Does anyone here camp with a pop-up trailer?

[wildeyed]

My husband and I were tent campers for years, but since we have had kids, we haven't been getting out as much. The pop-ups look convenient, more comfortable, and easy enough to tow. Anyone have some experiences to share?

[uppityperson]

1. We had 1 briefly while growing up, liked it

I would like a small one now. Problems are that gas costs more, take more room when parking, etc. Practice driving, backing before you leave home. Pros are more room, comfortable sleeping and can take more stuff. I used to backpack, but am not anymore. Now I put foam mattress in car, car camp, day hike. If I had the money, I would get a small popup trailer.

[OnionPatch]

2. We used to be avid backpackers

until our daughter was born. Now we own a pop-up camper that is the type that fits on the back of a pickup truck. We wanted something we could take way back into the wilderness on 4x4 roads and it works great. But before we got that camper, we borrowed our neighbor's pop-up trailer, the kind you're talking about, for a trip up the CA coast. It was really awesome. It was lightweight and easy to tow and easy to hitch and unhitch. The top opened easily and it was so roomy inside it was unbelievable. If you pulled back all the curtains, the windows are so big it's like sitting in a screen room. So lots of air and birdsong and sunshine gets through. It's not at all dark like some campers. I loved it and I bet you would too. If it weren't for our love of going 4x4, we would have one like it and we probably will someday anyway. (Husband has a plan for some big tires on one we could take in rough territory....) Ours works well for us but it is more cramped, dark inside and harder to get off and on. Also, once camp is set up, it's a pain if you want to go somewhere in the truck. With the trailer, it was easy to unhitch and just leave at the campsite. Trade-offs. :shrug:

Oh, and our daughter is six now and we're planning our first backpacking trip with her. :woohoo: It's only a mile in and back but it's a start.

[wildeyed]

4. We bought one!

I found a used camper in the classifieds and ended up buying it. We are taking it out for a maiden voyage this weekend. I am excited. BFK (Before Kids) we camped almost every weekend. Not that we liked camping that much, but we were avid rock climbers on a modest budget, so camping was the thing to do. Since the second child, we just don't get out much. I hope this camper helps remedy the situation. Also, we are thinking of taking up flatwater paddling as an activity to do with the family. If we each get a large single kayak, we should be able to fit one kid in each boat, along with the adult. We shall see......

I know they make the pop-ups with larger tires and better suspension. Also, if you only plan to have one kid, look into teardrop trailers. These are mini-trailers that include a bed and a kitchen area that opens up in the back of the trailer. Very basic, but also very small and light. If we didn't have the two kids, we would have gone with the teardrop in a heartbeat.

[Deep13]

3. That's how it was with my father.

After being washed out a few times in a canvas cabin tent, he bought a pop-up tent trailer so we would not be right on the ground. It was a lot more convenient.