ADVICE NEEDED: "Pop-Up" Tent Camper Trailers

... Does anyone here have experience with them?

We are longtime campers who have always used a tent (along with all the hassles of tent-camping). It's been fun, but I'm thinking that pop-up camper-trailers might be a logical next step.

Does anyone here have any experiences... WARNINGS... or advice to share? Any specific brand names to consider, or avoid?

Are we just swapping the hassles of regular tent camping for a new set of hassles that are unique to pop-up-camper camping?

Is it too risky to buy something used? Or should be buy new? Will they last?

Does this mean I'm getting old?

-- Allen

this morning I received an email SUBJECT: Why you should sleep IN a tent. The accompanying picture showed a young man sleeping in only cotton shorts on the campground outside. He's on his back "popping his own tent" for everyone to see. LOL!

...we are exactly in the 'same boat'...well, same tent. We will be monitoring the replies to see what others suggest. We retired in July and have already been tent camping 3 times. The weather...rain, wind and heat protection is a factor
for us in considering a 'pop up' over a tent. Also, sleeping arrangements. Must have a comfortable and roomy enough bed to share and most importantly... will it cost more in MPG to pull any kind of trailer.
We have looked into a 'TrailManor' hard side 'pop up' trailer....sorta pricey, but
might be an answer.
I would assume that folks shouldn't spend more on any kind of camping equipment than they need to...based on the amount of times they will be camping in the future.....wear and tear and all that.

The Tikkis

A three-room Coleman tent. A Coleman "shower-tent" (complete with battery operated sump-pump and shower nozzle). A screened in gazebo. Two large coolers, two tables, four folding chairs. One Coleman camp stove, one Coleman lantern. This doesn't include dishes, utensils, clothes, food, plastic sheeting, rope, toiletries, and three 7-gallon jugs of fresh water.

You think we like Coleman?

Two sleeping bags with matching inflatable mattresses. (Which work GREAT when the ground is level... but when it's NOT level, then we're busy trying to use shoes and towels and clothes to "shim-up" the mattresses and make them level.)

All this and a DOG too. Our Shih Tzu, Mitzi, just tolerates camping. She's not too crazy about it.

Obviously whenever we get our pop-up trailer, we'll have to leave some things at home (which may be a blessing and will make life easier)... but will it be more of a hassle to set up and take down?

Maybe I should rent one for a weekend. DUH!

-- Allen


-- Allen

Used one for years, Loved it, Fast set up, Lite, Easy to tow.

and we love ours. We have a Skamper. Easy to pull. Easy to set up. Our has the vinyl tent...which is a plus to me. If you have to break camp while your tent is damp...and don't air it properly afterward...the tent part could mildew. The vinyl is much easier to clean and you can armorall it. Not to mention, the vinyl is a little more water proof than canvas. However, the canvas will work if you take care of it properly. Since you tent camp you already know about canvas care. Make sure if you buy used you have them plug in the appliances(AC, fridge) and let them run awhile just to make sure they work properly. Replacing the AC unit is not cheap. Check the lighting networks and make sure they work too. We've camped in weather from 10 degrees to 100 degrees and enjoyed every minute of it.

... is something I could live without if needed. Running water and a built-in propane stove would be nice too.

The ones with an "extended" kitchen that kind of hangs over the side (like a bay window) look nice, but the price difference for those units seems out of line and a bit pricey for the little bit of extra room they provide inside.

When I go camping, I don't HANG OUT in the tent/camper all day. Just for sleeping and for when it's raining and for meals/cooking.

It's just the two of us...er... three of us, so even the smallest ones appear to have adequate room for two adults and one small dog.

-- Allen

Do you raise it? Park in on grass or asphalt or driveway? Do you cover it? Garage it?

-- Allen

Get an airstream travel trailer. I've been living out of one for a while now while I make the transition to a new job in Alexandria.

Had a pop-up and they are a pain in the ass. Nothing like rolling into a campground, in the pouring rain, at night to spend a 1/2 hour putting the fucking thing up.

Besides, the old silver bullet (mines a 1973 model) were designed to be towed by cars (predate the SUV days).

I love my airstream!

Brian

http://www.vintageairstream.com/archives2/'75Excella.jpg

I don't see as many on the road as I once did.

Yes... setting up camp in the rain is a real PISSER. HOWEVER... the 1/2 hour it takes to set up a pop-up trailer would be much better than the hour and a half it takes to unpack and set up and stake-down, etc etc etc everything that's needed for our tent.

("Honey, maybe we should have just stayed home. Grrr. Are we having fun yet?")

-- Allen