kids tent cot image
Woodland H
We're considering getting one (probably a 10' for our family of 4) and just want to know what all people experience and what they regret before we buy one. Thx!
Answer
Go for it.
I've owned an 8' and 10' pop-up and a 21' hybrid camper and a Class-C RV. Unless you can afford a Class-C (both the initial purchase and ongoing storage, insurance and maintenance), a pop-up is the way to go. Comfort, storage and convenience are the main benefits of a pop-up.
In terms of comfort, you are sleeping up and off the ground on a well-padded, insulated and flat surface that you can easily get into and out of without crawling around on your hands and knees. Most pop-ups have heat and many have air conditioning. During bad weather you have a well-protected and comfortable place to hang out.
While cabinet space in a pop-up, compared to larger RV's, is limited, it is still sufficient to permanently organize and store all the reusable gear and supplies you need for a camping trip. All your kitchen and dining stuff, cleaning stuff, bedding, etc can be permanently stowed in the cabinets or under the dinette benches. Larger items such as a tabletop BBQ grill, cooler, folding table and chairs can be organized on the floor to fit when the pop-up is closed, and still leave room to add groceries and clothing just before heading out on a trip.
As for convenience, first and foremost is most pop-ups can be towed by lightweight trucks, SUV/CUV and some mid-sized cars. They are small enough that most people store them in their backyard, driveway or garage, saving lot storage fees. With adequate storage to be fully packed and ready to go (except for groceries and clothing), taking that spur of the moment trip is a breeze.
The Cons:
As compared to tent camping, the only con is you're not going to to be backwoods camping or taking it backpacking. There is some annual maintenance required, most of which can be DIY, though I prefer to have pros deal with anything involving propane.
As compared to other RV choices? The biggest disadvantage is the time setting-up the pop-up and unloading the stuff stowed on the floor before you can use the pop-up at all. This means that if you're going on a long distance trip with many short stays, setup and breakdown can be tedious. Clothing storage is a bit problematic in a pop-up, you will need to live out of your suitcases which get stowed on the bunks by day and tucked under the dinette table or on counters by night.
Some things to think about:
A front, outside storage trunk is a wonderful feature.
Unless you plan to do a lot of dispersed / dry camping, don't bother with a bathroom in a pop-up. Although it might seem nice, there's practically no privacy. That space is better used for storage and/or seating.
An outside shower is almost an essential feature. A water heater is also a nice-to-have feature, but it does eat up storage space. A portable, water heater such as Eccotemp, Camp Chef, even Zodi costs around $100 and takes up less space.
Slide-outs on a pop-up are also a mixed bag. A slide-out adds significant weight and, when closed, steals valuable floor space. Most of the time you'll only be in the pop-up when sleeping or to escape bad weather. Having a few extra square feet of floor space when the slide is out does not make up for the lost storage when its closed.
One awning is essential, but two awnings are better. Add a second awning to the back side of your pop-up where you can setup your dining or picnic table. This leaves the normal front-side awning for lounging and relaxation.
Consider an add-a-room or screen room. The screen room is less expensive and will help protect you from insects. An add-a-room has opaque panels with screens in them, and roll-up flaps so you can close the screens for a private, sheltered area. We've used an add-a-room with the second back-side awning and cots to sleep an extra three people in comfort and privacy.
If you have two kids make sure your camper can sleep at least 6, as your kids will usually want to bring friends or relatives along. Once boys get to be about 10-12 years old they will not want to share a bed, but girls -- even teenage girls-- have no problems sharing with a female friend or cousin.
In many pop-ups the dinette bed is less than six feet long. Try to find a model with a dinette bed that measures 72" x 48" so you can fit two full-size people.
Buy used and save a ton. Most folks only use their pop-up a few times each year. Others buy one and use it a few times, then let it sit, while a few use it once and have a change of mind or situation. Even a 10 year-old pop-up is worth considering if it has been kept and stored well.
Go for it.
I've owned an 8' and 10' pop-up and a 21' hybrid camper and a Class-C RV. Unless you can afford a Class-C (both the initial purchase and ongoing storage, insurance and maintenance), a pop-up is the way to go. Comfort, storage and convenience are the main benefits of a pop-up.
In terms of comfort, you are sleeping up and off the ground on a well-padded, insulated and flat surface that you can easily get into and out of without crawling around on your hands and knees. Most pop-ups have heat and many have air conditioning. During bad weather you have a well-protected and comfortable place to hang out.
While cabinet space in a pop-up, compared to larger RV's, is limited, it is still sufficient to permanently organize and store all the reusable gear and supplies you need for a camping trip. All your kitchen and dining stuff, cleaning stuff, bedding, etc can be permanently stowed in the cabinets or under the dinette benches. Larger items such as a tabletop BBQ grill, cooler, folding table and chairs can be organized on the floor to fit when the pop-up is closed, and still leave room to add groceries and clothing just before heading out on a trip.
As for convenience, first and foremost is most pop-ups can be towed by lightweight trucks, SUV/CUV and some mid-sized cars. They are small enough that most people store them in their backyard, driveway or garage, saving lot storage fees. With adequate storage to be fully packed and ready to go (except for groceries and clothing), taking that spur of the moment trip is a breeze.
The Cons:
As compared to tent camping, the only con is you're not going to to be backwoods camping or taking it backpacking. There is some annual maintenance required, most of which can be DIY, though I prefer to have pros deal with anything involving propane.
As compared to other RV choices? The biggest disadvantage is the time setting-up the pop-up and unloading the stuff stowed on the floor before you can use the pop-up at all. This means that if you're going on a long distance trip with many short stays, setup and breakdown can be tedious. Clothing storage is a bit problematic in a pop-up, you will need to live out of your suitcases which get stowed on the bunks by day and tucked under the dinette table or on counters by night.
Some things to think about:
A front, outside storage trunk is a wonderful feature.
Unless you plan to do a lot of dispersed / dry camping, don't bother with a bathroom in a pop-up. Although it might seem nice, there's practically no privacy. That space is better used for storage and/or seating.
An outside shower is almost an essential feature. A water heater is also a nice-to-have feature, but it does eat up storage space. A portable, water heater such as Eccotemp, Camp Chef, even Zodi costs around $100 and takes up less space.
Slide-outs on a pop-up are also a mixed bag. A slide-out adds significant weight and, when closed, steals valuable floor space. Most of the time you'll only be in the pop-up when sleeping or to escape bad weather. Having a few extra square feet of floor space when the slide is out does not make up for the lost storage when its closed.
One awning is essential, but two awnings are better. Add a second awning to the back side of your pop-up where you can setup your dining or picnic table. This leaves the normal front-side awning for lounging and relaxation.
Consider an add-a-room or screen room. The screen room is less expensive and will help protect you from insects. An add-a-room has opaque panels with screens in them, and roll-up flaps so you can close the screens for a private, sheltered area. We've used an add-a-room with the second back-side awning and cots to sleep an extra three people in comfort and privacy.
If you have two kids make sure your camper can sleep at least 6, as your kids will usually want to bring friends or relatives along. Once boys get to be about 10-12 years old they will not want to share a bed, but girls -- even teenage girls-- have no problems sharing with a female friend or cousin.
In many pop-ups the dinette bed is less than six feet long. Try to find a model with a dinette bed that measures 72" x 48" so you can fit two full-size people.
Buy used and save a ton. Most folks only use their pop-up a few times each year. Others buy one and use it a few times, then let it sit, while a few use it once and have a change of mind or situation. Even a 10 year-old pop-up is worth considering if it has been kept and stored well.
What creative ideas do you have for a reality show?
Jennifer
Answer
I think they should go to war and follow soldiers around all day and let people on "reality" shows see what life is really like. I think they could show how hard it is to be at war, and how hard it is for the families at home to carry on and handle all the crisis with a spouse gone. I think they could show how hard it is for soldiers to really be away from their kids. They could show what it is like to live in a tent and sleep on a cot and walk 220 steps to the bathroom tent. They could show how hard it is for a parent to raise their kids with the other parent gone, or how kids deal with their parent gone. How does a parent feel when they have to go back to war and their 6-year-old is begging them to stay because he was a good boy. I think that would make a good "reality" show, instead of a bunch of people on tv whining about stupid things. Show something real.
I think they should go to war and follow soldiers around all day and let people on "reality" shows see what life is really like. I think they could show how hard it is to be at war, and how hard it is for the families at home to carry on and handle all the crisis with a spouse gone. I think they could show how hard it is for soldiers to really be away from their kids. They could show what it is like to live in a tent and sleep on a cot and walk 220 steps to the bathroom tent. They could show how hard it is for a parent to raise their kids with the other parent gone, or how kids deal with their parent gone. How does a parent feel when they have to go back to war and their 6-year-old is begging them to stay because he was a good boy. I think that would make a good "reality" show, instead of a bunch of people on tv whining about stupid things. Show something real.
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