What kind of camper for trip around the United states

Do the math. A wild guess is that you would pay about $500 more in gas when you compare a small popup to a reasonable size travel trailer.
It might be the best $500 you ever spent. I used a large popup when we traveled with 3 kids, had a great time but there were many difficult days because of weather.

I don't know about only one CG in the country having regulations due to bear problems. We have seen it in Canada, TN, VA, and a couple others.

I have been around twice, once with my parents and sister when I was 9. We went in a popup with no shower, toilet, refrigerator or water heater. We had a great time.

In 2011 I took my wife and son following (for the most part) the same route. We went in our current coach 2008 38' DP with all the amenities. We had a great time.

On both trips we spent very little time in the camper, up early and out the door exploring, home late and to bed for the next days adventures.

It is my opinion the camper you do it in should have little affect on the fun you have. Get what you can afford and is safe, and go have fun.

Hi JenJen. Welcome to the Forum. I traveled from the Florida Panhandle to the West Coast a number of time with two adults and three children from 1973 to the 1990's. We used tents, a 17' travel trailer, a converted Chevy van, and a Pup. All of the trips were wonderful experiences and all had their moments! Overall, I think traveling in the TT was the easiest when I had a preschooler. Ours was small but it did have a bathroom, we could all get inside during bad weather, and it was a fast set-up. Our family spent a lot of time outdoors, so whatever we camped in was mainly a place to sleep. Please consider yourself when making this decision. If you are not rested and comfortable, nobody will have a good time. Make sure that you have a good bed to look forward to at the end of the day and that you are not up all night taking children to the bathroom. Good luck! lizzie

Do the math with campgrounds and hotels and restaurants and groceries and gas and wear and tear on the SUV (figure $0.65 per mile) and then compare that to flying to Phoenix and renting a Class C camper.

With any RV the most important and limiting aspect will be real sleeping capacity for 5 people that does not require moving lots of stuff at bed or nap time and installing a platform and moving cushions, etc. The popup type are going to be the least accommodating.

There are hard sided travel trailers that have a roof line that slopes down to the front and will help with fuel economy and provide more usable storage space than a popup type. Also a lot less expensive than a full size popup type.

jenjen77 wrote:

fla-gypsy wrote:
A PUP that can sleep 5 comfortably and have a bathroom will be very large and tend to cost as much as a HTT. An HTT would in turn be much more comfortable for 5 than a PUP. Have you ever been trapped in a PUP during a thunderstorm or all day rain event with 5 people? Think miserable!

do you think a HTT is much heavier? I'm thinking an HTT is much more high profile, also, we are not sure we like the idea of having to make the bed every time we have to stop, as we have a few stops we are planning to just "sleep" and leave the next morning. I dont have experience with any of the campers, which is why I am getting others advice!! :)

No an HTT would not be much heavier than a large PUP. Setting up and breaking down a PUP is much more work than a HTT.

I always preferred being trapped in a popup than any other form of RV. Very outdoorsy! A rainstorm in a popup can be delightful (if you are set up before it starts).

But setting up gets to you. But mileage is much better!

Avoid the ONE campground that has bear issues and you'll be fine.

Time and effort for the Hybrid is well worth it. A 17 to 19 foot hybrid should fit your needs, provide a solid shell for the living area, have a real bathroom, couch, table, etc.

At rest areas with the hybrid you will still have access to the kitchen and bathroom.

As stated above, a few days of rain stuck in Hybrid is allot better than a pup. Just having access to a bathroom, kitchen and being able to sit on a couch and dinette to watch a movie or 10 is so much more comfortable.

Good luck with whatever you choose and enjoy your adventure!

thanks for all the great advise!! So much to research.. right now we are planning to look at a 2005 palomino pop up..and a Keystone FreedomLite 185QB 2008 to kind of get a feel for both.. i am almost thinking the travel trailer LITE might be easier for on the road camping...then setting up and taking down all the time.. the mildew post really got me thinking..especially living in florida, we have to think about that alot! thank you!

doxiemom11 wrote:
Soft sided tent isn't really safe in the areas you want to go.

this is not true. there's only ONE major/popular campground, in the country, that has a permanent ban on soft-sided campers. that is Fishing Bridge campground in Yellowstone. and if you have a hybrid, you can stay there if you "turtle", which is not deploying the canvas ends and sleeping on the sofa and dinette.
all the other major campgrounds in Yellowstone DO allow soft-sided campers. this also goes for Yosemite also.

think about it, if they banned soft-sided RV's, they'd have to ban tents too.

you need to forget gas mileage if you plan to tow anything other than a popup or Airstream. basic gas mileage for a gasser towing a travel trailer is 8-10mpg. doesn't matter what it weighs, it's the air resistance that is the killer.

if gas mileage is important to you, keep the popup.
i own a hybrid and it is easier to setup than our two popups were. and we've camped in Yellowstone and Yosemite with it.