes or cooking much, only breakfast and I have a coleman propane for that! I would rather not cook inside the camper! I have seen where others have brought their crook pots, I love that idea though)

I have been looking at different floor plans online and would like one with a push out section for more room. I am just hoping that my dh and myself(2 college educated people) can set one up and not take the whole day doing so....LOL

Again thanks for all you help.

 

[tinkerjo]

Mine with the pull out(i called it a tip out but its a pull out) is really easy. I can set the whole camper up in about 15 minutes by myself. (and Im a woman)Of course its easier with help but its not hard at all. The extra room it gives you is surprizing. We are staying at the cabins this trip , but I wish we were taking the pop-up. My husband stresses out too much if he has to tow it very far.

 

[jennobrn01]

We have been researching campers for a year now. We started looking at pop-up's, then decided hybrids were more for the money, and now we are looking at travel trailers. It can progress like that.

The best website for info about pop-up's and camping with one is
http://www.popupexplorer.com/

In my opinion a better value for the money is a hybrid. And they are much easier to load and set-up.
http://www.popupexplorer.com/hybridexplorer/

Have a great time looking! It's so fun!

 

[VAN]

We owned a small pop-up for 10 years and then traded it in (it maintained 1/3 of its original value!) 2 years ago for a camper 2x the size/weight. We have taken 3 trips to WDW with it from SW Michigan.

I think the important things to consider are:

Tow vehicle and camper weight. Please read your auto manual to determine total weight ... make sure you factor in # of passengers and weight of baggage, etc.

Be sure to have the wheel bearings repacked at appropriate times. Our camper is recommended at every 2,000 miles.

Keep tires inflated properly.

You will also want to make sure you pack correctly. The back-end of our van is low so if I get too much weight in the front of the camper, it just pulls the van's back-end down further. This year we didn't pack anything we didn't need and make a trip to the store the first day for bottle water, etc so didn't have the extra weight on the way down. I'm finally comfortable with how I am packing. I think we also got a little better gas mileage this year too.

We have really enjoyed having a pop-up. Especially with the first one, if we didn't use it but 1-2 weeks a year we didn't worry because we didn't have that much money invested in it.

We are also able to store it for free at my brothers in a covered shed with a cement floor.

I think with our annual trips to WDW, we are up to using it 3-4 weeks per year.

Enjoy!

p.s. We have a Viking which is made just 40 miles south of where we live.

 

[sandieb]

We have a Coleman Mesa - our second popup. We looked for storage space (lots of it), a comfortable place to sit, air conditioning, and large beds when we made our purchase (our first camper was a tiny one that we used for 13 years). The air conditioning really gives us more flexibility about when and where to go.

While we really enjoy our popup, our next camper will probably be an expandable hybrid.

Frankly, it takes us quite a while to put up (and even more so to take down) our camper.

Good luck - camping at FW is awesome, and it becomes the yardstick by which we compare other campgrounds. Sandie

 

[Gillian]

We bought a used 2000 Coleman Santa Fe from a relative and really like it. It was very inexpensive so even though it isn't perfect for us, we're figuring out what we need/want in our next one. We like the large bed (bigger than those in most hybrids!) but the small one is really tiny. Our kids are 2 and 5 so we have time before we need to upgrade. Also, the table converts to a bed, but it's a pain to do that if you use the table.

So for us, we are going to be shopping for
-reasonable weight
-possibly a shower
-porta potty/cassette toilet or good storage for one
-king bed for adults
-bed(s) for young boy & girl that will work into the future

We will probably go to a big RV show next year to shop in person

 

[bama_ed]

Boy can I relate. We have 3 kids and bought a new pop-up 18 months ago!

Here is what I would suggest looking for:

1. New or used, buy a brand that has a dealer near your home who can service it, fix it, and answer questions.
2. Make sure you pick a pop-up that does not exceed your max towing weight on your vehicle (especially with luggage, extra people, bikes, etc).
3. Decide what size "box" you want (camper size under the roof). Little ones are 8 feet, some 10 footers, and some are 12 footers. Bigger means more room but heavier (see #2).
4. Consider a pop-up with a slide-out dinette to give you extra room inside on cold nights, rainy days, etc...Slide-outs add a little extra weight (we have one) but the extra room is worth it. With 3 kids, sometimes we need room to spread out.
5. Consider getting the shower/potty option if available. We did and are glad. My wife and daughter appreciate not having to go outside at night to go to the bathroom when they are in their jammies. I close it down during the day to give us extra interior room. We only camp at state parks, Fort Wilderness, etc but it sure is convenient not having to go out when it's cold, wet, etc.!
6. Some folks like to have the fridge directly across from the door so that you can stock the fridge before a trip without having to put up the roof. Ours is not in line but it's not a problem.
7. Some models have a big storage box across the front of the camper (ours does). We like it to throw hoses, lanterns, folding chairs, basketballs, etc in. You can NEVER have too much storage space in a pop-up.
8. Other options like A/C, heaters, ovens, microwaves, cable tv jacks, radio/cd, hot water heaters are up to you. (we have all those listed and like them).
9. Consider bed size (double/queen/king), how many kids you have, and how long you expect to keep the pop-up. A double might be okay if they are little, but if you have teenagers you will want a queen at least.

Get one and have fun. The first couple trips stay close to home, learn how to hook it up, pull it, back it in, and then do it all in reverse to take it home. We love our family time together. Our kids are now 8-13 (3 of them) and we camped 28 nights last year.

We will be at Fort Wilderness later this month for 8 nights. Sure is nice to pay for just a campsite, to have our kitchen/fridge with us, and to be able to take our bikes. I am SO looking forward to relaxing.

We have a 2005 Jayco 12 HW (12 foot box HighWall model) and are very happy with it. Check out their web site!

Good luck and see you 'round the Fort someday, maybe?

Bama ED

 

[sandieb]

What great advice on this thread. I second the idea of having a cassette portapotty (at the least). We never use it during the day, but it is great at night! We put it in storage during the day. It does not take that much space. I also love the front storage box - it holds all the tools and seldom used stuff. Have fun! Sandie

 

[Disneymommie]

Thank you for all your help. I am starting to compile a list of must haves, wants and dont need, so when I go shopping I can narrow it down easily.

I am debating a potti, what is the eww factor in cleaning them and the smell factor inside the camper? I am assuming it gets washed down the drain tube. I think I would also have the #1 only rule. After all our version of ruffing it is Fort Wilderness! LOL

Again thank to you all who helped. I am sure I will be back with more ?????'s as we shop.

 

[bama_ed]

Surprisingly to me not much of a "yuck" factor with the casette potty. Since we only camp in state parks, FW, and other places with bathhouses and restrooms, we only use the camper potty for #1 at night. By the way, ours came with a shower but we have yet to use it (although we used the external shower to wash sand off our feet at the beach).

I do have to wipe down the potty area when closing up the camper (boys!) with those pre-moistened clorox wipes which takes care of the inside. I empty the casette at a dump station or empty campsite with a sewer hookup wearing latex gloves. Rinse a little water inside and pour it out too. Then I splash the bottom with the "magic blue chemical stuff", reinsert the casette, trash the gloves, and it's ready to go the next time.

About every 15 nights of camping I have to fill the flush water reservoir. As long as you open the little flap door, do your business, swish the flush water and close the flapper back, there is no smell problem. I'd say get the potty. Just to be on the safe side, I do keep a "smell good" in that space but I don't think I need to keep doing it.

Bama ED

 

[Disneymommie]

Ok here is my experience with a camping potty. My in laws owned a motorhome. They connected the potty to a hose that flushed everything into the I guess septic system in FW. I am guesing from the discription above I physically have to remove the casset toilet to dump it? No hose from the camper?

We are leaning towards a potty also.

Also my TV has a max weight of 5100. What weight am I looking at when I look at popup specs.? The GVWR? As long as I am under that weight I am ok? What about towing in hills? Should I go a lot under weight then? I wanted to stick to under 3000.

We looked into the hybridd but they are all to close to our TV weight limit.

 

[sandieb]

Absolutely right - #1 only, except my 3 year old granddaughter slipped a little extra in once. The chemicals keep it smell free. We dump it at the end of our trip at the dump station. It isn't too bad (that is because my husband does it.).

I have heard that showers in popups add an awful lot of humidity, but this is second-hand.

We would never tow up to the very max. We have sway bars added to our Mercury Mountaineer and a braking system for when we tow to ensure added safety. Besides not wanting to over stress your vehicle, you need some reserve for hills, evasive manuvering, etc. You would best discuss it on one of the RV boards or with a dealer.

Good Luck. Sandie

 

[westjones]

We have a porta pot in our pop-up. There is a storage area for it under the couch and we pull it out at night. We only use it at night and only for #1. At the end of the trip, DH dumps it on our way out at the dump station. We never smell anything from it. There are some sort of chemicals in it and it 'flushes' into a storage chamber in the bottom of the pot.

We also bring a small microwave and small TV with us on our trips.

Our camper didn't have a heater or A/C. We use an electric heater when we need it. We have fans that help some, but it can get hot. If I had it to do over, we would have gotten A/C.

I wouldn't get one with a shower or built in potty because that takes up room that could be used for sitting and there is almost always a shower at the campground (except when we camped at the Smokies, they don't have showers in the National Park campground, but we survived ).

DJ