Light weight PUPs

[Jim K in PA]

The latest issue of PUT has a nice article on the new batch of tent trailers.  I was really impressed by the Coleman, mostly because of it's off-road oriented construction.  It would be perfect to haul into the woods with my Rubicon.  The Viking was a disappointment, unfortunately.  There is precious little in it for the $2500 they are asking.  I still like the Livin' Lite units, but their price is high, especially compared to a smaller "traditional" PUP with more features.

I sure hope they make some sales headway with these units and they stick around for a few years.  If we did not have the boys camping with us, I am sure we would be in a smaller, lighter unit.  I can see perhaps having two PUPs, one for off-road use, and a larger, heavier one for longer vacations.

Just thought I would mention them.  Kind of slow on the forum lately.

[joandthe3boys]

We just purchased a used 2006 Fleetwood Evolution E2 in hopes it would make light off road trips. Got it for a great price, so I took the chance. The ground clearance looks good enough for the trout ponds we go to, but I don

[Duckv]

The light weight pups are nifty and all, but the prices are, IMHO, out of line with what you get.  The one that could be used as a utility trailer (I think it was called the "Go") was north of 7 grand if I recall.  Probably the most surprising to me was the last one featured in the article--it was a canvas tent sitting precariously on a wooden box, all mounted to one of those utility trailers from Harbor Freight that you build yourself.  And the article said that a completed unit (you can buy the plans to build it yourself) was just under four grand.

For the price of these things, a buyer would be in the territory of the smaller conventional pups that generally have a 12 volt system, a sink, interior lights and other amenities, and can still be pulled by a 4 cylinder car, and could be pulled back in to as wooly a campsite as any one of those tent dealies.

I just don't see the benefit that they provide that couldn't be provided just as easily with a big tent and a cot.

[John Madill]

I thought the $2500 Viking looked attractive.  it was half the price of most of the others in the magazine.

i like the bear-bones style as it keeps everything light and easy to tow.

i don't like the soft cover though.  

anyone interested in bear-bones would do well to look for a lightly-used second hand Coleman Colorado.

i've been busy fixing up a 1962 Trade Winds that probably only weighs 600 or 700 pounds.

get something old enough and with luck it will appreciate with antique value rather than depriciate.

[sacrawf]

The light weight pups are nifty and all, but the prices are, IMHO, out of line with what you get.

I agree, Duckv.

Before I purchased our Rockwood, I sought out and visited a dealer for Quicksilver campers. I like that these are so light it could even be towed behind my wife's Hyundai Tiburon GT (1500 lb towing capacity), and that they do use an aluminum frame. Quality of construction looked great. The AC unit slides out the side on drawer slides.

Negatives were that the floor is cold, uncovered aluminum, there is no furnace (an electric space heater is recommended), there is no stove (a two-burner propane coleman-like lp cylinder stove is included), and no wiring, battery, lighting, sink, refrigerator or fresh water tank.  Upolstery was marine-style vinyl. This is fine in great weather when cooking and living is done outside. My fear was that the quicksilver camper would be even colder than being in a tent when the weather was below freezing.   Our Rockwood was not much more money, but included the hard roof, AC, fresh water tank & sink, RV stove, refrigerator, furnace, and heated matresses, so camping can be extended into early spring/early winter seasons and during rain/snow squalls.  More days of use means more value for the camper purchase price.

I really like the looks of the teardrop campers sold at Gander Mountain Stores. With the kitchens outside, however, you still have weather limitations on their use, and they might get rather claustrophobic inside while waiting out thunderstorms for too long.

Still, lightweights offer towing behind smaller vehicles or motorcycles and will bring additional families to an outside lifestyle. Prices would probably drop if sales volume increased and as aluminum/lumber prices have fallen in the last few months.  I hope their sales are successful!

And Dave, thanks for the article. This is what makes PUT magagizine great.