LosAngeles
Active member
Hi all
Been doing a lot of (various) forum(s) reading…. trying to figure out the best pop up camper.
Needs space for 3 people (us parents and our 12 year old kid)
We like to do 3 to 14 day trips, including areas that dip below freezing at night.
Will custom order a Ford F150 SuperCrew with high cargo capacity ordered, 4x4, with 6.5 foot bed. (so lightweight is a big plus)
No we dont want an F250….. the F150 is much nicer. According to Ford - 4x4 F-150 SuperCrew, 156.8” WB, with Heavy-Duty Payload Package and 18" wheels payload is 2,690 LBS.
Been making spread sheets of costs of pop up campers, to compare prices with our preferred options included.
For better or for worse (?) I do prefer the idea of an aluminum frame. I do understand that thermal bridging is a real thing. I also do know that keeping some ventilation going in cold areas will reduce condensation, for sure.
Would love to get an indoor shower for occasional use.
In no particular order: here are the top contenders - all slide in. (can’t go flatbed for a variety of reasons I wont bore you with)
Any thoughts on all of this?
Four Wheel Camper Grandby
advantages: nice fit and finish, and seemingly good quality (?) and holds value well (?)
The clever optional indoor shower on the Grandby does not take up any room when not in use. It is a curtain and a floor drain. The curtain goes all the way into the floor drain to contain the water.
disadvantages:
to get King North South bed you have to pay $600 extra to get the flush stove and sink (ouch) plus an extra fee for the slide out bed extension. Would prefer to sleep North South
Also seems to be a bit more expensive for vaguely similar campers from competitors such as All Terrain Campers.
Seemingly less willing to do any customization at build. (such as extra insulation)
All Terrain Campers:
Supposedly good quality, with somewhat less nice interior (as compared to Four Wheel Camper)
I spoke with someone at All Terrain Campers about a few reasonably intelligent questions I had, and the person I spoke with was very ‘cold’ and not helpful. It put me off a bit.
Overland EX
supposedly better than most other pop up campers in cold and wet - due to walls being made from composite panels without any thermal bridges and the soft sides are 1 inch insulated canvas developed for tents used in the arctic.
However the interior is unbelievably spartan, and also long term support and any warranty repairs are a big concern.
Phoenix pop up camper
could be ordered with extra insulation in the floors, pop up, walls and roof…. and with ”Winter Grade Curtains”.... a heavy rubber backed fabric.
8.5’ Caribou Lite by Outfitter with inside shower.
Advantages:
Very lightweight
Fiberglass exterior would likely thermal bridge a bit less cold into interior (perhaps lead to slightly less condensation)
About $2,500 - $3,500 less for a vaguely similarly equipped pop up trailer compared to FWD Grandby.
Disadvantages:
the indoor shower eats up space even when not using it.
and….
I recently found a forum thread from about 2012 that had various people with very negative comments about Outfitter having poor quality and poor warranty support. (Can’t find it right now)
Perhaps that has changed? Any current info?
Between these manufacturers - what do people think is best quality overall?
Thanks!
Been doing a lot of (various) forum(s) reading…. trying to figure out the best pop up camper.
Needs space for 3 people (us parents and our 12 year old kid)
We like to do 3 to 14 day trips, including areas that dip below freezing at night.
Will custom order a Ford F150 SuperCrew with high cargo capacity ordered, 4x4, with 6.5 foot bed. (so lightweight is a big plus)
No we dont want an F250….. the F150 is much nicer. According to Ford - 4x4 F-150 SuperCrew, 156.8” WB, with Heavy-Duty Payload Package and 18" wheels payload is 2,690 LBS.
Been making spread sheets of costs of pop up campers, to compare prices with our preferred options included.
For better or for worse (?) I do prefer the idea of an aluminum frame. I do understand that thermal bridging is a real thing. I also do know that keeping some ventilation going in cold areas will reduce condensation, for sure.
Would love to get an indoor shower for occasional use.
In no particular order: here are the top contenders - all slide in. (can’t go flatbed for a variety of reasons I wont bore you with)
Any thoughts on all of this?
Four Wheel Camper Grandby
advantages: nice fit and finish, and seemingly good quality (?) and holds value well (?)
The clever optional indoor shower on the Grandby does not take up any room when not in use. It is a curtain and a floor drain. The curtain goes all the way into the floor drain to contain the water.
disadvantages:
to get King North South bed you have to pay $600 extra to get the flush stove and sink (ouch) plus an extra fee for the slide out bed extension. Would prefer to sleep North South
Also seems to be a bit more expensive for vaguely similar campers from competitors such as All Terrain Campers.
Seemingly less willing to do any customization at build. (such as extra insulation)
All Terrain Campers:
Supposedly good quality, with somewhat less nice interior (as compared to Four Wheel Camper)
I spoke with someone at All Terrain Campers about a few reasonably intelligent questions I had, and the person I spoke with was very ‘cold’ and not helpful. It put me off a bit.
Overland EX
supposedly better than most other pop up campers in cold and wet - due to walls being made from composite panels without any thermal bridges and the soft sides are 1 inch insulated canvas developed for tents used in the arctic.
However the interior is unbelievably spartan, and also long term support and any warranty repairs are a big concern.
Phoenix pop up camper
could be ordered with extra insulation in the floors, pop up, walls and roof…. and with ”Winter Grade Curtains”.... a heavy rubber backed fabric.
8.5’ Caribou Lite by Outfitter with inside shower.
Advantages:
Very lightweight
Fiberglass exterior would likely thermal bridge a bit less cold into interior (perhaps lead to slightly less condensation)
About $2,500 - $3,500 less for a vaguely similarly equipped pop up trailer compared to FWD Grandby.
Disadvantages:
the indoor shower eats up space even when not using it.
and….
I recently found a forum thread from about 2012 that had various people with very negative comments about Outfitter having poor quality and poor warranty support. (Can’t find it right now)
Perhaps that has changed? Any current info?
Between these manufacturers - what do people think is best quality overall?
Thanks!
