Found our popup! So many questions!

[Nursedoe]

Thanks so much I pretty much have all the usual camping stuff from a lifetime of tent camping. It is the popup options that are overwhelming. I think amazon is where I find all the leveling stuff? I don’t see the wheel leveling things things as standard equipment which makes no sense to me if they are necessary. Since we are picking up in Portland, Oregon, our first day will be camping and want to make sure we have everything we need before we get there. Bal leveler seems to sold out on amazon. Thanks for the help. We are writing everything down.

 

[Nursedoe]

Congratulations on the new pop-up! I'm in Portland too. Where are you purchasing it from, which dealer are you using? I have bought 2 pop-ups from this area & have found on both times that the dealer has supplied a thank-you box, which had basic/starter items, chocks, regulator, hose, chemicals. That's a long drive to pick up your rig, are you planning on camping in the area, before you head back?
Definitely watch lots of YouTube videos, you can learn so much from those.

 

[Nursedoe]

We got it from Apache after calling the manufacturer trying to find out how to find one. They are the only ones in the west. Apache is not offering one extra thing. The only dealer that doesn’t offer ANYTHING. The others all offer thousands trails etc. We want the trailer so are sucking it up in this sellers market. Doubt we will be repeat customers there.
My adult son lives in Vancouver WA and wants to go mushroom hunting in Astoria. Fort Steven sound good for a trial run while we are learning After that my kids prefer dispersed camping Do you have any suggestions?

 

[Nursedoe]

Our pick up day is October 1st in Portland Oregon. We are in the high desert of Southern California. The extras are going to add up!
-The brake controller is 240!
-The salesman talked me out of the lift kit and bigger tires until I actually see if I need them.
-He said something about a battery and I wasn’t sure if that is another extra thing.
- we decided against a/c on the roof b/c it’s another place to leak.

Any other options anyone think are necessary? I mean that screen in awning looks cool. I don’t want to spend so much that we don’t have money for camp fees.

What do you wish you added in or what do you plan on adding

 

[Nursedoe]

I got the popup for my soon to be 87 year old active mother. It will mostly be the two of us and my big Rhodisian Ridgeback. I was thinking of making a sort of male appearing mannequin at the dinette to throw a big shadow to make it appear there is a big guy there I think I read here to put ARA stickers or hunting stickers on it. My dog is great protection but we will be looking for security things too. So much to figure out in the next few weeks

 

[Tonya Harding]

Might pick up some cheap men's sneakers to set near the door etc., mannequin is gonna take up a crap load of room; a can of hi pressure bee spray kept w/ you in the camper may help you feel safer, can be kept in the vehicle as you travel as well...think y'all will be fine...

 

[CajunMan]

My friend got that exact same model. His only complaint is the storage. Otherwise he's very happy with it and goes out often. The heated mattresses are great in the winter!

 

[Steveo4090]

His only complaint is the storage

That's about 99% of camper owners complaint

 

[jonkquil]

We got it from Apache after calling the manufacturer trying to find out how to find one. They are the only ones in the west. Apache is not offering one extra thing. The only dealer that doesn’t offer ANYTHING. The others all offer thousands trails etc. We want the trailer so are sucking it up in this sellers market. Doubt we will be repeat customers there.
My adult son lives in Vancouver WA and wants to go mushroom hunting in Astoria. Fort Steven sound good for a trial run while we are learning After that my kids prefer dispersed camping Do you have any suggestions?

Ah yes Apache, I used to go there to have my wheel bearings repacked, until I found somewhere closer to my home. They also repaired my bumper after I was rear ended last year and they didn't do a very good job! I think they are the biggest dealer in this area and like you say, it's a sellers market, so they are probably calling the shots!!
Fort Stevens should be an excellent place for a trial run. From what I can remember the sites are really flat & level, which I find getting our pop-up level the most stressful part. It has electric hook ups so you could run a heater as I'm sure it will be chilly here by October. I have never dispersed camped, so I can't help you there with suggestions, sorry.
Important items you might need to start with:-
Chocks - to secure wheels in place
Flat boards/blocks - 2 to 3 pieces of flat wood to put under tires for levelling
White hose - To hook up water
Hose regulator (attached to white hose) - to help reduce water pressure - IMPORTANT
Basic Tool Kit
Inside Door Mat - might be raining by October, it help is you have something on the floor to step onto

 

[Dingit]

You don't need a fake man. You have a real dog! And you don't need stickers. If someone is stalking you to see if they want to come after you, they'll know who is in your party. (And they will have seen the dog.)

Don't be worried.

 

[CajunMan]

That's about 99% of camper owners complaint

I have the smaller version and I have a lot more storage

 

[Nursedoe]

You don't need a fake man. You have a real dog! And you don't need stickers. If someone is stalking you to see if they want to come after you, they'll know who is in your party. (And they will have seen the dog.)

Don't be worried.

 

[BillyMc]

Okay the roof AC rarely leak and portables aren't very efficient plus occupy valuable floor or counter space. You can also get heat with a roof AC, but I'm not impressed with our heat. The AC does impress me. Had one trip that had temps in the 100 degree range with humidity hovering around 90% in the afternoons. After lunch we were forced inside for indoor games, TV, or naps and the AC kept we cool. We didn't come back out until the sun started to set.
We love our screened in awning area, but you can probably find it cheaper with a little web surfing. The screen room is one piece that zips on is is kind of heavy.
Pressure regulator is a must, as is a water filter. Most use the disposable inline filters. You can buy them separate or as a kit. I put the regulator directly on the campsite water connection to protect my hose and filter as well.
Some say a surge protection is a must, but I have never had one. If you live or camp in areas that have overtasked power grids and prone to power issues a surge protector may be in order.
There are tons of leveling options, a large number of people like a BAL leveler for the low side and chocks for the high side. You can get by fine with some cut up 5/4" treated decking cut up. include pieces for under tongue jack and the stabilizers in soft dirt.

 

[BillyMc]

I think I read here to put ARA stickers or hunting stickers on it.

Could backfire, thief may think you have valuable things like guns and rob you as soon as you go to the bathhouse.

 

[Dan Wilson]

We have had trips that would have been ruined if it weren't for the AC, on the other hand if I were to add it all up, we used the furnace on more days than the AC. Where you live helps make the decision. My experience with California weather is confined to the time I spent at Ft. Ord and how we froze at night out in the field.

 

[Steveo4090]

My wife is a high school teacher so she has summers off. Therefore, we camp mostly in the summer and I wouldn't buy a camper without a roof AC unit. In fact when we got our pop up, that was my one requirement. Without it i was happy staying in a tent.
A portable AC unit would take up too much room for us having 5 people and a dog that's bigger than my kids. I could see it working for 2 people that only camped in the summer occasionally and in a cooler climate like the northeast.