Wife and I are looking to buy a used pop-up camper sometime in the very near future. We love to take the kids camping but are limited by weather since we're in a tent. We've looked at 2 that we like and are trying to decide between them today. The first one is a little older than the second but has hard sides. Seems to us that hard sides would be more durable than all canvas. It is also hand-cranked (yes, I know) where the other is electric. I do know the second one doesn't leak because we looked at it yesterday during a fairly heavy rain. Any insight into camping with one would be greatly appreciated. Also, any tips on towing as I have never done so before would be great, too.
My brother had, used and loved a popup camper for several years - but he just upgraded to an RV. His was soft-side and electric, probably a "middle of the market" quality in terms of popups. I stayed in it several times. I'd go with the one that is in the best shape and value... Canvas are fine in Texas, if you were in a cold climate you maybe would think twice. Also, don't be afraid to find an inspector to do a thorough inspection for you before buying. Usually for $100-150 they'll give you a complete report after going over it with a fine tooth comb. You should also take into your decision how much you are going to use it. If you are using it only a handful of times per year, is it worth spending a few grand more on more bells and whistles? Most people would probably say no.
NOOOOOO! I'm tired of seeing all the glampers at the parks. Just get yourself a bad ass tent from REI.
I love camping. Camp six times a year since 2010. The wear and tear on a tent, the idea of making a tent after sun down, the idea of dealing with rain and high winds in a tent was fun till I got into my 30's. I've made enough tents. I'd rather spend that time fishing.
If the only major differences you see are hard side VS canvas, and hand crank VS electric, I'd go with the hard sided hand crank. It doesn't take much to crank it up, and the electric one just means something else to go wrong.
I give zero ****s about how other people choose to sleep outdoors at a camp ground. In fact, without campers and RVs it would be tough for most camp grounds to break even - much less turn a profit. So you rely on those who pay a premium for space in the park more than you know.
I don't mind RVs as long as they have their designated areas and the people are respectful. It sucks when you go to get away and some jackass in an RV is blaring musing with his patio lights on at a quiet campground at night. Tent campers can be just as bad as people in RVs. I don't care how people camp as long as they are quiet and don't disturb everyone.
My problem with campers is the fact that they drive up at 10 PM with their loud engines running and then you hear generators or AC fans running all night. The put up lights and disturb everyone that isn't inside an RV. If I wanted to go camping next to a 2 story structure, I would camp in my backyard. This is main reason I camp in primitive spots now. Glamping is the worst trend ever.
Went with the soft-side electric crank model. Got a pretty good price on a 1999 Coleman. No leaks and everything works. Just sucks that it's going to rain all weekend and I can't open it back up so I can get in there. What he said. Tents were fun IF we got there early enough to get it set up and moved in before dark. I'm nearly 40 and don't feel like sleeping on the ground any more. This is by no means "glamping". This is how we can extend our camping outside of March/April and October. We want to be able to go more places over the summer but it's too f***ing hot around here to tent camp. I get what y'all are saying. We usually camp in large groups with other families. I'm fully respectful of others around us because I know how annoying it can be when you just want some quiet.
Yo leroy, post a pic if you can. I'm of the same mindset these days, I camp a LOT and in my advancing age the weather gets to me sometimes, especially summer. And when I go, I go big, so it's a serious production to get set up. As was mentioned earlier, I'd rather spend a bit more time and energy fishing/paddling/swimming/hiking/bbqing/drinking and then get a great night's sleep. I don't want anything big at all, enough room for 2 to sleep in plus a decent amount of storage space, and I've been kicking around the popup vs. a regular small bumperpull camper; don't think I need/want a double axle or gooseneck, but that's all you see for sale around here. Let us know how you like it. I'm jealous.
As far as towing goes, my best advice would be to take it to a big empty parking lot (when I was a kid my dad taught me at the Stratford/Tully football stadium) and practice. Take a couple of orange cones or something you can see out of your mirrors and spend a lot of time getting comfortable backing up, backing around curves and such. Very important, because you don't want to be that guy, the guy that spends 30 minutes, gets out of his car 9 times, and a needs a 17-point-turn just to get his camper into a spot. Single axle trailers can be a beyotch, especially short ones, kind of like backing up a wet noodle. The shorter the wheelbase of the towing vehicle, the easier they are to maneuver. When/if you unhook it, be sure and scotch the tires (wedge a piece of wood or a rock behind them so it won't try and roll backwards) and put a little board or block of wood or something flat underneath the jack. If it gets rainy or the ground is wet you don't want the jack to sink into the ground, it can be a certifiable pain in the ass to get it re-hooked up at that point. What kind of vehicle will you be towing with?
Here's a pic of it closed. It's been raining since I got it home so we haven't been able to open it up. This has 2 kings and the dining area converts into another bed, toilet/shower, storage, a/c, awning and screened in shelter. Probably more than what you need for just you and your wife. Luckily, it's light enough that we could push it into the driveway. I live on kind of a narrow street so there was physically no way to back it in without driving through the neighbor's yard on a very wet day. Can't wait to get it out. We already had a trip planned to Palmetto St. Park for Easter weekend...but the sites we have are just for tent camping. I guess we'll get one more use out of the tent. I did a little practicing in a parking lot yesterday. Going to need much more.
Keep calling them leading up to your trip, you never know if someone is going to cancel. That's on my short list of parks I haven't been to yet, let us know how you like it. Camper looks sweet, I'm sure you'll enjoy the heck out of it.
It's a 1999 Coleman Fleetwood Niagara. I bought it used off a guy in New Caney for $3500. Seems to be the average price from what I've seen in our research. You could probably find one a little newer for roughly the same price. There were more on craigslist...but they were much further away than I was willing to drive to go look at one. Finally got to open it up today. Wife is already anxious to update the interior. Only problem I had was one of the stabilizer jacks broke off as I was raising it. Looks like a pretty easy and relatively inexpensive part to fix. We're with a group of 7 other families and they'll all be tent camping. I've been there once before. It's a smaller park but it's nice. Good size hiking trails for having kids (about a mile each). Guadalupe River State Park (just west of Boerne) is our current favorite.
One of my bestest oldest buddies is a ranger there, hangout boy knows who I'm talking about. That's an awesome park to visit when it's not crowded. I'll have to check out Palmetto sometime this spring.
