New Popup Owners

[kyoutdoors]

Greetings Fellow Popup Campers,

We are new to the Popup camping world, we just bought a 2003 Skamper 17C 2 days ago.  We have been camping in tents for the past several years.  Just wondering in you guys have any words of advice for new Popup owners.....what to expect, things to take along, etc.  We are just so excited for our first Popup camping experience.  Thanks for any advice!

[OC Campers]

Welcome to PUT, owning a popup is great. A lot of us have moved up from tents to popups. All I can say is maybe popup it up in your driveway if you can a few times. That will make it easier at your first campout. Don't get discouraged. It is not the easiest thing to setup your first few times. You will get the hang of it and get a routine down. If you ever have any questions this site is the best place to ask questions. There are so many knowledgeable people that can help. When we bought our popup, we were having severe sway issues. Someone on the board gave my husband some advice and Voila the problem was corrected. This board saved us from getting rid of the popup.
 
It is also fun to join a camping club. Camping groups are so much fun. My children love going camping with our "internet friends".
 
Jacqui

[4campinfoxes]

Welcome!  If you've been tenting for a while you probably already have most of the equipment you would need for pu-ing.  One incredibly useful item for the PU is the BAL leveler.  Boy, I think that thing has saved our marriage!  (just kidding).  But seriously if I had to suggest one item for a new owner to get, that would be it.  It makes it so much easier to level the trailer than any of the other leveling devices (wood, lynx levelers, etc...).  Also, don't forget wheel chocks!  

Good luck, and keep checking out this board, there is a wealth of information to be found here!

Sharon

[Freedom_5]

Greetings Fellow Popup Campers,

We are new to the Popup camping world, we just bought a 2003 Skamper 17C 2 days ago.  We have been camping in tents for the past several years.  Just wondering in you guys have any words of advice for new Popup owners.....what to expect, things to take along, etc.  We are just so excited for our first Popup camping experience.  Thanks for any advice!

 Greetings and welcome to the group.
   The best suggestion that I could pass along would be to have a dry run in your new popup on a weekend. Think of your driveway as the campground and the neat thing about your driveway is that if there is something you don't have, you can walk into the house and get it! Take a note pad and write down the things that you will use and buy an extra set, just for the popup so you can go on a moments notice. Well not that quick, but if the popup has everything then all you have to do is pack the clothes and kids and go camping.
  This is from a family who just recently bought their new popup and took the advice from our friends on the internet.

[tlhdoc]

Congratulations on the new PU and welcome to PUT.

You will need something to level the PU side to side, wood, lynx levelers, BAL levelers all will work.  Wheel chocks are a must, so that the PU doesn't roll away when you unhitch from the TV (tow vehicle).  You will also need a container to catch the grey water (sink & shower) from the camper, unless you will camp on sites with a sewer hookup.  Those are the basic trailer things you will need.  There are many more, fresh water hose, water pressure regulator, fresh water container to carry water to refill you water tank, etc, but the first 3 are really needed.  Most things you have used camping can be used with the PU.  Feel free to ask away.

[BARDENL]

Welcome, the best idea we picked up from this board a couple of years ago when we first got our popup was to get a small microwave.  (Then $40 was a bargain, now I see them for $30.)  We established a tradition that when we get into camp and pop up on a Friday evening, the first thing I do is make a batch of popcorn.

Enjoy!

[Fuzzymike]

Hello and weocome to the wonderful world of PU's.  Don't be afraid to ask questions here or at a campground.  

When we went out on our first time with our previous PU in Missouri at Cross Creek.  Our RVQ was not working.  I asked some people outside by the park office and I had tons of people trying to help us out.  People would be driving by or walking by asking if we got it fixed or if there was anything they could do.  

When we were at Devil's Lake, WI.  A fellow PU-er next to us could not get their furnace working.  I tried to help.  Could not get it to work so I gave them one of our space heaters for the night.

PU-ers are nice people  

[brainpause]

//www.title-3.com is the best advice I could give anyone.

Larry

[vjm1639]

www.title-3.com is the best advice I could give anyone.
 
Larry

I have to agree with Larry!    Tim's site has probably saved us a few times!

[kyoutdoors]

Thanks for all the great ideas.  This coming weekend we are doing our last camping experience (at least planned) with a tent.  After hauling all this crap around, we will be so glad when we get our Pop-up.  We are picking it up next week after we get back from Gatlinburg.  The RV dealership we purchased it from goes over everything again to make sure everything is in tip top shape before we pull away with it.  Then they also take and hour or two to go over how to put the thing up and down, which will be wonderful becasuse me nor my husband have ever worked one of these before!

Is anyone aware of any popup clubs in KY?  I know there is one in TN that we may see if they will let us join them because we don't live very far from TN.

Thanks for all your help!  You guys are great. :-()

[brainpause]

Is anyone aware of any popup clubs in KY?  I know there is one in TN that we may see if they will let us join them because we don't live very far from TN.

Thanks for all your help!  You guys are great. :-()

Although I am not the official welcoming committee, I am sure out other tpuc.com members would welcome you. There are already members from KY, GA, and AL. We even have some from further north, but not sure which state (MI?).

Larry

[cyclone]

I'm not on the official welcoming committee, either (do we have one?  :p ) but please consider joining TPUC for a trip, or three or four!  It's a fun group and I'm sure you would be welcome.

[tlhdoc]

The 2005 Eastern PU Rally is going to be held in Cherokee NC July 10th to the 15th.  You are more than welcome to join us there.

[OC Campers]

Another idea for you.  When you go for your setup instructions take a video camera along and video the setup and take down.  That way if you forget something you can look back at the video.
 
Jacqui

[angelsmom10]

Not sure how far you're willing to travel, but there is www.glpuc.org they are for OH, IN, MI, WI, and IL... Ohio has 5 outings a year (1 in each part of the state.. so they'll have one in the SW and SE region if you are interested... IN has several planned, but not sure of the locations (none in SE corner, but I think 1 more towards the SW).. go out and joing and check out the site.
 
If you ever want to come up towards Cincinnati, let me know well in advance and maybe we can plan a weekend thing.