arwalden...wasn't it you who bought the pop-up camper?

[Maddy McCall]

I'm thinking about investing in one. Do you use it frequently?

Knowing what you know now, what suggestions would you give to someone in the market for one?

I feel like talking about camping and stuff. Anyone else who has anything to add, please do! :hi:

[CanuckAmok]

1. "pop-up camper"? That's code for something, isn't it.

What do you really mean?

[Maddy McCall]

2. Well, I have a question for you, too.

I need to buy new tires for my jeep--I have an 83 Renegade. I will use it off road, but not to go mudding or anything.

Any suggestions on good tires? I last had Gumbo Mudders, and I loved the hummmmm sound as I drove, but it will beat you to death driving on the interstate on big-ass Gumbos.

Any advice?

[CanuckAmok]

9. Well...

Look for "LT" rated tires. The LT stands for "light truck", as opposed to "P" rated tires for "passenger vehicles".

LT tires are generally made with thicker sidewalls and a harder, and therefore more durable, rubber compound. Also, some "LT" tires have better warranties than "P" rated tires. Check the warranty on whatever you buy.

I use tires from "Big O", a dealer here in BC. Their own brand of tires is actually made by Kumho. I don't know if you can get them outside of Canada, but I buy them because they have a no-questions-asked lifetime warranty. Tear a sidewall out on a rock or something, bring the tire back, and they give you a new one!

Truck tires are as follows:

A/T = All Terrain. These are the least aggressively treaded truck tire

M/T = Mud Terrain. These are generally the most aggressive general purpose tires one would buy. They have the most distance between each lug on the tire surface. More room between each lug equals less opportunity for mud, sand, snow to clog the tire, because the centrifical force of the tire spinning caused larger clumps of junk to be thrown clear.

Boggers = These are basically tires that copy the pattern you see on tractors, heavy equipment, etc. They are made by Interco and Thornbird, among other smaller companies. They are great for off-road driving, but generally not recommended for road use. They are generally softer than the average LT composite, because they need to run at lower pressures and "wrap around" rocks, etc. They're also insanely expensive.



X/T = Some manufacturers offer this grade, which is a compromise between A/T and M/T. They are a little more aggressive than A/T, but are still very pavement-friendly. I switched from M/T to X/T a few years ago, and I haven't observed much loss of off-road performance. They're not as effective in thick mud as an X/T would be, but all other surfaces, including dirt, clay, show, sand, and all but the most gooey mud are no problem.


If you can find X/T's, I'd go with those. Failing that, look for any reputable brand A/T. Either of those will serve you well.


Also, the Kumho Venture M/T line are supposedly slightly milder than the standard M/T, and are pretty comfortable on pavement.




Now, as far as sizing goes.

A tire is coded as follows (example): 31x12.5R15.

The first number, 31, indicates that this tire has an outside diameter of 31". The second number is the tread width, in inches. In this case, the tire is 12.5" wide. The last number is the rim size. R15 means that the tire is designed to sit on a 15" rim (which is probably what your Jeep has). You can fit a 10.5 wide tire on any width rim, but I suggest that if you're going to get the wider 12.5" tread, you should have a minimum rim depth of 8".


you can squeeze a 31x12.5R15 tire under your Jeep as-is. There might be a slight bit of rubbing during sharp turns, but that can be eliminated quite easily. If you look under your Jeep's front axle, you'll see a small metal cylinder on each wheel hub. Those are the steering stops, and they litterally stop the wheel from turning more than it should. They are just screwed in-place. Unscrew each one, put two small washers on the steering stop shafts, and sscrew them back into place. What you've done is effectively made each steering stop slightly longer, and they will limit the turning radius enough to prevent the tires from rubbing when you turn. You lose a little bit of turning radius, but you won't notice the difference. Alternately, you can use a 31x10.5R15, which is two inches narrower than the 12.5, and have no rubbing issues at all.

[Maddy McCall]

11. Whoa! I just printed out your post.

I'm going to look around tomorrow and see what I can find! Thanks a million for taking the time for this very thorough info that no one has ever taken the time to explain to me.

:toast:

[CanuckAmok]

15. Oh, hey, I forgot...

Don't get talked into buying a new spare, even if you change tire sizes. You can buy a decent spare from a wreckers or a used tire dealer for about $20. Your spare doesn't have to be perfect; it only has to be round, able to hold air, and be the same outside diameter as your other four tires. Why Pay $100+ for a tire you'll probably never even use?

[LSK]

3. you might want to read some on this forum

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/listings/forum/25.cfm

[Maddy McCall]

4. Thanks, LSK

Will do when I'm not wiped out. Been a long day.

:hi:

[arwalden]

5. Yes... WE LOVE IT!!!

From spring to fall we take it out and go camping at least twice a month!! We're already thinking about moving up to a full-sized hard-sided camper trailer.

If you ALREADY enjoy camping but you're tired of tents and air mattresses, then a pop-up camper is the next logical step. It's not any EASIER than tent camping... just more comfortable. You still have a LOT of chores and set-up/take-down stuff to do... but it's cooler during the summer (if you have an AC unit) and warmer in the winter/fall. It's dry and cozy during storms... and MUCH nicer than sleeping bags on a slanted tent floor.

If you're not sure you're ready to make the investment in one... try renting one or borrowing one from a friend for a weekend. Do you have a vehicle that will pull a camper? You'll want to make sure your tow-vehicle has the right capacity for the LOADED-UP weight of the camper. (All the food, water, chairs, clothes, games, TV, radio, umbrellas, grill, blankets... and everything else you bring along starts to add a LOT of weight to the total package. You won't be using your little Hyundai Excel to pull that into the moutains!)

You'll save a lot of money if you buy something that's used... a couple of years old... and well-taken care of. Private sales save a lot of money... but for newbies, it's good to have a dealer to be able to go back to when things go wrong (and they will).

Good luck!

[Maddy McCall]

6. Ok...read your post...here's what I'm thinking.

After Katrina, we were without power for several weeks. It would have been SOO much nicer sleeping in a pop-up camper than in a hot house.

And I camp often, but not as often as I would if I had a pop-up. I like the idea of a pop-up better than a tent because you can't lock-up a tent, and you can a pop-up, although I'm sure if someone wants to break in, they will.

We had a camper trailer, but we sold it several years ago--we just didn't use it very much, opting for the tent instead. Crazy, huh?

I was thinking that, as much as MMjr and I like to camp out and just get away for weekends, it would be "cost effective" to pay a note on a trailer instead of for hotel rooms.

I'll let you know if we decide to buy one. In the meantime, I'll be looking at ads for used ones, and maybe checking them out. A friend of mine in Springfield, IL, bought one for $1000 and she says it's nice, but I haven't seen it yet.

I have a Jeep and access to a Dodge Ram, so I have what I need to haul it.

I was concerned that maybe the novelty of it wore off, and maybe that y'all weren't camping as much anymore....I'm glad to see that you are getting your money's worth. Makes me more comfortable with spending the money.

What kind of ammenities do you have in your trailer--A/C, I know, but what else do those little buggers pack?

[Longhorn]

8. I took my four kids on a 5-week trip in a pop-up in 1994.

We had a Coleman that we bought used and my husband, who is a remodeling contractor, remodeled it. I pulled it with a Ford Econoline van. We went from Austin to the Smoky Mountains, then Virginia Beach, D.C., Gettysburg, Philadelphia, NYC, Boston, Niagara Falls, then across to Rapid City, South Dakota, and back down to Austin. Mr. Longhorn didn't go, by the way. My kids were 10 to 15.

I'd say the important things to consider when buying one used is to make sure it doesn't leak and that the mechanical elements, especially the lift system, are in good working condition. You can always repair cabinets, plumbing, flooring, bed cushions and cushions, if necessary. Ours had a leak but my husband patched it and replaced the ceiling with aromatic cedar, which was really nice because it was like camping in a cabin. We also replaced all the canvas. I think they can all develop slow leaks eventually. The problem with slow leaks isn't really that you'll get wet when you're camping but if it's left uncovered for months at a time, water gets inside and mildew can ruin the canvas, bedding, etc. So it's a good idea to try to keep it dry and air it out occasionally.

Pop-ups are definitely not secure -- the tops are canvas that could easily be cut or just unsnapped. We never had any trouble; however, the window on my van was smashed in and my bag phone (1994, remember! :) ) was stolen while we were touring Independence Hall in Philly. :shrug:

We camped much more often once we got the camper. To me, the greatest part was being able to keep it stocked with dishes and supplies so that we pretty much just had to add kids, bedding, and groceries and go! I remember a camping trip in a tent that was ruined because of a storm and half-day of rain. Had we had the camper then, we could have made breakfast, played cards or a board game till the rain stopped, then enjoyed the rest of what turned out to be a beautiful day instead of throwing our soaked tent and sleeping bags into the van and heading home without breakfast.

I really think used is the way to go. Like exercise equipment, lots of people buy those campers and find out they don't use them as much as they thought. Ours also came in handy as an extra guest room, especially for kids.

Good luck and have fun! :hi:

[Maddy McCall]

10. Thank you so much for this post!!!

You answered boucoup questions that I had. I'm handy, and my dad is a carpenter, so I bet he and I could do whatever work is needed.

I will certainly look at the lift system and the canvas to make sure that all is in good shape, if we choose to go used.

Can you tell me--do they have "kitchenettes?" Or is it basically just sleeping areas and table area? Sink? Toilet? I know very little about this.

[Longhorn]

13. Ours had a sink with faucets and a three-burner stove.

They also often come with built-in refrigerators (dorm-sized) or ice chests that are configured like a frig but you put a block of ice in it to keep things cold rather than run it on electricity.

I haven't seen a new pop-up for awhile but at the time, some came with a privacy area (curtained off) where one could use a portable toilet. Perhaps today they have flush toilets like in the bigger RVs. We always camped at state parks or the occasional KOA-type park so we used the restroom facilities and showers. We had a portable toilet for emergencies but it was rarely used. If you have a flush toilet, then you have to camp where there are waste facilities. But if you just use water to wash dishes, you can lay the drain hose on the ground away from the camper.

If you camp at a camper facility, you plug in for electricity and hook up for water and some have "gray water" drains. However, you can also run off of a car battery and fill the tank with water before you leave so that you can camp in more "wilderness" areas without hookups and still have light and water (though not AC.) By the way, ours didn't come with an AC but my husband installed a window unit and it made it much more pleasant for camping here in Texas.

I wouldn't worry so much about the condition of the canvas if the camper is in good condition otherwise and at a good price. It was a few hundred dollars to replace it but it was easy to do.

I was amazed at how I didn't feel that crowded in the camper, even sharing it with four kids and occasionally my husband and the dog, too. If I remember correctly, it was about 16 feet from one end to the other when set up and with the flaps up, there was lots of light coming in through the plastic and screened windows. I don't usually sleep well away from home but it seems like I always slept pretty well in the camper.

I'm glad to help -- you're bringing back fond memories! The kids are 22 to 27 now and we no longer have the camper. :(

[arwalden]

16. Ours Was The Basic No-Frills Entry-Level Pop-Up Camper.

It has a 16-gallon fresh-water storage tank (for those RARE, once-a-year trips, to campsites that have no running water). For all the other trips to full-hookup campsites we don't bother to fill the fresh-water tank before we go. It's just added weight.

There's a small galley sink that drains through a garden hose to a sewer hookup, or (depending on the campsite regulations... directly onto the ground, or into a "graywater" bucket, that later gets emptied manually into a sewer drain).

It has a full-sized bed on one side and a smaller-than-full (but bigger than twin) bed on the other side. We sleep on the large mattress, and we use the OTHER mattress area for overflow storage.

It did not come with a lavatory or any sort of toilet, so we purchased a good-quality (flushable) porta-potti with a small holding tank that uses blue-water chemicals (deodorizer, antibacterial). --- Even though all the campgrounds we stay at have showers and toilets, it's still good to have a "backup" toilet for those times when you can't (or don't feel like) trudging all the way to the bath-house. --- Especially FIRST THING in the morning, or during the middle of the night.

The basic foam mattress was a bit, uh, basic. Not too comfortable... so we added a memory-foam topper to it. Much nicer.

We added a small 700w microwave and an El-cheapo coffee maker that permanently stay in the camper (even when it's packed up). It just got to be too annoying to pack-up the household coffee maker each time... and then remember to bring it back in the house when camping was over.

The floor of the camper originally had plain tile-pattern vinyl sheeting (like any standard kitchen vinyl floor). We added very low-pile indoor-outdoor carpeting. Neatly trimmed to fit precisely, then we added stained-to-match wooden moulding trim to finish it off. --- It makes the floor warmer to bare feet in colder months... and it gives our little Mitzi some traction when she hops up onto the bed.

Actually she first hops up onto the bench-seat in the breakfast nook... then uses that as a step up onto the bed.

You can fit four people at the breakfast table. That means you can fit TWO people comfortably. The table folds down to make another bed... but it's a bit short, so it would have to be a bed for kids.

There's a gas stovetop and a gas space heater that both hook up to the camper's LP tank system. The gas stovetop has two burners and it can be used inside or outside. (We normally hook it up outside.)

The AC is mounted to the roof and it works GREAT!! It's the smallest rooftop unit that is made, and it's MORE than enough to keep the camper cool. (Actually, there's one campground that has very few trees, so we were right IN the blazing sun and it did a decent job at keeping the place cool inside. The thermostat never kicked-off, but it did the job!)

Security is a joke. Even though the door "locks" a good yank will open it right up. And even if the lock actually locked, all of the camper's vinyl sides are velcro'd, or snapped, or zippered into place. --- It's very easy to get in (or out) if you need to. The lock keeps honest-people honest, but that's about all. Even though we've never had a problem with security, we don't store valuables inside the camper.

Our most recent addition was a Coleman portable hot-water machine. It uses a standard quart-sized LP canister cartridge for the heating chamber... you hook a garden hose to one side (or you could use its small pump to draw cold water from a bucket) turn on the burner (it lights itself)... and INSTANT HOT WATER comes out the other side. It's not very practical for showering...but it's great for having hot water to do the dishes.

You'll quickly discover how many little EXTRAS there are to add to any camper. Every cool little must-have gadget and nic-nac can easily add $$$ to the overall cost. (and tacky-tourist awning rope-lights are an absolute MUST!)

Have fun!

~Allen

[Midlodemocrat]

17. Arwalden, a question for you.

When you say lots of work/effort go into the setup/take down, exactly what kind of time, effort are you referring to?

I would LOVE to have a RV or a camper to travel in with the kids, but my husband is reluctant because of the effort involved in setting up/taking down. He travels a lot and really wants to just relax on weekends.

TIA...:hi:

[arwalden]

18. Assuming That You've Got A LEVEL Campsite...

... it only takes about 15 minutes to crank the roof into place, slide out the beds, raise the canvas sides, lock the door frame into place, snap/velcro/zip the loose edges, plug 'er in to the electricity outlet, attach the water(in) hose and the water(out) hose... and you're all set.

Well... at that point... you're in from the rain, or out of the heat, or away from the bugs. But you still have to do the following:

Make the bed, unstow the coffee maker and microwave and put them into place, plug them in. Unstow the cooktop range and hook it up to the gas lines (either indoors or out). Set up your "pantry" area. We just use those oversized plastic storage bins... with clear sides... for all of our snacks/canned goods.

You have to unload the coolers from the car/truck and find a shady place for those. Set up the chairs, tables, unroll the awning, lay the outdoor carpet (if needed) put up your tacky-tourist rope-lites, have a beer, test chairs...

Compared to TENT camping it's no easier... just a DIFFERENT set of chores to do (depending on how elaborate you want to be... and how much JUNK you want to bring along with you). In the end, it's much more comfortable and cozy in a camper.

I truly LOVED tent camping... but I also truly LOVE sleeping on a level and comfortable bed. It's a trade-off, and it's always work... but it's always fun too.

[merh]

7. They make this great little 4 cup coffee maker

with a clock and timer to set the coffee to brew and an automatic shut off switch and everything!

A very dear friend gave me one and it is perfect for my travel trailer! :hi:

I recommend you get one of those, or you could use mine. :)

:hug: :loveya:

[Maddy McCall]

12. LOL!

In a couple of years, I bet I can pick up a FEMAnsion for a thousand or two. :D

Hopefully, you'll be out of yours soon! *fingerscrossed*

:loveya: :pals: :toast:

[merh]

14. I.think.I.can.

I.think.I.can.

I.think.I.can!

The little old DUer that might! :D



:hug: :loveya: