Revisiting pop-up campers

[diver110]

Some years ago I gave serious thought to getting a truck and pop-up camper. Then life happened, and everything got put on hold. Now, as I approach retirement (at 70), I am revisiting the idea. Currently, I live in Denver. I doubt that I will be going on any lengthy trips, in part because my wife has zip interest. But I am an avid hiker (still can do 14er’s), Often trailheads are in the middle of nowhere and being able to stay close by in the camper would be great. I think I would like a wet bath and shower. Any words of wisdom on the best pop-ups? I know I am not far from Outfitter and Hallmark. Is a gas truck sufficient? Often I will have to drive up fairly steep, rocky, unpaved roads.

[Kayteg1]

JimK-NY wrote:
The specs tell the story. Ram 6.4 gasser puts out 429 ftlbs of torque and the 6.7 diesel puts out 850 ftlbs.

Ford engines put over 1000 of torque from what I heard lately.
Good for pulling 30,000 lb trailers, but I'd rather have 300 torque and 25 mpg for my useage.

[Geewizard]

diver110 wrote:
Thanks for the feedback. I do worry about getting in and out of the high bed but right now can still handle it. And yes, flat-landers, a 14er is a mountain over 14,000 feet high. 🙂 I have climbed 7 of them in CO, and have 51 n CO to go. Let's see, at 2 per year, I should get them all done by my mid-90s. May need to pick up the pace a bit. The Northstars are quite a bit cheaper than say a Hallmark or an Outfitter. I assume there is some kind of price quality relationship, but as my use will be occasional, I may not need the top of the line. Geewizard, the Outfitter website says the Apex is for 3/4 - 1 ton trucks......Assuming I go for a full size truck, .wWould it be worth it to pay the extra money for a diesel?

Personally, I would not get a diesel. If I were doing it all over again, I'd buy a Tundra double cab and get an Outfitter Apex 8....again. Yes, I like the combo that much.

[d3500ram]

mkirsch wrote:
~snip~...
BTW, the day they build a camper that REQUIRES a diesel engine is the day I give it up. Gas is more than adequate for any camper currently on the market.

Ditto that.

Diesels are nice especially in the Colorado mountains. I could keep a 75MPH pace up Vail Pass or to Eisenhower with plenty left, but if I had to do it over I would go gas. I say this more now that the truck is not my daily driver and that I no longer have the camper.

I use the truck for Home Depot runs... and it sits more now.

(...besides that, no truck maker produces a diesel with manual transmission anymore. Call me old-school, but diesel with automatic is an oxymoron)

[JimK-NY]

The specs tell the story. Ram 6.4 gasser puts out 429 ftlbs of torque and the 6.7 diesel puts out 850 ftlbs.

[kohldad]

A gasser will be fine for any TC, even at altitude. I have the rig in my signature (see several post up) and just recently did Beartooth Pass in both directions. Boondocked down some gnarly roads with careful ease. Never lacked for horsepower or torque even at 11,000'. Coming down was a piece of cake without ever worrying about the brakes due to downshifting and variable valve timing to create additional breaking. Fixing to order a dually to carry a 5,000# camper and it'll be almost identical, Ram 3500 DRW 4wd with 6.4 gas engine.

[Kayteg1]

There is moderator on this forum, who show up on RV.net rally with 5er and ... minivan.
That made jokes for long time.


Long story short, their truck broke on the way to the rally, but fellow member went with his truck to bring them in, while they rented minivan.
But that just sidetrack as OP is not intending to pull anything heavy, than I heard that at 90 men are having another "mid-age" crisis and go for strange things, so who knows?

[PastorCharlie]

Kayteg1 wrote:
Considering the age, lot of TC owners sold them becouse of troubles getting to high bed.
Using dinette for sleeping is not the option for everybody.
For less money than TC combo -you can buy ClassC or B who will be more senior citizen-friendly.

For less money than TC combo -you can buy ClassC or B

What do you do when you need to pull a 5th wheel RV or gooseneck stock trailer or flat bed gooseneck with construction equipment? OR...

[mkirsch]

theoldwizard1 wrote:
Wet bath with shower does not work well in a pop up.

Personal opinion. It's not going to be like home, but you're camping. It's supposed to be different, maybe even a little awkward at first.

My wet bath has a 360 degree curtain and you're standing in a 24x24 shower pan. It took a few trips to get a routine down, but you just can't beat a hot shower on cool mornings or a cold shower after being out in the sun and heat all day. Even if it isn't the lap of luxury.

BTW, the day they build a camper that REQUIRES a diesel engine is the day I give it up. Gas is more than adequate for any camper currently on the market.

[diver110]

Thanks for the feedback. I do worry about getting in and out of the high bed but right now can still handle it. And yes, flat-landers, a 14er is a mountain over 14,000 feet high. 🙂 I have climbed 7 of them in CO, and have 51 n CO to go. Let's see, at 2 per year, I should get them all done by my mid-90s. May need to pick up the pace a bit. The Northstars are quite a bit cheaper than say a Hallmark or an Outfitter. I assume there is some kind of price quality relationship, but as my use will be occasional, I may not need the top of the line. Geewizard, the Outfitter website says the Apex is for 3/4 - 1 ton trucks......Assuming I go for a full size truck, .wWould it be worth it to pay the extra money for a diesel?

[ISBRAM]

We owned two Hallmark Cuchara’s, the last one we ordered new in 2011. They are fantastic campers with all the comforts of home and high quality. We just sold ours and bought an Airstream 25’ as were getting older and want to travel more/ stay away from home longer.

[Geewizard]

sonuvabug wrote:
What's a 14er? 14 mile hike?

14,000+ foot peaks.

[Geewizard]

cewillis wrote:

theoldwizard1 wrote:
Wet bath with shower does not work well in a pop up.

Wet bath with shower worked just fine in my Outfitter Apex8.

+1. I've never had an issue with mine in 16 years.

I don't know why people slam pop-up TCs. Perhaps it's because not all pop-up TCs are the same. Outfitter or Hallmark would be my choices.

I've had my Toyota Tundra and Outfitter Apex 8 in some pretty steep rugged places. Nary an issue.

[sonuvabug]

What's a 14er? 14 mile hike?

[cewillis]

theoldwizard1 wrote:
Wet bath with shower does not work well in a pop up.

Wet bath with shower worked just fine in my Outfitter Apex8.

[kohldad]

Considering the age, lot of TC owners sold them becouse of troubles getting to high bed.

If he is doing 14'ers, I doubt getting into the bed is going to be a problem. That's usually some pretty steep climbing near the top.

Since you are doing the rough roads, how much truck do you have? Ask because that is generally the significant limiting factor.

Hallmark and Outfitter are the places to at least start looking if you can afford them. They aren't the lightest campers despite being pop-ups. My hard side weighs less than most of their models.