School me on Popup Campers

[SwampSurvivor]

So I have started camping last summer and this summer a bit more. Since I refuse to tent, I have been using the "Cherokamper". I lay out some harbor freight anti-fatigue floor pads in the back and crawl in and sleep.

However, setup, pulling all tools out, etc and putting the seat on the roof seem to be a bit cumbersome. And converting it back to a Jeep the next morning to do more off roading is a bit much.

I want a small trailer that I can drag behind the Jeep to act as a shelter. Or a small trailer that I could drag behind the Focus.

I was all set on a teardrop until I realized that I'd still have to unload everything out of it to sleep. So that's a no-go.

Then I started looking at Pop-ups. I think a pop-up with removed features would be about perfect for me. I want something that is under 1500 pounds unloaded so I can take it with me behind the Focus. I would save quite a bit in gas costs if I could take the Focus with me instead of having to tow it around with the Jeep.

I have been looking around on CL and I think I have decided on a small popup with ...
- Heater removed
- Stove removed (cooking where you sleep = bad idea in bear country)
- Extra benches, etc removed

So, I have a few questions:
- How much do these things weigh? Can't find a good number online
- Are they mainly "throwaway"? Would I be able to get new canvas pieces for them?
- Possible to add larger tires to any of them?

Anyone have anything else I should be aware of on them? I'm going to start looking now but not planning on getting one until spring 2016.

 

[IndyIan]

An old 8' stripped of the mechanicals is pretty light. ~1100lbs? My buddy towed his around for many summers with a 145hp Odyssey minivan with no complaints. I don't think he's ever weighed it though. Packed with bikes and a canoe on it and stuff for a family of 4, it was probably more like 1500lbs?
The canvas is starting to go, but then they are just going to get a newer one as they can tow more now with the 255hp Odyssey.

 

[BISCUT]

I have had one for a decade. Jaco Quest, IIFC about 1700lbs (2k loaded up). It serves it's purpose. Headache is if it rains and you have to take it down with wet canvas. Mine stays on a piece of property 4.5 hours away so putting away wet will equal mold.

IMHO, I would look to a travel trailer of 24ft instead. Of course more $$$$ but worth it.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

If I could get a small one around 1100 stripped, that would be perfect!

I'm limited to what I can tow with my lifted Jeep (would like to stay less than 3500 if towing with that) and a total towing capacity of 2k pounds with the Focus. Travel trailers are nice ... but a bit more than I can tow.

Plus storage, etc is a bit harder with a full travel trailer.

The rain thing would be a problem. Is it like a tent where you would just set it up at home to air out?

 

[supton]

Bummer--just sold my 8' for like $600. Still had some life left in it. About 1,000lb, but lately even base popups have been packing on weight.

They are kinda disposable, built to a price point. Water is their main enemy. Check the caulk around the roof seams in particular. I used silicon but might go back to the putty stuff. I had some silicon turn rock hard, and then later leanred it is hard to put silicon over silicon.

Check underneath, in the corners. Water will run there and make the floor soft. Not a biggie.

Look for ones that have a goshen lift. Looks like a boat winch on the front. Trivial to repair a cable on these. The other lift systems are harder. Not impossible, but just more work.

 

[bradepb]

My 1994 coleman weighs 998lbs. according to the vin plate. I figure with the small amount of gear I have inside I am still under 1250. My Escape without tow package has pulled it about 500 miles a year for the past ten with no problems. Plenty of room for me.It appears a little bigger than it real'y is because of the angle of photo.

 

[bradepb]

Heres a better pic for size. It is a Coleman Cedar and is very small but big enough for two guys and some stuff. technically it sleeps 6 but you better be real close friends.

 

[supton]

Wife thought it comical when I moved our 8' camper with the Jetta. Too bad I never got a pic. More so with the truck:

Our "new" 12' camper though is a bit better on looks. Tows pretty nicely too.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: bradepb

Heres a better pic for size. It is a Coleman Cedar and is very small but big enough for two guys and some stuff. technically it sleeps 6 but you better be real close friends.


Nice!

One of the things for us though was to get a king bed--granted a camper king is more like a regular queen. Middle of the night restroom runs are much easier if one is not climbing over someone else.

Not sure how people over 6' tall sleep on full beds though--we felt a bit cramped and we are about 5'8".

 

[otis24]

Check out ALiner campers and Sylvan Sport.

 

[bradepb]

Yeah I am 6'2 and sleep corner to corner on one of the pullouts. This is just a hunting setup for only me and is perfect sizewise if your by yourself.
Your setup looks very nice for more than one person.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: supton
Bummer--just sold my 8' for like $600. Still had some life left in it. About 1,000lb, but lately even base popups have been packing on weight.

... Check the caulk around the roof seams in particular. ...

... Check underneath, in the corners. Water will run there and make the floor soft. Not a biggie. ...

... Look for ones that have a goshen lift. ...


Trailer wiring for the Focus should be in tomorrow. I could swing over since you're a state or two away and pick it up ... if you didn't sell it already!

Noted on the points


Originally Posted By: bradepb

My 1994 coleman weighs 998lbs. according to the vin plate. I figure with the small amount of gear I have inside I am still under 1250. My Escape without tow package has pulled it about 500 miles a year for the past ten with no problems. Plenty of room for me.It appears a little bigger than it real'y is because of the angle of photo.


That only weighs about 1000 pounds empty? That would be perfect! I'm mainly looking for something I can tow with my Focus (which really isn't rated to tow but has room in the GVWR for it)

I like the basket on the back - I could probably throw my bike rack on something like that to bring the bike long. Looking at the picture of it in the campground, that is about perfect for what I'm looking for! I would only have two or three people in it at most.


Originally Posted By: otis24
Check out ALiner campers and Sylvan Sport.


Are they old/cheap? I'm looking for < $1K

 

[Nick1994]

If you don't want a stove or kitchen stuff maybe look into one of those "truck bed trailers" where someone has cut a long bed truck in half and made it into a trailer. Throw a camper shell on top and you're golden. Lightweight and simple.

I've wanted one of these since you can pull it behind whatever you have and it's basically a truck, trips to Home Depot for drywall and pipe and bricks would be a lot easier. I currently have a flat 4x8 trailer but since it doesn't have sides the only thing I can really use it for is hauling my ATV. I guess drywall if I needed to.

 

[supton]

Oh, we love ours... our two kids are pretty small. One takes the couch (how the gap does not bother him is beyond me) and the other takes the bunk. Still have one bed open. The big thing was to get some space when we are stuck inside, like when it is raining. Fridge and heat are nice too; did not get ac on this unit, and unfortunately I do not trust the roof to handle the extra weight. Next one will have.

Kids are starting to ask when we can go (only finished school last week). Have "camped" in the driveway a couple times already though.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
If you don't want a stove or kitchen stuff maybe look into one of those "truck bed trailers" where someone has cut a long bed truck in half and made it into a trailer. Throw a camper shell on top and you're golden. Lightweight and simple.

I've wanted one of these since you can pull it behind whatever you have and it's basically a truck, trips to Home Depot for drywall and pipe and bricks would be a lot easier. I currently have a flat 4x8 trailer but since it doesn't have sides the only thing I can really use it for is hauling my ATV. I guess drywall if I needed to.


For just one person you could wall up a 4x8 trailer and make it as nice as you want.

 

[bradepb]

Originally Posted By: Miller88

Bummer--just sold my 8' for like $600. Still had some life left in it. About 1,000lb, but lately even base popups have been packing on weight.

... Check the caulk around the roof seams in particular. ...

... Check underneath, in the corners. Water will run there and make the floor soft. Not a biggie. ...

... Look for ones that have a goshen lift. ...


Trailer wiring for the Focus should be in tomorrow. I could swing over since you're a state or two away and pick it up ... if you didn't sell it already!

Noted on the points


Originally Posted By: bradepb

My 1994 coleman weighs 998lbs. according to the vin plate. I figure with the small amount of gear I have inside I am still under 1250. My Escape without tow package has pulled it about 500 miles a year for the past ten with no problems. Plenty of room for me.It appears a little bigger than it real'y is because of the angle of photo.


That only weighs about 1000 pounds empty? That would be perfect! I'm mainly looking for something I can tow with my Focus (which really isn't rated to tow but has room in the GVWR for it)

I like the basket on the back - I could probably throw my bike rack on something like that to bring the bike long. Looking at the picture of it in the campground, that is about perfect for what I'm looking for! I would only have two or three people in it at most.

Yes plate says 998lbs dry weight. The previous owner towed it with a 90's Ford Escort or whatever those little front drive cars were called then. I welded on a reciever to the bumper and reinforced it for that hitch on the rear.

 

[stockrex]

There is a youtube vid by a guy in MI, he made truck camper that one can setup in 10 mins. The walls are held together by T-bolts.
flat roof with an angle tent like cover made of pvc pipe and blue tarp.
excellent concept.
you can use similar design and a 4x8 trailer to camp or remove the walls and use the trailer

 

[otis24]

PopUpPortal is a good place for lots of info!

 

[skyactiv]

I have a good friend that owns a self storage bussiness along with outdoor parking spaces. He has little good to say about pop up camper trailers. Says people buy one, use it half a dozen times at best and get tired of the thing from the number of gate in's vs travel trailers. We came up with a conclusion that since they don't have a bathroom, the hassle of setting it up, no AC..., your better off buying a good tent. He's had problems with people buying old ones that quit paying the rent on them.

 

[stockrex]

adding an a/c to pop up is easy, just buy a cheap upright a/c