Do you have a Camper/RV/trailer/pop-up?

[bellicose]

My wife is really on a kick about getting a pop-up recently. Our undergrad loans are almost paid off and that same money she thinks could be spent now on a new loan . I'd really rather put that money towards other loans to knock them down, but I cannot seem to convince her at the moment. I have her at least looking at used pop-ups. Do any of you guys have experience with those? Would you recommend them, or would you have done things differently? The problem we are having in our area is that soon as one hits the market, it is gone fast.

To make matters worse, she now has it in her head to get a hybrid instead. That's a good $5k+ more than the pop-ups (new) that we have been looking at. I am not super excited to tow anything, having almost no experience and even less confidence. I image towing a pop-up would be wildly easier than a small hybrid trailer. They both seem fun, but I am just very iffy at the moment. Talk me down guys.

Edit: We have 3 kids, so lots of sleeping area is a must. The popups my wife is looking at are the Forest river Rockwood ESP models.

[Cdn_Cuda]

What vehicle are you towing with? Because that is the most important thing to dictate what type of trailer you get.

[bellicose]

Even if I could tow it, I wouldn't want anything big, which is why we are looking at pop-ups and small hybrids. We can tow 3500 on one vehicle and 5000 on the other.

[BrickHaus]

My wife and I have a 2015 R-pod Rp-179. We just made the last payment on it actually.

Its perfect for our needs. Likely above what you want to spend, but its a great space for a camper that weighs under 3000lbs with out the tanks full.

We camp with the two of us, and our dog ( was two dogs).

I cant speak for popups, but camper camping rocks if you are into it we are more state park people, we like to hike, bike, explore, and relax in our space.

Most of these pics are from mid remodel last year as covid ruined our camping plans (campsites have been packed here) .

I can say I have been in a friends nice pop up, and in a hard driving rain, you have a chance to get wet, and pop outs are usually the beds which bothers me.

One thing to consider, is rv loans are weird and long. They offer low intrest, and baloon it out for like 10 years. Though we paid ours off in 3 years.

[bellicose]

That thing looks sick. About the max size I would want to tow. We do have 3 kids though. My wife is looking to at things that are $22k to $27k. I would like to buy used at $5k...

[BrickHaus]

Thanks. We love it. Yes it would be small gor your family, but towing it is a breeze with my 1500 puck up. The dinette was fold out bed at one time, but we gutted it to make a couch. All in all, you would likely out grow it quickly.


Something to consider is an older scamp or casita trailer. They are fiberglass shells and are super light as a result. Tgey typically lack a bathroom which is a no go for me, bur you may find the bunk house space is more valuable for your situation.

[XEMON]

We hate towing an RV here too ... and if you have an RV, you have to get an RV spot (at least here in Cali, and they are twice as much as a tent spot ...)
We have this (picture from the website, not our truck):

https://www.jamesbaroud.com/en/products/

And it is considered a tent ... we love it. My wife road triped half of the US in it ...
But we are now converting an NV2500 into camper ... again, not technically an RV, much shorter (fit in a standard car spot) and doest get wet like a pop-up.

Feel free to ask any questions ...

[Paintslinger16]

As Cdn_Cuda stated figure out what you can tow first, honestly unless you plan on spending a significant amount of weekends camping, it’s a lot of money, for a couple weekends. I grew up with a camper, my dad @ 78 years old still has a huge truck and fifth wheel. I would rather invest in a cottage or camp, they don’t have depreciation like a camper or boat,

[Cdn_Cuda]

There are also places that you can book RVs/trailers through and they set them up for you. You just drive up, enjoy your stay and not have to worry about towing. Even with a nice tow rig there are stressful times towing. And don’t forget you need a place to store the trailer as well!

That said my dad has a 35 foot trailer he tows with a diesel Ram. He had a 2500 and is upgrading to a 3500 whenever the thing shows up. He likes driving and towing things, but most the time the trailer is up at a Holiday Park in our little lot about an hour away. He can take the trailer out any time, but much nicer than having to drive into the big city with the trailer.

[bellicose]

I've look at those sites, and for the price, we could buy a used one or put a down payment on a new one. Storage will be an eyesore, but I have a spot for it. My dad also has a massive trailer and a big ol' truck to tow it. I hate driving the truck, and cannot imagine towing the trailer.

[AnarchicArctic]

My wife and I bought a canned ham trailer for excursions. After moving it to the backyard away from the brook for the winter, we decided to park it eternally and use it as a 3 season guest house. Going the roof top tent route now. The hassles of towing combined with the camp wherever you are utility of the rtt changed our perspective. Rack and tent are setting us back about 5 large.

[bellicose]

How many does your rtt sleep?

[XEMON]

Mine sleep 2 easy (it's just my wife and I) and it's the smallest one they make, fits well on out 4-runner.

I think the biggest one they say 2 adults and 2 children (from memory) ...

[AnarchicArctic]

We’re in for the condor xl from roofsnest. Supposed to sleep 4.