Just joined here to get information - we've been tenters for years, but with 2 kids (7 boy, 3 girl) and a few more years, it's rough.
We're about to go to a camper, and we're thinking either hybrid or pop-up. My parents and my in-laws have both done pop-ups for years (decades in my parents' case), but my wife is thinking she wants something with a "real" bathroom and a little more out-of-the-weather security.
We also have guests stay with us quite often and we'd like to be able to use it easily for an extra bedroom when we're at home.
What else... Well, I love to sail, homebrew, B&B with the wife. I'm an attorney, she's a music teacher.
- Dan
Hi! Fellow Rochester area campers here. My husband is from Brockport area and we now live in Greece. We have 4 kids (12, 7, 5, and almost 2) and had a pop-up for a few years and moved up to a hybrid. The time saved with the ease of set-up and break down with our hybrid has been invaluable!
And the middle of the night potty runs are super easy with our own bathroom. We never thought that we would go to anything else besides a pop-up but after 2 years with our hybrid we can't think of going back. We purchased both of our campers from Camping World and dealt with John Blanchard. He is a super laid back and thoughtful salesman and very honest, no pressure style.
Good luck in your search! And let us know when you camp we are always looking for other camping families to venture out with 🙂
Welcome to Canvas Campers! ;D
as far as hybrid or popup, we've had two popups for 17 years and our hybrid for almost 6 years now.
we wish we had made the move to hybrids earlier.
you can "turtle" if the weather is bad or you need a short stopover. "Turtling" is simply not putting the bunk ends down and sleeping on the sofa or dinette or both.
can't do this with a popup.
one issue is that your Traverse, if it has the factory tow package, will limit your hybrid choices.
with the tow package, it has a tow capacity of only 5200lbs.
this puts you in the 19'-20' range of hybrid or smaller. no slideouts in this group of hybrids.
Welcome from the Philly area!
I have a 3yo and can relate to the various issues that come up while camping with a child. I am glad I have a popup. I will admit, I do dream of a HTT or a TT at times but that isn't in the cards just yet.
Matt O 2006 Skyline Nomad 27' travel trailer. Previously owned 1986 Coleman Columbia / 1992 Coleman Senecca / 1989 Born Free Class C RV.
[quote author=bikendan link=topic=1857.msg1#msg1 date=1347378451]
one issue is that your Traverse, if it has the factory tow package, will limit your hybrid choices.
with the tow package, it has a tow capacity of only 5200lbs.
this puts you in the 19'-20' range of hybrid or smaller. no slideouts in this group of hybrids.
Most of the 21-22 foot hybrids we've seen are around 3600-3800 dry, which leaves plenty of room. The Jayco X23b has a slideout and two bunks at 3900 dry, 4900 gvwr. We looked at a Starcraft 21 with three bunks that we really liked in that range.
I'm confident in the Traverse as a tow vehicle, very much so. I towed my 1986 Monte Carlo on a flatbed all the way from my parents house in PA - 350 miles - without a hiccup. Did 65 through the Endless Mountains on 81 and was practically falling asleep it was so drama-free. Weight of the car plus the trailer was... Well, let's just say I'm not going to say, for my warranty's sake. 😉
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Dan, Welcome to Canvas from eastern PA. A pop-up or hybrid are both great campers, many people start from tents, move to pop-ups and later work their way to hybrids campers. There are a few (me) who love the 360 windows and view with a nice breeze throughout the day.
Hybrids are a little less work since you don't need to raise the roof and a little easy with storage since you can get in them and pack them at home. I'd suggest visiting an RV show and walking around in them to get a good feel. Good luck!
[quote author=BullsLawDan link=topic=1857.msg15623#msg15623 date=1347496791]
I'm confident in the Traverse as a tow vehicle, very much so. I towed my 1986 Monte Carlo on a flatbed all the way from my parents house in PA - 350 miles - without a hiccup. Did 65 through the Endless Mountains on 81 and was practically falling asleep it was so drama-free. Weight of the car plus the trailer was... Well, let's just say I'm not going to say, for my warranty's sake. 😉
it's not just the extra weight, it the frontal air resistance.
comparing towing a flatbed car trailer to towing a full-height/high-profile TT, is not a valid comparison. totally different towing behaviors. in fact, your Traverse probably has a frontal area limit in the owner's manual.
the frontal air resistance also affects gas mileage much more than the weight of the trailer.
just trying to provide you advice about keeping the trailer's weight well within the specs of the Traverse.
and don't rely on fictional "dry" weights. no trailers ever weighs that when it leaves the factory.
rely on the yellow sticker on the outside of the trailer. it will show the trailer's actual weight when it left the factory.
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