PU Question?

[p2ew2e]

Was wanting some opinions on pop ups? My boyfriend and I are tired of tent camping and were thinking strongly about looking at pop ups. I am wondering how leak resistant they are and what brands to look at? Every time it rains when we are tent camping, I have to constantly remind him NOT to touch the sides of the tent so that it will not leak. We are going tomorrow to look at a local dealer here in Kansas City that carries Rockwoods. Anyone had any luck with them? We want something to be able to get in out of the rain and heat and be able to move around abit without tripping over ourselves. Can anyone shed some wisdom on pop up camping for me?

[wavery]

Welcome to PopUpTimes

PUs are quite weather proof. Most all of them have hard tops these days and I think that you will find them easy to tow and quite comfortable to live in.

There are so many well made PUs out there that choice really seems to boil down to your tow vehicle, floor plans, options and the service from dealer that you buy it from.

Please feel free to ask more specific questions. There are a lot of fine people here that enjoy being able to help.

What area do you live in?

[tlhdoc]

Welcome to PUT.  The materials that the tenting on new PUs are made of don't leak when touched, like the old canvas tenting did.  Good luck on shopping for a new PU.  

[cyclone]

We have a Flagstaff which is a "twin" of the Rockwood.  We bought it used (one year old at the time) and camped in it 28 nights last year with NO problems.  Very happy with it!  I like the floor plan and it has good storage - two very key factors in my book.  I also love the heated mattress covers and it looks like we will be using them next week-end on our first trip when the lows are supposed to be mid-30's.  So, my vote is the Rockwood is a good choice, of course.

[p2ew2e]

Welcome to PopUpTimes

PUs are quite weather proof. Most all of them have hard tops these days and I think that you will find them easy to tow and quite comfortable to live in.

There are so many well made PUs out there that choice really seems to boil down to your tow vehicle, floor plans, options and the service from dealer that you buy it from.

Please feel free to ask more specific questions. There are a lot of fine people here that enjoy being able to help.

What area do you live in?

We live in Gladstone, MO. Just been through a day full of storms. You would think that it was summer! My only concern was the tent material that is used, whether it leaked like a regular tent when wet and you touch it.

[tlhdoc]

I have camped for 10 seasons in two different PUs and neither one has leaked, no matter how hard it rained.  

[Gone-Camping]

My old Starcraft may have had similar problems, but that was old canvas tenting. The newer stuff is made of better material. My Coleman Rio I could have the pillows up against the canvas (we still call it all canvas, the Coleman/FFT actually uses a material called 'Sunbrella') without any problems... Ditto on my current trailer, which is a Hybrid Travel Trailer (HTT) with tent ends on it....

[abbear]

We live in Gladstone, MO. Just been through a day full of storms. You would think that it was summer! My only concern was the tent material that is used, whether it leaked like a regular tent when wet and you touch it.

The tent material is usually a vinyl on the top and a treated fabric for the side of the tenting.  It does not leak when you touch it.  I have been in many, many rainstorms with my popups and the only time they leaked was when I left a roof vent open.

A larger concern would be what are you going to tow with.  Read your owners manual so you understand the limitations of your tow vehicle.  That way when you go to the dealer you can tell him the max your vehicle can tow.  DO NOT TRUST THE SALESMAN TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU CAN TOW!

Here is a link to rockwood popups:

http://www.forestriverinc.com/nd/default22.asp?page=rktc&nav=rec&choice=brochure

There are lots of popups out there - take your time and look around.

Good luck!

[p2ew2e]

The tent material is usually a vinyl on the top and a treated fabric for the side of the tenting.  It does not leak when you touch it.  I have been in many, many rainstorms with my popups and the only time they leaked was when I left a roof vent open.

A larger concern would be what are you going to tow with.  Read your owners manual so you understand the limitations of your tow vehicle.  That way when you go to the dealer you can tell him the max your vehicle can tow.  DO NOT TRUST THE SALESMAN TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU CAN TOW!

Here is a link to rockwood popups:

http://www.forestriverinc.com/nd/default22.asp?page=rktc&nav=rec&choice=brochure

There are lots of popups out there - take your time and look around.

Good luck!

All of this input has been very helpful and thank you everyone. As far as our tow vehicle, in January we purchased a brand new Honda Ridgeline pickup. It will tow 5000 pds. So I do not think we will have any trouble!!!!

[tlhdoc]

All of this input has been very helpful and thank you everyone. As far as our tow vehicle, in January we purchased a brand new Honda Ridgeline pickup. It will tow 5000 pds. So I do not think we will have any trouble!!!!

It sounds like you ready to get a PU.  Good luck finding the right trailer.

[Kavoom]

>>We are going tomorrow to look at a local dealer here in Kansas City that carries Rockwoods.<<

STOP wait.  Check out the Rockwood (Liberty??), but then go check out the Flagstaff's at Nationwide in Grain Valley east of KC.  I bought there as it was identical to the Rockwood (except color of vinolon) and cost about 600 bucks less.  I got the base 176 (same as Rockwood 1640) with everything including airco for 4,750.  I did add brakes which cost 320, but that was still 400 to 600 less than the others.  Check it out.  

Nationwide got in trouble from the MO attorney general for selling them too cheap.  I'm not kidding...well actually other dealers tattled on them for using the word "wholesaler" which apparently has some legal designation they cannot use so they have to take it off their signs...

And they treat you pretty good.  

Kavoom
2004 Subaru Forest
2006 Flagstaff 176
DG, Black Dog and Me

[p2ew2e]

>>We are going tomorrow to look at a local dealer here in Kansas City that carries Rockwoods.<<

STOP wait.  Check out the Rockwood (Liberty??), but then go check out the Flagstaff's at Nationwide in Grain Valley east of KC.  I bought there as it was identical to the Rockwood (except color of vinolon) and cost about 600 bucks less.  I got the base 176 (same as Rockwood 1640) with everything including airco for 4,750.  I did add brakes which cost 320, but that was still 400 to 600 less than the others.  Check it out.  

Nationwide got in trouble from the MO attorney general for selling them too cheap.  I'm not kidding...well actually other dealers tattled on them for using the word "wholesaler" which apparently has some legal designation they cannot use so they have to take it off their signs...

And they treat you pretty good.  

Kavoom
2004 Subaru Forest
2006 Flagstaff 176
DG, Black Dog and Me

Well, we took your advice and guess what? We skipped the pop up and went straight into a trailer! We are waiting on our financing to go through on a new 2005 Salem by Forest River for the same price as a pop up. We were totally shocked at the prices and the owner of Nationwide even helped us out. They were very nice and VERY helpful. We are getting a 19ft trailer for 12,539. We were looking at a Flagstaff Highwall that was over 17k. So we figured how could we go wrong...and we even get a shower and HOT water...LOL Thank you so much for the advice!!!!

[Kavoom]

I'm glad you found what you wanted.  But sad you went to the dark side (an enclosed travel trailer).  Just kidding enjoy.  

Nationwide is a good dealership.  Take care...

[pipers family]

We own a Rockwood pup and love it.  We have had no problems at all.  We have also owned a Starcraft and Jayco, they were also good trailers.  The Starcraft was about 15 years ago and yes the old type tenting fabric would leak where you touched it, but the new stuff does not.  Pup camping is like tent camping in the good ways (close to nature and hearing the natural sounds outside), but a lot better in the less desirable tent ways (such as the way rain runs through the center of your tent and wets down everything) Happy Camping

[tlhdoc]

Congratulations on the new trailer.  Too bad you don't live closer to NY state.  A friend of mine is selling a used 19 foot, 2006 Salem by Forest River for less than the 2005 you are getting.