Forum Discussion

SurfnCamp's avatar
SurfnCamp
Explorer
Sep 30, 2013

Is a HTT right for us? And a few other ??'s

Looking for a little guidance on improving our camping experiences (and thank you in advance for indulging a low-winded first post!):

First a little background:
- We are a family of 3 (me, DW and 18mo DD) and oftentimes camp by ourselves.
- We currently have a 2003 Niagara PUP (pre high-wall - but heavy anyway) that we have been towing with my 2006 Access Cab Tacoma w/ tow pkg (6500# max tow & 650# tongue capacity). I use a WDH, sway bar, Prodigy brake controller.
- We typically do about 5-6, long weekend trips in Southern/Central California, and then one or two, week-long trips to Yosemite every year. We usually go to CGs without hookups.
- We have loved this PUP, but the time and effort of packing, setup, tear-down etc is taking a lot of the fun out of trips. Our 18mo DD is so active now that it usually takes one of us parents to corral her while the other works on the setup/tear-down - which makes trips seem like all that much more effort.
- Our Niagara is getting "long in the tooth" and I feel like I'm chasing my tail fixing one niggling little problem after another. Every trip seems to require fixes before and after.
- We'd like to take some of the effort out of these camping trips as we'd camp more often, and take longer trips as well (i.e. Yellowstone, the Rockies etc).

Soooo, all of this has been leading me to look into whether a new or newer HTT would help us to enjoy this lifestyle even more.

Now my questions
1. Is setup and tear-down that significantly different between a PUP and HTT to the extent that it changes your perception of the level of effort? Again, we're hoping that ease of use translates into more use...

2. Are HTTs significantly more comfortable (in maintaining temperature) then a high-wall PUP with a good furnace and A/C? More comfort for DW & DD equals more trips for me!

3. We really like the open, airy feeling of our PUP. The limited experience we've had with TTs makes us appreciate how bright our PUP is. Are there HTTs that are more "PUP-like" in this regard?

4. What are some of the must-have/should have features/options on HTT? i.e. do all HTTs allow access to bathroom and fridge/kitchen when turtled?

5. Is it likely that our Yamaha EF2400iS 2400 watt generator will power the A/C on newer generation HTTs (elevation dependent of course)? This gennie will NOT power the AC on our current PUP (has older Coleman 15K BTU unit) even at sea level.

6. Do you have any specifics makes and models to recommend? We are not looking to go too big at the moment. We'd like to be able to use our current TV for the next year and possibly upgrade to a Tundra or other full-size truck after that. But even then, I don't see us needing a huge trailer just for the 3 of us (and possibly some tag-alongs periodically).

Thanks for any and all thoughts on this!
  • mbopp's avatar
    mbopp
    Explorer
    Oct 01, 2013
    DW's biggest joys were being able to load the HTT and fridge w/o popping up, and the fact she now had a real shower and toilet.
    A slide was a "must have" for us, even with 2 people it can get tight on a rainy day.
    Fridge and bathroom access when folded-up will vary between makes and models, you need to see for yourself if one model will work for you or not.
    We tried turtleing once. Found the couch and collapsed table too short (and DW's 5'1")
    Setup and teardown are a lot quicker than a PUP. Many items can have their permanent place and don't need to be packed.
    Many people cut Reflectix pieces for the windows and use solar covers (Pop-Up Gizmos) to help with heating and cooling.
  • bikendan's avatar
    bikendan
    Explorer
    Sep 30, 2013
    SurfnCamp wrote:
    Looking for a little guidance on improving our camping experiences (and thank you in advance for indulging a low-winded first post!):

    as a former SoCaler and still a surfer for nearly 40 years, here's my answers:

    Now my questions
    1. Is setup and tear-down that significantly different between a PUP and HTT to the extent that it changes your perception of the level of effort? Again, we're hoping that ease of use translates into more use...
    as a owner of popups for 17 years, i can say that there is much less setup/tear-down. there are other things necessary different than popups but not strenuous nor requiring to be done immediately. much more relaxed effort.


    2. Are HTTs significantly more comfortable (in maintaining temperature) then a high-wall PUP with a good furnace and A/C? More comfort for DW & DD equals more trips for me!
    they do maintain temps better but you'll still need to use Popup Gizmos/solar blankets and Reflectix if you want the most efficiency.

    3. We really like the open, airy feeling of our PUP. The limited experience we've had with TTs makes us appreciate how bright our PUP is. Are there HTTs that are more "PUP-like" in this regard?
    they are more PUP-like but won't be as airy as one. basically somewhere in between a popup and TT.

    4. What are some of the must-have/should have features/options on HTT? i.e. do all HTTs allow access to bathroom and fridge/kitchen when turtled?
    a slideout was a must for us. not all hybrids allow access to bathroom/kitchen/fridge but most do. a sofa allows for "turtling" so that you can sleep on the dinette and the sofa when you don't want to setup the canvas bunk ends.

    5. Is it likely that our Yamaha EF2400iS 2400 watt generator will power the A/C on newer generation HTTs (elevation dependent of course)? This gennie will NOT power the AC on our current PUP (has older Coleman 15K BTU unit) even at sea level.
    my Honda 2000w will run the Dometic 13.5k a/c on my Roo. so i expect your 2400 will run most modern 13.5k a/c's easily.

    6. Do you have any specifics makes and models to recommend? We are not looking to go too big at the moment. We'd like to be able to use our current TV for the next year and possibly upgrade to a Tundra or other full-size truck after that. But even then, I don't see us needing a huge trailer just for the 3 of us (and possibly some tag-alongs periodically).
    there's a saying in the RV community:"buy your second trailer, first".
    as far as brands, it's like asking which are the best trucks or which is the best football team.
    every brand has its fans and haters. there's no substitute for YOU looking at all the brands/models and finding what works for you and your family. it's a very subjective process.
    i would recommend a 19' tandem axle hybrid. but since you live on the West Coast, expect very high prices for used and new, compared to the rest of the country. we drove to Chicago and back to save a lot of money on our hybrid.

    Thanks for any and all thoughts on this!
  • popupcamping's avatar
    popupcamping
    Explorer
    Sep 30, 2013
    well for starters don't use your daughter as an excuse. She is 18months now...next year she won't be. I wouldn't change because of the "extra work" for one or two years.

    I do not understand the "work and labor" involved in setting up a pup. I have ours parked, set up and beer in hand in 20 minutes tops. If a trailer saves me 5 or 10 minutes, oh well.

    My pup has almost zero maintenance. A HTT will require many things to be done as it has multiple system that a pup doesn't have.

    I wouldn't buy an htt to save setup,aggravation etc. You might want to trade for better heating and maybe the bathroom.

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