4 season Pop-up?

[maytag]

I've been starting to look for a truck bed camper, and like the spaciousness and cold weather comfort of a sealed unit but I like the profile and better offroad capability of the pop-ups...and my wife won't be cold or wet!

so does anyone have any experience with a pop-up that would be comfortable in heavy rain, snow and wind?

looking to fit into a 96 GMC Dmax crewcab shortbed that does go off road (I don't like camping near people!)

and the wife wanted to add that a wet bath is preferable

 

[LateNate]

Maybe? Its pretty sick though.

http://www.xpcamper.com/

 

[56farmerjohn]

I have used my 4whl "Hawk" model in all kinds of weather, ranging from rain to wind to snow.... Never been cold in it... I have never used the optional furnace , as I have the "Artic-Pak".. As far as I know bathrooms arenot available in 4whl campers.... Also it should be that men and women have a different threshold of "cold"......

 

[450 DUDE]

How much do you like your wife? Just want to see what the options are.:ylsmoke:

ken

 

[maytag]

How much do you like your wife? Just want to see what the options are.:ylsmoke:

She's my co-pilot :rally_guys:

and hopefully a backseat driver someday soon :av-7:


I'm not sure what brand it was but a friend used to have a pop-up (looked similar to the 4whl) that leaked like crazy when the rain came in sideways...so I'm weary of that happening

plus the basic canvas doesn't seem like much to protect from sub freezing temps and wind

 

[Dave Bennett]

Maybe? Its pretty sick though.

http://www.xpcamper.com/

This!

 

[maytag]

Maybe? Its pretty sick though.

http://www.xpcamper.com/

Don't have a flat bed...but it looks sweet!

 

[fisher205]

Check out an Alaskan. It won't have a wet bath, but the new ones have a cassette toilet or you can put a cassette in an older one.
Brad

 

[dsw4x4]

My brother had the same issues he wanted a pop up slide in that did not stick out past the short bed. He did not want the overhang. Yet he wanted a wet bath and insulated canvas. He flew out here to CO and we drove around looking at all of the options around here. Hallmark said you the will not change their layouts to accomodate the customers needs and the will not put a wet bath in a short bed. Outfitters said they would do it but it cost even more than a Hallmark. Phoenix campers said they would do what ever you want and their price was about half of the other two and he could get what he wanted. Comparing the three side by side the more money you spend the you basically get a little better fit and finish. The options and brand of options are pretty much the same. My brother was more interested in bang for the buck. He went with a Phoenix and camps in it probably 30 to 40 weekends a year in the midwest "a lot of rain" and here in CO furnace keeps it toasty warm all year long with the arctic canvas package. His decision was based on even though he uses his camper a lot spending 25 to 30 k would take a long time before each night camping was not costing the same as staying in Hilton every night. What ever brand you go with get the electric roof if you plan on putting anything on the roof or camping in the snow. His easy to take down with weight on it but hard to put up.
Derek

 

[maytag]

dsw4x4, any photos of said camper? especially how they did the layout of the wetbath fitting in the shortbed

 

[tanglefoot]

Phoenix does offer wet baths but I'm not sure if they generally put them in shortbed campers. They might be able to shift the floorplan around to accomodate one upon request.

http://www.phoenixcampers.com/

Here's the traditional Phoenix wet bath.

http://www.phoenixcampers.com/vp/JS...com/665_500_csupload_6150126.jpg?u=1987494438


I've heard great things about Phoenix. They're the family who first started 4-wheel campers and built and sold them in Colorado.

See if they can build a wet bath like the Starcraft Pine mountain 800. It might be tough to fit in a shortbed, but it'd be nice and space efficient. When the bath isn't in use, cushions cover it up and it makes up part of the dinette.

 

[craig333]

Actually fwc does make one with a shower, the keystone.

 

[DanoT]

I am currently having Coyote RV build me a custom phoenix camper. It will have 2" rigid insulation on the floor and lower plywood walls where there is normally no insulation and 2" insulation on the upper walls where there is normally 1" insulation. Extra insulation in the roof.

A duct from the 20k BTU furnace will go to the shower stall which will also be a dry room for wet ski gear. Lower stall is a solid cabinet and the upper part is shower curtain. Instead of worrying about the plumbing freezing in winter I will shower using a portable Hot Jugz shower (think pump-up garden sprayer with a shower head and water heated on the stove)

The fabric pop up section will be 2 thinsulate knock off layers sandwiched between 2 fabric layers.

Inside windows and door will have snap in place insulated covers.

I'm thinking of naming this camper "Igloo".

 

[Photomike]

Some good ideas, the biggest thing that I found with an inside shower in the winter was the moisture. I run my TC without water in the tanks in the winter. Really wish I has a cassette toilet for the cold weather (a great option)

I know a few guys that use pop ups in the winter. Some love them, others hate them. If you decide on a pop up, see if you can try one (or more so your wife try one in the cold - all night). Many things like moisture, furnace run times and noise, lack of battery power (or on a short box lack of space for batteries) are all something to look at.

 

[maytag]

I found one that looked interesting driving around in Tigard Oregon on saturday that was an Oregon Camper, a hard sided pop-up, but not the Chalet one that comes up at every search...



don't know anything about it but it looked very well insulated and it was only as long as the bed on the short bed dodge it was in