Moving camper by Hand

[rickschromehd]

Hello, I'm new to the popup world and had a question before I purchased one. I'm looking at buying a Fleetwood Niagara or Avalon and was wondering how hard  these units are to manuever by hand. I've never seen either unit up close and have only read reviews about them. What is your likes and dislikes about these campers, if you were to do it again what model would you have bought and why. Thanks

[Daddie_Tom]

Hello, I'm new to the popup world and had a question before I purchased one. I'm looking at buying a Fleetwood Niagara or Avalon and was wondering how hard  these units are to manuever by hand. I've never seen either unit up close and have only read reviews about them. What is your likes and dislikes about these campers, if you were to do it again what model would you have bought and why. Thanks

To answer moving by hand, It can be done fairly easy on pavement but I would not want to do it on soft ground.  I have a 96' Coleman Sun Valley and my only regret is that I did not get Hot Water.. Other than that I LOVE the camper and it stores in my garage {No storage fees}

[wavery]

The Niagara and Avalon are great because they have all the facilities of a full size TT, a larger fridge, a permanent counter that increases storage and reduces set-up time.

As for moving by hand, it can be done (by a strong person or 2) on level concrete or pavement but it doesn't take much of an incline to make this prohibitive. I move my PU in the garage of my apt building all the time but it's level and I'm 6'3" 225#. My wife and I often maneuver the PU around in a camping spot by hand to get a good view and occasionally do it on hard dirt. Once we got in trouble and had to recruit help to move it back. Our PU is a TrailManor 2720 and it weighs about 3500# (fully loaded). The Avalon will weigh over 4000# loaded.

BTW....WELCOME TO PUT!!

[beacher]

While they can be moved by hand on smooth pavement, beware of rough surfaces like asphalt.  And, always lower the tongue jack as low as it will go.  I own the low walled '04 Niagara, (similar floorplan to the current Utah).  However, it weighs over 3500 pounds when fully loaded, much like the Highlander models.

While camping at a local RVPark, (Campland By The Bay), I needed to swing my PopUp around 180 degrees due to the unusual hookup locations and layout of the site.  Due to the rough asphalt, my tongue jack was slightly bent inwards at it's mounting swivel point where it's welded to the trailer frame.  It was easy to fix with a BIG hammer, but I didn't realize that the tongue jack could be damaged so easily.

[Daddie_Tom]

I am a firm believer in putting chocks down BEFORE un-hooking camper from truck. I witnessed a runaway camper once and if it would not have hit a tree someone would have probably been hurt or killed.. This guy{Not Me} parked his camper on an incline and as soon as he un-hooked the camper it took off down the hill..SCARY!  So always try to get it {Level} where you want it with the truck and CHOCK FIRST!

[rickschromehd]

Thanks for the quick replies, I like this site, and am looking forward to my first Popup. I have a 5 year old daughter I can't wait to take camping and make great memories.

[rccs]

Those are both pretty good sized popups to be pushing around by hand. I would be cautious if I were to try to move one of those by hand. I had my popup start to get away on me once after unhooking when I was at the campground by myself and it is scarry when it happens. Luckily I was able to stop it by pushing the front end sideways so it quit rolling.

[markwi]

Hello, I'm new to the popup world and had a question before I purchased one. I'm looking at buying a Fleetwood Niagara or Avalon and was wondering how hard  these units are to manuever by hand. I've never seen either unit up close and have only read reviews about them. What is your likes and dislikes about these campers, if you were to do it again what model would you have bought and why. Thanks

I move my Jayco 1008 with a dolly I bought from Northern Tool Co. I only use it at home on a level drive or the garage floor. I  would not try it on place where it could get away from me. My 1008 is lighter than the ones you are talking about. Mark

[sacrawf]

I park my Rockwood in a corner of the garage and position it in place by hand without assistance.  I found it is important to keep the roller wheel on the BAL tongue jack and the swivel plate on the jack very well lubricated with a spray lubricant. If the lubricant has dried out, it makes the camper very difficult to steer and roll by hand.  I don't attempt moving the trailer by hand anywhere except on level paved surfaces.

I do put the tongue jack wheel down on an extra Lynx leveling block when camping. The wheel is prevented from rolling by the block's raised knobs, and the block's edges reduce the chance of a movement in an extreme wind.

The wheeled dolly for moving trailers around is available at a lot of home/farm stores and at Overton's. http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?i=23184&pdesc=Deluxe_Trailer_Dolly&str=dolly&merchID=1008&r=view

[chip]

I've not been able to budge my '07 Niagara very far by hand...Don't have smooth, level concrete to work with, though.

The tongue weight on the trailer is in excess of 300#.  It's much easier to move around with the truck.

As to the rest of your question, DW likes the amenities:  the bathroom, AC, Heat, bathroom, stove/oven/m-wave, fridge and did I mention the bathroom?  I am happy to just go camping.

[tlhdoc]

I've not been able to budge my '07 Niagara very far by hand...Don't have smooth, level concrete to work with, though.
 
 The tongue weight on the trailer is in excess of 300#.  It's much easier to move around with the truck.
 
 As to the rest of your question, DW likes the amenities:  the bathroom, AC, Heat, bathroom, stove/oven/m-wave, fridge and did I mention the bathroom?  I am happy to just go camping.

Chip don't forget to add that your wife likes the button.  The button to put the roof up!:D

[chip]

Chip don't forget to add that your wife likes the button.  The button to put the roof up!:D

Oh, yeah.  Almost forgot--the 'lectric lift.  Thanx, Tracy!

[DT Sante Fe]

I used to move our 2000 Sante Fe by hand all the time, I liked to turn it sideways in the campsite to get the best position possible.

 
Our 2005 Niagara is a different story. It is one heavy beast (but we love it!) I would not want to move it by hand.

[wavery]

One tip (for everyone) that I just remembered............

The one time that we had to find help moving our PU in the dirt by hand, we found that putting one person's weight on the back bumper of the trailer took enough weight off of the tongue to make it much easier to manuever....it is the small wheel on the tongue that makes it hard to move in the dirt.

[haroldPE]

Even with a wheeled dolly you'll be straining.  I have a 3500lb pup and have retired the dolly.  I use the tow vehicle for all moving, now.