ok, pretend I have up to $3000 to spend. more like $2000 and excellent ebay skills.
I already have all the gear I need to do real wilderness multi-day camping trips… canoe, lightweight tent, stove, etc. And I enjoy taking fishing trips that way.
But my bones are getting old and the warm weather season is a bit short and I more often take trips where I can drive right in and set up stream or lakeside. AND I’M JEALOUS OF THOSE PEOPLE WITH A BIT OF HEAT AND A TABLE AND A PLACE OUT OF THE RAIN TO SIT AND TIE FLIES.
ok, so here’s the question…
Should I get a used tent trailer…a pop-up? What are the pros and cons of that kind of camping?
Think fish-ins, multi-day road trips, 5 days in a state park in the Adirondacks in September… a basecamp for day paddles…stuff like that.
Thanks for any wisdom.
Diane
Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming-WOW—What A Ride!
Had one for a while and like an IDIOT I sold it. Now looking for a new (used) one.
For the same “tonnage” a pop up (and out) have more living space than a camping trailer. … but it is a bit less insulated (the fabric walled ones). The fridge is smaller so drinks go into an ice chest.
I need to check out the load capacity of the “roof” as in transit, the canoe may be going onto the trailer.
They are lighter too than a regular camping trailer (I think).
Diane,
We had a popup trailer for four years and it was wonderful. It is easy to tow, less wind resistance so better towing milage, and easy to park and store. When our girls were young it was much better than a tent, you can get inside out of the weather and relax. Tent trailers and easy to set up and take down, we did it most times in 10 - 15 minutes. When the kids got bigger we moved to a travel trailer 25 ft and we enjoy it alot more. I have been looking for a small cheap popup for myself to take back in the mountains where the roads are rough and I won’t have to worry about the way it gets beaten up.
I think you should get one.
Forgetting our two coincidental personal experience, I’d have to say that a ‘pop-up’ is great for 1 or 2 people. Make sure it is mechanically sound, has good plastic, screening, good canvas and is waterproof. They are pretty easy to set up even for one person. It stays warm (heater and thermostat). It has cooking stove(really just a portable propane) that you can use or not. It allows you to relocate easily while on trips. It tows easily without straining the vehicle. Depending on the weight of the camper, it can be towed with a 4 cyl car. On the negative side, you’ll probably need a porta-potty and still have to depend on the campgrounds for showering.
I would suggest getting the largest one you can. As far as I’m concerned, the more space the better. I like closets and storage.
STRESS: Be careful with this item on ebay. I’ve been viewing pop-ups there for a few years. It’s not easy to inspect the item prior to bidding because of geographic locations. Then if you travel to see it,it may be a piece of junk. Fix-uppers are touchy. It may not need a lot but it’s easy to miss seeing something that’ll require a big expense or a lot of time.
If you are limited on the size of vehicle for towing, pop-ups are the way to go. I see many of them all year round here, even during hunting season. A Buddy or Big Buddy heater will heat most all but the biggest if they aren’t equipped so. As for load capacity, I see all sorts of racks for all sorts of gear, canoes are just a small part of the list, so yes, Chris, they can carry them fine.
A friend who has a rack on his pop-up told me to check with your local dealer for all kinds of addons, when I first looked a couple of years ago.
Am presently setting up an enclosed, fully insulated cargo hauler for my “new” camping unit, though the Springbar tent is still used by the wife and I, just with one of those blowup beds now.
Wyo-blizzard aka Bloody Tom Bonney
[This message has been edited by Byron Zuehlsdorff (edited 01 April 2006).]
We had a pop-up, beds slid out, made by Royal Coachman. Slept 6 nicely. Really. JC and I and the 3 girls (kids at the time). We hauled it all over. When we moved to Montana it went with us - and we spent 3 months in Yellowstone in it.
No problems ever. Well, except for loaning it to a couple of friends from Michigan who
took it to Yellowstone and had a bear swipe a paw across the canvas and open it up. He paid for replacing the canvas of course. They were in it at the time. Bear didn’t make it to be relocated, was a multiple violator.
I just bought a tent camper myself. Ours is 14’ long and will sleep 8 comfortably, yet we could tow it with almost anything. It only takes about 5 minutes to set up. I think it’s great. I say go for it, definitely.
Like many other things, both have pro’s and cons. Consider tow vehicle. Will it handle a travel trailer? If not, a pop-up is your best option. Much better than tenting, but a bit more spartan than a travel trailer. Whatever you buy used, check ALL the systems for functionality. When you’re 20 miles from anywhere, it isn’t a good time to find out that the water pump needs a gasket, or the furnace doesn’t work right. Take it out for a day or so if possible, and put it through it’s paces. Decide then if it’s limited amenities are enough for you or not. We really enjoyed ours, and with a bit more age on us, we now enjoy the amenities of a travel trailer, but there are places I won’t take it that I would have taken the pop-up. Get the best you can afford that will do what you want it to do. Good hunting.
I inherited my dad’s pop up when he decided he was too old and wanted a “normal” one. The pop up I have went to Alaska twice (first time when AlCan was still a dirt road), traveled all around the US, logged over 1000 night (we kept a log), and an absolute delight. Besides repairing the edge of the refrigerator, we’ve had the best of luck with it.
I see a lot of the posts say you can add this and put on that. A canoe, racks for coolers, etc. Please keep in mind the design of the trailer and load capacity is just that, not to include additional goodies such as canoes, etc. The tires have certain load weight, please do your self a favor and follow them. Tire pressure is very important here. A spare tire on a rim is good insurance. Inspect wheel bearings often and lubricate/pack with proper grease.
You will need a proper jack, your car jack probably won’t work on the trailer. Those small diameter wheels turn faster than your car tires, that means friction, heat and more wear. If your looking for a used one, keeps these things in mind. If you get a new one, inspect often. Little things, but advice that may save you time and agony on your trips to the streams. Good luck and good fishing. Joenzee
Diane I think Jim wasn’t too much help with his home away from home. I have traveled in a tent and station wagon ,two travel trailers and now a 8 ft pop up truck camper. They changed as our kids came along and left home. The truck and camper for the two of us. A --hard roof— pop up camper will meet your needs,with ample room inside out of the weather. Some sleep six. If I were in your shoes the canoe would be on the car or truck so that I could park the camper and drive it to the water. In cold weather one small drawback of cloth side will be moisture on the inside cloth from the propane fuel cooking. Not much but it will show up. Be sure to look at a used one before you buy ,crank it up and down. If it has a furnace see that it works. They all need to be maintaned–tires, bearings greased. Our last big trip with the truck camper was for 8 weeks fishing up to northern Alberta and then fishing all the way home. With camp ground electricity use a small space heater to take the chill off ,not your gas furnice. You paying for the electricity save you gas.
I had a popup for about 2 yrs.Queen bed on 1 end double on the other.Awning and a little cube dorm room fridge were added.The fridge sat on the floor in transit and on a counter when setup.We had an upscale awning from carefree that was self supporting and a sreen room wall setup that attatched to the awning doubling the campers size.AC on the roof with a set of racks that held the canoe.We towed it with a 4 cyl 5 speed nissan sentra and crused easily though the car was over tow weight.We lived in the popup for about 6 months before buying a 5th wheel and truck.Wish I still had that popup it was great.It was just me and the better half but it was plenty of space.I miss that thing.Now it is a tent and no ac in the july heat.
Dennis
We have had everything from moter homes to tents. Had a brand new tent trailer for a couple of years. Now that the kids are all gone and we are getting up there in years and do a lot of camping I aprouched my wife with the thought of getting another tent trailer. This is what she said and dag if it didn’t make sense. We have a 14 X 14 foot tent ($200.00), we have a queen size bed composed of a frame and air mattress $80.00), we have a brand new camp stove ($50.00), we have 2 new 4 foot tables ($20.00 a piece) if we wanat heat we can get a heater for $80.00, and we have camp chairs ($10.00 a piece). The tent is a 3 room tent with one room being 6 feet X 14 feet where if necessay we can set up the tables, cook and eat in comfort. The bed keeps us off the ground and is a lot more comfortable then the foam beds in the tent trailers. All the prices I listed are at full retail which I refuse to pay. If you add all that up it comes to $460.00. Now bob how may trips can we make on the money saved by not buying a tent trailer. I did not bring the subject up again. This is a personal decision only you can make but with my wifes and I’s handicaps we are very comfortable and happy. My wife has crippling arthritous and I have the bottom 5 disks in by back gone. We have been in snow, rain and absolutely buetiful days with this set up and camp is usually set within 1 hour. Just my .02 and was not ment to offend anyone. Oh yea we take all this plus the icechest (100 quart $50.00) plus float tubes pontoon boats and losts of cloths (why do women need 5 bags of cloths for 4 days) in a 1999 grand caravan.
I still do OK with 2-3 nights in a row on a backpacking pad in a pup tent, but when it’s getting on a week – the pop up is the way to go! And you can mount a canoe or pontoon or belly boats to the back…
I’m in the process this spring of pimping my ride (a 1968 pop up) – removing the furnace and replacing it with an ice box (tent trailers don’t heat very well anyways, and I have a warm sleeping bag), installing a solar panel and battery bank and inverter, plus a transfer switch to go from battery power to shore power. Same for the water system – a valve to switch from self contained to shore water.
The first evening you can sit at the table with an electric light and tie flies while it pours rain outside, you’ll be happy you got the pop-up!
Diane;
This is a hard one to reply to as you’ve been givin so much great advice.
I bought a slightly used Jaco 10’ pop-up a year ago and love it! It has a 3 way refridgerator, 3 burner range and a CO2 detector.
I added a Mr. Heater that runs off a 20# propane tank. Bearing Buddies that keep the wheel bearing’s lubed and a Coleman hot water heater.
When using the heater you must also have at least 6 sq. inch’s of ventelation. A small battery powered fan to circulate the heat is a good idea also.
Tire pressure is critical so check it before every trip. I have a 12 volt compressor that I carry with me.
Mine has leveling/stablizing jack’s mounted in each corner. Many do not so check to see if the one you settle on has a set of manual jack’s. Also, does it have the wood blocks to set the jack’s on.
Another draw back to a pop-up is storage. You’re always down on your hands and knees diging stuff out! I built a set of knock down shelves that go over the counter that I use for longer outings.
I would also suggest buying through a dealer.
Shoot me an email if you have any questions.
Diane;
POJ is correct. Just like a horse never put it away wet. But, you wouldn’t do that with a tent either.
I have got to wet a line with that fine man some day!!
Don’t forget the Michigan Fish-In August 14th to the 20th. The Holy Water’s of the Au Sable await you!!
Thanks everyone for the most excellent advice and encouragement. I’ve towed boats and utility trailers so I’m more familiar than I want to be with bearings, small tires, racks, etc. And I have a serious rack on top of the Blazer so I’m not likely to mount much on top of the pop-up. I’m more inclined to stay with a tent than to move to the full Monty of a real trailer. I’m thinking pop-up for about ten years and then maybe something like a Winnebago and a summer of troutbumming in Montana or something like that.
My partner, ever cautious, is suggesting we rent first to see if we really like dealing with the pop-up. Might do that, might impulse buy. Hopefully, I’ll stay smart. And if I’m thinking then the way I’m thinking now, I’ll be high and dry at the Michigan fish-in.
I’ve owned, or still own, tents, a pop-up, several large travel trailers, and have also camped extensively by staying inside my cars, SUV’s and trucks. In my mind each has their own positives and negatives.
I do not presently own a pop-up, but there are times that I wish I did still. They are easy to tow, set up and breakdown, will get you into some relatively out of the way places, will keep you off the ground and relatively dry, and are pretty comfortable overall.
The negatives with the pop-up that I experienced was it isn’t the warmest in freezing cold weather, and they can be a bit drafty when the wind is blowing strongly (mine had more places for air entry than my tents do).
Although I sold one of my former travel trailers on Ebay, personlly I wouldn’t buy one there that I hadn’t inspected first had before doing so.
