Tent Camper interested in a popup...

[Tickla]

But we have 5 in our family. How big does a popup actually get?? Sorry if I sound clueless, but I've never seen one up close before.Could our family fit? BTW, we have 2 teenagers & a 10 yr old. All boys. Thanks for any help!

 

[mom2aba]

But we have 5 in our family. How big does a popup actually get?? Sorry if I sound clueless, but I've never seen one up close before.Could our family fit? BTW, we have 2 teenagers & a 10 yr old. All boys. Thanks for any help!

There are definitely popus that can fit your family. Our pop up has two king sized beds and then the table & bench seats break down to a double bed size. Our two oldest boys share one bunk end and our daughter sleeps in the table area while DH and I have the other bunk end. I've seen ads for popups that have fold out couches so you don't even have to use dining area. Three kids can fit in the king sized bed, but we get into the "He's on my spot, he kicked me" kind of stuff.

 

[CampingChristy]

My PUP has one king end, one queen end, table that makes a twin and a circle couch that makes a full! We have tons of room. Jayco 12 ft box.

I think you will love a PUP after tent camping, you get the best of both worlds!

 

[Tickla]

Wow! I'm getting excited now! I'll have to tell my DH that we are going to start looking at them. Thanks!

 

[CampingChristy]

Wow! I'm getting excited now! I'll have to tell my DH that we are going to start looking at them. Thanks!

We do not have an inside "potty", by choice. I want the extra "living" room in the pup. Plus I don't mind the CS at all. That is part of camping to me. We did recently purchase a potty tent with a port a potty for emergencies with the little ones and middle of the night runs!! We think we are king of the camp grounds!!


I like that you are up off the ground and have beds, AC and heat, TV, and all, but still have that sleeping in a tent feeling. Just my preference!!

 

[Tickla]

CampingChristy... I think it would be nice being off the ground too. Also the heat would be great as we usually take our "BIG" vacation in December. I do love tent camping, which is why I think I'd love the camper even more because it is so similar, but with more comforts of home!

 

[CampingChristy]

A pop up is like "tent camping" in luxury (sp?)!!!

Good luck shopping!!

 

[JCJRSmith]

Here are some links where you can see different models/floorplans on line:

Fleetwood Folding Trailers

Jayco Camping Trailers

Vinking Camping Trailers

Rockwood Camping trailers

Have fun.

Here is a site where you may be able to locate a dealer or show in your area:

Go RV'ing

 

[Tickla]

JCJRSmith.......thanks for the links! I didn't even know what brands made pop-ups.

 

[poohbearwithme]

We are the market for a pop-up also...try http://www.popupexplorer.com and there is also great magazine call Pop-Up Times. One of our fellow dis'ers, tim5055, has a great site called Natasha's Camping Site. All of these sites will offer you great information. Good luck in your search.

 

[bama_ed]

Tickla,

I have to put my two cents in here: I too, have three kids (oldest is 15, others 13, 10) and we have taken our pup to FW 3x now (and tented before that).

You will love being up off the ground-the first time it rains you will smile to yourself in your sleep! We have a 2005 Jayco 12HW which we pull with our minivan. There are several things to look for when buying a Pop-up (pup for short): how will you use it (state parks and FW only or do you want to roll it back into the woods and run off battery), who will use it, and what do you need/want?

For your 3 boys plus you and your spouse, you want at least two beds and a dinette or couch (gaucho) that will convert into a 3rd bed. We have the potty/shower combo in ours which helps with those late night "emergencies" so you don't have to step outside late at night (never used the shower in it).

We like the fridge we have in our Jayco so we can buy groceries and eat our meals at the campsite at FW (we pack a picnic lunch most days in the park and splurge on one in-park meal during our trips-feeding 5 (the kids eat like horses) at WDW can get pretty $$$$$$ )

PM me if you'd like to ask specifics about a pup (or anyone else). New or used, it is a great way for a family to spend some quality (and quantity) time together with nature ( and Mickey). Go look at trailers at dealerships, go to RV shows, and talk to people. I keep a log and we've spent 95 nights in our pup in 3+ years and it's my cabin in the woods, my condo at the beach, my time share at WDW, and best of all it's PAID FOR

Bama ED

 

[Gillian]

I like that the beds are so big in pop ups! We have 1 king and one double. We share the king, one kid goes in the double bunk end and the other on the dinette made into a bed. They can both fit on the bunk end but they fight. I find we don't eat inside much anyway. We have an awning and a screen room that we don't always use. We know we'll want to upgrade to something bigger eventually, but this unit was owned by a family member and we didn't choose it.

 

[Gillian]

We have a 2005 Jayco 12HW which we pull with our minivan.

I like the bigger fridge in the HWs. If you don't mind sharing, what do you tow the 12hw with? Do you know the weights on the pup? I think it's too big for our minivan.

Thanks!

 

[lindsey]

We also have a Jayco pup - king bed, queen bed, u-shaped couch and dinette table. We usually took a small tent for the teens, but during a cold snap once, we had 4 adults and 3 teens with no major problems. We are going to have lots of room in October for just me and DH!

 

[bord1niowa]

We used to tent camp, but since we have a pop up now, our 3rd, it has been great. You feel like you're in the outdoors but a whole lot more comfy. We still have 2 pop ups, in case some of the other kids want to camp in comfort too. It will be a great investment too. We stay longer than if we were to go to the hotels on site again. We tried the hotel last year and my wife cried when we visited the Fort. Back to the fort!

 

[momoffive]

BDR
I was thinking of you when I saw this one.
http://www.vikingrv.com/camping/gallery.htm.
Would fit your new toy.
I wish I could talk DH into a new PUP. A lady can dream.
momoffive

 

[BigDaddyRog]

BDR
I was thinking of you when I saw this one.
http://www.vikingrv.com/camping/gallery.htm.
Would fit your new toy.
I wish I could talk DH into a new PUP. A lady can dream.
momoffive

I dont know what made you think of me when you saw this...BUT YOU NAILED IT RIGHT ON THE HEAD....that 2275 SC is exactly like something I would want/need!!!....um....I mean..........That would make a great birthday present/Mother's Day gift for my beautiful wife on May 13th!!!

 

[bord1niowa]

She has to accept a birthday present! hahaha You may have to tell her you'll cook every now and then to get her calmed down...lol The gift that keeps on giving ! If all else fails buy a used but not abused one. They really don't get too worn out quickly. Once she likes that one then................ That's how I ended up with two...lol

 

[bama_ed]

I like the bigger fridge in the HWs. If you don't mind sharing, what do you tow the 12hw with? Do you know the weights on the pup? I think it's too big for our minivan.

Thanks!

Gillian,

Our 12HW is 2700#. I never have used the water tank so the propane tanks are about the only extra added weight. We pull it with a 2005 Chrysler Town & Country with the factory installed tow package (weight adjusting rear suspension, cooler for the transmission, etc.). The van has a tow rating of about 3500# but there are factors such as number of passengers, luggage, and extra stuff we might be carrying. I have a Prorac bike rack up on the tongue of the pup that we use to carry bikes (especially nice at the beach or FW) and the bike/rack assembly adds weight up on the hitch (I try to offset that by packing folding chairs and heavier items inside the pup behind the axle to offset the bike weight and try to keep balance).

I get about 16-17 mpg pulling it (got back from Savannah yesterday with it) and run about 70mph on the highway. We are vigilant about getting the transmission checked, brakes looked at, and buying heavier tread tires so the towing doesn't take an undue toll on the van. The slide-out dinette is great for us space-wise but does add weight over a comparable pup without a slide-out.

Looking at the Jayco website now the High Wall is now a 14 foot model that weighs 3200# unloaded. That's getting awfully high for minivans. But we like the pup because I can store it in the garage (take care of it from weather) and we still feel like we're camping because we have canvas over our heads.

Bama ED

 

[Gillian]

Looking at the Jayco website now the High Wall is now a 14 foot model that weighs 3200# unloaded. That's getting awfully high for minivans. But we like the pup because I can store it in the garage (take care of it from weather) and we still feel like we're camping because we have canvas over our heads.

Bama ED

Thanks so much! I think I must have been looking at the larger one as well, because it's too much for our Toyota Sienna. The Sienna is rated to tow 3500 and I keep hearing that you do not have to subtract for people & stuff (well, up to a reasonable amt.) because of the way Toyota did the numbers. We've only ever had our Coleman Santa Fe, which is relatively light, so I haven't tried to figure it all out, LOL.

Fleetwood also has a line of HW pop ups and we fell in love with one, but I wouldn't feel safe towing that with our van.

When DH's car dies or comes close then we will look for something that can tow more. I'd love to get either a HW PUP or a hybrid or maybe one of those new trailers with the king size slide out bed.