New owner of a pop up with a question

[Bugbee]

We bought a used Bayside (2002?) I think.
I have camped in a tent all through out in Europe and two trips in 2006 lead me to a used pop up.  I had never set foot in one and my hubby's co worker lent us his for a night to check it out.

We bought one and store it at a small bungalo we have about two hours away.
It has sat there and we have yet to use it for about 12 months now.

Now I am itching to take it to Williamsburg in the next few weeks, sure to be cold. It does have a heat source (though I am not well versed in it), do people camp in these in the cold, winter months? As I logged on I saw the Snow question so I am assuming they do.

I'm a stay at home mom of 5 children and have to think about their temperature comfort more than mine.

Thanks for any insight,
O'Neal

[JimS]

Welcome to PUP Times!
I have camped in my Starcraft in Yellowstone NP when it was 25 degrees.  I set the heater's thermostat to the lowest setting and the PUP stayed warm enough to keep my 1 1/2 year old son happy at night.  I know of people who have stayed in much colder weather than that with no problems.  Just be prepared and have fun!

[SherryandFamily]

You didn't say what type of heat source.  If it has a furnace that should keep you nice and warm.  

If not try one of those radiator style oil circulating electric heaters.  (Assuming you have electric hook ups)

Put the kids in warm pjs and sleeping bags and everyone should be toasty!

Have fun!

Sherry

[PattieAM]

One can assume you will be at a campground with electric (30amp), so to be on the safe side, you might want to take a ceramic heater or other electric heater (check out the fan before you take it - it might be as noisy as the furnace fan).

Another option - heated mattress pads make comfortable cool weather sleeping.

Have a great trip!

[AZsix]

Welcome to the world or pop ups!

This is my first winter with mine and we use the heat last weekend when we went camping. The lows were in the low to mid 40's.

You should be aware of that the heater will eat up the propane so be sure that you go with full tank(s). When we went last weekend we had our sleeping bags and blankets just in case. You want to be prepared to stay warm if the heat should quit for some reason during the night. I put my thermostat on the lowest setting and we were comfortable all night. I will admit that when I got up to make coffee it turned the heat up.

Be sure to test the heater before you go. You don't want any surprises there.

Have fun, take pictures and let us know how it goes.

[beacher]

...do people camp in these in the cold, winter months?...l

You will find that to be a very geographically weighted question.  Generally, if the owners live where it snows the answer is no.  If they live where is doesn't snow, the answer is yes!

Here in Southern California, PopUp owners can be found using their RV 365 day a year.  We have used our PopUp in the local Alpine elevation mountains with below freezing temperatures at night, and also in the cold rain a few times.




.

[tlhdoc]

You will find that to be a very geographically weighted question. Generally, if the owners live where it snows the answer is no. If they live where is doesn't snow, the answer is yes!

I live where it snows and I do camp in the winter and in the snow.  I am assuming that your PU has a furnace.  That is the only built in heat source.  In the winter I camp at campgrounds that have electric hookups.   I use electric heat and if I have to the furnace, but the furnace will use a lot of propane.  You should have an extra tank of propane along just in case.  If the trailer has sat for a year I would recommend that you have the wheel bearings repacked and the tires checked.  Most trailer tires need to be replaced because of dry rot and not wearing out.  I hope you go and have a great time.

[SheBantam]

Snow is not usually a problem around Williamsburg, sleet and freezing rain, though we did outrun a blizzard headed north a few years ago.

I have all 3 heat sources, I run a small electric heater when I am paying for electric, I also have the mattress heaters and they feel good to get into if they have been on a while and the night is nippy.

I also use the furnace, it kicks on above the electric heater when it really COOOOLLLLLD outside.  And I use it when I am dry camping.

[ScouterMom]

If it's going to be cold at night - make sure that EVERYONE wears clean, DRY socks and jammies to bed.  Don't unroll your bedding until bedtime.  

Moisture from your bodies in your clothes will make you cold at night. Bedding laid out early can absorb moisture from the air and while it won't feel damp when you go to bed, it WILL feel cold at 3 AM!

the heated mattress pads are the greatest thing - not 'hot' but takes the chill off and keeps those toes warm!

a Warm, dry camper is a happy camper!

Laura

[PattieAM]

So, are you going to make the trip?

Where in Williamsburg are you planning to stay?  (American Heritage gets good reviews on RVParkreviews.com).  I enjoyed my stay at Outdoor World-Williamsburg and didn't have train noise like Anvil CG.  

Although it's the 'off season' - there should be plenty to do in the area for the kids.  And you will probably enjoy shopping at the Outlet Mall.  

I live about 1-1/2 hrs (drive time) north, and it hasn't been bitter cold yet - lows might be mid-30's, so you should be comfortable in your PUP with using the furnace/electric heater etc.  As I write, we are experiencing high winds (and I'd so hoped to open the PUP today and decorate for X-mas pictures).  

Have a great get away - you and your kids will have fond memories.

[Bugbee]

Thank you for your responses...
Busy week as we brought the pop up out of a storage area and set it up at home to use as a backdrop for my son's birthday party. We had trouble with the heater so did not allow the kiddos to sleep in it and sadly did not take our Williamsburg trip.

I hope my hubby will come and ask his questions about the heater.
This is all SOOOOOO new to us, and I don't know where to even begin as a mother to the pop up.

I do think we will have wonderful memories and enjoyment from it.

Thank you all for being here for our many questions as we get use to it.
I look forward to our first outing in it!!!!

Neve

[cb]

I really don't understand how the heater/battery thing works.....but I do know that our battery has to be in top shape in order for the heat to go on.  The fan will come on, but no heat.  Men mutter something about the thermocoupler...whatever that means.  Anyway, ours always works on hookups, but sometimes doesn't if the battery is down at all.  We camp when the temp gets into the high 20's at night, but always turn the heat off when we go to sleep.  The fan is just too noisy and it runs the battery down fast.  We count on down sleeping bags, etc. to keep us warm overnight.  Hope this helps.