Pop-up campers...any advice?

[hammer]

After doing the tent route for car camping for the past 3 summers (in both good and bad weather), we've been looking into getting a pop-up camper for family camping trips (2 adults, 2 teenagers). There appears to be a good deal locally on a 12 foot camper in really nice condition but we're on the fence...

• Does anyone else have/use a pop-up camper? I know that many here may be more into "back to basics" camping but with families it doesn't hurt to have a few amenities...and getting off the ground would be really nice if it's raining out...
• Is purchasing used OK or is it really worth it to get a new one?
• Any advice on finding out how to determine the value of a used pop-up?
• What should we look for (features, condition, etc.)?
• How close to the max rated tow capacity (which is 3500 lb) can we go?

Thanks for any input/advice.

 

[Vortex]

I bought a used one a few years back. Worked out fine, Braking is the key. Make sure you don't go too big it beats up the braking as much as they stress transmissions.

 

[gorgonzola]

go for it... were on our third one. all bought used, sold the other two for as much/more than we paid for them. we keep it simple - no toilets or A/C. I like the idea of tent camping off the ground with some comforts. the best feature on our current one is the storage box for fishing, canoe stuff etc.

 

[ctenidae]

We had one when I was a kid.
I learned a lot of high-grade expletives from my Dad as he set it up. I doubt any of his difficulties had anything directly to do with the trailer, though.

 

[gorgonzola]

the last two were bought (and 1 sold) in pristine condition - clean, no canvas rot or mold. here's the previous one. i think it was a '93, sold it 3 years ago i think $3,600...

i can't wait to roll it out!

 

[MommaBear]

• Does anyone else have/use a pop-up camper? I know that many here may be more into "back to basics" camping but with families it doesn't hurt to have a few amenities...and getting off the ground would be really nice if it's raining out...
• Is purchasing used OK or is it really worth it to get a new one?
• Any advice on finding out how to determine the value of a used pop-up?
  

QUOTE]

We bought used for both of the pop-ups we bought. First one was very similar to the 93 one posted above!

It IS great to get off the ground in the rain - but they are a bear to pack up in the pouring rain. Learned the hard way one summer - don't collapse the sides until you are ready to push them in. They just turn into swimming pools.

Key for our first purchase was having a friend with us who also had owned a pop-up. She helped point out key features and the proper way to open and close it. (She just never told us about the rain thing....)

We also went basic with ours - no toilet so no sewer lines to deal with. I just pick sites within a reasonable walking distance to the bathrooms. And we only cook outside (stove can be hooked up inside, or attached to the outside of the camper), allowing for more bed space inside - basically use it to sleep in, so we keep the "table area" set up as a bed. We always bring a screen house to set up over the picnic tables - also works for card/board games when its raining.

When we looked into selling our current one (teenagers not really wanting to go camping with Mom & Dad anymore), I believe it was the Kelly Blue Book site that I found the info on used pop ups - same setup as for cars.

 

[hammer]

Trigger pulled...went with a 2004 Jayco QWEST 12A from a local RV dealer. Price was a little higher than I had hoped for but as far as I can tell the pop-up is in great condition. Came with an air conditioner as well...not a necessity but with my lack of tolerance to heat I can't complain.

 

[gorgonzola]

nice! good luck and enjoy!

 

[RootDKJ]

the last two were bought (and 1 sold) in pristine condition - clean, no canvas rot or mold. here's the previous one. i think it was a '93, sold it 3 years ago i think $3,600...


i can't wait to roll it out!

Where did you buy them and (roughly) how much does one weigh (on average)?

 

[Euler]

We're seriously thinking of getting a Scamp pull behind trailer http://www.scamptrailers.com/. It's significantly more than a pop-up but they seem to hold their value really well and don't have the issues associated with the canvas (mold, rot, set up/take down difficulties in the rain etc) and they are still small enough to pull behind a Forester. We'd get one with electric brakes in the trailer. We're going to go see one Thursday and make our decision. We'll get one with a furnace and are talking about driving it to CO next March for a ski trip

 

[wa-loaf]

Someday i want to get one of these: http://www.tab-rv.com/

 

[Mildcat]

Someday i want to get one of these: http://www.tab-rv.com/

I want to make my own tear-drop camper some day. Wayyyyyy too many other unfinished projects first though.

 

[Glenn]

I want to make my own tear-drop camper some day. Wayyyyyy too many other unfinished projects first though.

I've got a neighbor down the street in VT who makes his own. He starts off with the trailers from Harbor Freight and builds from there. He's stopped and talked to me about it a few times. I have a 4x8 from Harbor Frieght I use to haul my ATV and firewood.

 

[hammer]

Where did you buy them and (roughly) how much does one weigh (on average)?

Bought mine at a dealer but I did see a few personal sales on Craigslist...seems like used ones in good shape (no mold/mildew or significant damage) go fast.

Weight is variable but the 12-footer I bought has an empty weight of around 1900 lbs (guess since it has the AC) and a gross weight of about 2700 lbs. Plan on towing it with my Toyota Highlander which has a 3500 lb rated tow capacity.

Some of the small pull-behind trailers mentioned look neat but those will have to wait until the kids are grown...

 

[gorgonzola]

Where did you buy them and (roughly) how much does one weigh (on average)?

the first two were were from private owners from ads in the paper (pre-craigs list!) in the lehigh valley. the first one was a beast as it was pretty old. i think #2 weighed about 1900#/GAWR 2,500 and the new one maybe around 3,500# GVWR. the current one was from harolds rv in in bethlehem - real close to home (and wegman's!) they usually have a pretty good selection of new and used if your'e looking.

We'll probably keep this pop-up for a few more seasons and then go to a hybrid. one of the key advatages to pop-up campers and even more so with hybrids/ enclosed campers is all your camping shit stays in there so all you do is pack your clothes and food (bikes) and and roll out!

 

[Mildcat]

I've got a neighbor down the street in VT who makes his own. He starts off with the trailers from Harbor Freight and builds from there. He's stopped and talked to me about it a few times. I have a 4x8 from Harbor Frieght I use to haul my ATV and firewood.

Are you thinking of making it a camper?

 

[hammer]

the first two were were from private owners from ads in the paper (pre-craigs list!) in the lehigh valley. the first one was a beast as it was pretty old. i think #2 weighed about 1900#/GAWR 2,500 and the new one maybe around 3,500# GVWR. the current one was from harolds rv in in bethlehem - real close to home (and wegman's!) they usually have a pretty good selection of new and used if your'e looking.

We'll probably keep this pop-up for a few more seasons and then go to a hybrid. one of the key advantages to pop-up campers and even more so with hybrids/ enclosed campers is all your camping shit stays in there so all you do is pack your clothes and food (bikes) and and roll out!

How do you pack the bikes? Do you have a roof rack for the car or do you put the bikes on the camper?

The pre-packing of stuff in the pop-up is going to be a big plus...the stuff factor when car camping is huge IMO.

 

[gorgonzola]

roof rack on the car holds 3 plus up to 4 more on rear/hatch mount rack - camper carries canoe. check out the the first pic in post #3. i think there were 3 bikes on the back then, you can see a little bit of the shadow. on one of the previous pop-ups had a hitch mount rack on the back - not adviseble- i dk if it was the lack of springs on that camper or what but 2 bikes shook loose...

 

[bvibert]

Dammit, I want to go camping now...

We used to have a pop-up when I was a kid. It was fun and nice to get off the ground sometimes, but a little tight with 3 kids and my parents. With the frequency that we camp I'll stick to tents, if I have a desire to go on vacation and not sleep on the ground I'll get a motel room. I could do that a bunch of times before I exceed the cost of a camper.

 

[Geoff]

Someday i want to get one of these: http://www.tab-rv.com/

KZone admin Shortski has one of those with orange trim. He tows it behind his Corvette. It looks pretty funny.