Pop Up Campers

[Aeval]

Hey,

Anyone have one?

We're looking at a couple of used ones and other than making sure the canvas is in good shape, we really don't know what else to look for.

Any tips?

I've been wanting one for quite a while now and I figure this is the time to pick one up, I just want to make sure we get a good one.

 

[Kakapo Dundee]

Rent one for a week or two, give it a good road test and see what does and doesn't work about it for you.

 

[Aeval]

Oh, I know I want one and with the truck we have, that's all we can really haul right now...I just want to know some things to watch out for when buying a used one, if there's some parts that typically go quickly and stuff like that.

Thanks for the tip though, I appreciate it.

 

[skyblue]

you're definately in the right country to get a camper

 

[Aeval]

Most definitely, I've always tented, which is fine by me, but we're going to Newfoundland for 10 days in July and I think the camper would be a better way to go.

 

[Francis]

Hey,

Anyone have one?

We're looking at a couple of used ones and other than making sure the canvas is in good shape, we really don't know what else to look for.

Any tips?

I've been wanting one for quite a while now and I figure this is the time to pick one up, I just want to make sure we get a good one.

I don't have one but I did look into this 5 years ago..

Well for one I think it would have been far better to buy in Sept / Oct when people ended their season.. I think bargains are much better at that time.. If you want new as well you can get the older models at a much better rate as the newer models will only have slightly new gadgets in them depending on the year. That's a bit late now..

Wheels ( rim and tires ) should be the same size as your car / truck if at all possible.. Smaller ones can be a hazard as the axle overheats..

The tent itself can be subject to rips in the corners and that is where we were told the wear and tear is hardest on them.. Any seem should really be looked at carefully.. Floor should not have any rot of course but that can be hard to see over carpet or overlay. Any damage to the body of course should be an indication of issues, especially at your trailer hitch area. Make sure you have a good secure locking mechanism for the tent at the hitch area so that when you travel no one unhooks it and takes off with it..

These were just things I looked into..

 

[The Man]

I don't have one but I did look into this 5 years ago..

Well for one I think it would have been far better to buy in Sept / Oct when people ended their season.. I think bargains are much better at that time.. If you want new as well you can get the older models at a much better rate as the newer models will only have slightly new gadgets in them depending on the year. That's a bit late now..

Wheels ( rim and tires ) should be the same size as your car / truck if at all possible.. Smaller ones can be a hazard as the axle overheats..

The tent itself can be subject to rips in the corners and that is where we were told the wear and tear is hardest on them.. Any seem should really be looked at carefully.. Floor should not have any rot of course but that can be hard to see over carpet or overlay. Any damage to the body of course should be an indication of issues, especially at your trailer hitch area. Make sure you have a good secure locking mechanism for the tent at the hitch area so that when you travel no one unhooks it and takes off with it..

These were just things I looked into..

Wheels ( rim and tires ) should be the same size as your car / truck if at all possible.. Smaller ones can be a hazard as the axle overheats..

The trailer/camper will have its own speed rating/ and has nothing to do with the size of the rims and tires of the pulling vehicle.
Bigger wheels and tires on the pull vehicle do make make axle overheating occur on the trailer....you may want to notify your source {if you have one} that is false information and may inadvertently steer people away from a purchase as well as place unfounded fears as well

 

[Aeval]

I don't have one but I did look into this 5 years ago..

Well for one I think it would have been far better to buy in Sept / Oct when people ended their season.. I think bargains are much better at that time.. If you want new as well you can get the older models at a much better rate as the newer models will only have slightly new gadgets in them depending on the year. That's a bit late now..

Wheels ( rim and tires ) should be the same size as your car / truck if at all possible.. Smaller ones can be a hazard as the axle overheats..

The tent itself can be subject to rips in the corners and that is where we were told the wear and tear is hardest on them.. Any seem should really be looked at carefully.. Floor should not have any rot of course but that can be hard to see over carpet or overlay. Any damage to the body of course should be an indication of issues, especially at your trailer hitch area. Make sure you have a good secure locking mechanism for the tent at the hitch area so that when you travel no one unhooks it and takes off with it..

These were just things I looked into..

Thanks so much...I would never think of the wheel thing.

We've looked at 3 so far...one is really well-priced and is being sold by a friend of a friend sorta thing, I don't think they'd rip us off but they might not be aware of some things either, they're an older couple.

I agree, looking in the fall would have been a lot wiser, but I didn't have this job back then and there wasn't any spare money to even think of buying one.

 

[The Man]

Be sure any propane fittings etc are current....dont know how it works there.
Check for broken suspension springs.
Lighting for brakes blinkers etc work.
Damaged hitch.
And a place to store wine

 

[Aeval]

Be sure any propane fittings etc are current....dont know how it works there.
Check for broken suspension springs.
Lighting for brakes blinkers etc work.
Damaged hitch.
And a place to store wine

top notch advice right there.

Thank you.

 

[fuel1316]

we had one growing up. my parents slept in it (even though it had 2 beds plus a 3rd as the table) but i kept to the tent LOL its great to have! eat inside when its windy or rainy or not have a bunch of bugs all around. it holds about everything you need when its compacted and you just haul it along.

they can fish tail real bad though *scary!*

anyways.. make sure the mesh and canvas is good like you said. work all the zippers on the windows and make sure the cupboards close tight and stay closed same with drawers. not sure if they come with a fire extinguisher or if we put one in ours? i would check all the connecting hoses and whatnot too. ours had a sink so you need a camp with water hookups but check the hoses and all that to make sure they are intact. same with the electrical hookups. also youll want good tires. tent trailers (pop up trailers) tend to sit for long times unused so make sure they arnt cracked or lopsided) and make sure all the stabilizing equipment is there and works too. the legs fold down and you crank the sides so its level you want all that working. and then ofc the trailer hitch mount should be in working order

its been years since we had one so im trying hard to remember all the parts the the dang thing lol if i think of any more ill post

 

[The Man]

The little things are kinda pricey....neat but pricey.
An aluminum sheeted camper often goes for about the same price {used} ...has a longer life ..as well as leave stuff in it because you dont have to crank the "roof" back down.

While the pop ups are neat you will soon wish you had gone with a small conventional IMO

 

[Aeval]

we had one growing up. my parents slept in it (even though it had 2 beds plus a 3rd as the table) but i kept to the tent LOL its great to have! eat inside when its windy or rainy or not have a bunch of bugs all around. it holds about everything you need when its compacted and you just haul it along.

they can fish tail real bad though *scary!*

anyways.. make sure the mesh and canvas is good like you said. work all the zippers on the windows and make sure the cupboards close tight and stay closed same with drawers. not sure if they come with a fire extinguisher or if we put one in ours? i would check all the connecting hoses and whatnot too. ours had a sink so you need a camp with water hookups but check the hoses and all that to make sure they are intact. same with the electrical hookups. also youll want good tires. tent trailers (pop up trailers) tend to sit for long times unused so make sure they arnt cracked or lopsided) and make sure all the stabilizing equipment is there and works too. the legs fold down and you crank the sides so its level you want all that working. and then ofc the trailer hitch mount should be in working order

its been years since we had one so im trying hard to remember all the parts the the dang thing lol if i think of any more ill post

Great thanks....I'm getting excited thinking about road trips this summer.

The little things are kinda pricey....neat but pricey.
An aluminum sheeted camper often goes for about the same price {used} ...has a longer life ..as well as leave stuff in it because you dont have to crank the "roof" back down.

While the pop ups are neat you will soon wish you had gone with a small conventional IMO

The weight thing is an issue with the conventional types though...I want something *I* can haul around and I think I'd be nervous with the bigger camper.

Plus, I've always loved the pop ups....those and VW vans, that's next on the list, lol.

 

[The Man]

I would take fuel with me on the first outing..make her get everything working lol

 

[Tim]

Hey,

Anyone have one?

We're looking at a couple of used ones and other than making sure the canvas is in good shape, we really don't know what else to look for.

Any tips?

I've been wanting one for quite a while now and I figure this is the time to pick one up, I just want to make sure we get a good one.

Have you guys found one yet? Still in the market? We might be looking at getting one this summer

Wheels ( rim and tires ) should be the same size as your car / truck if at all possible.. Smaller ones can be a hazard as the axle overheats..

How on earth does tire size matter? The relation between tire size on your car and tire size on the camper have nothing to do with each other. The trailer is rated for a certain speed and as long as you don't go over that speed you'll be perfectly fine. It wouldn't matter if you had 36" tires on your car or 13", the speed of the trailer is the only thing that matters.

 

[Aeval]

We picked one up, Tim. It's older but it's in great shape. I spent one night in it and love it. It just needs a bit of updating. Can't wait to get around with it this summer!

 

[Tim]

We picked one up, Tim. It's older but it's in great shape. I spent one night in it and love it. It just needs a bit of updating. Can't wait to get around with it this summer!

Age doesn't mean anything as long as it's in good shape and suits your needs. Good luck with it and I hope you get good use out of it.

 

[Jackass master]

Jack it up and pull the wheels and hubs off. Clean and inspect the bearings and repack them with a good bearing grease. This is vital since most folks tend to travel too fast in hot temps. Get in the habit of feeling the hubs for heat at every stop. Check the tire pressures and check the spare as well. Make sure you have the proper size tools to change a tire on the road.

 

[Tim]

Jack it up and pull the wheels and hubs off. Clean and inspect the bearings and repack them with a good bearing grease. This is vital since most folks tend to travel too fast in hot temps. Get in the habit of feeling the hubs for heat at every stop. Check the tire pressures and check the spare as well. Make sure you have the proper size tools to change a tire on the road.

Very sound advice. Wheel bearings are very easy to take care of but are frequently neglected.