Looking into POP up camping

[Beachjeep]

Just started looking into pop-up camping. I need some advise on what to look for as far as the best made campers, aftermarket support, used prices and so on. I have found a few on craiglist but need to know what kind of questions to ask/ Price range is between 2500-4000$.

Thanks Sean

[waygard33]

Hey Sean....[COLOR="Red"][SIZE="5"]WELCOME TO PUT.[/SIZE][/COLOR]

I got bit by the Pop Up camping bug after being caught in a tent in some bad weather in back-to-back trips. Not long after, I caught site of the off-road pups and started investigating. Ended up buying a Fleetwood E3 and have really enjoyed it. We've been able to extend our camping season and stay warm and dry in all kinds of weather. That was a little over 3 years ago.

I think if you immerse yourself in this forum for awhile, check out a bunch of the old posts, you'll see you're not the first to ask this question. You'll learn a lot and begin to get a pretty good idea of what you what. From there, search the web and try to find a good pup that's been well taken care of.

Good luck with your search. Also, if you're interested, you're welcome to check out my E3 pics. The link is in my signature below.

Wayne in Oregon

[Tiffany]

You will soon find that this site is an amazing tool for pop up owners.  We've only had our camper since April; this website has been a big help in many ways.

We actually found our PUP on Craigslist.  Neither my husband nor myself had ever owned a camper, so we decided to get an inexpensive used one for starters to see if we liked the "lifestyle".  (I'm happy to report that we LOVE the lifestyle!)  We made a list of what we absolutely had to have in a camper (air conditioner, sink, stove) and what we wanted but could compromise on or even live without (toilet, shower, bed size, dinette size).  We ended up with a 1989 model that has one queen and one double bed, standard size dinette (as opposed to a wrap around dinette), heat and a/c, sink, and even an awning.  We even got it for under our budget.

It seems to me that most brands of PUPs are very similar as far as design and standard features.  The construction materials differ slightly between brands.

The two most important questions I had whenever I called someone about their ad on Craigslist were "What shape is the canvas in" and "what shape is the floor in".  Bad canvas and bad flooring were dealbreakers for us.  Also, the things we decided we had to have (a/c, sink, stove) had to be working, because we wanted to go camping in the PUP right away.

If you're okay with buying a used unit, there are some great deals on Craigslist (in my area anyway.  I'm near Atlanta, GA and there are dozens of campers listed on Craigslist every day.)  One of my friends got her PUP a couple months before us from a local dealer, bought a brand new one because she can't stand the thought of having a used one.  But I just vaccumed, scrubbed and otherwise cleaned our used camper the day we brought it home and was happy to have saved a few thousand dollars

I hope I haven't bored you to death with my rambling.  Have a good day!

[hoppy]

Hey Sean, welcome to the forum.
Like waygard33 stated, sit back and get involved in some of the topics, and do a few searches on the forum for the information that you are looking for.

 The first thing every new-comer asks, who makes the best PU out there?

   But first, and your main consideration is what will be towing the PU. You need to find the towing limit of the TV (tow vehicle) and start from there. The TV must be capable to pull and stop the PU safely.
    Armed with this information, make a list of the items and options that you and your spouse absolutely need to be included in the PU. This includes the options (A/C, furnace, awning, water heater,fridge, shower, toilet,etc)  number sleeping, amount of storage area, etc. Now armed with the list, go out and walk through as many models as you can to find the right floor plan. Remember to keep an open mind as to the manufacturer's during this time. Pick the unit that feels "right" for you all. I will get to the point regarding manufacturer's in a moment. Make certain everyone is happy, this includes children if you have any.
   Now on to the manufacturers. All PU's are built pretty much with the same thing in mind. They are built as light and as cheaply as possible to pass code. The majority of components are built by subcontractors, so items such as stoves, fridges, lift systems, and sinks can be found in different manufacturers models.  
    Some things I'd look for in a PU based upon my 18 years experience are: One piece door frames, crank down stabilizers, swing level galley instead of fold-over, ease of bunk set-up, just to name a few.
   Now, if you decide to purchase new or used from a dealer, find out the reputation of that dealer when it comes to standing behind their product. Until you become familar with the operation and how all the appliances work and maintained, he will be your best source of information and for warranty repairs.

   Hope this helps starting your quest, and good luck in your search

[austinado16]

Welcome Sean!

In your price range, you'll find some really nice campers on the private seller used market.

As has been stated, your tow vehicle capability is your limiting factor, especially in your price range since you can afford to buy a big camper that's fully outfitted with all the bells and whistles...and will weigh a lot.

My suggestion on brands would be to go with the ones that have the following and are the most popular.  To me, those are Fleetwood, Coleman, and Starcraft.  You'll find these are all extremely well built and they have simple and durable lift systems that last for decades.

Water leaks destroy tent trailers faster than anything, so really inspect the ceiling and corners behind the upper curtains, and the floors inside the cabinets at all 4 corners and under the sink and around the shower/toilet areas if you buy one with those.  Crawl under the camper too and inspect the frame, cables, winch, pullies, and under floor.....and wiring.  Tent trailers are made lightweight and out of the cheapest, thinest materials.  So any amount of water just destroys all the partical board, chip board, OSB, 1/8" thick Luan paneling and glued on vinyl wallpaper type coatings.

Make sure the seller can show you that and how, everything works!  Make them open the camper and set it all up for you, and then take it down....so you can see how to do it, and see if there are any problems with how stuff works!

As far as features go, the more features, the more enjoyable your camping may be.....depending on what kind of camping you like to do, ie, plugged in, or dry camping.  Remember that the more gadgets your camper has, the more their is to maintain and monitor, and keep in good working condition.  So meter your wish list against whether you'll be taking it into a shop for repairs and maintenance, or doing it all yourself.

There are alot of good deals out there right now on some very nice campers and as has been pointed out, buying nice used saves thousands of dollars.

[Beachjeep]

Thanks for all the great responses I am going to camping world in Myrtle Beach to see one set up later today. I need to get a feel for the set and room. It will be my wife and three girls camping ages 6 twins and an older one is 7. I am looking to tow it with my Jeep LJ with is longer than the standard Jeep and has a tow capacity of 3500lbs. We may have to trade my wifes car in on a grand Cherokee if the LJ won't cut it but I want to avoid all that if I can.

Thanks Sean

[Beachjeep]

By the way Waygard I love that E3 ine your signature. It's bit outside of my price mark right now.

[hoppy]

the standard Jeep and has a tow capacity of 3500lbs. We may have to trade my wifes car in on a grand Cherokee if the LJ won't cut it but I want to avoid all that if I can.

Thanks Sean

 Just a word to the wise regarding towing capacity.
 I suggest using the 75% rule of thumb towing capacity when determining the gross vehicle weight rating of the PU. (GVWR)
Sometimes you may be camping in higher elevations and some steep grades you have to conquer. Horsepower ratings deminish I believe by 10 % for every 1,000 feet of elevation from sea level.  

 3500 tow rating divided by 75 % = 2,625 lbs.
 Subtract approx. 400 lbs for the weight of you and your brood = 2,225 lbs.
 Subtract approx. 400 lbs of stuff. (camping supplies, propane tank, A/C, etc) = 1,825 lbs of PU GVWR.

  This may be cutting it a little close if you intend to use the LJ, but I have a tendency to error on the cautious side.

[austinado16]

That does put you down into the world.....at least with "modern" popups.....of a smaller model.

You might take a look at the used Suburban and Yukon XL's on Craigslist in your surrounding couple-hundred-mile area.  They're cheap, will tow any pop-up your heart desires, and are so quiet and comfortable that it's like traveling in your living room.  The 5.7L (and smaller) V-8's get close to 15mpg towing if you keep the speed down.

[Jim K in PA]

Sean - welcome to PUT!

I have a 2005 Jeep LJ (Rubicon unlimited).  When we were shopping I made sure that we could haul it with the LJ.  We got a barely used 2006 Viking 2170ST Legend that max's out at about 2500#.  It works fine with the LJ, but we usually haul it with my wife's 2007 Commander with the 5.7 Hemi. :D  That thing does not even know the camper is there.

I have towed a nearly 3000# pop up (borrowed) through the Blue Ridge Mountains to and from Camp Jeep with my LJ, and that is about the max I would want to haul, despite the 3500# rating.  That was fully loaded with 2 adults and two kids.  I concur with Hoppy's rule of thumb - do not max out your tow vehicle unless you need to.

A question though - how are you going to get the whole family into the LJ?  It only has 4 seat belts . . .

[Beachjeep]

Sean - welcome to PUT!

I have a 2005 Jeep LJ (Rubicon unlimited).  When we were shopping I made sure that we could haul it with the LJ.  We got a barely used 2006 Viking 2170ST Legend that max's out at about 2500#.  It works fine with the LJ, but we usually haul it with my wife's 2007 Commander with the 5.7 Hemi. :D  That thing does not even know the camper is there.

I have towed a nearly 3000# pop up (borrowed) through the Blue Ridge Mountains to and from Camp Jeep with my LJ, and that is about the max I would want to haul, despite the 3500# rating.  That was fully loaded with 2 adults and two kids.  I concur with Hoppy's rule of thumb - do not max out your tow vehicle unless you need to.

A question though - how are you going to get the whole family into the LJ?

 It only has 4 seat belts . . .

I see your point as far as the towing, I had another Belt added to the back seat of the LJ. Looks like I might have to trade my wifes car in on a vehicle for this camping thing to get off the ground.

[hoppy]

Looks like I might have to trade my wifes car in on a vehicle for this camping thing to get off the ground.

 Sorry, I didn't mean to rain on your parade.

 Most often people think that if their TV can pull a medium-sized boat and trailer, a PU should be no problem.
 But that's the reason why I always instruct people to determine their TV capabilities FIRST, before they get their hearts broken when they find that the haven't a way to safely tow or stop the PU of their dreams.

 Look for a TV with a tow rating of at least 5,000 lbs, and this should open up a lot of PU choices and options for you.  :!

[Used 2B PopUPTimes]

My advice is to get a 10' with a  front trunk, electric brakes & an AC, it doesn't matter what brand,  and camp in it for a full season or 2. Then while you're camping ask the other pop up owners what they like and don't like about their campers. You'll probably find out that you already have enough camper for your lifestyle, tow vehicle and budget. There are lots of aftermarket goodies to fix up any camper the way you want it.

Stay away from the 94-96 Dutchmen unless it has a new roof and any camper with an ABS roof.  Look for water damage on the ceiling and the floor - underneath. In the cabinets look for evidence of broken water lines from freezing. Water will ruin the cabinetry and lift up flooring. Sniff around for mildew / mold.  Look for evidence of rodents. Kick the tires and offer 1/2 of what they're asking and have a good time.

I could go on & on but...
D.

[Beachjeep]

I went out to Camping World today and looked at a true pop-up and then the sales guy try to talk me into a Hybrid pop-up made by Palamino. It was real nice with hard sides and roof full size bathroom and the beds popped out of either end, Price tag of 16000$. I don't think jumping in for 16K yes the best option for getting into the life of camping. This whole tow vehicle has throw a wrench in the plans I thought the Jeep would be plenty but it appears not to be the case. I got some thinking and some planning to do. Thanks too all those who have replied You all have been a great help..

[waygard33]

By the way Waygard I love that E3 ine your signature. It's bit outside of my price mark right now.

Thanks! That makes 2 of us...not to mention the wife and kids really enjoy it.:-()

My SIL (sister-in-law) found a nice 8' box used Fleetwood, about 2005. They got it for $3500. The older folks who owned it had only used it 3 times in the 3 years they had it. Great starter pup and can be pulled by anything.

My point is...Don't give up too easy. Be patient, educate yourself, and you'll probably find exactly what you need when you need it.

Sorry I don't have a better pic handy but this is them in process of setting it up last fall.



This is what it looks like behind their middle aged 4-Runner. It looks like the rear end is sagging but their 4 Runner looks like that without the pup.



Keep up the search and good luck.

Wayne in Oregon