As I look into what I can comfortably put on my truck (figuring about 2,700 lbs ready to camp), the pop-ups appear to have the least weight. I like the Palamino B1250 SB better than most I've looked into, as it has a shower and built in toilet, and other necessities like air conditioning. The camper weighs in at just less than 1,700 lbs dry. It comes well equiped for a pop-up at around $10K. The primary negative is no grey water tank, although it has a 7 gal black water tank.I have had no experience in/with TC's and would appreciate some feed back from those that have or have had pop-ups. The pro's and con's, so to speak of pop-ups vrs hard sided. Being in Texas, I'm a little concerned about the ability to cool a pop-up with a couple of feet of canvass at the top. This unit has an 11,200 btu unit.My plan is to use this for extended weekends and trailer the motorcycles when I wouldn't want to hook up the toy hauler. The price on the pop-up is appealing due to my intended use, but if I find this works really well for me I would probably sell the toy hauler and use the TC for all trips. Which brings up the other concern, if I like this mode of camping I will want as much TC and with as many amenities as my truck will carry. On another thread I got good recommendations on light weight hard sided units, like the Travel Lite 890 sbrx. I really like this unit, it weighs in dry at 2,000 lbs, but is quite a bit more expensive equally equipped than the pop-up. The dry weight on the Travel Lite is also probably without air conditioning, so I will pushing my GVWR with a hard side.I'm sure this just sounds like a lot of "thinking out load", but any advice is appreciated.

my OFF-ROAD POPUP does not have any GREY WATER TANK as well and we get by just fine catching all the GREY water in two of these AQUA-TAINER 7.5 GAL containersI drilled a small hole in the cap and insert a water hose into the container as I use it catching my sink water...We usually have to go get fresh water once a day anyway so I carry out my 15GAL of grey water and bring back 10GA of fresh water in my two fresh water containers.Having a two wheeled folding cart around helps out alot as well...Roy Ken

RoyB wrote:my OFF-ROAD POPUP does not have any GREY WATER TANK as well and we get by just fine catching all the GREY water in two of these AQUA-TAINER 7.5 GAL containersI drilled a small hole in the cap and insert a water hose into the container as I use it catching my sink water...We usually have to go get fresh water once a day anyway so I carry out my 15GAL of grey water and bring back 10GA of fresh water in my two fresh water containers.Having a two wheeled folding cart around helps out alot as well...Roy KenNice information thanks for posting the photo's.Scott

We used a 10' Sun Lite Condor popup for our Alaska trip. The Cons weren't many for this trip. No shower mainly but every campground had one even if the Canadian one cost us a Loonie.The low profile was the biggest asset. For a 13,000 mi trip with a 7.4 4X4 gross of 11,000 lbs I avg 13.4 mpg. This was every type road you could want, mud, salt flats, mountains you name it, we were on it. You can take it anywhere the truck can go with the low center of gravity. 3 min setup time. We didn't have AC but opening all of the flaps and running a Co2 fan provided plenty of ventilation, but you get the noise too. Any small AC unit would cool such a small area. Would it be my only RV? No, it was a one trip camper and prefect for the job. I wouldn't hesitate to get another one for the same trip if the deal was as good as the Sun Lite was. We are retired, lazy and like our amenities.

Yup, I do the same thing.......for grey water.One suggestion...Buy a used Pop-Up camper to try out for a few months or a year. The used Palominos are really inexpensive and you can see if you like it before you spend $10K and then have to sell it for 40 to 50% loss.I bought a used Palomino 1200 Bronco for $1500 in great shape with everything working. I now realize that an inside shower is a must have for my type of camping. I use it to attend target shooting events and they park us cheek to jowl so taking a shower outside is right in the next campers face......even with a shower curtain and a bathing suit it is uncomfortable.I also don't like not having a vehicle easily available once the camper is all set up.I think I might go with a Toy Hauler next year....A small 18 footer wouldn't be much bother (I tow a 30' motorcycle trailer for my motorcycle club regularly)Pull in, unhook, set up...done!

When I had my pop up trailer it did not have a gray tank but had an outlet for the sink. I attached a small hose and ran it into a I collapsible 5 gallon carrier to hold the gray water. IU used the collapsible to save space. Worked pretty well.

Pop-up Truck Campers? | Good Sam Community

11 Replies

TxTiger
Explorer
Aug 21, 2013
FishB8s wrote:
TxTiger - I sent you a PM.

Responded.
sljohnson1938
Explorer
Aug 21, 2013
TxTiger wrote:
Thanks for the feed back on Palomino's. They do have some pretty rough reviews. I may focus my attention more toward hard sided campers since the quality pop ups are $20k ish.

*****************************************************************

Do not give up on pop-up TC's. I have owned 4 different TC's. Two hard side and two pop-up. Both pop-up's were Northstar. We plan to get another pop-up next year for our trip to Alasak. I really like them. We probably will get a used one, can not afford a new one.
Check out Craigslist. Do not know what your budget is, but for $11,000 plus/minus you can get a nice good used one.
check out Craigslist Denver - Cuchara.

IMHO - Hallmark is the best and the most expensive. And I do not currently own one. Which is way I probably will get a used one.
rlb8s
Explorer
Aug 21, 2013
TxTiger - I sent you a PM.
TxTiger
Explorer
Aug 21, 2013
Thanks for the feed back on Palomino's. They do have some pretty rough reviews. I may focus my attention more toward hard sided campers since the quality pop ups are $20k ish.
sljohnson1938
Explorer
Aug 21, 2013
I have never owned a Palomino pop-up or any other kind of Palomino, after looking them and reading other post about them, I would look at something else.
I was seriously considering one, but never now. My biggest concern was no grey water and quality of craftsmenship. Check out a used Hallmark, Outfitter or Northstar. Good Luck.
rottidawg
Explorer
Aug 21, 2013
Do a search on Palomino campers and you'll find less than stellar reviews. I took a look at two new ones at CW and lets just say I quickly moved on. The one positive is that they are cheap.

Denver is ground zero for pop up campers. Phoenix, Hallmark, Outfitter and now Four Wheel Campers has a dealer here. I chose a FWC pop up and am very happy with it. Aluminum framed, minimalist, light weight and unfortunately NOT cheap.....but you get what you pay for as the saying goes.
brholt
Explorer II
Aug 21, 2013
When I had my pop up trailer it did not have a gray tank but had an outlet for the sink. I attached a small hose and ran it into a I collapsible 5 gallon carrier to hold the gray water. IU used the collapsible to save space. Worked pretty well.
Rbertalotto
Explorer
Aug 21, 2013
Yup, I do the same thing.......for grey water.

One suggestion...Buy a used Pop-Up camper to try out for a few months or a year. The used Palominos are really inexpensive and you can see if you like it before you spend $10K and then have to sell it for 40 to 50% loss.

I bought a used Palomino 1200 Bronco for $1500 in great shape with everything working. I now realize that an inside shower is a must have for my type of camping. I use it to attend target shooting events and they park us cheek to jowl so taking a shower outside is right in the next campers face......even with a shower curtain and a bathing suit it is uncomfortable.

I also don't like not having a vehicle easily available once the camper is all set up.

I think I might go with a Toy Hauler next year....A small 18 footer wouldn't be much bother (I tow a 30' motorcycle trailer for my motorcycle club regularly)
Pull in, unhook, set up...done!
Peg_Leg
Explorer
Aug 21, 2013
We used a 10' Sun Lite Condor popup for our Alaska trip. The Cons weren't many for this trip. No shower mainly but every campground had one even if the Canadian one cost us a Loonie.

The low profile was the biggest asset. For a 13,000 mi trip with a 7.4 4X4 gross of 11,000 lbs I avg 13.4 mpg. This was every type road you could want, mud, salt flats, mountains you name it, we were on it. You can take it anywhere the truck can go with the low center of gravity. 3 min setup time.

We didn't have AC but opening all of the flaps and running a Co2 fan provided plenty of ventilation, but you get the noise too. Any small AC unit would cool such a small area.

Would it be my only RV? No, it was a one trip camper and prefect for the job. I wouldn't hesitate to get another one for the same trip if the deal was as good as the Sun Lite was. We are retired, lazy and like our amenities.
Scott16
Explorer
Aug 21, 2013
RoyB wrote:
my OFF-ROAD POPUP does not have any GREY WATER TANK as well and we get by just fine catching all the GREY water in two of these AQUA-TAINER 7.5 GAL containers

I drilled a small hole in the cap and insert a water hose into the container as I use it catching my sink water...

We usually have to go get fresh water once a day anyway so I carry out my 15GAL of grey water and bring back 10GA of fresh water in my two fresh water containers.

Having a two wheeled folding cart around helps out alot as well...

Roy Ken

Nice information thanks for posting the photo's.
Scott