What to get and what to avoid Pop Up Brands for Off Road use???

[450 DUDE]

I was hoping to get a definitive list of what pop up camper brand to buy and what ones to avoid for off road use . Im concerned with structural integrity for the long haul.

Please forgive me if there is already a list.......

Thanks,
ken


#2 anyone know anything about Sun-Lite campers??

[bucketosudz]

Four-Wheel Campers! http://www.fourwheelcampers.com/

[rynosurf]

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24906&highlight=pop+camper




I think the Sun Lite campers are made of wood (laminated)so they wont hold up to a lot of off road abuse and are heavier than aluminum framed pop-ups. I would stay away from laminated campers if you are going to be doing a lot of rough stuff, they are usually a lot cheaper though(used)and would probably be fine for mild trails.
Here are a few companies that make pop-ups
http://www.alaskancamper.com/classifd.htm
http://www.adventuretrailers.com/
http://www.flippac.com/
https://www.allterraincampers.com/
http://www.palominorv.com/site/default.asp?page=truckcampers (laminated construction)
http://www.northstarcampers.com/features_popup.asp (laminated construction)
Wildernest - out of business but can be found used

Here are a few threads about some of them.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1322&highlight=terrain+campers
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32029&highlight=flippac
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29644&highlight=wildernest

[450 DUDE]

Cool! thanks,

so I checked the sun lite ..pretty much a no go
Looked @ a palomino Mostly crappy.


Any other ones I should love or hate.

Thanks again,
ken

[CJCA]

Wander over to Wander The West (http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/). Mainly FWC and ATC, but there are a few other pop up brands that get some attention there as well.

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

Ken your going to be set with your new plan. I'd look at used Alaskan's. I say used, because the new ones are pricey and like my Kimberly Kamper, I'm betting you can find a reasonably priced lightly used one. The other cool part about a used Alaskan is that it will give you something to tinker with and clean up a little.

If you want new, I'd look at FWC. I don't think you can go wrong with either.


Here's a link to Alaskan Camper's classifieds
http://www.alaskancamper.com/photoads/viewads.html

[ern]

How about Phoenix Popup. Aluminum Framed. Claims to have started FWC.

http://www.phoenixcampers.com/

[450 DUDE]

Went with Northstar TC650 after much thought... Talked to Rex @ Northstar and he confirmed some things. Im very impressed with the materials and methods used.

http://www.northstarcampers.com/productFacts.asp


Well built product and well equipped for my 2 ladies :)

Will be going down to AZ next month to pick it up!

ken

Thanks again for the help.

[craig333]

Look around and which company has the most campers still on the road years later.

[Regcabguy]

How about Phoenix Popup. Aluminum Framed. Claims to have started FWC.

http://www.phoenixcampers.com/ I'd avoid the Phoenix. My buddy had them custom build a 9' popup for his flatbed Dodge CTD. It's been a nightmare. He even removed the logo on the outside. Funky lift mechanism. I like my Northstar.

[Regcabguy]

Went with Northstar TC650 after much thought... Talked to Rex @ Northstar and he confirmed some things. Im very impressed with the materials and methods used.

http://www.northstarcampers.com/productFacts.asp


Well built product and well equipped for my 2 ladies :)

Will be going down to AZ next month to pick it up!

ken

Thanks again for the help. Kudos to Northstar! Mine's been trouble-free. The lift mechanism will safely handle 200# of cargo,kayak,surfboards etc.

[bat]

On the wood framed pop ups I have seen a few corners for the hold downs rip out. We always put bed bolts in and hold downs but we were pretty hard on them.

[idaho spud]

first time poster ...please be gentle !!
from the postings I have read, I will go out on a limb
and say my question is not original nor the first -
From time to time I have researched until cross eyed
the "right" pop up for the wife and I ... it had come down
to the FWC "Grandby" and the TC 800 (or 850) Northstar.

I like the lighter weight of the "G" at about 995# dry
(I think), I believe the TC 800 is around 1175 ... I don't
need "plush" but I thought the "G" was very minimalist ...
also the lift mechanism of the "G" was a little primitive ??

Can I get some feed back from the forum ??

thanx
spud

[Regcabguy]

The dry weights are pretty inviting,but elevate quickly with accessories. A lot of the structural longevity will come down to the platform you're going to mount it to. '03+ Dodge 2500's have a fully boxed and hydroformed frame making it a very stable platform.Torsional twisting of the camper is what tests their construction. In my next life I'll be 5'10" so I can fit into some of these products and trucks. My '07 is way stiffer than my '98.5 2500 CTD. My suggestion would be to actually climb into a Grandby or Northstar and see which one you could live with. The FWC do to it's lighter weight and lower cog will outperform the others out there. I'm a big guy and the FWC just isn't in the stars.

[DurangoSteve]

We bought a used 1999 Phoenix popup in September. So far, so good. The lift system is unusual, but totally functional. Our unit's dry weight is 698 lbs., and it rides on a 2003 Tundra. Weight is an issue with Tundras, and the Phoenix works for us. In Tundraworld, it's Phoenix, FWC or ATC... especially if you want to go offroad.


I'd avoid the Phoenix. My buddy had them custom build a 9' popup for his flatbed Dodge CTD. It's been a nightmare. He even removed the logo on the outside. Funky lift mechanism. I like my Northstar.

[idaho spud]

greetings - question please ... when any of these
pop up rigs are in a "closed" state - is there any usable
access space inside. opened up of course you have access
to all of the amenities - ???
also - it appears the the Northstar seems to be the only model
with a "dinette" sort of table ???

any feedback ...
thanx
spud

[tnt]

Four Wheel campers recently started to offer a dinette option.

With the top down on ours, I can get in the fridge, turn on the heater, or sit on the couch, but have no access to the sink or stove.

[tnt]

Four Wheel campers recently started to offer a dinette option.

With the top down on ours ('03 FWC Hawk), I can get in the fridge, turn on the heater, or sit on the couch, but have no access to the sink or stove.

[DanoT]

I'd avoid the Phoenix. My buddy had them custom build a 9' popup for his flatbed Dodge CTD. It's been a nightmare. He even removed the logo on the outside. Funky lift mechanism. I like my Northstar.

I'm considering purchasing a Phoenix so I am interested in the specifics of your buddy's nightmare experience with Phoenix. There is a youtube vid showing a Phoenix with a power lift mechanism lifting 2 400lb ATVs parked on the roof!

[18seeds]

I'm considering purchasing a Phoenix so I am interested in the specifics of your buddy's nightmare experience with Phoenix. There is a youtube vid showing a Phoenix with a power lift mechanism lifting 2 400lb ATVs parked on the roof!

A few years ago there were a lot of posts here and rv.net about phoenix poor craftmanship. I know recently phoenix has changed a lot of their techniques.

Over the last 5 years i have probably looked at a dozen used phoenix campers. Similiar to an outfitter they do not age well. I would prefer a northstar, hallmark, fwc or xp.

I do believe that phoenix deseves another look. I know they changed the pop up material a few years ago and that helped a lot.

[Maximus Ram]

Ken,
You ever get the camper ? Got Pics ?
Updates....

[Regcabguy]

I'm considering purchasing a Phoenix so I am interested in the specifics of your buddy's nightmare experience with Phoenix. There is a youtube vid showing a Phoenix with a power lift mechanism lifting 2 400lb ATVs parked on the roof! The canvas on the corners and over the door is being chaffed to the point of no return. No fusebox. He hates the lift mechanism. In fairness to Phoenix,this was a custom order of 9' in length and very little inside. They were the only company willing to build a custom length camper. It has survived multiple journeys along the northern Pacific coast of Baja due to his flatbed's integrity. The owner could elaborate,but he doesn't monitor this site. In his case it just didn't work out well.

[offroadcamperguy]

A few years ago there were a lot of posts here and rv.net about phoenix poor craftmanship. I know recently phoenix has changed a lot of their techniques.

Over the last 5 years i have probably looked at a dozen used phoenix campers. Similiar to an outfitter they do not age well. I would prefer a northstar, hallmark, fwc or xp.

I do believe that phoenix deseves another look. I know they changed the pop up material a few years ago and that helped a lot.

Please know if anyone is looking at a Phoenix camper, that there are several happy campers out there with older models, Many of them are out there enjoying their campers not sitting on a computer.. Our lift system is much different than any other, it is not a crank lift and can be used very easily. Please do you homework when it comes to buying a camper, and look at what you want out of your camper and get many different opinions from many sites, not just hear say..... we can get you in touch with owner who have had their Phoenix campers for 10+ years if you are interested, just give us a call!