My Taco Phoenix Pop Up Camper

[Camelfilter]

I've read through this entire thread over a couple shifts at work.

Thank you very much for sharing your experience mytaco, very much appreciated. I might buy a bigger camper someday/upgrade from my flippac as need be.

Your input has been firmly planted in my mind as a reminder to do as much research as possible (amongst other things).

-Please do write about your travels as well!

 

[Victoria Palmer]

Just an update on our issues with our Phoenix: the owner of a different camper company reached out to me on how to get the roof to stop leaking and it seems to have worked. We also applied tent sealer around all the window seams so now the only water we have coming in now is where the tent-material meets the camper and that only happens in really heavy rain. I would think it's similar in any pop-up camper. We are still seeing quite a bit of water where the vinyl is ripped on one window but I think if we can find vinyl-repair gel, as suggested to us by Phoenix, that should solve that problem as well. If anyone wants to know how to fix the roof leaking, let me know!

 

[Rbertalotto]

Victoria,

I think many of us would be interested in the roof leak solution. Please post it here.

Thanks!

 

[TheSweatyButcher]

MYTACO whats is the height of the camper(closed) on your truck? I'm wanting to see if a tacoma with popup camper would fit in my garage.

 

[MYTACO]

Butcher, I don't think it will fit in a garage unless you have high doors (more than 8'). My TC is currently of my truck as I was performing the annual maintenance. From the bottom of the TC (that would sit on the bed) to the top of the roof is 56". That does not include the extra height for the roof rack, the two vents, and the wiring hub for the solar panel. I would add another 4" there.

When I was looking at Phoenix for my build I did see a rig that was built to go in a standard garage. Although I am not certain, I would imagine that the eliminated the under the bed storage and made the roof gap to counter distance narrower. Right now I have about 6" when closed.

 

[MYTACO]

Here are some pics that might help with the height determination.

 

[MYTACO]

Also having an issue with the laminate bubbling. This is apparently normal. I don't remember it being this way before. I am very anal when it
come to keeping the Truck and TC clean. Kills me that they sit outside.

The diagonal bubbles appear to be new. Rob explained that is because it is "soft glued." Feels like it's coming apart. Will watch as I don't know of a fix.

 

[MYTACO]

Forgot to mention, the above photos show the camper lowered on the happijacks. As far down as they will go for some reason.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

I love the fact that it matches the truck!

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Also having an issue with the laminate bubbling. This is apparently normal. I don't remember it being this way before. I am very anal when it
come to keeping the Truck and TC clean. Kills me that they sit outside.

The diagonal bubbles appear to be new. Rob explained that is because it is "soft glued." Feels like it's coming apart. Will watch as I don't know of a fix.

I asked a RV repair shop about "soft glued" paneling, as I have some on laminate issues on an old TC. They were not aware of "soft glue", and said that most often the cause is water intrusion. That is the case on my Caribou.

 

[MINO]

My Phoenix is doing the same thing. No water intrusion, but I believe the summer heat we've had loosened the glue.

 

[goodtimes]

MYTACO whats is the height of the camper(closed) on your truck? I'm wanting to see if a tacoma with popup camper would fit in my garage.

Every truck/camper combination will be different. The most reliable way to figure it out would be to call the manufacturer of the camper you're looking at & ask what the overall height (when closed) is, then add that to your bed height. Suspension compression when loaded will give you a bit extra clearance. (hows that for an unsolicited non-answer??? :elkgrin

With an 8' garage door (which means 9+' ceiling in the garage), my FWC on a factory height Dodge 3/4 ton will fit. Barely.

Also keep in mind that most garage door openers don't fully open the garage door - they stop a couple inches short. Some openers have kits available to fully open the door (usually involves a longer chain or belt, & an extra piece of guide track for the chain/belt). If you're close, it might be enough to get you in.

 

[Beosuun]

Every truck/camper combination will be different. The most reliable way to figure it out would be to call the manufacturer of the camper you're looking at & ask what the overall height (when closed) is, then add that to your bed height. Suspension compression when loaded will give you a bit extra clearance. (hows that for an unsolicited non-answer??? :elkgrin

With an 8' garage door (which means 9+' ceiling in the garage), my FWC on a factory height Dodge 3/4 ton will fit. Barely.

Also keep in mind that most garage door openers don't fully open the garage door - they stop a couple inches short. Some openers have kits available to fully open the door (usually involves a longer chain or belt, & an extra piece of guide track for the chain/belt). If you're close, it might be enough to get you in.

X2. My 96" garage door has a potential height of 97" if the top trim and rubber strip is removed and adjusted to pull the door further back a few inches.

 

[GlennZ]

I have 96" garage door also, 04 FWC Grandby on 03 F150. Camper & truck would fit the opening, but the hardware on the Door & the Door hung to low. We bought track for 9ft. door to replace the 8' track & hardware. Had 10' ceiling, it works now, but maybe 1.5" to spare, roof rack would never work.

 

[bob91yj]

If the "soft glue" answer is all it takes, I'm not going to worry about the wrinkle in the aluminum skin that I noticed after putting entirely too much weight on the side of my camper for a Baja 1000 chase trip! I removed the couch cushions and packed tools/parts/fluids etc in tubs and stored them on that side of the camper. I noticed a wrinkle in the aluminum skin on the back wall after that trip. My situation was abuse/lesson learned...but I have a 15 year old, used, wood framed camper!

Keep an eye on the sidewalls sagging for what ever reason. Not sure what constant you would use to measure it.

It's an apples and oranges thing comparing campers, I've got no dog in this fight, but I was this close > < to pulling the trigger on a new camper. This thread makes me so happy that I decided to stay content with the camper that I have, use it till it is no longer functional, or no longer meets my needs.