Tent trailers?

_RaT_ · Jan 6, 2009

I used one many decades ago when my family rented one for camping. Any thoughts about these today? I know they have improved from the 60's when I was last in one for camping. Walked in a new model and was very impressed.
Thinking about one for my wife, son and me. Any thoughts or models that work well? We have a minivan to pull it with.

thatguy · Jan 6, 2009

I grew up camping in a 1969 Skamper and my wife and I used it until around 2003... We bought a Flagstaff w/ front storage in 2003 that we like, just dont have as much time to go camping..

If we camped more often I would probably upgrade to a popup with a slide out for more floor space or go to a bigger pull camper..

not sure of the towing capacities of your minivan, but a popup would be about the most you can haul I would guess.. Our flagstaff weighs right at 3,000 lb and that is without fresh water on board..

If you havent found it yet, check out PopUp Explorer - Index the popup forum just like TBN..

good luck

Brian

ronjhall · Jan 7, 2009

Check out this Forum. RV.NET

WBWI · Jan 7, 2009

I have a 2006 Jayco Select. It has a 12' box, slide out dinette and residential height counters. It weighs in at about 3500# dry and has a 300# tongue weight. It has a lot of features we don't use(microwave, oven) but it beats the heck out of sleeping on the ground. You're outside of the area but Great Lakes Popup Club (GLPUC.org) is another site with decent info.

Scooby074 · Jan 7, 2009

I too have a Jayco. Its a 2004. Its huge on the inside, and a heck of alot better than sleeping on the ground. I rewired it to have all led lights. I can run on battery for several days no problem! Only problem i had has been with the eyes on the cable lift system stretching. If your going to buy, look for one with the storage box on the front. You wouldnt believe how much you'll use it.

However if i was going to do it again, i would probably go with a hard side. My trailer is 3200 Lbs and hard side would be similar and i wouldnt have to worry about taking care of the canvas. My canvas has stayed very good, but it wont stay if you dont keep up with cleaning and maintenance. It would be alot nicer to just come home and park, without having to set up again to clean and dry the canvas out

mikescruggs · Jan 7, 2009

After 5 years I finally got the wife to go camping. We bought a tent and a screen tent to put over the picnic table. She needed (wanted) power and water so this left of with sites there were a little more firm than true tent sites. This was the only uncomfortable part. We talked about a pop up to get into the next level affordable. I had a friend who sold us a Viking that was about 10 years old. This worked great until the spring of 08 and it would not go up. My father and I spent a day replacing wire and pulleys. That first outing we stopped by the RV shop and ended up trading for a 5 year old tag along. What a difference between the two.

I have seen a lot of nice tent trailers. Anyone that is waterproof is a huge step up from tenting. The newer ones are almost effortless to setup. I would still prefer a tag along, but the modern tent trailers a very nice and I would not hesitate to recommend one if it was in the budget.

Mike

ronjhall · Jan 7, 2009

One item to consider is if you intend to use the popup in a park with bears running around. You will not be allowed to use a soft sided camper.

dmccarty · Jan 8, 2009

ronjhall said:
One item to consider is if you intend to use the popup in a park with bears running around. You will not be allowed to use a soft sided camper.

Really? Do the same parks keep people from using tents?

Later,
Dan

Scooby074 · Jan 8, 2009

We have Black Bears here in NS. Ive never hard of a park preventing you from camping if you have a soft side. Maybe if there was Grizzles? But i cant find a park that actively does it.

Any time your camping, especially in a soft side you got to be careful. I, for example, wont cook or eat in my trailer. I also keep my food locked in my truck. These are just good practices when camping in general.
Hard sides will give a little more protection, but ive heard where grizzilys have ripped thru the sides of a hard side to get to the food inside.

Correction: it appears that some parks (ie: Banff Springs) pprevent soft sides and tents at specific campgrounds, during the early spring and late fall to prevent run ins with bears.Safety Report

WBWI · Jan 8, 2009

I've heard Yellowstone has some campgrounds that ban softside campers. Not all the local cg's have active bear populations so you can still camp there in a PUP but maybe not the "prime" locations.

I don't have any proof other than hearing this second hand, FWIW.