Let's tell them want we want!

[tlhdoc]

Features I want in a PU:

1.  I would like to have the bunkend windows have see through vinyl with curtains or zippered flaps covering the window. That way when the weather is not nice (cold, windy, raining, hot and the AC is on) you could  see out with the windows closed.

2.  Access to the refrigerator when the top is down.

3.  A bigger refrigerator with a fan built in to help exhaust the hot air in the back of the unit.

4.  I would like an oven.

5.  I like the idea of the hight wall trailers where you don't have to fold the galley and dinette down.

6.  Shower/cassette potty option in smaller trailers.

7.  Back up lights.

8.  Outside storage.

[Campinfools]

I have to agree with the first post:  "we shouldn't have to worry about what part of it is going to fall off on our next camping trip."  I too would like to see a better track for the curtains, better drawer systems (or no drawers - make big bins that we can USE) and ditto for the thermostat... I'm too old to sleep on the ground, which means I'm too old to crawl under the table to see/ turn on the furnace.  Finally, they really need to get rid of the cheap plastic plumbing parts - it's enormously aggravating to set up and wind up with water spraying all over when one of those crappy lines breaks.  

Manufacturers would do well to take a look at this website and see what so many campers have done for modifications.  

I'm interested in camping.  I don't need to feel like I'm in a hotel room.  (And I'm a girl!)  

Utility, utility, utility.

[JonesFamilyJayco]

I would like a pop-up that combined the features of the Jayco Baha and the Jayco Eagle Select 12HW.  The Baha has simple, easy set-up, basic features in a 10 foot box, and the Select has the new high sides to allow more storage & possibly a fixed position sink.  Our '95 Eagle 8 has a flip over sink, & I really wish there could be another option.  

Like most every one else, price is important.  I like my camper simple, but most of the new models are overloaded with features that really do not appeal to me.

[Steve-o-bud]

My ideal camper would be:

10 foot box. I love the space of my 12 foot box, but would like my PU to be able to fit in my garage. A 10 foot box would be a great comprimise, if the following could be accomidated.

King bunk on one end, Queen bunk on the other end. The King/King combo is kind of a wastefull, unless you have two adult couples, which is not typical.

A slide out dinnette, with the 10 foot box. The slide out seems to make a great difference in the spacious feel.

And of course, materials that don't break.

I often thought that if I were to upgrade to a travel trailer , a toy hauler (i.e. Weekend Warrior) would be great, even though we don't have any toys like ATC, dirt bikes, etc. This is because there is much functional space, minimal fancy dancy cabinetry, etc. So, if that same philosiphy could be carried into a pop up or hybrid, that would be pretty cool.

[Tentcamp]

Since I don't have much knowledge of other  pop-ups, I'll just address what I would change in our current one (Coleman, Sun Valley) - which by the way is almost perfect!
1. It seems as if a simple block of wood mounted under the drawer slides would prevent them from breaking annually.
2. I'd like curtains on the bay window so I could leave the window open in the warm weather and not have people looking in while I'm sleeping (I know it's remote that that would happen but I feel funny anyway.) I'm sure they don't put them there because of the stove but if there were tie-backs on them you could tie them out of the way for cooking, a lot of us cook outside most of the time anyway.
3. I'd like the couch to be just a little wider so you don't feel like your falling off it.
4. If I were to purchase a new pop-up
    a.  I'd like one that didn't take so many cranks to raise the roof. (we're  
         getting older you know)  
    b.  I'd like the larger of the bunks to be on the back side not over the hitch
         (I know, it's probably a weight thing)  
    c.  I don't want to waste my space with fancy toilets and showers, my
         port-a-potty works just fine but I would like a place where I can leave it  
         out and have it not be in the way.  My current set up is great but the
         new version of the Sun Valley (another name, don't remember what) now
         has a wrap around couch which eliminates where we put it.

[brainpause]

First, I would probably be in the market for a popup if they were lighter. As it is, I will probably have to get a new TV first. If we get a bigger TV, then I will likely move to a hybrid.
 
At the same time, let me resound the above ideas of stronger cabinetry/latches/handles/etc. My Palomino is very strong in this area, and we love it. I do NOT worry about this stuff breaking. It is as strong as most household cabinetry/latches. And it is 17 years old!
 
I also agree about the plumbing. I have had to do a little work on ours. Flimsy. That is all I can say.
 
Of course, my ideas make for a HEAVIER unit, and my first request was for a LIGHTER unit. That said, we will probably get a bigger TV in 2-3 years, along with whatever size trailer we want. However, I have friends who want to camp, but don't want to invest the money in a new TV like we do/will. A simple, light camper (with some space) would be a great entry level camper! It would probably get more people hooked. After all, I got my wife hooked on camping with an OLD, LIGHTWEIGHT camper that was basic, but well-built. Barring accident or disaster, I have no doubt that our camper will EASILY last us 2-3 more years (or MORE), until we trade up.
 
Just make them better.
 
Thanks, Dave, for the opportunity. And I'm jealous. I bet the RVIA is interesting (but not open to the public).
 
Larry

[4Galvs]

A front storage unit that is easy to access when popped up!  Jayco may have addressed this already.

[wiininkwe]

Someone else has mentioned quick release propane tanks, and I want to add my two cents to that one.   Last week we ran out of propane while deer hunting.   We had to run the furnace a lot, because it was cold, and since we didn't have regular shore power we weren't using out ceramic heater.   Having to disconnect the tanks, from under the queen bunk in the front is a real hassle.   There must be some easier way, then to have to stand there all crunched over trying not to strip the threads (which are counterlockwise), and not to hurt yourself hoisting the tanks in and out of that spot.   A few have also mentioned the clear vinyl over the windows so you can see out even if it's raining or cold, and I'd like to second that motion too.   I am not surprised to see so many good ideas here, and I hope that someone in a place of authority actually gives us a good listen.   Thanks, PUT, for providing us with this place to give our feedback.
T

[Papaso]

Some of the things I can do without,

1. Crummy cheap cardboard cabinets.
2. Particle board not so much on the bunkends but on the interior, cabinet doors, etc.
3. Gaudy cheap gold finished hardware.
4. Fake paper wood look finish.
5. Terrible drawer slides

Some things I'd like to see added,

1. A leveling bubble, I don't know but we are suppose to level and if you don't add your own your out of luck.
2. 12 Volt outlets.
3. Fluorescent indoor lighting.
4. Larger outdoor stove table.
5. Attached outdoor table similar to outdoor stove without the stove.
6. Additional outdoor AC/DC outlets.

The main problem I believe they need to address is quality control and pride in workmanship, after seeing how they slap these things together it's a wonder they hold up as well as they do. I also believe that money talks and they use the cheapest materials available to create the desired effect, maybe for a few cents more they can build a much better camper.  These suggestions are based on my knowledge of my 1998 Coleman/Fleetwood

[cam]

Sorry if this sounds like kind of a rant, but..........You know what...PU's used to be unique.  You had a camper, rather than a tent, that the ordinary "joe lunchkit" could afford and pull with their regular family vehicle.  Now, the PU's are built with so many features...to be as good as their TT competitors...and the TT industry has built lighter TT's to respond to consumer preference ...and people are opting for SUV's and 6 cylinder minivans versus mid size cars and 4 cylinder minivans (that first came out).   Frankly, the PU's, are becoming uncompetetive.  

We bought a new PU this year (2004 Flaggstaff 227).  We shopped around a lot and most of the the dealers we spoke to would show us a pretty sweet light weight TT we 'should' be able to pull with our van, for really not a heck of a lot more than we paid for the new PU, expecially if you were financing it over 4-5 years and just looking at the monthly payments.
Yes,we stuck with the PU, largely because of PUT and the advise from this board that told me to be cautious when towing with minivans, but unfortunately a low percentage of the people out shopping for a camper catually frequent this board and thus are not as well informed as you and me.

Sorry for the long story, but if PU's are going to be successful with in a competetive market place, rather than with just us enthusists, I feel they have to seperate themselves, again, from the TT industry by offering affordability...."towablility", righly or wrongly, has left the equation.
   My spin to the manufacturers would be...offer the larger size PU's,10-12 foot boxes at a cheap base price.   Explaination....we had an older PU with a 7.5 ft box and the main reason we upgraded to a 12 foot box was because, guess what, we ran out of room or maybe we just wanted more space. Our friends camped in tents which was pretty cool most days, but when it rained, we were glad to be off the ground! We weren't really looking for the porti potty, heated beds, RVQ, demand pump water supply, 2 tables, blah, blah ,blah,.... we wanted more room.  Most of the CG's aroung here are upgrading their facilities to make them more convenient for your average consumer to enjoy. Sure it was nice to get the extras, but really, we didn't need them, and they drove the price up.  Suddenly, the light weight TT's were "price based" attactive to us.  Don't get me wrong, if you want a PU with all the extras go ahead and get it that way,  most of us already decided we want a PU, it's the "uninformed"  that are listening to the salesmen......"if you are going to spend that, why not buy this light weight TT?"  
   It really came down to the fact if we wanted a more basic PU, we were limited to the small ones and that is not what what we wanted.  I don't.
    A more basic 12 foot would have made the choice "lots of room and bed space for $x (and you can tow it)    vs    a light weight TT for 2 times $x (and iffy if you should even try to tow it)

[Camping Coxes]

Some of our gripes, which have been covered but bear mentioning again:
 
1.  Cabinet and drawer latches that break continually.
2.  Ineffective drawer latches that allow the drawer to "walk out" when traveling from the vibration.
3.  Having to use extra long-nosed pliers to get the cotter pin in/out of the slot to take off the propane cover, and then the struggle with the tie-downs to change the propane tanks.  There's got to be a better way.
4.  If you're going to put in a narrow cabinet that backs into another larger cabinet, cut out the middle wall and make it a pass-through.  That narrow cabinet is basically useless, but if I can use it to access my dinette storage, it becomes a cabinet that I can put a big bin in to store big stuff.
5.  We need better mattresses.  We've all had to replace our foam with thicker stuff.  High density foam is not that expensive and will make a difference between your brand and the next.  It also helps with insulation.
6.  Built-in fans in the fridge would be nice.  
7.  The reflective bunkends and flourescent lights would help with dry camping.  Many people say they never dry camp, so why need it, but it should always be an option for anyone.  You know, with earthquakes and electrical outages, you need to be able to dry camp for at least a week.

[Gone-Camping]

Well, for those of you that don't visit "That other campground" I've got something to tweak your interest, especially those that advocate a more back to earth pop-up camper. Over "there" I found a link to this the Quick Silver...

http://www.livinlite.com/

[B-flat]

That's very interesting.  Do you have any idea how much those cost?

[Gone-Camping]

So far I haven't seen any prices, or for that matter, any spec's on the trailer either. They claim to weigh less than conventional PU's, but failed to provide a page on their site listing the specifications.

My first Starcraft was as primitive and basic as I ever wanted to get, I'm one who will gladly admit that moving up was a good idea. I just couldn't camp here locally in the summer months without an A/C, so I either went to New England or didn't camp at all. Buying one with an A/C opened up the entire summer for me.

[Used 2B PopUPTimes]

Well, for those of you that don't visit "That other campground" I've got something to tweak your interest, especially those that advocate a more back to earth pop-up camper. Over "there" I found a link to this the Quick Silver...

http://www.livinlite.com/

We're meeting with them on Tuesday, we'll keep you informed.