Pulling a U-haul

[Tlat1270]

we will be camping in October and have decided to tent camp instead of pulling our popup down. Since our truck only has a 5ft bed we were thinking of renting a 4x8 uhaul pull behind trailer to bring all our gear and essentials. My question is where could we park the trailer that can guarantee it would not get stolen?

 

[TXWAC]

No real choice other than your site or the overflow parking. Just need to get a lock for the hitch or a chain and lock for the wheels.

Pop up makes a good cargo trailer

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I saw people parking it at their site. I imagine their tow vehicle was in overflow.

 

[North of Mouse]

we will be camping in October and have decided to tent camp instead of pulling our popup down. Since our truck only has a 5ft bed we were thinking of renting a 4x8 uhaul pull behind trailer to bring all our gear and essentials. My question is where could we park the trailer that can guarantee it would not get stolen?

Guess I don't understand the difference in towing your popup with all your belongings inside, versus towing a uhaul! Am I missing something?

As for the worry of the possibility of it getting stolen - as pp said, a lock on the hitch should make it secure - also turning it around on your site with your car behind. There could not be a 'guarantee' of anything, though I've never heard of a trailer being stolen there.

Have a great trip whatever you decide!

 

[bama_ed]

Guess I don't understand the difference in towing your popup with all your belongings inside, versus towing a uhaul! Am I missing something?

Joy/NoM, that's why your so smart. I was thinking the same thing. I hope Robert/DH appreciates your IQ.

I have seen cargo trailers (similar to the small U-Haul types) in the Tent loops but again I wonder, "why".

How much stuff can't fit in a small truck bed plus a pup? I'm asking an honest question.

Bama Ed

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Joy/NoM, that's why your so smart. I was thinking the same thing. I hope Robert/DH appreciates your IQ.

I have seen cargo trailers (similar to the small U-Haul types) in the Tent loops but again I wonder, "why".

How much stuff can't fit in a small truck bed plus a pup? I'm asking an honest question.

Bama Ed

We just updated to a new to me extended length SUV to increase our cargo space. We had it PACKED this weekend and it wasn't even close to all our gear. For 7 people (one is a baby)--we had 2 tents (didn't need the second one but had it just in case), 6 sleeping bags, 4 cots, 2 Duffles, food for 3 meals (lunch and dinner one day was covers), camp stove, tarp, 6 chairs, umbrella stroller, and laundry basket with 6 towels. Our prior SUV was not extend and no way would all that fit. But that's the breaks with all seats occupied.
We don't fit in a pick up.

I hope to add a screen room tent or shelter---but much more and we need to add with the cargo carrier in the trailer hitch.

On pop ups, they weigh More than empty cargo trailers. So less you can carry. We towed a pop up with a mini van. And though it had high towing capacity for a minivan, the weight of the trailer limited what we could bring along. That said, I would bring the pop up given how much gear is brought to tent camp at times.

I camped with my kids troop Before and we did rent a trailer because once you are bringing all those kids, gear seems to accumulate exponentially. and we were essentially roughing it. The gear adds up.

 

[bama_ed]

True, dat.

 

[Tlat1270]

Thanks everyone, the reason we decided to not bring our pup is our Grandkids have never been tent camping, so we thought we would give it a go. We only sleep in our pup anyways. We don't cook or eat in it, as we feel camping is being outdoors. And there really isn't that much space to haul gear and stay under cargo capacity. We bought a 20 x 12 ft tent and bunk bed cots for the kids. And with all the other stuff you need the truck bed is just too small. It is only 5ft with a tool box on, doesn't leave much room.

 

[TXWAC]

Thanks everyone, the reason we decided to not bring our pup is our Grandkids have never been tent camping, so we thought we would give it a go. We only sleep in our pup anyways. We don't cook or eat in it, as we feel camping is being outdoors. And there really isn't that much space to haul gear and stay under cargo capacity. We bought a 20 x 12 ft tent and bunk bed cots for the kids. And with all the other stuff you need the truck bed is just too small. It is only 5ft with a tool box on, doesn't leave much room.

Cool. Take both. Stick the kids in the tent and you stay in the pop up.

 

[peg110]

I won't try and talk you out of the U-Haul or into the PUP. What I will say, is that when I was (much) younger we used to go camping every year. We had a PUP (very VERY basic. 2 slide out beds and a bed in the middle that converts to a table. No Electric, water or gas). The 4 of us kids (2 brothers, 1 sister and me being the youngest son) slept in the camper. Mom and Dad slept in a Canvas similar to this one:

(but more colorful)

For our "Kitchen/Eating" area we had a Shelter (about 12x12) with a canvas roof similar to this:

Ours was NOT the easy up style, rather 4 corner poles, a center pole and ropes and stakes around the outside to hold it all up. Again, CANVAS. Both the tent and shelter were heavy (as canvas seems to be). The original boxes had long been gone and my dad made wooden boxes (plywood) to hold each with it's poles, ropes, stakes and canvas that fit into our PUP. All of our "camp" stuff (coleman propane stove, lanterns, kitchen stuff, 5 gallon collapsible water jugs, first aid kit, etc....) all stayed in the camper and there was usually room for 2 larger coolers (1 with "Food" and the other with beverages) as well as some other food stuff. The rest went into the back of our Station Wagon. (mostly clothes and some other food stuff). Then the 6 of us (Mom, Dad, and us 4 kids) would load up to go camping. No problems towing it. Some of my best memories were these annual trips. The campground, however, was only about 10 miles away. Of course when you are a kid and excited, 10 miles might as well be 100.

We also (when I was even younger than that. Maybe about 2 years old) made a trip from Northeast PA to Colorado to visit family. We took the same camper and made stops along the way. Sadly, I don't recall any of that trip, except for pictures I have seen over the years.

So while the weight of the PUP could certainly be an issue, it may also work the other way. Whatever way you go, I hope you and your grandkids have an awesome time.