What pop-up truck camper to buy?
I'm looking to buy a Palomino Real Lite SS 1608 pop-up truck camper. I can't really afford the $15-20.000 extra for a similar model of a Northstar, Hallmark or Outfitter. Should I expect a lot more pr...
Forum Discussion
A PALOMINO is better than no camper at all (...are they still building the popups out of particle board?). I've managed to hit my head severely on the door frame of every PALOMINO I've ever been in(probably why the door gets stuck, 'sljohnson1938'). The company really beefed up the construction and materials of its high-end hardsided campers in the last few years. But the last time I checked, the popup designs had been neglected with no real improvement.
But getting serious, I don't recall anyone I ever met in a campground that really had anything bad to say about their PALOMINO popup (...so ignorance is bliss???). If you don't realize what you are missing I think it will work out fine. I particularly liked that the roofs were originally raised and lowered from the outside. So, if it is raining you can crank up the roof _and_ shower at the same time. And they have probably improved them since I was more familiar with the construction details.
What I would strongly recommend considering at the same price point is the FOURWHEEL camper brand (mostly a 'left' coast brand). Their sister company makes the also affordable SIXPACK brand which is a hard sided camper. FOURWHEEL is an aluminum framed product although I'm not sure that it is currently a welded frame like the OUTFITTER (just to contrast). Welded is better than fastening but aluminum is lighter and not so vulnerable to water infiltration as is a wood frame.
There are certainly lots of PALOMINOs available second hand because a lot of people enjoy them for a year or two and then drift away from RVing. PALOMINO is mostly a 'right' coast company so that is where you will find most of them.
Personally, I prefer pop-ups to hardsided. I've never really been able to articulate 'why' - - that's something you have to decide for yourself, anyway. I don't know any company that still uses "canvas" or "nylon" side walls. They are all pretty much thick vinyl so most of the warnings about noise and thermal transfer are pretty much wive's tales. And besides, if you are waking up in a WALLMART parking lots with any frequency, you are doing a lot more wrong in your life than buying a popup.
Keep in mind that you can probably resell whatever you buy and recoup a good part of your investment. You could freshen up a used one and maybe make more than you bought it for, if you decided to move on to something else.
Best of luck with your TC endeavors.
But getting serious, I don't recall anyone I ever met in a campground that really had anything bad to say about their PALOMINO popup (...so ignorance is bliss???). If you don't realize what you are missing I think it will work out fine. I particularly liked that the roofs were originally raised and lowered from the outside. So, if it is raining you can crank up the roof _and_ shower at the same time. And they have probably improved them since I was more familiar with the construction details.
What I would strongly recommend considering at the same price point is the FOURWHEEL camper brand (mostly a 'left' coast brand). Their sister company makes the also affordable SIXPACK brand which is a hard sided camper. FOURWHEEL is an aluminum framed product although I'm not sure that it is currently a welded frame like the OUTFITTER (just to contrast). Welded is better than fastening but aluminum is lighter and not so vulnerable to water infiltration as is a wood frame.
There are certainly lots of PALOMINOs available second hand because a lot of people enjoy them for a year or two and then drift away from RVing. PALOMINO is mostly a 'right' coast company so that is where you will find most of them.
Personally, I prefer pop-ups to hardsided. I've never really been able to articulate 'why' - - that's something you have to decide for yourself, anyway. I don't know any company that still uses "canvas" or "nylon" side walls. They are all pretty much thick vinyl so most of the warnings about noise and thermal transfer are pretty much wive's tales. And besides, if you are waking up in a WALLMART parking lots with any frequency, you are doing a lot more wrong in your life than buying a popup.
Keep in mind that you can probably resell whatever you buy and recoup a good part of your investment. You could freshen up a used one and maybe make more than you bought it for, if you decided to move on to something else.
Best of luck with your TC endeavors.
