Considering the Dark Side Move

[xkuzme1]

So I am considering a move to the "dark side". 

I love my popup camper, but the setting up and putting down is killing me.  I probably pack more than I need, so that doesn't help but it takes me 2+ hours to break camp, because I do it all by myself.  My wife cant help because she is busy with our 4 and 5 year olds.  Thunderstorms and rain are no fun in the pup either, but that always spoils camping.  50+ mph wind in SD at night in a thunderstorm with my kids in the camper is a little un-nerving (though it held).  In a nonpup I would have just closed up shop and went to get in the car, but that just is not likely with a pup.  Breaking camp in the rain, then going home and opening up and drying everything out = not fun.

I love my pup at night when all is calm.  I look towards the other end of the pup at my kids sound asleep, and think of all the great memories that we are making and have made.  Sitting under the awning and watching my kids ride their scooters up and down the camp block, and it just doesn't get any better.  When all is well, it is easy to think of my pup as our home away from home, because that is what it is.  But as of now, I am looking for a new home (away from home).

I am looking at the Jayco 184BH.  I can still pull it with my Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (4dr), though not quite as well.  It small enough that I can still feel like I am camping, but large enough so that my kids can have their own beds (bunk), and I have to admit that it would be nice to have hot water, a shower and a toilet. 

IF I decide to bite the bullet and commit to a larger camper, I hope that I would still be allowed to come visit sometime.  As of now, I have :Total time logged of: 10 days, 1 hours and 5 minutes. of looking at PUX.  I am not sure that I could just give up a habit that quickly.

Jury is still out, but here is our possible new addition.

]

Thanks,

X

Fixed links -JR

[chiefd]

Just upgrade the PUP to one with more of the items you want.  Getting a HTT oe a TT will require storage and of course the inevitable loss of gas mileage.

If you decide to go to the darkside enjoy and have fun.  Thats what its all about anyway.

Just my two cents

[techntrek]

chiefd has some valid points.  When we moved from a "large" pup to a "small" TT our mpg dropped from 16 to 12 (on a good day).  I've been through storms and winds where I've gone as low as 8 due to wind resistance.  I've only made one trip with my new TV so I can't speak to its overall mpg yet - that trip was all windy back roads and I averaged 9.5.

However, 30 minute set-up times, quiet/dark sleep-ins, and no canvas to dry out later make most of that lost mpg worth it.

[faxxxy]

I feel your pain on set-up time.

I'm really enjoying our PUP, but the wife has already declared that we only get to keep it for two more seasons. It's the potty and the set up time. She has told me that our next RV will be a motorhome so she can potty while I'm driving.

[csbmmb21]

Every reason given are great reasons. But check out our signature line...we are back from the darkside and my opinion would be to NOT go there without researching all the great options that are available in the pups. The only item that one of us misses is all the outside storage; personally I find that as a creative challenge to simplify or think of a different way to store the items needed

I was surprised to find all the items of a big camper in about 4-5 floorplans that we liked, the rest was left to whether we could find it used to meet our needs and make mods.

[ependydad]

We're on our way to the black-hole side... waiting at the dealership is our factory-ordered Palomino Sabre 36QBOK. We go pick it up Saturday, July 14. It's a spectacular change from what we have now - but, we're hoping to stay out and camp err... RV ... for much longer periods of time.

As of now, our pop-up is sitting in behind my sister's house, waiting for my step-brothers to decide if they're buying it.

[Harryshoe]

I keep looking at hybrids.  Some are shorter, lighter and cheaper than my Niagara.

[xkuzme1]

Well I bought it.  It followed me home tonight. I am entirely happy with my purchase, although the Jury is still out on the AC.  The AC is not as strong as the PUPs AC.  It is nice setting the pups AC to "Meat Locker" and going to bed.

It tows better than I thought it would behind my Jeep.  Camp driveway was set up in 10 minutes (not too bad for a first timer). 

Cant wait to hit some pavement with it.  I will be sad to see my pup go though.  She has been good to us.

X

[Between Trips]

I was surprised to find all the items of a big camper in about 4-5 floorplans that we liked...

Valid point though many are smaller scale and some require additional set up (e.g., shower, shelves).

Eventually we will downsized from our 34' of TT. Though I could be happy with an R-pod, we'll probably go to a smaller, rear living room TT.

[Spirit Deer]

The only item that one of us misses is all the outside storage; personally I find that as a creative challenge to simplify or think of a different way to store the items needed

That's where we are right now, working on downsizing our excess stuff (shouldn't really be too hard) and thinking creatively to find ways to store what we really need to bring.  I know we'll miss our former front storage trunk, but I'm sure we'll find a way to compensate for that.

[xkuzme1]

Well I almost have it all figured out.  ALL the stuff that used to have to go on the floor of the pup has a home in the outside storage of the TT (bbq, bag chairs, BAL - yea it still works-, step stool, extension chords, and water hose.  The only thing that I had to find a home for inside is the 2 Zero-Gravity chairs. 

I need figure out the most appropriate way to store all of my flatware and silverware having a drawer.  Probably a quick stop by Tubs-r us, and I should be all set.

I do also need to install a seven pin connector in my Jeep and a brake controller.  I am sure that I can find lots of brake controller data on here.  The problem with be finding the time before my next trip to install it.

X

[xkuzme1]

I almost forgot...

I sold my popup camper today.  Sad to see it go.  Ill miss it.  It was a good camper for my family.

X

[Spirit Deer]

Congrats!  It sounds like it's working for you so far.

We ended up putting the recliners flat on the back bed.  Ours are in canvas carry cases so any dirt is contained.

For flatware, I decided to use a plastic tray I had.  I added flatware trays cut to fit exactly.  The tray fits perfectly on a shelf between the cabinet door and the drain pipe under the sink and pulls out for access.  The left side of the shelf forms an ell and that provides space for longer items such as marshmallow forks.  The little stuff in the tray that's not flatware will be moved to a different spot that's yet to be built and then all it will have in it is flatware.


For utensils and sharp knives, I found a perfect knife block at Goodwill.  It has a wooden block in the middle (with built-in kitchen timer!) and chrome utensil baskets on each side.  It sits on the counter at camp and on the floor for travel.  I wasn't sure about it when I got it but as it turns out, I love it.
 

[KristinU]

Congrats!!!

One of the things we love about having a TT is the potty stops along the road.  No more skeevy/shady bathrooms to worry about with DS (or ourselves for that matter.)  You will love that with 2 young kids!  We also love being able to whip up a healthy and economical lunch or dinner when on the road (well, pulled over, but you know what I mean...)

[Spirit Deer]

What?!  You don't want to recreate the meal-making scene from The Long Long Trailer?  Where is your sense of adventure?