One Person Pop Up + Campact Car

[wavery]

Just go out and get the new Neon Element. No problems

This modification is fairly simple (believe it or not) and give us a lot of options. We have 12 grandkids and sometimes do family camping and like to have both king size bunks. Most of the time it is just the 2 of us and we go camping about twice a month, winter and summer. The smaller, easier set-up would be nice for a weekend trip to the beach. It would also be nice to knock off that extra weight if we want to go to the mountains.

Besides, we have what we have and we really love our set-up, other that the waisted bunk (and all that goes with it) and extra set-up time.

Some people claim 20 minute set-up and take down times. We time ourselves every time. From engine shut down to lighting the campfire is 1 hour. Nothing I do changes that other than running around like a maniac. That's not why I go camping :p . We start cleaning and packing up at 10:30 to get out of the campgrounds by 12:00. Maybe we are just old & slow but I don't think so. I would love to get set-up and tare down a little more simplified.

[TexasCamper]

This modification is fairly simple (believe it or not) and give us a lot of options. We have 12 grandkids and sometimes do family camping and like to have both king size bunks. Most of the time it is just the 2 of us and we go camping about twice a month, winter and summer. The smaller, easier set-up would be nice for a weekend trip to the beach. It would also be nice to knock off that extra weight if we want to go to the mountains.

Besides, we have what we have and we really love our set-up, other that the waisted bunk (and all that goes with it) and extra set-up time.

Some people claim 20 minute set-up and take down times. We time ourselves every time. From engine shut down to lighting the campfire is 1 hour. Nothing I do changes that other than running around like a maniac. That's not why I go camping :p . We start packing up at 10:30 to get out of the campgrounds by 12:00. Maybe we are just old & slow but I don't think so. I would love to get set-up and tare down a little more simplified.

It takes me about 45 minutes to set up, that

[wavery]

It takes me about 45 minutes to set up, that

[HersheyGirl]

I have been thinking about this mod too for some time.  I would like to take the back bunk out and have a big picture window there, right by the table...very cool.  I was wondering if bearcreek canvas or the other canvas replacement place could make me that part.  I like the idea of a shelf to put things on, kind of like a bay window.  Let us know how it works out if you do it.

[wavery]

I have been thinking about this mod too for some time.  I would like to take the back bunk out and have a big picture window there, right by the table...very cool.  I was wondering if bearcreek canvas or the other canvas replacement place could make me that part.  I like the idea of a shelf to put things on, kind of like a bay window.  Let us know how it works out if you do it.

I'm gonna do it. That's for sure. The big window is easy with the hard side or the canvas.

I want to have this done before we go to Yosemite in July so I may just start out with Sunbrella because I already have plenty to do it with and that would just be a 2 hour project. I have enough plastic window material to do a 48" x 40" window. The Sunbrella is dark blue but so what :p .

I'll call Bearcreek Canvas tomorrow and see how much they would charge to make that panel. They would have all the correct material (zippers & bolt rope) and the correct colors too. I'll let you know what I find out. I'll tell them that there may be an entire market for this. In fact, they may already have them.

[bkfdwife]

I'll be watching this mod closely! We have a 1991 Palomino SXL, it's the hardside.  My one question for now would be if you could do this to the bunk on the tow bar end, and does it matter which bunk you do?
Oh, another question!  Where is the bird going to go???
hahaha
Enjoy your cruise!
Lisa

[wavery]

I'll be watching this mod closely! We have a 1991 Palomino SXL, it's the hardside.  My one question for now would be if you could do this to the bunk on the tow bar end, and does it matter which bunk you do?
Oh, another question!  Where is the bird going to go???
hahaha
Enjoy your cruise!
Lisa

You could do it on either end. just be aware that it will upset the balance of the trailer and some adjustments may have to be made to compensate for the weight difference. I actually changed my mind and we are going to eliminate the front bunk and keep the rear bunk.

Funny that you should ask about the bird. We were talking about that tonight. We are going to incorporate a 24" wide shelf 80" long in the bottom which will taper the whole set-up outward. This will give us the ability to stabilize the roof somewhat also (I was concerned about that).

For anyone that is interested, I just sent the following email to a couple different pop-up canvas shops for a price quote:
----------------------------------------------------
Hello,

I am going to remove the FRONT bunk-end on my 2002 Coleman/Fleetwood Tahoe Pop-Up camper.

I would like to have a panel made that I can just zip in the place of the bunk-end canvas. That way, I can put the bunk end and original canvas back in if we are taking others along.

The panel that I would like to have made is approx. 83" wide and 50" high.

It needs to have bolt-rope in top to slide into the factory channel that the bunk-end canvas goes into and zippers (to match existing Coleman zipper) on each side to zip onto the factory front and rear panels.

I would like 5- Twist locks on bottom with the other half of the twist-lock for the outside of the camper body.

I would like a plastic window 60" wide x the same height as the factory window in the front of the camper (approx 30-40"). Permanent screen on outside and zippered plastic window that rolls up (Not down) on inside.

Here comes the tricky part. I would like to put a 24" wide shelf in the bottom, the width (83") of the camper, to lay on the edge where the bunk used to be and extend outward, over the trailer tongue. That means that there will have to be tapered sides that go from zero at the top, to 24"  at the bottom then a double bottom piece of canvas 24" x 83". I would like to be able to snap it on the inside and outside which would demand an extra flap on the inside with 3 twist locks. I would like the bottom to be a double layer so that I can slide a 78" piece of 3/8" fiber board into the pocket (78" so that I can flip it to the inside for fold-down). I would also like to have a webbing looped tab sewn into each outer corner and one in the center (where the 24" wide shelf is) so that I can put a tie-down line through them, to tie it down taught to the trailer tongue. That will sharpen up the tapered edges and give some support to keep the roof from swaying.

If you would like, I can draw some plans. I know that you have the exact measurements for the the bunk-ends so that means that you know the length of the zipper sides and the top bolt-rope for sure.

I have been talking about this on Pop-Up Times:
http://www.popuptimes.com/
And it has drawn some interest from others.

Please give me a price for this. Please keep in mind, there may be a sizable market for this modification. A lot of couple have Pop-Up campers and that extra bunk is a pain to set up and tare down. It is weight (about 200#) that isn't necessary and space that must be heated and cooled even if it isn't being used.

Thank you,

[HersheyGirl]

I can't wait to hear the reply!  If I could do this mod, then I don't think that I would have to go with a smaller camper, once the kids stop camping with me.  This is a really cool mod.

[bkfdwife]

wow! this is exciting! Since I am not a braveheart enough to try this on my own without "plans"!  What would you do to compensate for the weight loss on the front?
I have a very narrow floor space allowance on the side, the back of the dinette seat and then on the door side there is an icebox that is cracked and up against the front is the cubby that is also accessible from the outside.  Is the balance and weight issue only while you are travelling or once you set up too?  I'd hate to go to all the work of removing the bed just to have to carry around an extra dead weight while it's set up!
Thanks for all your info on this! The world is watching! hahahaha
Lisa

[wavery]

I got a reply from BearCanvas. He doesn't recommend the shelf concept. He feels that there may be leak issues with the stitching in the widows. I'm not really concerned about that but I will respect his opinion. He makes the flat panels all the time and he charges $150 for it. That makes it not worthwhile doing myself.  

I'm still waiting to hear from the other place.

As far as the weight distribution is concerned, it really shouldn't be all that serious because the weight of the bunk is proportionally spread out from about 3' back from the hitch ball to the center of the trailer. It is recommended that you have about 10 to 15 percent of the trailer's gross weight in tongue weight. On a 2500# trailer, that's between 250-375#. I would estimate that the weight change may be about 50# of tongue weight. My tongue weight is currently 310 (I weighed it the other day). I can make up a lot of tongue weight (if need be) by putting my generator and firewood forward. The other factor is the speed that you drive at. I never tow over 55. I have experimented driving faster and I don't experience any sway at 75MPH. Every trailer and TV combination will experience different results and will need to adjust accordingly.

The weight and balance is not an issue after you are set-up because you will have your stabilizer jacks down. Roof sway could be an issue on some PUs but that would simply be a matter of running a strap from the roof to the end of the trailer tongue to compensate for the lack of lateral support from the missing bunk end canvas.

When I get back from our cruise, I will remove the bunk and canvas and weigh the tongue with it out. I'll keep you posted.

[Kelly]

Just out of curiousity .... anybody have any more advice for the original poster?  

Personally I like the Aliner/Chalet idea ...[/FONT]

[wavery]

Just out of curiousity .... anybody have any more advice for the original poster?  

Personally I like the Aliner/Chalet idea ...[/FONT]

Actually, the idea that I am toying with would work quite well for her. That's the main reason that I didn't start another thread.

Sorry if it seems like I hijacked this thread, that certainly was not my intention , although it had crossed my mind that I might be doing just that. If one of the moderators would care to, please feel free to put my modification posts in a new thread.

[TexasCamper]

Just out of curiousity .... anybody have any more advice for the original poster?  

Personally I like the Aliner/Chalet idea ...[/FONT]

I like the http://www.fleetwoodrv.com/element/  and think the TV could be a car.

[zamboni]

I actually changed my mind and we are going to eliminate the front bunk and keep the rear bunk.

Personally, I'd be weary of eliminating the front bunk -- even the weight of an empty bunk cantilevered out helps with the weight distribution.

Eliminating the front bunk, and laying in the back bunk does start to create a more significant "moment of force" on the rear stabilizers - quite possibly exceeding their weight rating.  If you had softer dirt (did not realize - say it rained in the night, softening the ground under the stabilizer), you could have a bad time!

The "half-popups" (like Ray, and the Fleetwood) all kept the bunk over the hitch.  Those bunks, on the Colemans, have a better support bar, since they don't only go into the bumper, but also onto the hitch bar area itself (less angle).

Finally, if you are going to put a window in the new canvas - would you rather look out the back (like onto a lake you backed into), or the front, where the cars and other campers are looking in at you?

[ScoobyDoo]

he only thing that concerns me is the balance of the trailer. I can't take any more tongue weight. I will have to figure out a way to compensate for that.

  Easy, without the bunk taking space to slide and ride you could stack stuff higher.  The design would get harder but if you sloped the new wall as stock that would solve the window leak problem.
  Why not 2 or 3 shelves.
  DW and I tied the extra mattress to the cieling in the basement before our first trip.