Just got back, but is a PUP really for me ???

[J-Bird]

Hi All !!  Just got back today from the ADK here in New York State,  took our new 2010 Jayco 806 model out for the first time.  I have camped in PUP many times and have own TT too.  Seems like ALOT of work to pack up take down reset it up at home, (to wash all the pine neddles off plus the dirt)I try and plan to make the trip easier, like packing thing that I really need.  I have so much camping gear in my basement i will never use it all.  I own 3 outside tables that fold up etc... like for doing dishes etc... I kdidnt even bring one, kept them home. Things like that just to make it easier.  My dog does come too ( Scottish Terrier) so some extra things too for him.  The campground (KOA, Lake Placid, NY) is in tall pine trees with dirt ground.  It did rain the first night, so the 4x6 matt outside was soaked, saome other things got wet, etc.... just seems like alot of work.  I look at there cabin for not much more in cost and none of the hassles with that.  I feel like i want to sell it now, I got a really good deal on it but it seems alot to get going.  TT are nice becasue you can just walk in and store things etc....  someone enlighten me on my PUP....please....... Thanks J-Bird

[waygard33]

Hi J-Bird.
Sorry to hear that you returned a bit dissapointed on your trip. I'll try to give you my .02 cents worth on your question..."Is a PUP for me?"

First I would say that camping, like most things, is a 'to each his own' type of experience. That's why we have backpackers, tent campers, TT'ers, etc. And of course we have those that choose not to camp. If you talk to anyone of these folks, they'll be happy to tell you why their way is the best.

IMO the reality is that each method has it's pros and cons and compromises. I was a happy backpacker and tent camper that got caught in bad weather a few too many times and decided I wanted something different. I looked at the different types of campers, their costs, their benefits, their problems, my budget, my tow vehicle, etc, and finally settled on a PUP.

I like a lot of things about the PUP but at the same time, there are things I dislike...like taking down in the rain for instance. There are plenty of times when I watch the guy next to me simply throw all his/her stuff in a hard sided camper, hook up, and drive off. But there are also times when I'm in a beautiful site, in a giant tent on wheels, where all the sides open up for a great view of my surroundings, and I'm just happy to be there. And, if it gets cold or starts raining, my PUP can keep me and the kids/wife comfortable.

I have learned that the amount of work to setup and take down is not apprecieated if I'm only staying somewhere for a weekend. As we've owned our PUP for several seasons now, we tend to take longer trips...minimum 3 or 4 days or longer. On these trips the work is less noticeable because there's so much time to enjoy the camper once set up.

OK, so I'm rambling on a bit here but I hope you get my point. It is quite possible that the PUP is not for you but you will have to figure that out. In the end, there's just one last thing to say...

It's really about getting out with your family, friends, yourself. When I think about my camping memories, both from my childhood and now as a father of 3, I don't think about how much of a pain in the butt it was on that last trip to take down in the rain, or how much of a pain it must have been for my Dad to do all the things he had to do to make our trip successfull. Instead I just remember the fun I had spending time with my family and friends whether it was just sitting around the fire, or hiking, or fishing or whatever. So I think the real question is 'Can your PUP help you get away with your family and create some great memories?' Sure it can. But at the same time you might be able to lessen the impact of some of the things you don't enjoy about it by making your trips a little longer or by choosing sites under less tree cover so the cleanup at the end is minimal, etc. It may be that the TT is your way to go but you should expect some compromises with any equipment you choose.

Hope this helps a bit.

Wayne in Oregon

[J-Bird]

Thanks Wayne for your imput,  it REALLY helped and was nice of you to reply to me. What nice memories you must have of camping as a child.  My folks never went camping,  not sure where i got the bug from, lol...... It was nice and sunny today and all the pine needles fell off the tenting and not much dirt, mild clean up.....:-() thanks again Wayne, J-Bird

[waygard33]

Thanks Wayne for your imput,  it REALLY helped and was nice of you to reply to me. What nice memories you must have of camping as a child.  My folks never went camping,  not sure where i got the bug from, lol...... It was nice and sunny today and all the pine needles fell off the tenting and not much dirt, mild clean up.....:-() thanks again Wayne, J-Bird

No problem J-Bird, and you're welcome.

I'm sure there's a great trip out there waiting for you, and your Pup will be glad to come along.:tent:

Wayne in Oregon

[flyfisherman]

Any kind of RV will require a certain amount of upkeep and maintenance, some more so than others. So will having a cabin in the woods. I suppose the least wear and tear would just be renting a place to stay - But I like towing my little place to stay, sleeping in my own bunk, with all my "stuff" around me ... and there's a price of labor for that luxury.

A fishing buddy who tired of the work associated with his popup camper, sold it and went with one of these:

http://www.tab-rv.com/specs/Ufloorplan.php


Now, you could have bought three of my little Starcraft's for the price he paid for this little bugger, so maybe all this has to do with how much your willing to spend. Now, I like the little T@B (and the idea of being able to put on a pot of coffee plus take a nap at a rest area), but I like the additional space of my PU when it's set-up at camp site (and the openness of it, not to mention the cost comparison).

Ah, yes ... the quest and debate continues!



Fly

[OC Campers]

When we first bought our popup in 2001 we were so excited.  It was something we had always wanted.  The first couple of trips out were horrible.  Nothing seemed to work right, it towed horribly, and it seemed a lot of work.

Over time it got better.  We got some great information on this website about towing and what type of hitch/sway arms to buy and how to load the camper.  Then you learn that you only want to take what you are going to use.    It is so much easier to put it away when you only unpack what you truly need.  My dh and I finally got into a system.  He setup the outside while I did the inside.  The kids also got into a routine.   My youngest loved to put down the sand pads.  My middle son unpacked the back of the truck and put everything on the picnic table to be brought inside.  Camping is a team effort.  The more help you have the faster it will get done and the sooner you can relax.  

Also, try to buy things that will make your life easier.  I know it isn't environmentally friendly but some trips we only used paper plates and plastic silverware.  Eat prepared foods or cook meals at home to bring along, only sleep in a sleeping bag.  We also keep things in the camper like towels, kitchen utensils and pillows.  They come out to be washed and them immediately they go back in.

In the end, I know it is work but when I see the smiles on my kids faces, it was worth it.  You are creating memories that they will take on to their families.

Jacqui

[J-Bird]

THANKS everyone for the replies and the time you all took to post,  I try and pack light with ONLY the things I really need !!!!!  Its only 2 of us plus our dog " LOUIE" which he doesnt tale up alot of room and loves to camp.  I think the campground with the dirt ground and all the pine needles may have put a bad taste in my mouth although we've camped there many times and know the drill there.  The PUP worked FINE !!!!  everything on it worked well, no problems with anything.......  its just me i guess.  Keep up all the ideas folks,  i read them all and am glad to be part of this group. J-Bird

[Takamine]

Hopefully you'll get to the point that everything you need is kept in the pup, except for food and clothes. Garage sales are a great place to stock up on permanent camper items. Once you reach that level, it's much less of a hassle to get ready and go.

[jpcjtrtj]

I think Waygard said all.  We just got back from our 32 night of camping this year.  This time it was just me and the misses (left the kids somewhere; but they came home tonight anyway . . . )  We've had great times with the kids and enjoy the space (and heat and water and light) the camper gives us while we're there.

Getting two of everything and leaving it in the trailer makes the set up easier (our camper keeps the sleeping bags, webber grill, tools, etc when we tow).  It takes us about an hour to pack up and hook up a 1/2 hour to get settled at the site when we're all doing our thing. On the back end, it's about the same.  From what I see, it's not much different when I watch the big boys put their equipment together.  Also, if you have to load up food and clothes in the car and then from the car to the cabin, I don't think you save all that much time.

For food (and clothes) get a couple stackable plastic drawers from Target or Walmart.  That makes takin the clothes and food in and out a snap and saves space in the camper.  

Hope you stick with it; but if you don't there's always other ways to enjoy the out of doors.  We almost always rent hotel rooms in Yosemite, but who knows, the trailer may make it there yet.

jps

[AustinBoston]

The thing I would add is that setup & takedown become natural with practice.  When all the kids were home, everyone had a specific set of jobs.  We got quite good at our assigned duties, and could set up in 10-15 minutes if motivated (i.e. rain).

Working alone, I can do a basic setup in about 25 minutes, and a takedown in 30.  Although I know the whole routine, the stuff inside goes faster if I stay outside, and PJay would rather just do the stuff inside and let me work the outside stuff.  I don't know if she has ever lit the hot water heater.

There are times when we simplify drastically.  Skip the awning unless rain is expected; skip the screen room for less than a week's stay (unless mosquitoes are going to suck all our blood).  Quick overnight stops don't require water hookup.

The only requried setup is chck wheels, unhook (and with some setups, that may not be necessary), level, set up tenting, and stabilize.

Austin

[CajunCamper]

Wow, great post from everyone...J-Bird sorry your trip was such a bummer, but I would recommend taking a few of the tips posted here and give it another try. Camping takes practice and even though you've owned and camped in a TT, you're going to need to get in a bit of practice with your new pop up before you start to feel comfortable with it. Just like Austin said, with a little practice setup and takedown will become a natural for you. You may discover that popup camping isn't for you and that's okay, but I think if you follow many of the tips given here in this thread it can make a difference in your future camping experiences.

[sacrawf]

It seems to me that we have a lot of options in seeking an outdoor experience.  Our choices of where we spend our nights are, in order of being close to nature:

Sleeping Bag under the Stars
Bivy Sack
Tent
Pop-Up
Hybrid Travel Trailer
Truck Camper
Travel Trailer
Motorhome
Cabin
Bed & Breakfast
Resort

Sleeping under the stars with no shelter other than a sleeping bag or blanket provides the most profound outdoor experience.  But the price to pay comes with insects, critters, rain, wind, and a hard ground.  The bivouac sack or tent provides some protection, but these largely remove a view of the scenery, take a lot of work to set up, take down, and then dry, clean up, and store when we get home.  They provide few options in the continuious rain or opressive heat.  And, many of our family members would decline to camp.

To me the popup provides the ultimate in balancing the maximum outdoors experience with comfort options and the work and maintanance required. My last camping trip was at a campsite just feet from the lake, and the weather allowed all of the screen windows on the camper to remain open.  The first view of the world upon first light was of the mist over the lake without even raising one's head from the pillow and enjoying sensation and smell of the soft morning breeze. We were "outdoors", but with comforts.  

A hybrid, A-liner, travel trailer and motorhome window all provide the same view with more effortless camping but each take a step away from that open experince that a traditional popup provides.  With the travel trailer and motorhome, we can remove much of the outdoors experience, and instead of getting away from it all we are bringing much of "it" with us. For us the extra work of the popup is well worth the rewards it brings.

[J-Bird]

Thank you all !!!!!  so nice of your folks to post,  I have owned many pop ups before and know the drill, but buying another pop up because I got a great deal was maybe the reason i bought it.  I hope not,  the cost was easy on our budget and easy to tow behind the Subaru.  The Jayco worked fine, everything went well !!!!  just the set up and take down, plus it started to rain just as we were ALMOST done taking it down.  Thanks for all your tips folks !!! J-Bird

[cjpoppin]

We had a family cabin in our local mountains and it was lots of fun except that's the only place we ever went year after year.....It got old than we went to the pup and that was good but time took it toll on our bodies and we are now doing the TT and it fits just right now....Funny when you think about it as we age one of these far off years we'll probably end up back camping in a cabin......Hahaaaaaaa

[griffsdad]

PUP = 2 hours set up and take down
Hybrid = 1 1/2 hours set up and take down
TT = 10 minutes set up and take down