Basic pop-up questions- need to sleep 4. Driveway or campgrounds mostly

[zimm17]

I'm toying with the idea of a pop-up camper for my '05 F250 short bed (6.5'). I want to tow my boat to either friend's places on the water, or waterfront campgrounds and be able to sleep my wife and I, plus two small boys (currently 2 and 4). That way I don't impose on their homes (limited bedrooms, etc).

A/C is a requirement and heat would be nice for winter. At my friend's house, I could run an extension cord. At the campground, maybe run my honda EU2000 generator if required.

I figure I can always use the bathrooms where we're staying, or maybe pop-ups have a porta potty? I have one in the boat too.

Needs to be easily removeable/installable too.

Will a pop-up be ideal for me? Where should I start looking?

 

[subterran]

Welcome to the forum!

First off, you are on the East Coast, I see. You will be at a disadvantage, as pop-up truck campers are much rarer and more costly to find used used on this side of the country. One advantage you have, though is that you have a full-sized truck, so your choices are greater for what you do find. I would resign myself to searching far and wide for the camper, and make a road trip to pick it up.

>> A/C is a requirement and heat would be nice for winter. At my friend's house, I could run an extension cord. At the campground, maybe run my honda EU2000 generator if required.
A/C is uncommon in pop-ups. Roof air units can be a problem if the popup has no lift assist. Fortunatlely it's easy to add one. See my build thread in my signature - I just completed an AC install, and it's removable when it's not hot outside, too. Most campers have heat already, but if not, also easy to add a little buddy heater.

>> I figure I can always use the bathrooms where we're staying, or maybe pop-ups have a porta potty? I have one in the boat too.
Potties are only common in the larger pop-up TC's. You can always add one.

>> Needs to be easily removeable/installable too.
Opinions vary, but mine is super easy to doff or don. One hint I can add is stay with an external, easily accessable tie-down system instead of the concealed type. It sppeds things up quite a bit.


>> Will a pop-up be ideal for me? Where should I start looking?
Only you can determine that, my friend! I highly suggest Craigslist, particularly via SearchTempest - you can search every craigslist in the country at once. You can start off using "pop up truck camper", and after you dial in to a particular brand(s) you like, you can start looking for them by brand and model number. Just ask if you need more help here.

As for sleeping your wife and 2 kids, pretty much any pop-up TC will sleep you all. Or at least until the kids reach thier teens and need more space. Most models have a cab-over bad (for you and wife) and a couch/bed below (for the kids).

Good luck, and I'm glad to help if I can!

 

[Herbie]

I want to tow my boat to either friend's places on the water, or waterfront campgrounds and be able to sleep my wife and I, plus two small boys (currently 2 and 4).

One thing to remember, kids grow, and fast. Make sure you factor into your purchase that you'll be soon trying to sleep 2 adults and 2 "near-adults".

Once you factor in sleeping bag, etc. my 5y.o. daughter takes up almost as much room as my wife.

A/C is a requirement and heat would be nice for winter. At my friend's house, I could run an extension cord. At the campground, maybe run my honda EU2000 generator if required.

Notes on powering A/C: A genset will be fine during certain hours, but every campground I've ever been to had a generator curfew for noise. Usually 9pm or 10pm at the latest. Sometimes earlier. If you're camping in a spot without hookups, you won't be able to run A/C during the night. If it cools enough that you'd sleep on a porch in the evenings, you're fine. If it stays muggy all night like some places I've been, it might not work out.

Also, check the power requirements of some roof A/C units before you set off down that path. I suspect that a Honda EU2000 will not be able to sufficiently power all A/C units. I seem to recall there being discussion on one of these threads about more current being needed...

 

[tanglefoot]

A pop-up TC would probably work pretty well for you, especially for towing.

Northstar has an "extra bed" option that opens out from the side. Something like a TC800 (available with a built-in toilet) with the XB and wall A/C options might work well for you. Northstars are also designed to be used off the truck, while sitting on the jacks.


http://www.northstarcampers.com/online-catalog.php?view=item&parentId=11&catId=13&numId=31

 

[JHa6av8r]

A pop-up TC would probably work pretty well for you, especially for towing.

Northstar has an "extra bed" option that opens out from the side. Something like a TC800 (available with a built-in toilet) with the XB and wall A/C options might work well for you. Northstars are also designed to be used off the truck, while sitting on the jacks.


http://www.northstarcampers.com/online-catalog.php?view=item&parentId=11&catId=13&numId=31

I'd agree with the Northstar also especially the way you described you would use it. The SC850 is self-contained and it and the 800 are designed for 6.5' beds. I thought the prices for the Northstars were pretty good when we looked.

 

[libarata]

Instead of an AC, how about a few 12v fans, mounted up high to suck out the heat? Moving air itself can cool you down considerably. Put two opposite of each other, one sucking in, one sucking out. I spent 6 days in the desert outside of San Diego in an Aliner camper that had these, and we stayed quite cool during lunch. Since the desert gets cold at night, we had the fans sucking in at sundown. Here in VA, sucking out, with windows open would be beneficial.

http://www.fantasticvent.com/fan-tastic-vent-s-oem-12-volt-fans.html