Going from pop-up to hard side, big mistake?
I've got a Palomino Bronco pop-up TC on a 3500 SRW Dodge Diesel short box. It's only about 1200lbs empty and the truck pulls as if it's not even there. I've got stock suspension and air bags. I'm g...
Forum Discussion
Everyone's needs are different and what price they are willing to pay in dollars or convenience. If I was exploring true backcountry trails in places like Colorado or Utah I would want a popup to have as low a center of gravity as possible.
In places like California and Oregon and Montana and Idaho there is little need for a popup as the hardsided campers are fine on the dirt roads and this includes the USFS roads built to accommodate logging companies.
The hardsided provides twice as much storage space and will have a larger frige and other benefits over a popup. I have found it convenient to have the upper bed area as a temporary place to leave items during the day. I have no worries about the camper being broken into during the day while we are off exploring but with a popup I would want to lower it and then raise it again on our return. Even stopping at a store for food and other items is easier with the hardside camper.
If the factory says the camper is 1800 lbs. I would bet its actual dry weight will be closer to 2200 lbs. and when fully loaded for a trip it will be close to 2800 lbs. which is not a great load for your truck but a more accurate estimation of the weight you will be carrying. Easy to verify at a local CAT scale before the camper is loaded and in its fully loaded state for a trip.
In places like California and Oregon and Montana and Idaho there is little need for a popup as the hardsided campers are fine on the dirt roads and this includes the USFS roads built to accommodate logging companies.
The hardsided provides twice as much storage space and will have a larger frige and other benefits over a popup. I have found it convenient to have the upper bed area as a temporary place to leave items during the day. I have no worries about the camper being broken into during the day while we are off exploring but with a popup I would want to lower it and then raise it again on our return. Even stopping at a store for food and other items is easier with the hardside camper.
If the factory says the camper is 1800 lbs. I would bet its actual dry weight will be closer to 2200 lbs. and when fully loaded for a trip it will be close to 2800 lbs. which is not a great load for your truck but a more accurate estimation of the weight you will be carrying. Easy to verify at a local CAT scale before the camper is loaded and in its fully loaded state for a trip.
