dont know if i am in right forum but we have owned popup camper and 2 fifth wheel...we recently sold our fifth wheel that was setting on a lake lot...so we never moved it just went there...that got old really quick..we are ready to buy another camper and hit the road, want to do camping in smokie mountains and virginia...want to hike and camp...anyway would yall recommend a pop up or hybrid travel trailer? it will just be me and dh...grandkids rarely, going to pull it with a 2012 toyota tacoma, I was worried about a popup with winter camper...any thoughts appreciated
The advantage of the P'Up is that you can tow it with just about anything. Since you appear to have the towing capacity, I'd recommend the Hybrid, as I'd guess that you guys would like the features (shower, bathroom, etc) that the hybrid offers.
Also, as you get older (you mentioned grandkids) you want to spend less and less time messing around with setting up a P'Up.
The Hybrid gives you the best of both worlds.....so I think it's your best choice, given the two options you have.
Bill & Claudia / DD Jenn / DS Chris / GS MJ Dogs: Sophie, Abby, Brandy, Kahlie, Annie, Maggie, Tugger & Beau RIP: Cookie, Foxy & Gidget @ Rainbow Bridge.
2000 Winnebago "Minnie" 31C, Ford V-10
Purchased April 2008 FMCA# F407293 The Pets
we love our hybred 'cause we have a genny in the bed of our truck so we stop ANYWHERE, fire the genny, turn on the AC, use the microwave for lunch. no more expensive,bad-for-you fast food and immediate access to cold drinks and the CLEAN bathroom. when the kids and grandkids come or visit we open the bunk ends for triple the bed space, otherwise its a regular camper.
"wine is a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy" ben franklin
I have been using my OFF-ROAD POPUP for over five years now and we love it. I agree it is a pain to go through getting everything setup when we stop. We don't go without anything the big guys have except less room I guess. We are usually outside all the time anyway and just sleep in the POPUP. The real bad thing about the POPUP is every square inch of inside area is used for storage when in travel mode. I even have the 48-inch X 80-inch front deck and still fill every spot I can find inside when in travel mode. When you get to the camp site all of these items have to come out of the POPUP so you can set it up.
The POPUP is great on gas mileage (19-21MPG for me) and like others have said you can tow it with almost anything... I say almost as my POPUP weighs in at 4200lbs... Our POPUP also has the cassette pottie and shower combo.
We have been looking at other options as well and have more or less decided on the JAYCO X213 24-foot trailer if we upgrade to something bigger and with hard sides. It has everything we need in a trailer with just the two of us.
We also looked at the Hybrid trailers and the big thing that stuck out for us was the tent beds all fold down from the outside of the trailer and take up no room whatsoever on the inside. This is perfect when in travel mode as you can pull off the side of the road and catch some Z's on the couch. Like the other post says fire-up the generator and make lunch and watch a little HDTV using the OTA Antenna picking up the Natl BroaDcast Network which is available everywhere in the US for free...
BTW our POPUP does not care if it is hot or cold outside - very comfortable in the winter as well as the summer. The installed furnace actually is TOO big for us and runs us out of the trailer big time. We actually rather use the oil-filled Electric Heaters (Lowes) when at electric sites... No noise and its always better to consume the sites electric than your propane...
We have drug our OFF-ROAD POPUP all over the south and as far west as OKLA and TEXAS. Don't think I would ever give it up as it does get me back in the woods which I really like to do and camp off the power grid. There is place for hard walled trailers too and some advantages. More private is one...
I got woke up by the wife on one trip telling me there was a bear outside... So I get up with my trusty flashlight and bear spray canister and look all around the camp sight - no smell or no tracks and was just about ready to come back inside when I heard what she was hearing. It was a neighbor POPUP camper snoring hehe... It did sound just like a Bear snorting...
When camping in the OKLA Wichita Mtns WildLife Refuge you really hear alot of night sounds coming the outside. No way will you wander outside to see what is going "BUMP" in the middle of the night there... Open up the front door of the POPUP and have two wild buffalo staring-up at you hehe... Also camping out in the woods you never know who is going to show up lunch..
This photo cracks me up...
I use to tell everyone at least with my POPUP I can drive-thru a Mcdonald's and order a BIG MAC from the drive-thru window. This months JULY TRAILER LIFE magazine shows a picture of a TT trailer with extending arms ordering from the Drive-thru window so I guess I have to change my story now abit...
I guess if you get a bigger trailer then you have to worry about what you might find living in the pass-thru storage area...
photos from google images
* This post was
edited 07/29/12 11:03am by RoyB *
My Posts are IMHO based on my experiences - PM me Roy and Carolyn
RETIRED DOAF/DON/DOD/CONTR RADIO TECH (42yrs)
K9PHT (Since 1957) 146.52M
2010 F150, 5.4,3:73 Gears,SCab
2008 Starcraft 14RT EU2000i GEN
2005 Flagstaff 8528RESS
POPUP PHOTOs-Pg52-Pg56
We just went from a PUP to a Hybrid. The big advantage is set-up time, and the ability to sleep 2 while closed up, so zero set up time when ton the road. The big downside is towing. A Pup can be towed with a 4 cylinder truck, a hybrid requires a high output V6 or V8 for anything other than goong slow on flat ground. I just did 6000 miles with a F150 V6,(302HP) and our Crossroads CLK17. It worked fine, until the grade exceeded 7%, or the headwind was greater than 20mph.
Well we dont go very often, we take very little with us, and only have 2 boxes in floor while travel. The PUP just fits us very well. (We dont go at all if rain is forecasted-not saying a surprise shower cant happen).
If we used it any different than we do, I would want a hybrid.
Tim-DW(Kathy)
12 Chevy Sonic DD, 03 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE, 95 Palamino PUP When I grow up I want to be retired.. THEN I WONT HAVE TO GROW UP AT ALL!!!!
RoyB you crack me up..lol, and i love your pup camper, would like one just like it, thanks for all the input, we looked at camper world in woodstock yesterday and they did not have alot of choices...no hybrids to look at and they said they dont sell good, go figure...we looked at lite travel trailers....16 ft would be good...going to Dalton to look today, as well as looking on craigslist, we do have Gkids but not that old 50 and 51...not afriad of hard work, rather like it...i hike 7 miles here at berry college mountian so we are little fit, want to haul bicycles as well...I dont care of a pup has bathroom, probably would not ever use it.
gapeachie - When we take the grandkids with we always take along tents for them. They would rather hang-out in tent anyway. The POPUP becomes the check-in station then...
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