Soft vs. hard side TC

Im surprised so many of you say a popup isnt much lighter than a hardside. I had a 8' Sunlite popup and have a Lance 835. They are so totally different. The popup was surprisingly durable and warm for canvas sides.
But, like some said, really looking at your needs and listing the pros and cons of each will hopefully help you make a happy decision.

loggenrock wrote:
As one who HAD a soft-side Northstar, here's something to consider - at least in the rainy Northeast... I could put it up alone with no issue, but taking it down was sometimes a challenge! It worked much better for us with 2 people, as 1 would lower the top, the second person would be outside, tucking the fabric portion "in", so it didn't get pinched between the hard lower side and the rigid roof. Maybe the current versions have changed so this is no longer an issue. Always thought some system of bungie-type cords to pull the sides in would be helpful as the top was lowered. When I had to do this alone (on ours we had a crank inside to raise/lower the top), I'd hang a loaded backpack on the crank to keep it from "free-wheeling" down while I ducked outside to tuck in the fabric. No fun when it was raining, and you needed long arms to get the portion over the cab. To be fair, this was 10 years ago, so maybe the design has been improved. Would be curious to hear what current owners say! And yes, in ours you could sleep on the dinette with the top down, still access the fridge and cabinets, and run the heater. It was tight, but doable. Just couldn't access the under-bed storage - so you had to plan ahead for what you may need and keep it out. ST

In both of my pop ups, a previous 88 Northstar and my present 07 Sun Lite I had Fantastic Fans installed. Close up the camper and turn the fan on to high exhaust. Slowly crank the top down and the canvas gets sucked in neat as you please, wet or dry.

I like my pop up for the lower clearance in the woods but it is no light weight!! Loaded for bear I am right up to the max GVWR of my F 250 and it has a 3000# payload. But like said, heavier usually equals quality and the Sun Lite has been holding up very well. I shook the NS to pieces in just 2 years. But to be fair it was a much older camper.

I have also owned 3 different hardsides. The pros and cons are too many to list but I will give you my top ones.

Pop up:

Pros

Lots of light and fresh air with top up and windows open.
Lower total height.
Not all but most can be used with top down.

Cons

Outside noise, like sleeping in a tent.
Uncomfortable in cold weather unless some type of Arctic Kit can be used. Canvas sweats in really cold weather. Had to use a small tarp on my bed on a snowmobiling trip to keep it dry. 25 below 0 tho.
A couple nights in Death Valley the wind got so bad I felt I had to lower the top to protect the canvas from ripping out.

Right now if I were to start over with a new camper I would try to find a nice used Lance, the smaller ones like CTraveler and Jefe 4x4 use. I don't think they are made anymore but these two have proved to be very capable of severe off road and still have a hardside.

JMHO

rpetritsch wrote:
---snip.........
I like the idea of a soft side because of the shorter height for driving down forest roads.
I like the idea of a hard top if I want to stealth camp at a rest stop or Walmart. I would like to know if is possible to use the soft side while the top is down, access to head, refrig. And can you sleep on the dinette with the top down.
...snip..........

Like all of us, you are going to have to make some compromises. If Walmart's are your destination, then a hard side has the advantage. If low height clearance is your main concern then a soft side gives you more.

The newer Palomino soft sides can be used with the top down for everything, although the dinette bed is not that great. Their one button lift system helps with that. Having said that, my next will be a hard side, as I Walmart a lot and use mine for traveling paved highways.

You are asking many of the same questions I did while shopping. My primary use is trout fishing often in cooler weather and often involving multi-day cross country trips. For me, the stealth camping abilities of a hardside outweighed the lower COG and clearance of the popup. Many popup campers allow you to sleep on the dinette bench and even use the toilet with the top down, but I doubt getting a shower or even making a meal with the top down are an option.

My $0.02

We have had both.

A good quality pop-up TC is not that much lighter than a hardside. While there is less rigid hard wall material in a pop-up, that doesn't subtract much weight. Some of the difference is the lack of upper cabinets, but again- not significant.

Looking at Northstar TCs, there is a 300# +/- difference between similar floorplans soft vs. hard.

And we never saw huge MPG differences between the two types.

We did stay in our pop-up at 20 degrees and were comfortable, even without any add-on extra insulation- which is now available from several TC manufacturers.

Some pop-ups have bathrooms usable with the top down.

Others will add their input.

If you're one to use it for hunting season, and if your hunting season can be like our late elk season in Oregon, I'd go for a hard side. I don't think I'd trust any of the soft side pop ups for complete weather protection. And a hard side will stay a little warmer.

Just go for a lighter one if you're worried about weight and sway.

As one who HAD a soft-side Northstar, here's something to consider - at least in the rainy Northeast... I could put it up alone with no issue, but taking it down was sometimes a challenge! It worked much better for us with 2 people, as 1 would lower the top, the second person would be outside, tucking the fabric portion "in", so it didn't get pinched between the hard lower side and the rigid roof. Maybe the current versions have changed so this is no longer an issue. Always thought some system of bungie-type cords to pull the sides in would be helpful as the top was lowered. When I had to do this alone (on ours we had a crank inside to raise/lower the top), I'd hang a loaded backpack on the crank to keep it from "free-wheeling" down while I ducked outside to tuck in the fabric. No fun when it was raining, and you needed long arms to get the portion over the cab. To be fair, this was 10 years ago, so maybe the design has been improved. Would be curious to hear what current owners say! And yes, in ours you could sleep on the dinette with the top down, still access the fridge and cabinets, and run the heater. It was tight, but doable. Just couldn't access the under-bed storage - so you had to plan ahead for what you may need and keep it out. ST

I don't own one. The Alaskan Popup would solve your problems. My wife wanted a full hard side.



Alaskan Popup

Hard side is not necessarily heavier than a soft-side. A better quality camper however is heavier than a cheaply made camper. Most Outfitters outweigh my hard side Lance 815. Yes, the Outfitter is a better quality camper over my Lance Lite.

An extended cab-over (N-S bed) soft side will probably allow the same mpg as a short nose (E-W bed) hard side.

I too travel the mountains and explore a lot of forest roads in NC, VA, TN, KY, and WV. I have yet to be blocked by limbs that a soft side would have been able to make it by. Yes, I have brushed a lot of limbs, but none have done damage.

One of the things my wife has fallen in love with traveling with the TC is always having everything with us all of the time. Being able to turn around on a dime is another big advantage.

But you can figure on just about doubling you fuel cost if you are getting 20 with the Subaru. So far I'm seeing about 11 mpg average.

I loved my softside and in most you can do any of the things you asked. One really nice thing was I barely noticed it on the truck and could drive it all over. The hardside is way heavier and you know it! My wife decided she wanted a bigger bed and a bathroom,so we got a hardside. Depending on the design, you could stealth camp in a softside with the top down. Plus it keeps it warmer inside at nite.