Blythe campsite

[VickieP]

I'm not sure how they've changed through the years, but the one we had when all us kids were little was very easy to get into. The canvas tucked in a slot around the door and could be easily taken back out. But, at that time you really didn't worry much about somebody breaking in or we didn't, maybe because we didn't have any thing of value in there other than food. As far as animals, yes, I think a bear could get ya in there, LOL since I've seen the video's of them climbing into RV windows.

[Forestgal]

To those of you who have had pop-ups, my concern would be safety (either human or animal intruders). Did you have any concerns about that? How easy/hard are they to set up/take down for one person? Could it be pulled by a small wagon? Just curious...

Barbie

Barbie, if a bear wanted to get into any kind of container there would be very little that could stop it. I've seen car doors peeled like bananas in Yosemite because a bear wanted a candy bar wrapper left on the floor. When I camped in bear territory with my pop-up I used the bear boxes for anything that didn't fit in the fridge, including deodorant and lotion.

Bears are opportunists. They'll go for what they can see first because it's easy. Smell comes next because they have to hunt for it. In parks where there are bear issues the rangers usually advise that everything be put out of sight and nothing left out that has any kind of smell.

In terms of what can pull a pop-up, it all depends on the trailer. There are some that weigh less than 2000# and can be pulled by a lightweight SUV, and then there are some that almost need a V8 engine. It all depends on what you've got. As the gals here have mentioned before, it's not what you can pull, it's whether you can stop easily. You don't want to have so much weight behind you that you can't stop easily.

Pop-ups have many, many advantages. They take a bit more to set up, but when you get a routine down you can often do it in less time than people with hard-sided travel trailers. And you'll forever hear the argument that sleeping in a pop-up is as close to being "in nature" as you can get without sleeping in a tent on the ground. I loved my pop-up, but I wanted to be able to stop somewhere and sleep without having to unhitch and pop the thing up.

If you're considering one, think seriously about how you'll use it before buying. They're awesome rigs and work well for many people in many situations.

Laura

[Cedar518]

I also have to weigh in on the side of popups. I have owned two. Both were great rigs and the only reason I went for TTs was because I wanted a bathroom inside. Some popups have them now. I loved listening to the loons on the lake where i camped. The breeze blowing through was wonderful. I had a smaller one and a larger one. I used electric brakes with the larger one. I pulled the first one with a small car, the second one with a Ford Escape. Setup was not at all difficult. it might have not been the 30 seconds that it took the Chalet but it sure wasn't more than five minutes. I had all the systems, water on board, furnace, cook top, refrigerator. I also had plenty of storage in the bigger one with the white drawer units. I really wished I'd kept the bigger unit and not traded for the Chalet. The Chalet had no where as much room.

[Marslet]

Let me weigh in here also. Like a lot of the ladies, we started in tents and went up from there. I have a TT now, and the only way I will ever get an A or C is if I win the lottery.
My pop up was very easy to put up, nothing inside got wet if you had to do it in the rain because everything was contained within the walls. My top was hard and the sides were canvas. It was a Palamino. You cranked the top up. Had air, heater, stove, sink, etc. No potty, but had portable potty from Sears that worked fine. Not gonna find me walking around outside looking for the potty in a dark, dark campground. The key to putting up a pop up is coordination. You and Kelly would have to do the same thing at the same time except at opposite sides of the camper. This will get really quick after practice, sort of like your tent putting up skills. We got so good that we could put it up and be in it within 3 to 4 minutes. Not too shabby. Of course, with my TT, I can have her backed in, unhooked, leveled, and equalizers out within 5 minutes or less. You get a good partner and practice. I remember taking it in for something that was wrong with the truck. Man asked me if I could possibly get the trailer unhooked so they could take the truck into the bay. He went to get help and when he came right back, TT was unhooked and truck was waiting at bay door. He burst out laughing and said, "I see this ain't your first rodeo" This was the first time I heard that expression and it has stuck with me since.
I personally don't want to have to pull a toad, hense, the purchase of a travel trailer. And after driving a truck, I know you won't have any problem with backing one in, which is the one thing that scares a lot of people. Again, practice makes perfect. When teaching Kelly, find empty lot and have her practice with the stripes on the ground.

[Echo]

Let me weigh in here also. Like a lot of the ladies, we started in tents and went up from there. I have a TT now, and the only way I will ever get an A or C is if I win the lottery.
The key to putting up a pop up is coordination. You and Kelly would have to do the same thing at the same time except at opposite sides of the camper. This will get really quick after practice, sort of like your tent putting up skills. We got so good that we could put it up and be in it within 3 to 4 minutes. Not too shabby.
I personally don't want to have to pull a toad, hense, the purchase of a travel trailer. And after driving a truck, I know you won't have any problem with backing one in, which is the one thing that scares a lot of people. Again, practice makes perfect. When teaching Kelly, find empty lot and have her practice with the stripes on the ground.

Well for sure we wont be able to buy new! As you say we would have to win the lottery! But the prices on used TT's and some of the older C's are more manageable tho. Just as long as we don't get someone elses headache or junk. That's the one thing that really worries me.

The one couple I and the X went camping with in a pop-up had set up down to a science. Went camping for a week with them up to Niagara Falls. Offered to help set up. Was told thanks but no thanks as we would only be in the way. Together they were fast!!! But to this day 29yrs later Gary still tells his favorite camping story from that trip. We spent the first day doing more walking than you can shake a stick at. OMG, my legs and feet were so sore. When we all went to bed that night I asked my then hubby to please rub my feet. Ahhhhhh it felt so good! Told him where to rub and what not. Needless to say Gary and Cathy thought we were doing something else! When we felt the rocking of the camper we grinned and chuckled to ourselves and went to sleep. Next morning Gary made some comment about the rocking and that we had started it. I replied that yeah I had talked hubby into rubbing my feet as they felt like they were dying. Gary and Cathy took one look at our faces and them knowing that I love my feet rubbed knew the truth. OMG!! Cathy was so embarrassed that she went directly into the camper. In the 34yrs or so of knowing this couple now, it is the ONLY time I have ever seen Gary get red in the face and embarrassed. He got choking and laughing explaining what they had thought we were doing. Gary figured that 'HEY' it's our camper and if they can do that so can we. Any time they go camping and there's anyone new at the campfire you can just bet that Gary will tell that story. And he will tell all assembled that the X and I have managed the impossible as it's the only time in his life he has ever been embarrassed. Most excellent memory and still brings a grin to my face!!!

[Pooker]

Feet massage, huh? Yeah - we'll buy that.

To clear up something: There are two totally different types of "pop-ups" here. When I said a Hi-Lo I was thinking of the brand (there's also two others, but the names escape me right now). They are hard sided - metal or fiberglass - and the top half comes down over the bottom half for traveling. When its "up" it is like a TT and has all the amenities including bathroom and closet. Down it's a cinch to tow and it can be set up in minutes because the cranking mechanism is electric (battery). I suppose you can also crank it up, but who would want to unless it was an emergency and the battery failed? I liked this option as the best of all worlds and, as I said, had friends with one that was fabulous. Their expenses to attend the Navy reunions where we met up were more than half what our expenses in a large "A" were. They towed theirs with a Caravan type van (Dodge or Plymouth - isn't important) and I'm thinking an 8 cylinder(?)

The other type that most of you are thinking of is the canvas sided "tent trailer". The top is usually hard and the sides canvas with beds that slide out each end (some). There used to be some companies that also made hard sides for these. The newer models also have bathrooms and closets and you can usually open up whole sides for cross ventilation. Believe it or not, we towed ours with a sporty Javelin and cars behind us wouldn't be able to see the tow car so we got some interesting stares as they passed us. Ours slept 8, but like all sleeps whatever claims that would be half children. Sleeping like a snail on a dinette bed isn't an adult's dream.

As Laura said about the bears - be careful and obey the rangers. Guess I never camped in very active bear country because 90% of the time you are not going to have to worry about that!

Pooker

[Bethers]

One comment on pop-ups and bears - there are many parks in bear country that do not allow anything but hardsided in - which is why I suggested chalet or small tt - they have the small tt now that expand, also. Popups are great - but I think about the places I couldn't take one - of course you couldn't tent camp in those places either. Same with some places that require you to have a potty inside - as they don't have facilities - but some pop-ups do have those. Lots to think about. Me, I'd get something and wear ear plugs if necessary - to have a bed and a cooking surface and a potty - but that's just me -

As to 2 engines - an engine can last a long time, or not - same as anything else. Course, if you take care of it - chances are it'll last longer. TT doesn't have an engine, but still has lots that will start going wrong also - including all the hitch gizmos - costing Jean more than she'd like right now.

[SeeyaGal]

Jean still thinking of switching to a C?
I remember in Alaska, alot of campgrounds would not allow soft sides because of Bears and I have seen a bear crawl through a open window and tear up the shades bad snooping around looking for goodies. I'd be nervous with Coyotees and rattle snakes around too!

[Echo]

Snowball and Larry were telling Kelly and I about the Sidewinder that they saw in the bush outside the door of their 5'er last year. I'm not to freaky about snakes and don't figure the coyotes would be much interested in us in the tents and love hearing them. But Bears? Now that's a whole different thing. Sure don't like the idea of a bear coming to sniff around. Have went tent camping a couple different times and took my rifle with me for just in case!!! So nope ain't going tent camping in bear country.

[snowball]

we camphosted this past summer and will do so this coming summer and it was in bear country we just remind people including campers to use wisdom no food or anything with a odor in the tents not to leave anything out and to use wisdom and not to stay awake all night worrying about it
can't leave anything out on the tables either that will attract bears into the campsite when told some campers about the no odors in the tent she said what do I do with the teenage sons?
You will be ok with what ever you decide to do
sheila