Camping: Any campers here?

[General Lee]

Been thinking about entering the camping scene for a while. I keep going back and forth about it. I think I wanna begin with a pop up. I enjoy the outdoors and can't justify a 20 grand bedroom with those big travel trailers. They are nice but starting out I want to keep it simple.

I'm a whimp when it comes to hot weather so I will want AC. Anyone have any experience with AC units in a pop up? Does the canvas/vinyl sides keep the cool air pretty good? I am of the mind set, that camping is to enjoy the outdoors and scenery, not laying on the couch watching tv in the camper. That's why I think a pop up will be fine. Get ls you off the ground for sleeping and still has some creature comforts.

Share your thoughts and experiences please

 

[boblibido]

I love camping!

For that kind of money I could get an awesome tent, some sleeping bags, and half a dozen antique tractors.

As far as a camper goes, I've never been able to get one far enough into the woods to go camping. Nor have I ever found a long enough extension cord for my AC to work.

 

[Ken]

Been thinking about entering the camping scene for a while. I keep going back and forth about it. I think I wanna begin with a pop up. I enjoy the outdoors and can't justify a 20 grand bedroom with those big travel trailers. They are nice but starting out I want to keep it simple.

I'm a whimp when it comes to hot weather so I will want AC. Anyone have any experience with AC units in a pop up? Does the canvas/vinyl sides keep the cool air pretty good? I am of the mind set, that camping is to enjoy the outdoors and scenery, not laying on the couch watching tv in the camper. That's why I think a pop up will be fine. Get ls you off the ground for sleeping and still has some creature comforts.

Share your thoughts and experiences please

general Lee Don't let this change your decision on a tent camper. A friend at work bought a trailer that was a pop up camper. and upon his first week end complained the camper was extremely hot to sleep in . Talking farther he mentioned going to get a window unit A/C to cool the camper. The next week Monday was strongly talking of changing the tent camper into a travel trailer. again asking why. he mentioned even with the A/C running it was extremely hot. then asked if I would go to his place for suggestion on how to cool the camper. Could not help but to laugh he had the A/c unit inside on floor and the heat from the unit was not ducted to outside the camper.
ken

 

[General Lee]

Boblibido- Yea what you do is really camping and that is what camping is all about. But in Certain situations I will be needing a camper and a small one will still let me get to some smaller camp sites to avoid the whole "parking lot" camping.

 

[General Lee]

Well I shouldn't have his problem, I would be getting a camper with a factory installed AC on the roof many come with that option now. That is a funny story though

 

[MacLawn]

I've been camping since before I can remember. Tents, RV, about every way there is. Still, nothing beats a really good tent, even at my geezer hood age. I believe in comfort, and I'm always comfortable in my tent, except in very hot weather I don't use me tent except in mountains. Tent, screen house for cooking and eating, good cot, etc. I'm good. Quality equipment is the key, and having the right kind. I've also got a travel trailer, small one, but love it too!

 

[tman1020]

we love camping, have had all kinds of campers and liked them all for different things..pop ups r great a in expensive way to get started. i would not sweet the ac ( ha ha ) un less u r camping in really hot area with no shade. pop ups can really open up to the outside with lots of screen area so lots of cross breeze plus u will mostly be in there at night and morning when its cooler. i loved mine draw backs were that u have to set it up( takes about 15-20 min)and put it down. which is not bad except that if u have to do it in the rain and it has to be dry when u put it up for storage. so it seem that there is a lot of putting it up and down for trip prep, drying out, cleanup when u get back, and so forth. and it never fails when u get it all folded up u will remember something u left in. also never seen a good bath room in a pop up. even still ill bet that anyone that u talk to that has had one will tell u that there pop up was some of the most fun camper they ever had! i just would be careful to not spend to much on one I've seen them cost as much or more a small travel trailer. i bought mine used in great condition just some faded paint for under 2 grand and sold it for same 2 years later to trade up to hybrid. have fun.

 

[DennisArrow]

Been camping since maybe 57 or so................Lot's of it with 9 years in the Army..............Motorcycle traveling/camping for months at a time for years and years.............Began the camper thing with a canvas sided pop-up for maybe 3 years and 20K miles. Got the air conditioned pop-up for several years and then now............for the past 12 years gone the Airstream route........so.........

A pop up is good for getting out for no more than 2 people. Yes, set you up a tarp/fly outside in addition to the camper awning for activities. Yes, the AC will keep up with keeping you cool. I say this with the experience of summers in Georgia......HOT AND MUGGY........The worst problem you will have is the AC freezing up but that is just part of the game and really hurts nothing............SO.........Have fun, no matter how you do it...........Yes you can get into some really back woods, all by yourself places. Get a good generator.......HONDA 3000 that is quiet so you don't need the KOA type campgrounds and find that the world out there travels at a different pace..........God bless......Dennis

 

[RobertBrown]

I suggest you get out there before it gets hot and do some camping.....in a tent, air mattress, whatever. Just get started and see how you like it before you invest in any type of machine or trailer.
You may find you are looking for something other than what you thought.

 

[OKnewguy]

We had a pop up camper for awhile before my daughter moved out (we sold the boat and camper and now the wife and I got into kayaks and cycling). Here in Oklahoma it worked fine in 100 degree weather. You can't really expect it to keep you ice cold during the day, if you got it in the shade it would be cool, but at night the thing would freeze you out! When my girl got to the point where she always wanted more friends along, I did the red neck thing. I took a 10x10 tent and sewed a ducted opening into the side. The sleeve had a pullstring, that I would cinch down around a 5000 btu a/c window unit. That worked great to, the girls had their space and the wife and I had ours. Nothing better then a good night sleep after spending all day in the sun on a boat. BTW, I shopped for a pos used one and had it for 4 years and made money on it when I sold it.
Dave

 

[grinder71]

Robert brown has a good point, figure out if you really enjoy camping. Wife and I started out with a tent and then upgraded to a pickup camper, which had A/C and a nice heater ( we live in central MN we can never tell day to day in early summer if it will be warm or snow so the heater is a good option for us). Well then came children and we out grew the pickup camper and now we have a fifth wheel, and we enjoy the creature comforts. With all that said I spent 24 years in the army and that tee pee living ain,t for me anymore! Happy trails

Mark

 

[General Lee]

I suggest you get out there before it gets hot and do some camping.....in a tent, air mattress, whatever. Just get started and see how you like it before you invest in any type of machine or trailer.
You may find you are looking for something other than what you thought.

Good suggestion. I have camped before both tent and tagged along with friends with large travel trailers. I'm not a big fan of "parking lot" camping (campers lined up in the middle of a field) but I know I'll enjoy the quieter camp grounds and camping with small groups of friends.

I appreciate all the advice and pointers given so far, keep em' coming.

 

[forgeblast]

http://vnlink.co/SA0UP9P is the link to theclymb.com they have discounted/discontinued camping supplies. Right now they even have trips, kinves, danner boots, etc. I bought my sunglasses from them and a few hiking poles. If you need supplies give them a look first sometimes you find great deals.

 

[Gunny]

I started out years ago camping in tents, then worked my way through two pop ups. Someone mentioned that they're fine for two people, which is pretty much correct. Kids can crowd up a small living space pretty quick! That's not usually a problem unless it starts raining, then everybody wants to get inside, but you'd have that same problem in a tent.
The last pop up I had came with a roof mounted air conditioner , in most cases, that thing would chill a beef, I usually had to get up in the middle of the night to turn it off. That model also had a heat strip in it, which came in handy when we camped out in the mountains, to take the chill off on those cool mornings. I'd use the electric heat strip in lieu of the LP furnace.

An awning will also kinda/sorta increase your living area, as a matter of fact, I wouldn't own any camper without one. You can even get bug screens to seal in the awning area, if needed.

You'd be surprised on how much stuff you can pack into a pop up with the top down. They tow easily, just about any vehicle can tow one, they're easy to back into position and not hard to set up, though it does take some time.

Good decent pop ups can be bought very reasonably, and if taken care of, can be sold or traded later on for pretty much what you gave for it, just don't get one of the smallest, bare bones models when you do buy.

Camping is great fun, the wife and I love it. She can't retire just yet, so we have to make do with several short trips throughout the year. Like I said, we started out with tents, we've had two pop ups, one bumper pull camper, one class "C" RV and are currently camping in our third fifth wheel.

As you get into it, you'll gain a lot of knowledge of the different campgrounds. (We don't like dry camping) and much prefer the state parks or military campgrounds, but then we have our favorite areas we like in each of the ones we use. The quietest areas in a campground are usually the ones furthest away from the bathhouses and off the main entrance.

 

[Western]

I have camped in tents for a loong time, pop ups and now we have a BP camper. I didn't like the size of the pop ups and in cold weather, it comes up below the bed since it is extended out, then you one day have the maintenance of replacing the canvas ($$$). I would get a good tent over the pop up, something like this http://www.cabelas.com/product/Camp...=SBC;MMcat104795280;cat104779080;cat104481180


Many small 20' and less campers get little use, so if you look around, you can find a very reasonable BP (bumper pull) in good shape and many for less than used pop-ups.

 

[Bird]

First, 10.5' Sandpiper pickup camper on a 3/4 ton Chevy.
Second, 25' Holiday Vacationer travel trailer, towed with the same Chevy.
Third, 18' Winnebago Brave Class A motorhome, and towed an Opel Cadet behind it.
Fourth, an 18' Nu Way travel trailer, first towed with an Olds sedan, later a Chrysler station wagon.
Fifth, a 32' Carri-Lite fifth-wheel, towed with a one ton Chevy.
Sixth, a 40' Bounder motorhome, and towed an Isuzu pickup at first, then a Ford Escort station wagon behind it.

With the last 2, we were full timers.

 

[mbohuntr]

Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Pop-ups are much cheaper, cooler, and easier to pull. That being said, they must be cranked up to load, cranked down to pull, cranked up to use, cranked down to tow home, cranked up to unload, dry-out if it rained when you packed up, and cranked back down to store. Ours was a yearly target for mice that turned the canvas into Swiss cheese over the winter. :grumpy:

The travel trailer we now own is a 22' keystone. Just mamma, me and the pooch. They cost 2x as much, can be hot in July if you camp dry like us. (No power). You need a full sized truck to pull it without straining the truck too much. And... you are more limited to where you can fit. The bigger you go, the fewer options you have. Last advice, it you are over 5'8", avoid the corner beds as you cannot fit into it without laying diagonally. A comfy bed is your FIRST consideration when camping, because if your tired and grumpy, NOBODY is having a good trip.... We never use the AC here as it really doesn't get that hot....

 

[bullbreaker]

Been enjoying thread. I've been camping/tents/rv's/cattle horse gooseneck stock trailer nose living quarters , ETC for almost half a century. I've always had trouble sleeping in heat.
One thing I think I have mastered with time is putting up a tent by myself in high winds !

 

[George2615]

Started camping as a Boy Scout many years ago in tents. Never had a pop up but first trailer was a single axle 18'er that slept 4. Moved up to a 24' motorhome that slept six for a few years. Last trailer was a 30'er with all the comforts of home except A/C. Would have been nice at times but never had that in any campers. I don't think an A/C in a pop up is going to be very efficient. Check your local papers or CL for a used tag along trailer. They should be plentiful and much less work to set up.

 

[22rimfire]

We also started with a tent, went to a pop up, then a 16 ft trailer, and now a 26 foot W/slide out. Plenty of room for DW and I, and all the comforts, and conveniences we want. It's just small enough to get to nice places, but not too big. We mostly stay in state parks. What I didn't like about a pop up is that while on the road, you can't use it for quick stops (lunch, nap, potty etc). The DW didn't care for not having a bathroom. We may move up to a motorhome when we retire, but for now this is working great. Pic below is my old truck, a half ton that struggled a bit pulling the 7500 lb trailer. We've since bought a new F250 and are lovin it. Good luck, and have fun. I think it does you good to get away once in a while.