we are a family of 5 with 2 dogs, we really want to start rv'ing, but recent gas prices have us a bit worried. Can anyone tell us the pro's and con's of owning a pop up. thanks
WELCOME. You will get alot of helpful info here. Pros are..Lightweight, does not require a large vehicle to tow, less drag which means better fuel economy, able to have a better selection of sites, the sound of the outdoors. Some of the cons are setup time, but with 5 people, it wont take long, storage space and access to fridge when folded down (some models) and setup or take down in the rain. Really minor stuff compared to the great times you will have... Happy camping
Don't like the view?? Then change it and Go Camping
We camped in our PUP with a family of 5 and it was always a great time. PUP gets you out of the rain and off the ground. If you get one - get the biggest you can tow or afford - you won't be sorry.
Dependent on the family, having a small dome tent or pup tent along is great for the kids to give them some independence and open up some room in the trailer.
Highly recommend a POP UP.
Brian, Donna, and Ted the dog.
2006 Dodge MegaCab 2500 Laramie 4x2 CTD 48RE 3.73 gears
Firestone AirBags - 16K Reese with Slider
2006 River Canyon 34KSTSO - TrailAir Pin - XPS RIBS 245/75/16
Popups are great for families, and for beginning RVers. Some of the pros & cons have already been mentioned; I'll add a few.
Pros:
Relatively easy to hitch & unhitch and to level
If you get a tongue jack with a wheel, and your PUP is small enough, you may be able to push it around manually (usually takes at least 2 people), so you can sometimes position yourselves in a site to enjoy the view
Feels like camping, but you're not sleeping on the ground (this gets to be a bigger deal the older you get, or in the rain)
Basic PUPs (without many options) can be inexpensive to insure & maintain
Some PUPs are small enough you can see over them from your tow vehicle, and you wouldn't need towing mirrors (or to learn how to use them)
Easier to tow than a full-height trailer, and can still come with lots of amenities (including toilet & shower)
Cons:
Limited storage, which means you'll be toting & carrying and putting stuff away every time you set up camp, and doing the same in reverse every time you break camp. Not a big deal for a weekend or longer stay, but this gets really old on a long road trip.
When the PUP is down (in towing position) you can't access some of your stored stuff inside. What you can access, you have to get to on hands & knees, or else set the PUP up again.
Setting up or taking down in the rain is no fun. (Ditto for a tent, only worse.)
If you're a light sleeper, the tented walls & bed ends mean you'll hear all sorts of things outside - not just birds singing, but other campers' noises, which sometimes include their stereos cranked up FULL BLAST.
The advantages of a PUP are almost too many to list.
Comfort comes in high. The beds are much more comfortable than a pad on the ground in a tent. The seating is fair, the lighting is better after dark, and a furnace can make a cool trip enjoyable. Being able to cook/eat inside is a big plus if the weather is unpleasant.
Convenience is good. There is less effort required to set up a PUP compared to a tent. Most of the camping gear and clothing can stay stored in the PUP, saving a lot of time and effort getting ready for a trip, just add food, the family, and go. Having things stored in their regular place is nice on arrival, no hunting for the frying pan, or wondering if it even got loaded, while the kids are clamoring for dinner.
Towing as relatively easy, even for a beginner. Just be very careful to match the weight of the trailer to the towing capacity of your vehicle. Too much trailer is hard on the tow vehicle, can be dangerous, and is just plain no fun to drive.
Cost of ownership is also reasonable. Licensing and insurance aren't very expensive, initial cost of course varies with the age and model, maintenance isn't bad if you can do most yourself, and a properly maintained and cared for unit can last for years.
I tow a 12 foot Jayco with a Ford Ranger pickup, which is also my daily commuter. For everyday driving and errands, I get about 20 MPG, towing the trailer about 18 MPG. So, for a 250 mile round trip to the beach it takes about 1 1/2 gallons more to take the trailer, or about $6.00 at today's prices. Pretty cheap entertainment. And our two dogs really like overnight trips to the beach.
Florida is a great place for a Pop-up. So many great state parks. We raised our three kids there and owned a PUP for the years they were growing up. I dont think you'll regret it. You might consider starting out with a good used model and learn all the ins and outs that way.
For the frugal people like me (also known as "cheap"), you can't beat the price of a used pop up. We invested $3,000 in a 6 year old unit that's in great shape. It allowed us to try the RV lifestyle without taking on a big debt. Since quite a few people eventually upsize their RV, there is usually a good supply of pop-ups available.
Mike Butts
DW+DD+DS
’07 Kodiak 23TT, 2004 Ford Expedition 5.4L with H.D. Tow Package
The pros definitely outweigh the cons. We loved out pop up. I would go back to that before we went back to the hybrid we had. I have a travel trailer and have thought about buying a small popup for occasional use. So many pros to think of... small, ease of use, convenient, easy to store, lots of places to use it, can be used with or without electricity, comfort off the ground, warmer ( can camp longer with more comfort when it gets colder out) CONS, cannot access most of the storage while down. I just used storage containers and coolers to help this, It is is raining when you leave you will need to unfold it at home to dry it off. That is the biggest complaint. but minor. Overall I think the popup is a great camping unit.
Get rid of the dogs and look at TrailManor which does away with the canvas and provides hard sides when set up.
Ignore the fuel cost. Just don't drive cross country your first trip out. You can drive an hour away from home and can't tell the difference between it and 1000 miles away.
Dick_B
2003 SunnyBrook 27FKS
2003 3/4 T Chevrolet Suburban
Equal-i-zer Hitch
One wife, two bikes (both Electric Schwinn's with motor assist)
It's really nice to see all the positive comments from the TT and 5'er owners. The only thing I can add is storage-of the unit itself, not contents. It's really nice to be able to store in a regular garage. This could also be a plus if you ordinances/subdivision regulations regarding parking on the street, or vehicles in the back yard, etc. (which we don't thankfully). We have friends that we travel with that pull a 32' TT and honestly I can be set up or broke down in about the same amount of time as them. While they're fooling with spring bars for their hitch or hooking up sewer hoses and extending slide outs, I'm cranking(with a cordless drill and attachment of course) and pulling out beds. Good luck on whatever you choose.
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