general advice about pop ups

[Matt Irinaga]

We're in the market for a used small pop up tent trailer.  One limitation is our tow vehicle, a 92 Toyota Previa mini van.  I'm drawn to the Fleetwood Evolution E1 or Jayco Baja but am unsure if these are oversize for our mini van.  Van is rated for 3500# but is that pushing it?  The cargo area would be used for a raft and bicycles.  I'm also wondering if anybody can give me an objective opinion about pop up brands?  What is the difference between Starcraft, Jayco, Fleetwood, Rockwood, Palomino etc?  Are they all so similar in quality that it's personal preference?  Thanks a lot.

[E3-n-Austin]

We're in the market for a used small pop up tent trailer.  One limitation is our tow vehicle, a 92 Toyota Previa mini van.  I'm drawn to the Fleetwood Evolution E1 or Jayco Baja but am unsure if these are oversize for our mini van.  Van is rated for 3500# but is that pushing it?  The cargo area would be used for a raft and bicycles.  I'm also wondering if anybody can give me an objective opinion about pop up brands?  What is the difference between Starcraft, Jayco, Fleetwood, Rockwood, Palomino etc?  Are they all so similar in quality that it's personal preference?  Thanks a lot.

I have an 08 E3 and absolutely love it! You will find the Evolutions are a little heavier than other pups so you need to do some homework before you make the purchase. I have an 08 Tacoma and the E3 really is a drag on it. I think the truck can pull the weight but it is felt and really lowers the gas mileage.

[TheHomelessGuy]

The Baja 10Y is approx. 300 lb tongue weight/3000 lbs trailer weight with nominal loading (water tank full, bedding on board, minimal kitchen supplies). Your bikes and raft won't add much weight, maybe 100 lbs, of which 30 to 40% will be added to the tongue.

Previa tow rating of 3500? Too close for comfort IMO, Matt. And on an older, and I presume high mileage vehicle, could lead to mechanical troubles - transmission, cooling, etc.

You might want to consider lighter pop ups that don't have the load deck and off-road capability. Then, add a Yakima type rack system to the roof for your bikes.

I just looked at the specs for the 92 Previa - I don't think you have enough tow vehicle for the Baja or E1. It may be rated to tow 3500lbs, but with only 138hp you'll find it will be working real hard to tow that much. My Colorado I-5 puts out 225hp/235lb-ft and it tows fine up to 6% grades, but I'm always wishing I had a bit more power, and brakes, especially on steeper grades.

HTH  
Jim

[waygard33]

We're in the market for a used small pop up tent trailer.  One limitation is our tow vehicle, a 92 Toyota Previa mini van.  I'm drawn to the Fleetwood Evolution E1 or Jayco Baja but am unsure if these are oversize for our mini van.  Van is rated for 3500# but is that pushing it?  The cargo area would be used for a raft and bicycles.  I'm also wondering if anybody can give me an objective opinion about pop up brands?  What is the difference between Starcraft, Jayco, Fleetwood, Rockwood, Palomino etc?  Are they all so similar in quality that it's personal preference?  Thanks a lot.

Hey Matt,
You might also want to check out this months PopUp Times magazine on the new small tent trailers. It looks like they would be easily towable by most anything. Several models are in the $4-$5k range. You would be getting new, rather than used. They are smaller but several still sleep 4. You don't get the furnace/fridge/hot water, etc, but it all depends on what you're looking for.

Wayne G

[Matt Irinaga]

I have an 08 E3 and absolutely love it! You will find the Evolutions are a little heavier than other pups so you need to do some homework before you make the purchase. I have an 08 Tacoma and the E3 really is a drag on it. I think the truck can pull the weight but it is felt and really lowers the gas mileage.

Thank you for the information.  It seems a trailer of this type is too much for our mini van.

[Matt Irinaga]

The Baja 10Y is approx. 300 lb tongue weight/3000 lbs trailer weight with nominal loading (water tank full, bedding on board, minimal kitchen supplies). Your bikes and raft won't add much weight, maybe 100 lbs, of which 30 to 40% will be added to the tongue.

Previa tow rating of 3500? Too close for comfort IMO, Matt. And on an older, and I presume high mileage vehicle, could lead to mechanical troubles - transmission, cooling, etc.

You might want to consider lighter pop ups that don't have the load deck and off-road capability. Then, add a Yakima type rack system to the roof for your bikes.

I just looked at the specs for the 92 Previa - I don't think you have enough tow vehicle for the Baja or E1. It may be rated to tow 3500lbs, but with only 138hp you'll find it will be working real hard to tow that much. My Colorado I-5 puts out 225hp/235lb-ft and it tows fine up to 6% grades, but I'm always wishing I had a bit more power, and brakes, especially on steeper grades.

HTH  

Thanks for your reply, looks like we'll have to look for a smaller more conventional pop up.  MI

[Matt Irinaga]

Hey Matt,
You might also want to check out this months PopUp Times magazine on the new small tent trailers. It looks like they would be easily towable by most anything. Several models are in the $4-$5k range. You would be getting new, rather than used. They are smaller but several still sleep 4. You don't get the furnace/fridge/hot water, etc, but it all depends on what you're looking for.

Wayne G

Thanks for the suggestion.  I checked out your pics.  Looks like fun.  I grew up in Oregon...

[Used 2B PopUPTimes]

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