A year with my pop up. Lessons learned
So, I bought my 2003 StarCraft 2406 about a year ago. With how much I was looking forward to finally getting a pop up, I am not really happy with it and will be selling it after my current trip. Here ...
Forum Discussion
Pira114, the lift is a crank. Mine takes some serious time and effort to raise the roof. By the time I'm done my back is hurting. The bunk supports don't help (especially since mine has 4 per bunk, not the 2 per that my parents' pop up had in the 80's) but the strength needed for the crank hurts my back more. I noticed when I was shopping pop ups that Coachman and their corporate cousins now have the cables for the bunks. That, plus a power lift system and an overall simpler pop up with fewer features and I probably would be a lot happier.
Manualman, yes the lack of a good storage option has been a headache. When at my old apt Baltimore City would issue a $30 ticket every couple months but within days of changing my address they hit me with a $300 abandoned vehicle ticket (issued 2hrs before I picked it up for my current trip BTW). The issue with the lights when driving (probably corrosion in the harness) was probably caused by being out in the elements all the time (hopefully a simple cover will help in the future). But yes, if it wasn't for the storage situation I'd probably keep it, and once I am off the waiting list for the community RV storage I'll probably be back in the market for a simpler pop up, an A-frame or a lightweight trailer.
As for setting up camp, that part isn't so bad. When I go with friends I have help and when I go alone I go minimalist. I keep my dry foods in a bag or Rubbermaid container, my spices are in ziplock bags, and cold stuff gets put right in the fridge (in the camper) or stays in the cooler (tent camping). Sometimes I bring a portable Coleman grill, and I don't take the camp stove out of the car until I need it. The worst part is my screen tent since the particular Kelty I have is not user friendly. So that only comes when camping with friends, and I need to buy a more user friendly model soon.
Manualman, yes the lack of a good storage option has been a headache. When at my old apt Baltimore City would issue a $30 ticket every couple months but within days of changing my address they hit me with a $300 abandoned vehicle ticket (issued 2hrs before I picked it up for my current trip BTW). The issue with the lights when driving (probably corrosion in the harness) was probably caused by being out in the elements all the time (hopefully a simple cover will help in the future). But yes, if it wasn't for the storage situation I'd probably keep it, and once I am off the waiting list for the community RV storage I'll probably be back in the market for a simpler pop up, an A-frame or a lightweight trailer.
As for setting up camp, that part isn't so bad. When I go with friends I have help and when I go alone I go minimalist. I keep my dry foods in a bag or Rubbermaid container, my spices are in ziplock bags, and cold stuff gets put right in the fridge (in the camper) or stays in the cooler (tent camping). Sometimes I bring a portable Coleman grill, and I don't take the camp stove out of the car until I need it. The worst part is my screen tent since the particular Kelty I have is not user friendly. So that only comes when camping with friends, and I need to buy a more user friendly model soon.
