To upgrade our PUP....or not

[spicetrader]

You know how it goes sometimes, an upgrade is what you think you need, then you do it and find...well shoot, that wasn't worth the $ or the extra weight of a bigger trailer.  But then again sometimes you pull the trigger on a new, larger trailer, and it's the best thing since sliced bread.
We currently own a Taos model pop up by Coleman.  The smallest one they make with an 8

[PattieAM]

Oh Honey .... Go For It!

In my hunt for a PUP, my priorities were potty and AC.  Amongst the qualifying candidates, I viewed a few.

I bought an 06 Fleetwood Niagara, and have been in love with the unit since buying it.  Also got the Add-a-Room (great space for grandkids or more often my dogs and of course weatherproof 7x14 area for us adults to enjoy - bug free).

The Niagara features two king sized bunks, AC, Furnace, Hardwalled potty/shower (and potty is a ceramic toilet like home).  9 gallon blackwater tank (which lasts for a good while before requiring dumping).  3 burner range/oven (1 burner is high output for speedy cooking), 3.7 c/f refrigerator/freezer (and the freezer will freeze cubes overnight or even maintain ice cream in a frozen state).  The twin bowl sink is nice (one side to wash/one to rinse.  The glide out dinette is a comfortable 'nook' for eating or whatever, and gives one more floor space.  The L-shaped sofa is pretty comfie for watching tv or whatever.  (I put a throw on it to help with the dog hair and with me climbing on it to access the front bunk).  The microwave is great - never thought I'd use one when camping, but first trip out and it got used for heating granddaughters baby food....

I tow with either my Durango or my Ram 1500 and have no sway issues.  It tows well, and manouvers well (I'm the id-juit).  

One feature most overlooked in this model is the amount of counter space - one can actually have a coffeemaker/drainboard on the counter and still have spacer to prepare a meal.

Hope this info is what you might be looking for!  I added memory foam topper to bunks and have heated mattress pads for cool weather camping....great.  Furnace works very well, and once temp is achieved, I kick it back and let the oscellating electric heater maintain the temp.

[threebeachboys]

We went from an 8' box w/no amenities (except a/c) to an '05 Niagara.

We really loved our little Rockwood, but I was tired of having an outside bathroom. . . . .Also, our boys were getting bigger.  Once I saw the hardwall bath, I was sold.  We really enjoy the Niagara.  Great space, good storage, hot water and a bathroom!

So, if you have the tow capacity, $$$ ability and storage space, I'd surely encourage you to go for it.

Pam

[campinfool]

go for it! You will not regret it, a bigger camper will give you options that you never new you wanted or needed! Like a bathroom, bigger beds, more storage space and cabinets, all kinds of stuff. I would say to look at a fleetwood santa fe, a westlake and even a yuma (the 2008 models are now a 10 foot box) Good luck and let us now how it turns out!

[az951]

The biggest selling point of my Palomino pony was that the dinette was on the side,  I hated having to crawl over or remove the table in my starcraft,  it was always a pain.

[copcarguy]

Hey all!
 
Ummm, I think my profile below says it all... lol
 
I too had a Taos and now could not go without:
1- my own cassette potty. Walking to the bathouse at 3am while it's raining is just plain not cool.
 
2- My own shower. No flip flops needed, and it's clean.
 
3- hot water, and more specifically a DSI water heater. Just flip a switch and it's all automatic! No more standing there with an aim-n-flame for like 10 minutes trying to light the water heater!
 
4- a Fantastic Fan of some sort in the roof.
 
5- a furnace. My Taos had one and it was the only option I got with it. Hearing that clicking noise when it turns on and makes you all warm and cozy is THE BEST feeling!
 
I hope all this helped! The Taos was my favorite camper until the Aliner... It is SO NICE to be popped up in literally 20 SECONDS. You can stop in a rest area, pop up (without unhitching), have lunch, use your own potty and be back on the road in no time. An added bonus is all the funny looks you get from people during this process... lol

[dthurk]

We had a Fleetwood Yuma, next model up from the Taos.  We outgrew it, literally in months and started looking for a hybrid.  Ended up with a 28' travel trailer.  Full kitchen, full bathroom, large holding tanks, all options at a great price are the features that pulled us to the "dark side".  Potty breaks while driving are a matter of seconds now, lunches are a breeze and inexpensive.  We've been camping in comfort in Dec. with temps in the mid 20's.   Dry camping is  a reality for us.  We probably paid about the same amount for this camper that we would have paid for a Niagara.

[spicetrader]

Wait until I show my DH all these great replies!!!
How fellow campers say it's well worth the upgrade, we go back and forth on the topic, well mostly me.  He is good with a tent I think.
We did put a water heater in our Taos and that was wonderful!

The allure of a clean bathroom is hard to turn down though, even for him as the stories he tells me of the mens side of the RR's are awful.

I have to say I am partial to the Coleman/Fleetwood line.
I'll have to keep my eye out for a gently used Niagara or similar.

[AZsix]

I guess I am a little spoiled getting into pup camping as we did. Ours has a furnace, water heater, shower, cassette potty and the table is off to the side so we don't have to climb over it to get in bed. We also have an oven to go along with the three burner stove. We used the potty for the first time the last time camping and it was great! We were a ways from the bathroom and it was cold at night so it was nice not to have to venture outside. As happy as I am with all that we have I would say go for it. We are very comfortable in ours even with the six of us.

[kimrb266]

We started out with a Coleman Santa Fe CP (10 ft box) that had 1-king & 1 -queen bed and a CP and loved the trailer.  I acually missed it when we sold it.  We only sold it because we didn't think that our small kids would grow and quickly out grew it.  We never regretted the CP because it came in handy for the kids and for us when nature calls in the middle of the night.  Our CP had a cassette that could be dumped in any toilet and you are ready to go again.  After selling the Santa Fe, we went to the 05 Niagara which has all the frills and then some.  This happened to be my favorilte.  The 05 Niagara also had a CP and could empty the same way as the Santa Fe.  In 06, the Niagara's actually had sewer hookups which was convenient.  We were able to go approx 4 nights or more w/o dumping our CP (we are a family of 5).  The holding tanks can hold more than you think.  

Here's something else to think about.  If you purchase a PUP with a CP or built in potty, you can write off the interest you pay every year off your taxes as a 2nd home.  All you need is beds, stove and potty and you qualify for the write off.  

There's a lot to think about what's your needs and wants are.  Look around and you'll know it when you see it.