I'd say number one reason is tow vehicle limitations along with where to store a trailer... You also get into overall camping costs and a whole lot of factors that are different for each person..
In our case, we didn't have to worry about a TV, nor storage place... I looked at it from, the roof of the pup sits below the box of the truck = less money for gas.= more money for camping... smaller (about 18 feet, compared to the now 26 feet) total length tongue to back bumper and the pup weighed in a 1000 plus lbs less then the Outback..
Two reasons I started with a popup are:
1-It is lighter so I could tow it with my 4cyl Toyota Tacoma
2-I did not know how my wife would enjoy camping so I didn't want to make a big investment. First pup cost $600. Current pup cost $1,500
Matt O 2006 Skyline Nomad 27' travel trailer. Previously owned 1986 Coleman Columbia / 1992 Coleman Senecca / 1989 Born Free Class C RV.
Size - My popup when full opened is almost 30'ft long (King size beds on boths sides). A 30 ft' travel trailer is no where near the cost of the popup, and I get more room, more ceiling height and the abillity to look all around. I am not cooped up in a tin can.
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The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything that they have! |
you can often find decent used popups for around $1000 and you won't find a decent TT for that much. i agree that a new popup can cost as much as a new smaller TT. but you get way more sleeping capacity with a popup.
i agree that lightness and length are a big reason most get into them. and storage ability are a big factor too.
i think that popups are a good, inexpensive and simple way for people to get into RVing without spending a lot of money and dealing with lots of RV systems and storage issues.
we owned 2 popups over 17 years and finally decided to go the dark side and get a hybrid, so that we could have the "camping" feel still but have more amenities.
[quote author=bikendan link=topic=1138.msg8673#msg8673 date=1318642683]
you can often find decent used popups for around $1000 and you won't find a decent TT for that much. i agree that a new popup can cost as much as a new smaller TT. but you get way more sleeping capacity with a popup.
i think that popups are a good, inexpensive and simple way for people to get into RVing without spending a lot of money and dealing with lots of RV systems and storage issues.
That is a big factor .. you can pick up used pup's relatively cheap and can get into RV'ing at minimal costs ...
For us, it was the feel of being "outside" vs. stuck inside 4 walls. Also, having learned from our boat fiasco, bigger is not always better. With larger trailers, you also have more systems to upkeep and more things to go wrong. Our pup is small with minimal systems, but it gets us off the ground which was the reason we bought it in the first place.
My goal in life is to be the person my dog thinks I am.
[quote author=camphappy link=topic=1138.msg8609#msg8609 date=1318507830]
Why would you buy a popup when there are travel trailers with many more amenities for the same price? It's not that we are going to the dark side but I don't understand.
Because TT's are tin cans. Only sardines should live in tin cans. ;D
If there is no canvas, it's not for me.
I would love to see the gas mileage to haul a full size trailer from Winnipeg MB to Grande Prairie AB and back (Just over 1800 KM each way).
Last year I pulled my 11' Coleman pop-up over 4000 KM with a HONDA CIVIC (YES I DID!!!). Cost was LESS than $450 in gas at 1.22/L average price. That works out to about $0.12 per KM. Most SUV or trucks NOT pulling anything use close to TWICE that!
My car NORMALLY gets better than 40MPG (varies from 35 to 49MPG according to my OBD2 Trip computer) - Most decent full size truck are listed at 11MPG (with NO cargo/trailer) - at about $3.80/gal - that works out to .... $0.35/mile or $0.22 per KM. That same trip I would guess would cost in excess of $1800 in JUST GAS!!!! If needed - we could spend the extra $1350 savings on hotels or fine food or whatever we wanted.
That is WHY I have a pop-up. A FULL trailer or fifth-wheel is good if your staying weeks at a time and/or for short hauls (2 to 6 hour drive) or just staying put in one place for the whole season. RV are good for traveling all around for months! Different things are better suited for different people. Take your pick.
I'm with bikendan we loved our pup but recently went HTT for a few more amenities. Still love the open air feeling of the canvas bunk ends but if need be we can turtle camp and access everything without raising a roof and pulling out bunks just to get inside. We lose the better gas mileage towing a pup ofers but we can save some bucks by pulling off at arest stop or just about anywhere and have a meal.
1. The open feeling of the canvas and screens
2. The transforming ability of an 11 foot box becoming a 21 foot camper
3. The price!! (I was shopping in the $800 range)
4. TV towing ability
5. Clearance and ability to see while driving without special rigging
6. Gas
7. For my state I don't have to get the thing inspected. MAJOR points there!
8. A good way to get into RVing cheaply (but I don't think even if I had money I would want a full TT, maybe a hybrid someday)
9. Storage
10. So I could be a part of this great group of people! :goodstuff:
We bought a pup because we wanted to get camping now. We had a tow limit to contend with as well. Some need to put their camper into a garage and most TTs won't fit.
Looking at it now, I don't want to have to mess with black and grey water tanks. I like the ease of towing. I like that I get much better gas mileage than if towing a wall.
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