Pop Up Camper Advice

[jmo]

My wife and I (and 2 kids) are thinking of buying a pop up this fall. Not looking for a land yacht (shower, toilet, etc...), just something basic to get us off the ground. Any tips, pointers or advice from anyone? Thanks.

[plowboy]

Buy an older one to learn what you like and don't like before you make the big leap. There are more options than you can shake a stick at. I have an older Starcraft that was a dandy in its day. Now we use it only for hunting camp, still does the job. Has two full beds and dinette converts to two singles. If interested pm me for pictures.

[Rob]

Ifyou get one, it is nice to have a barn or shed to keep it in. My Bro-in-law had one, went camping & it came a downpour. He folded it up but the weather didn't break for 4-5 days& he had no shed so, when he unfolded it, it had mildewed & stank like the devil. He endedup never using it again & pretty much gave it away.

[WBBP]

Things to look for before buying:

1) Condition of canvas: Roof, zippers and the raising mechanisim: As Rob alluded to in an earlier post, the canvas roof can be in bad shape if the camper has been stored outside and experienced leaks around the hard-top or was rained on and then put up wet during a camping trip. As with any camping gear that gets wet during a trip, you have to open it all back up after you get home, let it dry, then re-pack. The roof is the main thing on these campers. Check for rips, tears, mice holes, etc, and the smell of the canvas. Ask the owner about leaks. Check all of the zippers and snaps. It doesn't have to be perfect, but improper maintenance of pop-up campers is a killer. Campers last a lot longer if stored inside and no food is left in them. Leave food in one over winter and you will have mice holes everywhere the next year.

Make sure "you" crank up the top a few times and that it raises and lowers smoothly. Don't over crank......

2) Condition of floor: Check on top of the floor for firmness and under it for rot. Look for water stains everywhere.

3) Condition of internal canvas support rods: The rods that hold up the canvas on each end are easily bent or could be missing. Make sure that the camper is fully set-up before you buy.

4) Condition of pull out cables: Slide the ends in and out a few times to make sure there are no broken cables or jams and make sure the external end support rods are present.

5) The awning: Check the awning for tears and rips and make sure the poles are there. The awning is important. it is a good place to sit, eat, and BS.

6) Accessories: At a minimum, the camper should have:

AC unit. These things are really hot if you don't have it. Some come with an electrical strip heater in the AC unit that work well down to 50 degrees or so. Make sure the air is working. The temperature "differential" from the air the unit is pulling in versus what it is putting out should be 19-20 degrees F.

Fridge (AC/propane) and in/out propane stove

AC/DC lighting

Water tank/faucet with the ability to use outside water. Be careful about using the interior water tank for drinking water. They are a great place to grow bacteria.

Good luck. K

[Louhunter]

I bought a new Viking Popup in 1984 and still have the same unit. It has been on family vacations and hunting/fishing trips from Kentucky north to Canada, south to Florida and west to Colorado. It is absoulty the best investment I ever made. As stated above make sure that the unit raises/lowers smoothly and that the canvans is in good shape. Other than basic things such as interior in good condition any unit will work great. If you are going to use in the late fall and winter I would look into a heater and the propane ice box is great but not necessary. We never had a AC unit, but that is because we did not spend much time in the unit except to sleep. You can always add a unit later if needed. We purchased a DC fan that runs off an automobile battery and it provides a nice breaze in the evenings..I actually look at my popup as a place to sleep and get out of the rain. I still do most of my cooking outside especially in the warm part of the year. Only in winter deer camps to we cook inside. You and your family will really enjoy such a unit they are alot of fun and low in maintance.

[Mit Sirrom]

I personally wouldnt buy a pop up at all. For the money you can buy a used cheap pull behind for the some amount as a nice pop up. Now if your talking about buying one for a 1000 or so then this doesnt apply but an average nice pop up will cost you 4 to 5 thou or so and you can buy an 18 to 26 foot pull behind in really good shape for 5 to 6 thou. My opinion is buy the pull behind. This is much more convienient and most any v8 will pull one. You will enjoy camping to its fullest.

[B.G.O. of Kentucky]

Now WBBP that is a detailed "what to look for" Nice!!!

I want to get one in the future, would like a pull behind, but right now just have my little Sportrac with the V6, so won't be pulling anything large for now.
Things to look for before buying:

1) Condition of canvas: Roof, zippers and the raising mechanisim: As Rob alluded to in an earlier post, the canvas roof can be in bad shape if the camper has been stored outside and experienced leaks around the hard-top or was rained on and then put up wet during a camping trip. As with any camping gear that gets wet during a trip, you have to open it all back up after you get home, let it dry, then re-pack. The roof is the main thing on these campers. Check for rips, tears, mice holes, etc, and the smell of the canvas. Ask the owner about leaks. Check all of the zippers and snaps. It doesn't have to be perfect, but improper maintenance of pop-up campers is a killer. Campers last a lot longer if stored inside and no food is left in them. Leave food in one over winter and you will have mice holes everywhere the next year.

Make sure "you" crank up the top a few times and that it raises and lowers smoothly. Don't over crank......

2) Condition of floor: Check on top of the floor for firmness and under it for rot. Look for water stains everywhere.

3) Condition of internal canvas support rods: The rods that hold up the canvas on each end are easily bent or could be missing. Make sure that the camper is fully set-up before you buy.

4) Condition of pull out cables: Slide the ends in and out a few times to make sure there are no broken cables or jams and make sure the external end support rods are present.

5) The awning: Check the awning for tears and rips and make sure the poles are there. The awning is important. it is a good place to sit, eat, and BS.

6) Accessories: At a minimum, the camper should have:

AC unit. These things are really hot if you don't have it. Some come with an electrical strip heater in the AC unit that work well down to 50 degrees or so. Make sure the air is working. The temperature "differential" from the air the unit is pulling in versus what it is putting out should be 19-20 degrees F.

Fridge (AC/propane) and in/out propane stove

AC/DC lighting

Water tank/faucet with the ability to use outside water. Be careful about using the interior water tank for drinking water. They are a great place to grow bacteria.

Good luck. K

[buckchaser]

Here is a little tip that might be helpful in setting up a pop up. Take concrete blocks and jack up each corner and place them under it and it makes a very solid foundation.

[hunter115]

I bought a 20 year old Viking pop up last year. It worked as a deer camp with little problems except small leaks. I did have to repair the lift system and small patches in the canvas along with wiring problems.


I have since sold it and purchased a newer model. It seemed to me I was spending a lot of money on a old camper, all the little expenses add up.

Just my two cents worth, but I think you are better off buying a nicer camper that will last you for years instead of buying a cheap one you will be fixing up and repairing for years.

[Ralph]

I started out sleeping in my car on hunting trips. Then, I got a tent. Went from that to a slide-in camper. Then, got a pop-up. Now have a travel trailer & will never go with anything else, winter or summer, warm or cold. If you have the vehicle to pull it, get a trailer. The newer you can afford, the better & lighter you can go. They're making 25 footers now that weigh in around 3200 lb. Doesn't take a lot to pull that. How far do you realistically expect to pull it? If you will be mostly going 300 miles or less, it's really not that far, is it? I took mine to CO once on an elk hunt. That's the only time it has gone more than 300 miles. Just some more things to think about. I can tell you one thing from all of this...... your WIFE will be more inclined to go if you can show her a DRY, comfortable bed & ease of packing, cleaning, cooking, etc.

[Hallal]

I bought an 85 pop up with the wonderful thought of camping and hicking through the summer and then deer hunts in the fall. I've had it for 1 1/2 years and it hasn't left the property. It has been difficult to convince the wife to go, especially now that she is preganant. Oh well, still plan to make the trip to Green River WMA later this fall. If I'm not in Iraq.

[grinder]

hallal, are you bowhunting green river? i am planning a trip there sometime this fall.

[Ralph]

Hallal,

Read my post on the previous page & you'll understand why the wife won't go. Mine STILL isn't excited about it but she does go now. The bigger the trailer gets the better she likes camping. It's a woman thing.... everything has to be "home". They gotta decorate the da** thing, put the matching dishes in it, all that stuff. Then it feels more like they belong. Soon, you can't go inside without taking your boots off first. You also need more carpet in it. And a sweeper. And a coffeepot. I think I'll go back to a tent & leave her home.... just kidding.:p