Moving up from PUP to TT, what to expect
After 5 seasons of camping in our little Forest River 176 PUP, we are planning on upgrading to a TT. We haven't picked a specific trailer yet, but most of the units we are interested in are in the 24-...
Forum Discussion
As far as towing, just make sure you have the tow package with the associated coolers so you have enough tow rating. Sounds like you have enough payload so that's a none issue.
The WDH is still needed as even a class IV hitch receiver requires a WDH for weights over 5000/6000 lbs. Plus sway control is needed for any size truck to keep it straight in winds.
I've had 2 PUPs and 2 TTs along with several tents. PUPs are pain because of packing and unpacking everything that goes on to the PUPs floor and truck's bed/SUV cargo area. The actual setup of the PUP is pretty easy.
Now setup does get to be a pain in the rain. I was closing up when I seen water streaming all over the cabinets, after it ran off of the tent material. Had to setup all over again, wipe cabinets down, and close up again and try to keep rain water from running on to the cabinets again. Then get home and setup the PUP to dry the tent material so that it doesn't get moldy.
Now I had a Rockwood PUP that had no water heater and no bathroom, it was easy to setup. The Starcraft had water heater that was NONE DSI and it was a pain trying to get it's pilot lit. The bathroom was also a chore as I wiped all the water off the toilet and curtain so that no mold would grow. It was a pain for sure.
Then on the Starcraft after only 1 year, the Aqualon bunkends started pouring water in from both bunks 4 corners. Needle holes must of stretched but I couldn't get them to seal at all. Had mildew stain on the bunk boards from all the water pouring in and off course the mattresses got soaked. Luckily the mattresses dried with no ill affects.
We traded to a TT and wife since says she refuses to ever camp in a Pop Up due to the pain setting up/closing, packing/unpacking, and needing to bend over or on your knees to get to any of the low storage for items.
PUP was harder to back in due to it's single axle but was easier to tow as long as had good suspension (sport Track) opposed to soft suspension truck (Pathfinder).
TT is great for convenience but doesn't fit everywhere due to it's large size. TTs is harder to tow (LT Tires on truck would make it better) with TTs larger surface area causing it to push truck side to side from winds (as one, locked together with good sway control hitch). Also heavier hitch weight can cause bouncing but WDH usually corrects most when correctly adjusted.
PUP is far easier to tow and gets much better MPG. Plus is much easier to store. Downside is much less convenient with less amenities and more setup.
TT is harder to level due to it's dual axles which can be a pain on steeply sloped campsites.
If I were to go to another PUP, it would have tent material that has vinyl coating and not a material that has a soaked in vinyl as Aqualon. Definitely a DSI water heater, and a toilet for the kids. Has at least one large cabinet top space or 2 midsize cabinet top spaces, and a front trunk.
The WDH is still needed as even a class IV hitch receiver requires a WDH for weights over 5000/6000 lbs. Plus sway control is needed for any size truck to keep it straight in winds.
I've had 2 PUPs and 2 TTs along with several tents. PUPs are pain because of packing and unpacking everything that goes on to the PUPs floor and truck's bed/SUV cargo area. The actual setup of the PUP is pretty easy.
Now setup does get to be a pain in the rain. I was closing up when I seen water streaming all over the cabinets, after it ran off of the tent material. Had to setup all over again, wipe cabinets down, and close up again and try to keep rain water from running on to the cabinets again. Then get home and setup the PUP to dry the tent material so that it doesn't get moldy.
Now I had a Rockwood PUP that had no water heater and no bathroom, it was easy to setup. The Starcraft had water heater that was NONE DSI and it was a pain trying to get it's pilot lit. The bathroom was also a chore as I wiped all the water off the toilet and curtain so that no mold would grow. It was a pain for sure.
Then on the Starcraft after only 1 year, the Aqualon bunkends started pouring water in from both bunks 4 corners. Needle holes must of stretched but I couldn't get them to seal at all. Had mildew stain on the bunk boards from all the water pouring in and off course the mattresses got soaked. Luckily the mattresses dried with no ill affects.
We traded to a TT and wife since says she refuses to ever camp in a Pop Up due to the pain setting up/closing, packing/unpacking, and needing to bend over or on your knees to get to any of the low storage for items.
PUP was harder to back in due to it's single axle but was easier to tow as long as had good suspension (sport Track) opposed to soft suspension truck (Pathfinder).
TT is great for convenience but doesn't fit everywhere due to it's large size. TTs is harder to tow (LT Tires on truck would make it better) with TTs larger surface area causing it to push truck side to side from winds (as one, locked together with good sway control hitch). Also heavier hitch weight can cause bouncing but WDH usually corrects most when correctly adjusted.
PUP is far easier to tow and gets much better MPG. Plus is much easier to store. Downside is much less convenient with less amenities and more setup.
TT is harder to level due to it's dual axles which can be a pain on steeply sloped campsites.
If I were to go to another PUP, it would have tent material that has vinyl coating and not a material that has a soaked in vinyl as Aqualon. Definitely a DSI water heater, and a toilet for the kids. Has at least one large cabinet top space or 2 midsize cabinet top spaces, and a front trunk.
