Forum Discussion

JoshuaH's avatar
JoshuaH
Explorer
May 21, 2018

Help me know what kind of camper to look for.

We currently own a 2004 Flagstaff 176LTD pop-up. We bought it used about 4 or 5 years ago and have loved it, but we would like to move away from the pop-up to a regular type camper. The biggest reason is the need to raise it up and slide out the beds to do anything inside the camper like loading gear into it before a trip, then the same thing when we get home. We would also like the ability to camp in the camper while driving to our destination at a roadside campground, very hard to do with a pop-up. Also we like to camp off grid in the winter using solar panels to keep the batter charged for the furnace, so my thought was a solid camper would hold heat better than the canvas?

I don't want anything large, hoping 2000-3000 lbs, we will be pulling it with a V6 Jeep Liberty, which is rated to tow up to 5000 lbs. Eventually we will move up to a larger SUV but that will be a while, and even then we don't want a really large camper.

A lot of the campers I see in this size and weight range still have slide out beds with canvas which I was hoping to get away from. How do these hold up compared to a pop-up? Are these pretty much a must have for this size range? Will this still hold heat better than a pop-up?

There are only 3 of us, myself, wife, and currently a 2 year old, we aren't able to have any more kids so it will never be more than 3 people in the camper.

I will be shopping the used market BTW.

Thanks for your input!
  • JoshuaH's avatar
    JoshuaH
    Explorer
    Jun 18, 2018
    Just wanted to update this thread, I ended up buying a 17Ft. Trail Lite Bantam Hybrid. I know not a full hard side camper but to me and my wife it will be a huge improvement over the pop-up we currently have. We can get to ALL of the storage compartments without folding down the beds, it has a shower and toilet, much larger refrigerator, hot water heater, 20 more gallons of fresh water storage, and just folding down the beds is WAY easier than cranking up the roof and then sliding out the beds of the pop-up, so we are happy.

    I will say that you guys were on the money about pulling a camper this size with the Jeep, it just isn't up to it. I hooked it up empty and took it about 5 miles down the road and up a moderate incline and it struggled. I did go ahead and buy the camper however because 1, it was a very good price, 2 I have access to my Father In Laws F-250 any time we need it, and 3 we have been considering a larger SUV for the past fer years anyway, the Jeep Liberty really does not have much room inside. In fact I'm going to look at a V8 4Runner today.

    All the research I did before buying this camper said the dry weight was 2100 Lbs. When I got it home I did finally find a sticker hidden in a cabinet that stated the dry weight was 2500 Lbs. My Father in Law lives right next to a quarry, we took it to their scale, empty it was 3050 Lbs.!

    Thanks everyone for your help!
  • FrankShore's avatar
    FrankShore
    Explorer
    May 22, 2018
    SoundGuy wrote:
    FrankShore wrote:
    You might also look at Coachman, as a brand they're also a step above the rest.

    I'd stay away from mass produced Forest River & also Jayco. Since Jayco was bought by Thor, they've lost any quality they may have had at some point! And Forest River, I've never heard anything positive about them (they're owned by billionaire Warren Buffet of Berkshire Hathaway fame, etc)


    Too funny. Coachmen is a Forest River company. :S

    Well I'll be darned. Thanks for the info! I still think as Coachman being a division of Forest River isn't that bad. I still think they're a well built TT.
  • rexlion's avatar
    rexlion
    Explorer
    May 22, 2018
    JoshuaH wrote:
    I'm possibly going to look at one, 17ft, no slide outs, just to fold out beds at each end. Dry weight 2100 lbs. and it has brakes.

    Am I correct in assuming that if there are no slide outs, just fold out beds on the ends I would be able to get to all of the storage inside without folding out the beds?
    I believe so. But you may find storage is skimpy due to the fold outs. Solid walls could have cabinets mounted, but fold outs cannot.
  • SoundGuy's avatar
    SoundGuy
    Explorer
    May 22, 2018
    FrankShore wrote:
    You might also look at Coachman, as a brand they're also a step above the rest.

    I'd stay away from mass produced Forest River & also Jayco. Since Jayco was bought by Thor, they've lost any quality they may have had at some point! And Forest River, I've never heard anything positive about them (they're owned by billionaire Warren Buffet of Berkshire Hathaway fame, etc)


    Too funny. Coachmen is a Forest River company. :S
  • FrankShore's avatar
    FrankShore
    Explorer
    May 22, 2018
    You might also look at the three smaller Lance models: 1475, 1575 and 1685. They're lightweight, easy to tow, and great construction. You might also look at Coachman, as a brand they're also a step above the rest. Both Coachman and Lance use Azdel, Coachman to a lesser degree, but the build quality on Coachman will give you many years of happiness.

    I'd stay away from mass produced Forest River & also Jayco. Since Jayco was bought by Thor, they've lost any quality they may have had at some point! And Forest River, I've never heard anything positive about them (they're owned by billionaire Warren Buffet of Berkshire Hathaway fame, etc)

    I do agree with Dutchman Sport about his checklist of things to look at in which order. I'm going to say though, that quality of build is much more important than floor layout. Within any manufacturer, you'll find a layout that is going to work, but every manufacturer isn't the same - Build Wise, so keep that in mind.
  • JoshuaH's avatar
    JoshuaH
    Explorer
    May 21, 2018
    I'm possibly going to look at one, 17ft, no slide outs, just to fold out beds at each end. Dry weight 2100 lbs. and it has brakes.

    Am I correct in assuming that if there are no slide outs, just fold out beds on the ends I would be able to get to all of the storage inside without folding out the beds?
  • coolmom42's avatar
    coolmom42
    Explorer II
    May 21, 2018
    JoshuaH wrote:
    I guess a question I should ask is this. These models that have the slide out beds, can you still get to all of the storage areas inside the camper without sliding out the beds for unloading and loading of your gear or cleaning out when home?


    In many of them, you can NOT access all the areas with the slide IN. One reason I am not a fan of slides.

    Also, if the refrigerator is in a slide, it will have a powered fan so it can vent through the side. This will be a small power drain, if you camp without electric hookups.
  • normal_dave's avatar
    normal_dave
    Explorer
    May 21, 2018
    So this would require a bigger/better tow rig, but it meets all your other requirements, and then some, especially off-grid and winter.
    Nash 17K

    Nash 17K brochure

    Nash 17K walk through.

    These aren't common in your area, but are fantastic "off the beaten path" travel trailers.

    Here's a Casita that might work with your tow rig, take care not to buy "up-to" your max tow rating. Payload, and tongue weight often are the limiting values for your Liberty's real capabilities.
    2012 Casita Spirit Deluxe

    These are decent too, a possible fit for your rig, but again, tongue weight might be the issue.
    Micro Minnie 1705RD O'Fallon, MO
  • afidel's avatar
    afidel
    Explorer II
    May 21, 2018
    On #5, not all trailers are usable while on the road, or are only with extreme compromise. My trailer is very tight to get to the bathroom or bunks while on the road due to the slide and the kitchen is basically unusable (I've heated water for raman while waiting at the ER, that's about as much as I'd want to do with the slide in). We do sleep in it while traveling but the kids get to shuffle past the slide. It's one of those things to keep an eye on if it's a significant consideration for you, I know I've crossed a few potential future trailers off my want list based on how the slides block access while in.

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