Pros and cons- Pop up tent trailers

[Water Romper]

Hey gang, What's your take on pop up tent trailers?
Wife and I are DONE with tent camping, I am never sleeping on the ground again.
Thinking of going the tent trailer route, want an older one so taking it "off the grid" and dragging it to remote places won't bother me much if it gets a bit dinged up. We like camping in inclement weather too., light rain is perfect. We are 2 hours from the Saw Tooth mountains (outside of Boise, ID) and camping in these parts is like Havasu is to boating- just awesome!
This one below is $2300.00 and according to the owner, no leaks, everything works supposed to be in good shape.
We like the small, easy to trailer option as opposed to a typical RV trailer and it will be cheaper to store at the storage facility...
Any of you guys go this route? pros, cons etc? BTW- no kids, no pets. Just the two of us. Would pull it with my GMC Sierra 1500 Z71 4x4.
Thanks

 

[dirtslinger2]

Had a friend with one, they absolutely loved it. They eventually had 2 kids and 2 dogs, so they had to move on.

I'll bet you could do a little lift or swap the axel under the spring and it would be useful for a little offroad towing.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Check the zippers and canvas for stitching issues. Just like a boat, they will rot. Stick your head under and look at the condition of the flooring, rot as well as being twisted or "popped" off the bracing. Make sure the end slides and pop out slide back in nicely, and aren't misaligned. The ones with an AC unit tend to have issues, the roof structures never seem sturdy enough.

For 2300, that one looks like a real good deal if it's as nice as it looks.

 

[Orange Juice]

Hey gang, What's your take on pop up tent trailers?
Wife and I are DONE with tent camping, I am never sleeping on the ground again.
Thinking of going the tent trailer route, want an older one so taking it "off the grid" and dragging it to remote places won't bother me much if it gets a bit dinged up. We like camping in inclement weather too., light rain is perfect. We are 2 hours from the Saw Tooth mountains (outside of Boise, ID) and camping in these parts is like Havasu is to boating- just awesome!
This one below is $2300.00 and according to the owner, no leaks, everything works supposed to be in good shape.
We like the small, easy to trailer option as opposed to a typical RV trailer and it will be cheaper to store at the storage facility...
Any of you guys go this route? pros, cons etc? BTW- no kids, no pets. Just the two of us. Would pull it with my GMC Sierra 1500 Z71 4x4.
Thanks



View attachment 1273517

I gave up tent camping too. Hotels only for me.

 

[Travmon]

You might look at A-Liner as well , might be better in inclimate weather..kinda sets up quick and voila , you have a chalet . and you dont have that concstant mildew canvas smell..

 

[Xtrmwakeboarder]

Off-road you say…

Patriot Campers USA - Patriot Campers

Patriot Campers USA is located in Las Vegas, Nevada. View current stock and enquire on a Patriot Camper today

patriotcampers.com.au

I’ve been wanting one too, but the lack of A/C in most of them keeps me away. The A-liners look pretty cool

 

[SoCalDave]

Off-road you say…

Patriot Campers USA - Patriot Campers

Patriot Campers USA is located in Las Vegas, Nevada. View current stock and enquire on a Patriot Camper today

patriotcampers.com.au

I’ve been wanting one too, but the lack of A/C in most of them keeps me away. The A-liners look pretty cool

He did say looking at used $2,300...just sayin.

 

[zhandfull]

I have the cool diesel pusher. And I keep looking at these $2k pop ups to tow behind the Jeep. Don’t think I would ever get the wife to go along. But it would be perfect for the High Sierra Fly In out in the middle of no where on a dry lake bed.

 

[rivermobster]

Tires.

Don't plan on towing too fast with those tiny little tires. Id get new ones just to be safe and repack the bearings as well.

Take lots of leveling blocks with you too.

Have fun!

 

[Xtrmwakeboarder]

He did say looking at used $2,300...just sayin.

Hence the wink face.

 

[Backlash]

What about a truck camper?? Nothing to tow, still a little more comfortable than a tent and you can go anywhere the truck will go. Just my .02.

 

[Water Romper]

What about a truck camper?? Nothing to tow, still a little more comfortable than a tent and you can go anywhere the truck will go. Just my .02.

Thought about this...but we want to drop the trailer and run around and not move the camp site with us.

 

[endobear]

Had a few friends with them. Did a bunch of boys trips dirt biking in a couple different styles. The ones with the slide out dinning room were the best.
They can get loud inside in the wind. And sandy. Can also be difficult to get them warm if you camping in 40 or below Temps.
No ac in the ones I've been in.
Can't use them in some national parks at certain times do to bears being able to easily get in.

 

[AzMandella]

Thought about this...but we want to drop the trailer and run around and not move the camp site with us.

Get one with remote jacks . I have a Lance with remote jacks . Takes 15 to 20 min to take it off and lower to the ground and level . Take longer to set up the pop up . Then you don't have to climb way up to get in and out .

 

[Dalton]

grew up with one, some great memories but they're a pain, taking them down, setting them up, had to close it up wet a few times. if its just 2 people i would do something like a "Scamp" brand trailer and not deal with having to crank it up and down.

 

[PDQH2O]

Had a Rockwood tent trailer years ago for my family of 4. Will never again own anything Rockwood. Got a nice scar as a souvenir from the time the top collapsed on me even though the safety latches were set. The little airplane wheels kept cracking around the bolt pattern. the last time the wheel broke completely and went bouncing down the 405 at rush hour. Finally learned my lesson.

 

[Badchoices03]

My really good friend used to just tent camp cause "trailer camping isn't camping"....his wife was tired of tenting it so they decided to give a tent trailer a try, I tried my best to talk him out of it, said just buy a small travel trailer, its so much easier....he refused because he said he wasnt going to like camping in a trailer and it was just to satisfy his wife...he bought a fairly new tent trailer...I watched them get in so many arguments putting the thing up and taking it down...they struggled in a windstorm we had once, struggled in the heat at the river,...after about 10 trips in that thing they were done with it...they sold it and got a small travel trailer like I originally suggested, and are sooo much happier now...

 

[monkeyswrench]

There are a lot of small trailers on the market now. They have better insulation, and also have the advantage of being able to get into and out of without having to reconfigure. Handy for getting lunch on long trips, or just pulling over when tired.

 

[Dana757]

I’m kicking around the idea of selling this if you want an off road trailer. Has an 23Zero tent and Annex room not shown. Pull out kitchen, solar, water pump ect. It does very well in the dirt.
I bought a 4x4 van so doubt I’ll use this much.

 

[Desert Whaler]

I used one in Alaska a few times during the summer. Pretty cool actually. Especially to get away from the mosquitos.
You could use it for a season & see if you like it, then sell it if it's not to your liking.
One cool thing is that there is always people selling them and buying them, so for $2.300.00 it's not a huge investment.

 

[monkeyswrench]

I’m kicking around the idea of selling this if you want an off road trailer. Has an 23Zero tent and Annex room not shown. Pull out kitchen, solar, water pump ect. It does very well in the dirt.
I bought a 4x4 van so doubt I’ll use this much.
View attachment 1273963 View attachment 1273962

You got a 4x4 van?! Very cool

 

[Flying_Lavey]

When I was growing up our family's first RV was an old Apache hard-side Pop-up (same orientation and function as a tent trailer, just with fiberglass sides). I remember my dad CONSTANTLY having to fix side panels and windows. We took that thing everywhere though. To the point that I'm pretty sure whenever I can afford to get a RV, its likely going to be a tent or hybrid trailer (don't have anymore toys to put inside to go to the desert or anything anyways).

 

[renodaytona]

Jumping Jack Trailers - New & Used Trailers, Service, Financing, and Parts in Salt Lake City, UT, near Bountiful and Murray

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These are out of Salt Lake and are pretty cool. Been thinking about one of these for hunting instead of the wall tent.

 

[Water Romper]

Great responses and lots to think about. I understand wind and water, let alone bears are a huge concern. Remember, we have been "tent camping" for 30 years so anything would be an improvement.
"R Pods" are big in these parts and may also be an option, but I am looking at trailers for a mere 2000 to 2500 bucks, basically a glorified tent and get off the ground.
If I do get the pop up tent, it will have the 3rd dining pop out area, it offers a bit more room...as for setting up and taking down, anyone who tent camps knows how much "fun" it is to set up camp...its a pain. Cranking up a tent trailer and popping out the sides is not any harder. I do think as Monkeywrench stated- having a "hard sided" trailer has its benefits like just pulling over and having lunch etc. and not deal with the popping up and taking down the trailer.
Lots to think about.

 

[Ziggy]

Walked by a pop up trailer this morning that had hard sides. Looked something like this.

 

[Gonefishin5555]

I've owned 3 over the years but when I had a family of 5 I had a 25' travel trailer. The first thing is they are super flimsy and there is not much space to store stuff so the first thing is you want one with a front storage compartment. They make models that are made to go off the grid the one pictured I doubt you would want to go down a dirt road with it. Just like boats when you use it a lot a bunch of little stuff will break and inevitably you will put it away wet and you will get mold also the canvas will snag and rip it happens all the time. The fridge is worthless. I like the ones that the stove is mounted outside. The shower/porta potti is kinda worthless and we used it for storage area. The biggest advantages is you can store it in your garage and I like it cause it gives you more of a camping experience. The last one i had heated mattresses which was nice with hookups. My next one I am going to buy one with "High Walls" they have more room and bigger fridge and a microwave. Those units used start around 5K and up. The other thing is its a pita to set up especially if you arrive in the dark and my kids don't help so I would do it myself.