You my friend are a PRIME candidate for a CHALET. I've owned a PUP and my next RV purchase will be a Chalet. Store it in the garage, it's up in less than 5 minutes, no canvas to deal with and they are cozy to boot with all the comforts of a motorhome. The tradeoff is SPACE, you'll give some up but it might be worth it. Check out their website. See what you think. They are a bit spendy (in my mind anyway)but as someone else pointed out in a prior post, you'll recoup that in lesser fuel expenses in due time. Good luck!
We loved our PUP, but am anxious to get us hit the road [hopefully more often] w/ the HTT. If it were just my DH & i, i believe we've then the route of a Trailmanor, Aliner, Chalet, or Hi-Lo , as qtla9111 suggested.
campingrandma,
We had to pop ours up. WE LOVED our Jaydove 'cuz of all the storage, but access to the drawers, fridge, wardrobe, etc was only available if popped up. i only made the beds before going 'cuz i didn't want to do it after getting there -- too many things to do with kids once we're there.
The only way we had room for clothes for 5, food for 5, games for 5, shoes/hiking boots for 5, etc., etc was to pop it up to get at the storage for those things, as it doesn't all fit in our TV, unless it was a just short weekend -- but especially for longer trips.
We did/do keep pots, pans, dishes, campstove, linens in the PUP. However, there are a few things that we just couldn't justify have two of -- fans, elec. heaters, lanterns [we use these other times than camping] to name a few.
Anyway, i wouldn't give up camping, but the reality is it was time consuming to pack & unpack our PUP.
And, just for the record -- i can barely be ready to go to the grocery store in less than an hour -- with 2 teens & a toddler!! lol
peace & joy to you all.
campingrandma wrote: No, you DON'T have to pop up to pack and unpack. Food can go in a cooler until reaching the campground and can then go in the fridge. I never have to pop up to pack or unpack. If anything needs unpacked at home, it goes in the TV. Same with packing, if I need to take it, it goes in the TV (but that is only clothes, food, linens, and firewood; everything else is already in the pup as it STAYS in there).
I will never understand why some people never pack their pups so they don't have to pop up before or after a trip. We don't unless it was put away wet.
If you like using coolers/ice. Still have to handle food from house fridge to cooler to pup fridge then reverse for anything left over. Not a problem for some folks but maybe something for the OP to consider since he and DW is used to the convenience of a TT/5er.
I 'upgraded' from tent camping, and bought an 06 Fleetwood Niagara with the high walls/hardwalled potty/shower. The glide out dinette gives one a comfortable 'nook' and a great view, as well as leaving floor space open. Amenities include: 3 burner range/oven, 3.7 c/f 3-way refr/freezer, 13,500 btu propane furnace, AC, two king size bunks, glide out dinette, twin bowl sink, microwave. I got the add-a-room (7x14 weatherproof area) for under the awning.
As to packing - what's to pack? You've duplicated cookware, personal care items, linens. Grab your clothes, toss the perishables in the cooler - throw them in your tow vehicle and hookup/go! You might want a 'special' clothes basket for dirty linens from your trip, which you re-fill with the clean stuff - again just toss it in your tow vehicle and away you go. I don't have accessibility to my refrigerator when PUP is closed, but my cold stuff stays cold in the cooler (cube style on wheels) for up to about 15 hours (longer if I bag up ice from my home freezer or freeze milk jugs of water).
Once at the campground, backed in, hooked up, I will turn on the fridge (propane seems to cool fastest, then switch over to 120v.) and load the fridge with the stuff from the cooler and plop a zip lock in the freezer for ice later on, and maybe a ziplock or frozen soda bottle in the bottom to help the unit cool faster. When leaving the campground - all gets tossed back in the cooler, the fridge door gets opened all the way so fins will defrost and I give the unit a wipe. I leave a rolled up washcloth/rag between the unit and door to ensure the door is open to allow air circulation between trips.
kwuj wrote: We loved our PUP, but am anxious to get us hit the road [hopefully more often] w/ the HTT. If it were just my DH & i, i believe we've then the route of a Trailmanor, Aliner, Chalet, or Hi-Lo , as qtla9111 suggested.
campingrandma,
We had to pop ours up. WE LOVED our Jaydove 'cuz of all the storage, but access to the drawers, fridge, wardrobe, etc was only available if popped up. i only made the beds before going 'cuz i didn't want to do it after getting there -- too many things to do with kids once we're there.
The only way we had room for clothes for 5, food for 5, games for 5, shoes/hiking boots for 5, etc., etc was to pop it up to get at the storage for those things, as it doesn't all fit in our TV, unless it was a just short weekend -- but especially for longer trips.
We did/do keep pots, pans, dishes, campstove, linens in the PUP. However, there are a few things that we just couldn't justify have two of -- fans, elec. heaters, lanterns [we use these other times than camping] to name a few.
Anyway, i wouldn't give up camping, but the reality is it was time consuming to pack & unpack our PUP.
And, just for the record -- i can barely be ready to go to the grocery store in less than an hour -- with 2 teens & a toddler!! lol
peace & joy to you all.
We have two toddler granddaughters who live with us along with their mommy (out DD) and a teenage DD, so we have you beat in that area! We hit yard sales and Goodwill for duplicates for the camper, I don't mind having used (in fact, most of it was brand new anyway). We have duplicates of everything and didn't spend a fortune. It's all about preparation and organization. (Oh, and we only have a tiny little 8 foot camper!)
I had a 40" fifth wheel toy hauler and had about the same problem with storing it. I decided to sell it this spring and replace it with a pop up. I bought a Starcraft 13RT. I discovered "camping" again and went camping twice as often as I did with the fiver, mostly because it is just so much easier to hook up and go with it. It also allows me to go much farther back into the mountains than I could go with the fiver. The fiver was more comfortable for sure, but I have absolutely no regrets about my decision. If your DW likes camping, and not just residing in the wilds, she'll adjust just fine. Mine did.
homesbehindme wrote: I had a 40" fifth wheel toy hauler and had about the same problem with storing it. I decided to sell it this spring and replace it with a pop up. I bought a Starcraft 13RT. I discovered "camping" again and went camping twice as often as I did with the fiver, mostly because it is just so much easier to hook up and go with it. It also allows me to go much farther back into the mountains than I could go with the fiver. The fiver was more comfortable for sure, but I have absolutely no regrets about my decision. If your DW likes camping, and not just residing in the wilds, she'll adjust just fine. Mine did.
Hello all, and thanks for your replies.
To sum it all up my thoughts are most in-line with homesbehindme's.
Don't get me wrong, I have become spoiled too with our 5er, which I am very grateful and proud to own. It is a beautiful unit and is kept that way due to my meticulous and sometimes compulsive ways, and if we were to down size, yes, there are things that I most likely would miss, but not enough to dampen the reason why we go camping. We go (as most of us do) to relax and be together as a family. We can do that just as well with a PUP as we do with the 5er.
Now grant it, being pre-spoiled, I would probably look at one of the Fleetwood High Wall models. Loaded-up of course. Would have to keep the DW happy
Robert, Anne Marie & Joey
One spoiled Labrador, Max
Warren, MI
2004 Holiday Rambler Savoy 27RLS 5er
2003 Dodge Ram 2500 HD 2wd 5.9 Cummins Turbo Diesel
2005 Mercury Mariner
I was in the same boat you are two years ago. Moved in a new neighborhood and the 5er was a no no! We took the Sunnybrook 5er to the dealer and came home with cash and a Fleetwood Cheyene popup. It fits in the garage so no more storage, many trips to the local campground were last minute and we went just because it was quick to get it out. We always have it packed and just open the side door and slide a big cooler in and we are on the road. The best part is we are now camping. Our first trailor was a 30ft pull behind, second Sunnybrook 5er and now a popup. Best move we ever made in my book. With our other trailers it was like we were home. I was always cleaning to keep the big "castle" on wheels looking proper. The popup has heat and air that works for me. Now I wake up to the birds, hear the rain at night, and when we are sitting around the campfire I can hear my youngest son messing with his older brother and get it stopped before he gets slugged. I now feel like I am camping, go for it............
2004 Dodge 2500 Cummins 48RE Quad Short Bed
2007 Fleetwood Cheyene
I am sure at the beginning you will find it different as I know I would. We love our PUP for the open feeling but when your use to being able to go in and out any where any time, more storage space compared to having to be more organized and popping up and down it will be a big change. If this is what you want then the adjustment will be easier. You may even love it for the same reason as the rest of us on here.
We tent camped for years. We considered moving up to a TT or 5er but decided on a PUP because of several reasons. It was cheaper to purchase, can store it at home (no cost to store), cheaper and easier to tow, and was more like tent camping than the other choices.
Having it at the house also lets me tinker with it any time I want.
Things I discovered on my first long road trip:
Cost of towing is minimal. I'm assuming towing a big box would be considerably more.
Easier to tow - towing across Wyoming with strong side winds had no effect.
Couldn't jump inside at rest stops to grap a bite to each or use the potty.
Had take more time than others to get setup once I reached my destination.
Got a lot of looks and questions from others.
After meeting some nice people I checked out a couple RVs, 5ers, and TT's while camping. The comforts were plenty but there's compromise with everything. My pup has it all - stove, oven, mic, fridge, heater, A/C, shower, toilet - everything I could need. I use coolers for dry food and extras, duffles with clothes go in the door prior to departure. Packing up takes less than an hour. It's actually fun and ensures I don't assume something is already in the PU only to discover its not. I think it's worth the effort and don't mind it at all.
The way I see things from my limited experience is this: PUPs are for campers who travel and TT's, 5ers, & RVs are for travelers who don't want to camp. In other words, IMHO if you are looking to travel but still feel at home then keep the 5er but if you want to travel and camp - then you can't go wrong with the PU.
Regrets - absolutely none.
'06 Starcraft 36RT
'05 Ford PSD250
Me & DW
3 DS
Max (the hyper-vigilant dog)
Roxie (the dog sleeps through anything)
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