What would your perfect Pop Up be?

[Lug_Nut]

My perfect pop-up is yours. Please tow it for me, set it up for me, dump the tanks for me, dry it and fold it for me and tow it to my next stop. That'll be perfect.
They're all compromises to some extent. Making any one aspect 'perfect' necessarily diminishes another one or more aspect. We each have to rank our own desires as to degree of criticality to determine which, if any, come close enough to our own impression of ideal.
And that present ranking is not the same as it was 40 years ago when I started in this world of woven fabric. I don't have any false hopes that it won't continually change as I continually change.

 

[firepit]

First thing i would want would be quality manufacturing like my old Coleman Columbia.
With my current pop up...I could do away with stove...sink and fridge and have more storage there.
Bonus: With no sink i would not need a water tank and pump eating up storage in one side of my kitchen dinette.
If the camper was older i would tear into it, But it's fairly new and i probably wont have it much longer so i have to think about future buyers.

 

[Dingit]

Definitely popup truck camper...with a front dinette (like an Alaskan) instead of the standard side dinette. But still with soft sides. Alaskans are gorgeous and cool but too much work.

 

[LadyEarp]

If there was something you could add to a Pop up design or something you would change, what would it be?

Me, I’d want a Hi Wall with a slide out/fold up outdoor kitchen with gas cooktop, sink, drawers and cabinets. This slides out from inside a bench in the trailer and is paired with another slide out which fills out the back side of the first slide. with cabinetry for all dry goods and ice chest for drinks. (This slide is plain, sits outside over bumper, full open counter and closes in 2 seconds for night close up (bear country) good surface for portable bbq or blackstone all central to sink and gas cooktop..
the 3 way fridge within reach just inside the cabin door, slide out love seat and fold up washroom inside (toilet only with high efficiency fan) and outside shower setup with detachable enclosure sharing the same wall as the interior washroom.

No interior kitchen except coffee counter/bar area over fridge. Pop up TV opposite loveseat slide for the odd rainy day escape.

No ABS roof. Full, detachable rack for a 14’ tin boat or canoes/kayaks that does not bear weight on the roof. Led lighting throughout inside and out.

Dual awnings (the other covers the shower and allows slide windows to be wide open down during hard rain)

Not sure if it’s doable in design or towabilty without going to the old Jayco twin axle Pup size…remember that one?

Anyway, that’s my dream list if it could be done (I’m sure it could)

Considering my current Pop Up is my first Pop up...I actually like it. But....
I would like easier to see through windows, a completely insulated floor, a door that actually locks (and can't be picked or jiggled open), the hard sides can be taller cuz man, who decided they should be so short!, A wider sink, a more solid ceiling so I can actually attach things up there, Like a hanging shelf or something similar. And an easier way to crank the Puppy open! Not a fan of needing brute strength to help me with that issue!
Other than that, I'm a very happy camper.
Still out in the woods by the way. I'm staying nice and cozy. Whoever invented the Mr. Heater Big Buddy should win an award for greatest invention EVER.

 

[LadyEarp]

I was actually wondering the other day how taller than me people are able to use a Pop Up comfortably. I'm 5'7" and my Pop up is perfect height for me. It's a good thing I haven't invited my brother to come along with me. He's 6'5".

I just wish there was a conventional dinette that would accommodate a 6-2" individual when made up as a bed. The U-dinettes always make the guy in the slide climb over the guy in the dinette, so that's o

 

[davido]

Perfect, for me?

Take my Rockwood Premier 2516G (Utah floorplan) and make the following changes:

• The sofa should be forward, where the toilet/shower is, not aft. Where it's currently situated it faces the kitchen. It should face a cabinet so that we can set up a laptop to watch TV on when camping with full hookups.
• The freshwater tank should be 30 gallons, not 20. Yes, I'm aware that if it were 30 I would be saying it should be 50.
• The kitchen sink drain and shower drain should be routed together.
• The sink should be deeper. There's two inches of unused space under it. So why isn't it two inches deeper?
• The suspension should be 1" to 1.5" higher. Yes, I'm aware that there are upgrades possible with Dexter axles, and will probably do that.
• There should be a graywater storage tank slung under the trailer. A 15-gallon graywater tank would be fantastic. It could be drained into portable tanks if necessary, or just left open to drain into sewer hookups.

Things I've added to mine that it should have come with:

• Dual propane
• Dual battery
• 100w solar
• Two cig adapters
• A USBC charger
• A nice 2-way GMRS radio instead of an AM/FM/CD stereo
• A fridge vent fan
• Brackets for a weight distribution hitch (because most moderate tow vehicles shouldn't be towing a 480 pound tongue weight with a load-carrying hitch).
• A bike rack
• Air conditioning

 

[Briorick]

I love my Flagstaff HW29SC.

The couple changes I would make to IT would be to have an Outdoor Fridge like the 2716F has for convenience when packing and readying for a trip. I know the Sister Rockwood HW27KS has the fridge just inside the door. NICE, but no Sofa.

The Sofa would be split, with platform in the middle, to allow usage as a step instead of walking atop the cushions to get into the King bed.

And, of course the toilet area could be better re-designed, possibly a real style toilet, to accomodate BIG feet while standing.

That's it!

Other than that........... it's perfect!

 

[Dingit]

Tall people should try out a highwall model. I can barely reach the ceiling in mine. Or they should try the popup truck campers. I can barely reach the ceiling in mine.

 

[Briorick]

Tall people should try out a highwall model. I can barely reach the ceiling in mine. Or they should try the popup truck campers. I can barely reach the ceiling in mine.

Totally agreed! The HW interior, especially the ceiling height, is definitely designed for Taller People. It's the Pop Up on Steroids, as I call it. LOL. I am 6'2 and when standing inside, my headroom is never a problem. Being inside is like being in a small Studio Apt.

Love it!

 

[DanR]

I’m 6’2” and don’t have an issue with head clearance in a standard camper. My issue is counter height.

 

[Briorick]

I’m 6’2” and don’t have an issue with head clearance in a standard camper. My issue is counter height.

Standard counter height in a HW is definitely one of the best perks of them all. Just like being at home........and great for us taller people.

 

[Hilldweller]

I am going to be wierd for this group, and ask for some difficult ot accomplish things, but since you asked. For ME the perfect popup camper would be.

#1. A truck camper. For the agility off road, and less to worry about on road. You are effectively managing cargo in the bed of the truck instead of a separate vehicle behind you.
#2. Lightweight. Under 1K lbs dry so it would work well with a 1/2 ton pickup. Preferrably some sort of insulating and rot proof composite structure with aluminum framing / reinforcement.
#3. King size memory foam, or other ultra comfortable bed in the overcab that can handle sustantial weight.
#4. 12V compressor fridge option. 3 ways are nice, but tend to eat up a lot of space for their usable volume.
#5. Jacknife couch and a sliding free standing table. NO DINETTE.
#6. Insulating canvas panels by default. None of this extra charge option foolishness. You are either camping when it is too hot, or too cold.
#7. Full height entry door. I know the 2/3 doors that are common on pop up truck campers allow the top end of the back of the camper to be better braced, Put some good engineers to the task and see what they come up with.
#8. 12V AC like the Dometic RTX2000.
#9. Proper furnace.
#10. Proper stove, and possibly if it can be squeezed in, an oven.
#11. Full length 270 degree awning.
#12. Not a separate room for, but an area that can be closed off and used for showering should weather preclude using an Ensuite tent.
#13. Stowage space for the port o potty.
#14. LOTS of solar, including integrated mppt controller, and DC to DC charging. With battery monitoring that can turn off charging if the batteries are at or below freezing.
#15. Plenty of Lifepo4 battery storage, with some way to keep batteries from freezing.
#16. 12V outlets in proper locations such as the overcab to power things like a CPAP.
#17. Integrated signal range extenders / boosters for both WiFi and 4G / 5G.
#18. 12v water pump for hot / cold water in the camper and outside.
#19. On demand hot water heater integration. No tank. I don't want to hold water and spend the energy to keep it hot. Instead integrate something like a Joolca Hottap or a Camplux 5L. Given the right plumbing that is more than enough to give you a good shower and do the dishes.
#20. At least a 20 gallon fresh tank.
#21. This is going to be the tricky part. But gray water collection. In most of these the sink simply drains out of a tube out of the bottom of the camper and into the bed of the truck. In my current case, I put a collapsible 5 gallon Reliance water carrier as the gray tank. It works. IF they made those Gray water totes sideways I could put a 10 gallon size in the slot between the truck bed and the camper and not have to dump so often.
#22. Tie downs that work with the in bed tie down system of almost all modern pickups. I currently am using ratchet straps to the stake pockets and have stake pocket hold downs to install, but REALLY do not like the idea of drilling into my truck bed, and frame mount is a bad idea because of the flex the bed does from the frame, could cause camper damage off road... I might have to investigate how to convert my current camper to this system.
#23. Easily removable camper jacks. Put the camper on the truck, secure it down, and REMOVE the jacks. I hate leaving the jacks on. They add weight, and interference potential. Unless you plan on taking your camper off the truck in camp...
#24. AS much as possible rot / mold / mildew / water / UV proof materials. Basically build this thing to last and not disintegrate in the elements

A little heavier than you want but it covers the rest. I almost bought one of the prototypes of this camper 12 years ago but got hit with cancer and had to back out. I would've gotten it sooooo cheap I wasn't aloud to disclose the cost.

 

[Anthony Hitchings]

The perfect popup is the one that gets taken camping a useful amount of time.

An extra perfect popup would have a suspension system with no components that wear out.

 

[dbhost]

A little heavier than you want but it covers the rest. I almost bought one of the prototypes of this camper 12 years ago but got hit with cancer and had to back out. I would've gotten it sooooo cheap I wasn't aloud to disclose the cost.

Nice, but yeah, not what I had in mind... Although I am not against the idea of if money was no object, converting to a flatbed and going with a flatbed model pop up camper. I love the 4 wheel campers Hawk, but would need some changes to accomodate me personally. I.E. no dinette, but a jacknife couch and free floating table, Fiberglass over foam construction to help keep the weight down as well...

 

[Hilldweller]

Nice, but yeah, not what I had in mind... Although I am not against the idea of if money was no object, converting to a flatbed and going with a flatbed model pop up camper. I love the 4 wheel campers Hawk, but would need some changes to accomodate me personally. I.E. no dinette, but a jacknife couch and free floating table, Fiberglass over foam construction to help keep the weight down as well...

Back when Tom owned 4Wcampers he'd do custom builds. I don't know the new owners.
Tom even said he'd build me a double-slide bunk that could fit a Cal King mattress.

 

[dbhost]

Back when Tom owned 4Wcampers he'd do custom builds. I don't know the new owners.
Tom even said he'd build me a double-slide bunk that could fit a Cal King mattress.

I would want a pretty basic build out which I think is part of my problem. I don't want a 6 gallon tank holding water heater. Too corrosion prone, extra weight etc... would prefer an on demand water heater such as my Camplux I have now... I am bluntly too fat for a dinette, so want a jacknife couch with a free standing table, Get the built in cassette toilet out of its niche and just have a cabinet for my regular port o potty. That kind of thing.

Honestly, I wish they would build an aluminum frame (they do) composite panel (they don't that I know of) basic camper that can support the weight of an AC on the roof... Or in the back wall... The problem with a lot of these is they build them too fancy, and in turn heavy. I don't need sleeping space for 4 or 6. I need sleeping space for 1, or 2. And a dog or two... I need a space to be able to work in lousy weather, I need to be comfortable temperature wise when sleeping, much easier to do when it is cold than hot, I need to be able to prepare meals, which will mostly be done outside unless weather doesn't cooperate, and I need to be able to take care of sanitation. I need enough capacity to stay off grid for a week at a time, and that includes electricity, water, and wastewater.

It wasn't a pop up, and I hated the fridge they used by default, but I LOVED the Eureka Slide Inn camper with the queen bed overcab and sliding table options. Although water supply was jerry cans, which is more or less what I do in the camper shell camper right now.

 

[Susan Premo]

A little heavier than you want but it covers the rest. I almost bought one of the prototypes of this camper 12 years ago but got hit with cancer and had to back out. I would've gotten it sooooo cheap I wasn't aloud to disclose the cost.

They'd have to explain an awful lot of all those gizmos to me, I can't imagine how much it would cost. Too bad you weren't able to buy it back then. Cancer sucks!

 

[kudzu]

that can support the weight of an AC on the roof... Or in the back wall...

Have recently seen 12v/24v AC/heat pumps, basically mini-mini splits. Those seem a good candidate for a truck camper or little cargo trailer conversion. While I’m thankful for thy AC in my current camper, I don’t like that it is a roof unit. I really preferred the through-the-wall style AC of the Aliner.

 

[dbhost]

Have recently seen 12v/24v AC/heat pumps, basically mini-mini splits. Those seem a good candidate for a truck camper or little cargo trailer conversion. While I’m thankful for thy AC in my current camper, I don’t like that it is a roof unit. I really preferred the through-the-wall style AC of the Aliner.

I am actually looking since I am pretty sure I am going to end up with an ACless pop up truck camper. Any hints on what to search for? I am coming up with some serious energy hogs, worse than the Dometic RTX... Way worse, might as well just use a generator and power it with 110v.

 

[Canoe2fish]

Man all these great ideas really has me going. Long winter setting in. I’ve already got cabin fever lol.

I think if we enjoy the tent trailer again this summer I’m going to look for a better candidate for modifications. I was going to do the one I’ve got but it’s getting a little old. I might glamp it a bit with new vinyl click lock flooring and paint job inside for fun driveway project but that’s about it.
DW Really wants something with an inside washroom. However if she can enjoy camping again with a tent trailer and a nice outdoor washroom set up, it might be worth looking for a newer, loaded Highwall with a washroom set up inside to invest my energy into as opposed to an older, smaller Pup that won’t be as comfortable no matter what I put into it. And for some reason I always have to have a project. I’ve never content to buy something new that needs nothing. I can never sit still. Always have to tinker with some sort of project. Must be an affliction of some sort.

Oh well I guess for this winter I’ll just dream of RV modifications and camping adventures and see what the summer brings.