To Pop Up or not to Pop Up?

[Mack M]

One of the best modifications I've done is to add hydro-assist steering. Besides making turning big tires easy, a side-benefit of hydro-assist is that it is the best steering damper around.

Our camper is around 11'6" tall. It is unaffected by side-winds by and large. Adding hydro-assist is going to be an early mod in all future trucks where possible.

Regarding the topic of this thread, it always surprises me that the market for pop-up campers is as large as it is. For camping for an extended period of time a hard side camper has no downsides and numerous positives as others have mentioned already.

Agreed, though the argument I always hear pertains to the off road limitations of a hard sided camper. Though I (coming from someone who's idea off road is a 1985 4Runner on 35s) feel that any vehicle that can carry even a pop up camper is already limited to off-road by the sheer nature of the vehicle.

 

[Mack M]

Why is this a question then?
IMHO security in a camper is an illusion. Unless you have an armored camper they all are easy to gain entrance with a crowbar or claw.
Get what you need to make your wife and kids feel secure.

Yep, at the end of the day, you are totally right now that I think about it, that pretty much sums it up!

 

[Mack M]

What about a hard side popup like Hiatus? That is the direction I am contemplating. They do have a long wait list if ordered new. I don't know if any are available used.

I've looked at those too, and they seem really innovative and cool, but I wrestle with the idea of leaving it on the truck all the time and resealing the bed each time would get tiresome. If the main goal was off-road with a comfortable place to camp, that would be my #1 choice, but as I'm older now, the main goal is comfort, so I think having a slide in wins.

 

[andy_b]

Agreed, though the argument I always hear pertains to the off road limitations of a hard sided camper. Though I (coming from someone who's idea off road is a 1985 4Runner on 35s) feel that any vehicle that can carry even a pop up camper is already limited to off-road by the sheer nature of the vehicle.

I 100% agree that a hard sided camper is a limitation off road. Based on your initial post, the livability and storage affording by a bigger truck and hard side camper probably provides more value than pure off road performance. Based on your travel aspirations, I don't think that you'll be too disappointed.

A F350 or bigger is what I'd chose vs a Tundra or similar.

 

[Mack M]

I 100% agree that a hard sided camper is a limitation off road. Based on your initial post, the livability and storage affording by a bigger truck and hard side camper probably provides more value than pure off road performance. Based on your travel aspirations, I don't think that you'll be too disappointed.

A F350 or bigger is what I'd chose vs a Tundra or similar.

Yep, I think you’re right.

 

[kmacafee]

Check out Alaskan Campers. Best of both worlds and since they've been building them for 50+ years, there are used ones available.

 

[vintageracer]

Check out Alaskan Campers. Best of both worlds and since they've been building them for 50+ years, there are used ones available.

The Alaskans are HEAVY!

That means bigger truck to haul it.

Maybe not the best solution.

THIS is the best solution I have seen based upon your original question.

Light, short, powerful, very off-road capable, not tall and comfortable at the end of the day.

Enjoy all 25 pages!

Guess who's back!?! Atl-atl's K5 Blazer + Four Wheel Camper "The Crawlin Cabin" documentation thread!

Here we go. I started my search for a K5 Blazer with a Four Wheel Camper almost exactly five years ago when I first came across them and wound up with the FWC Hawk I had in my Dodge Ram 2500. Since then I have remodeled three campers, one in a very substantial way(Tacoma Fleet). A year ago I...

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