POP UP CAMPER THREAD (tow behind)

An effort to consolidate probably the smallest group of the camping styles towed by Tacoma's (behind RV's, RTT's, and in-bed campers).

I want a thread where pop-up folks can show off their setups, share tips, and share camping experiences, etc.

I got rid of my RV (GeoPro 19fbs) and bought a Rockwood 1640ESP and couldn't be happier with my decision. After many months of cleaning up the shoddy factory nonsense (almost all major brand RV's are pretty poorly put together) Cleaning up wires in and under the unit, cleaning up wood shavings and plastic debris that is everywhere you can't immediately see, repositioning about 5 different screws that the builders totally put in the wrong spot by over an inch. Caulked/sealed many little cracks inside and out. I am almost done with it.



The box:
5' tall
7' wide
8'5" long
1700 dry factory (mine is about 1500 with the changes I've made)
2300 GVWR

It's a lifted "off-road" package which is where Rockwood simply put the leaf springs on top of the axle. High tech stuff...
It's a straight axle so it's not the most off-road worthy like the boxes with independent suspension, but the Lock N Roll articulating hitch really helps counter that.

It tows remarkably well behind the Taco (17 TRD OR).

First camping trip at Inks Lake State Park (June 2020). A freak severe wind storm in the middle of the night killed my awning - totally blew it off and bent the metal awning frame. Talk about a rude awakening. The awning went in the trash.
And what was an excellent and well-fitting adaptation of a Lanmodo car tent to keep direct sunlight off the roof got all messed up too. It also went in the trash. I was literally not a happy camper for a few hours. Luckily a Walmart was close enough (when isn't one?) to get a stand-alone awning:


So I bought an Overland Vehicle Systems 270 LT awning (of which I do not have pics yet) but it fits perfectly - if I put one on the other side it would literally create an awning around the whole camper. Just gotta justify another $600 to keep a little sun off of the side I'm never on.

Before the OVS awning I rigged a lame tarp in a hinged wooden frame awning just to keep potential rain off above the entry. Seen here at Big Bend National Park this past Christmas.


One of my favorite things about towing this thing is the MPG. This was a fully loaded camper and truck from the storage lot to a gas station on the way to my camp site. Mostly highway miles with a light headwind to boot:


WAY better than the 7-10mpg I got with the GeoPro.


With a low-wind resistance tow, the major thing holding back fuel economy is weight. In light of that I have shaved about 200 lbs of dry weight off. More than likely not a very noticeable difference in MPG due to that but it helps and can get better.

One of the best ways to shave weight is to get rid of the factory fold-up steps. Mine weighed over 50 lbs easily. I carry a step ladder anyway and found one with wide steps that is perfect for use getting in and out. Step ladder weighs about 7lbs.

One of the BEST things you can do with a pop up (or any RV really) is waterproof the bottom wood. And treat the wood under the slide out beds.
Under the slide out beds I water sealed the wood with Minwax water sealer.
Under the floor where it gets road debris and water I put two solid coats of Flex Seal.
Highly recommend everyone do this to their RV's.

That's it for now - more and better pics after next camping trip which will hopefully be before the summer but I just started a new job so probably not.

Hope to see some other pop up owners chime in here.

 

Nice setup Chris. We looked at the GeoPro 19 and just decided it was a bit big for our needs and the places we visit. I also totally understand the incredibly cheap builds of these lightweight trailers. We went the A Frame route and have had to re-do much. We are not as light as you but gas mpg is excellent.

 

Thank you!

Just goes to show that wind resistance, not weight, is the main mpg killer!

Happy camping

 

That looks like an awesome setup, hopefully at some point in the future I can get something like this!

 

Thanks! Having a compact setup like this is such a breeze once you’re organized and have all the systems you want: shower, toilet, bedding, electric cooler, solar generator, gas generator, etc.
When I camp I pretty much only need to worry about buying food. Everything else is stored in the pop up. Buy food, stock the coolers, hook up to the trailer and roll.

 

Popup > Travel Trailer. Regret upgrading every time we head out on a trip. More gas. More Maintenance. And you can't store it in the garage (you can store the PU).

 

All true! Maybe a down-upgrade is in your future
The only time I miss my GeoPro is when I’m at a campground that is crowded, like at a state park, and there’s some bad mannered campers chatting and laughing the night away when I’m trying to sleep to wake up at 5am for fishing!
You definitely don’t get any real sound barrier with a pop up. And people can hear you too!
If at a site with electric, the white noise of the A/C will pretty much drown out noisy campers but not during the cooler months when it’s not used.
So it does go the other way too!
Pros and cons, but ultimately I definitely lean towards the pop up.
Got a trip coming up in two weeks - gonna get pics of the new awning finally

 

Wish I was in a position to downgrade. Wife didn't like the whole pop up gig. No toilet, no shower, no go. Had a sweet 2006 Fleetwood Yuma Pop Up. My boys and I had a blast in it and it towed behind my wife's Honda Pilot like it wasn't even there. Upgraded to a larger hybrid trailer, which required an upgraded tow vehicle (which was the Tacoma, no regrets there). Trailer has to be stored in my Dad's backyard. Trailer requires way more maintenance than the pop up. Don't get me wrong. It's nice having a shower, toilet, fridge/freezer and full kitchen. Just a helluva lot harder to tow.

 

Well, I'm not married, but I do have a girlfriend - the adage still applies: "happy wife, happy life!"

And yeah, let me throw in one more thing - I do miss the toilet being right there for the midnight piss!

 

Looking for a towable to get into RV-ish ing w/ the wife. Near Romeo-Juliette situation: I backpack and dig catholes, she wants to stand up in a tent, and get to the hotel before 10pm. Some small popup seems to be a good middle ground...
(Not my setup)
But what's y'alls opinion on these little SylvanSport Go's? They're not cheap... and no apparent fridge, cooktop, battery... (I'm sounding like Dan Akroyd describing the Ekto 1) BUT these are lightweight and seem a step up from ground camping but not quite the climb in distance or cost as a RTT.

 

I am not familiar with those Sylvan's - but your Dan Akroyd impression is right - doesn't seem like you get a lot for that $10k. It is likely better assembled than most Rockwood's, and to be honest I took out my sink and I never use the grill inside the pop up. I do use the fridge and the A/C though! In that Sylvan I would only miss the A/C in Texas summers. All contingent on where you live though! The Sylvan certainly looks pretty cool.

Looks like the front canopy would be difficult too use at an actual campsite with paved parking. You would have to use rocks to hold down the tent ties.

And yeah- the wife should agree - pop ups are an excellent compromise. Mine is quite comfortable! And been through two HEAVY downpours with no leaks.

The options are out there! Good luck!

 

Hell yeah! Popup weirdos unite!

FR Flagstaff 206STSE. 10 foot box plus 2 foot trunk. More mods and upgrades than I can count. It's been towed to 21 states thus far.

And yeah, there's something about hearing some rustling underneath you at first light, because there's a herd of deer grazing just inches away.

 

I came real close to the Sylvan. It's a fantastic concept. The retail price is what put me off. 9 grand for a sylvansport Go vs 12 for a nicely equipped Fotest River. I have no regrets with my choice.

I did see one setup at camp, and asked for a tour. It's nice. The owner was happy with it.

 

Have to say I always wondered about coating the sub floor. Mine came with a real basic coat, and the owners manual said not to paint over it. You'll have to tell me how it holds up.

 

I did not read my manual! The sub floor is cheap OSB and with that getting off road grime and moisture , I figured flex seal was a winner! I cleaned the wood real good first and let it dry. I’m sure it’ll last quite some time!

Love my pop up! Best compromise in the camping world for towing and functionality.

 

I'll have to take a hard look at mine this weekend. Gearing up for a Fredericksburg weekender on memorial day.

Biggest challenge right now is that the winch cable is covered in dirt. I add grease and oil to the appropriate points as part of my maintenance routine, which just makes it collect more dirt. That will probably be the next project, unspooling and cleaning the whole lift system.

 

Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad I'm not the odd(er) ball looking at the Slyvansport, I really like how the it looks (light, futureish, minimal) but that price is a deal breaker. It's like you're paying extra *not* to have things! So, looking into the ROCKWOOD 1640 ESP and the LTD, price is much better for the luxuries of a pull out stove, water tank, 'lectricity. All pluses. I found an LTD near me for just under $10,000. Noob question, can you swap the wheel/tires for 17" KO2s? Wait! I mean something "more chunky" like on the ESP? Or do you need to upgrade the axle/suspension as well?

 

Need to swap the wheel drums at a minimum, depending on axle. If it's a lighter duty axle, you'll likely need to swap the whole assembly.

The trailers come stock with a five on 4.5" lug (common) or a five on 5" lug (rare). I know that Dexter, the company that makes the axles for forest river, does make a six lug drum that fits the 3500 pound braked axle.

I've thought about it for a while, but I'm happy with running my 15" trailer tires for now. They don't wear down nearly as fast as car tires.

As far as upgrading the LTD to the ESP tires, yes that's easy. I'll have to look up the tire brand. Edit:. It's these guys- https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Tires-and-Wheels/Westlake/WST54FR.html

 

You can definitely get chunkier tires on there, but I think you're stuck with the 15" wheels. Maybe a 16" with a smaller side wall tire? Worth looking into - would NOT need axle or suspension upgrade.

 

That cable and greasy dirt are best damn friends!

So, you're in Texas? Share some of those spots you guys like and I'll do the same. I'm an ace when it comes to picking out the best camp sites at a park. I'm the guy who wakes up at 6am to reserve the perfect spot - often literally 6 months in advance to the day.