Pop-Up Campers: Not an RV, not a tent (Advice?)

[demeter]

This will be my first trek to the Playa and I'm bringing my 1994 Coleman Cedar - Destiny by Fleetwood pop-up camper.

It has a sun-shade with attachable sides. I'm leaving the sides at home since they just use velcro to attach and take up more space than they are worth. The "roof" of the shade though is attached to the camper at the top. I'm going to get rebar for each of the two guy-lines.

I plan on bringing firewood wedges to place behind each tire (so I can burn them before heading home). I also plan on bringing squares of plywood to put under each jack/stake.


Is there anything else I should know about bringing a pop-up camper? I searched for "popup" and "pop up" but didn't find any threads talking about this. It's not as heavy as an RV and heavier than a tent...

[skippy3k]

I know this may seem obvious to some, but just know that your pop-up will never be the same after your trip to the playa. No matter how much you clean it afterwards, you will forever be surrounded by the playa. (Which may not be a bad thing!) I don't know what you are using for electricity, water, refrigeration, etc, but I am assuming you are mostly asking about the pop-up itself and how it will fare against the wind and dust. It will probably be fine. The use of the awning would be my concern, even if you do rebar it down. I'm not sure of the condition of your pop-up, but if that awning is aging (which a lot do very prematurely) then where it attaches to the trailer would be your failure point.

[burner von braun]

Hi demeter, it is often noted that factory made sun shades like yours get torn up on playa, they simply aren't built to withstand 50 to 60mph winds. If you decide to use it you'll need to retract it everytime you leave camp to be safe and keep it from potentially ripping off and wrecking your neighbor's campsites when left unattended.

There are threads here regarding popup campers, try googling "eplaya + popup campers", and I know of at least one eplayan who has developed a really nice setup with a popup camper at its core. He may stop in here at some point to offer advice.

You may end up having to lug your firewood wheel chocks some distance to find a proper place to burn them unless you plan on bringing your own regulation burn barrel. I like how you were going for the efficiency thing, but I'd suggest you use something less MOOPy, and just take them back home with you. YMMV

There are burners in your area, at the KOI Pound, if you need hands-on help or advice, I bet they'd be happy to help. Have a great burn!

[demeter]

where it attaches to the trailer would be your failure point.

Hmmm... any way to circumvent this? Other than...

retract it everytime you leave camp to be safe and keep it from potentially ripping off and wrecking your neighbor's campsites when left unattended.

as it is attached 10' in the air and removing the stakes multiple times a day to roll it up above my head would be a hassle... I'd be more likely to just never use it.

There are threads here regarding popup campers, try googling "eplaya + popup campers", and I know of at least one eplayan who has developed a really nice setup with a popup camper at its core. He may stop in here at some point to offer advice.

When I used the search bar ON ePlaya it only found two threads - one on customizing it and another equally irrelevant topic as to the actual logistics of bringing one to the Playa.

You may end up having to lug your firewood wheel chocks some distance to find a proper place to burn them unless you plan on bringing your own regulation burn barrel. I like how you were going for the efficiency thing, but I'd suggest you use something less MOOPy, and just take them back home with you.

MOOPy? I have a bicycle so 4 pieces of firewood shouldn't be too much of a hassle to lug to a fire barrel. I won't have my own burn barrel but I'm sure someone either in my theme camp or in the neighboring ones will. If not, there's always the community burns.

I don't want to go buy plastic ones because, well, A. I don't camp in high winds often enough to need them and B. that's a lot more money than one $4 bundle of wood. This is my first non-regional burn so I've incurred a lot of "start-up" costs and am trying to avoid more.

There are burners in your area, at the KOI Pound, if you need hands-on help or advice, I bet they'd be happy to help.

Oh yes. The KOIpound is pretty close to my house - I'm there a few times a month. To my knowledge though, none of them are in the habit of bringing a pop-up camper.

[GreyCoyote]

I think it was eplayan Jackass who brings a popup with a really cool setup every year. You might inquire of him and get some pointers.

[fernley1]

I have camped in a tent trailer on the playa. They do good. I bring blue tape to tape off any gaps and around windows to help keep out dust. I also use rugs outside the door to take off shoes so I don't track dust inside the trailer.
I NEVER use the tent trailer's shade canopy. I use a separate shade structure for shade.

[theCryptofishist]

You may end up having to lug your firewood wheel chocks some distance to find a proper place to burn them unless you plan on bringing your own regulation burn barrel. I like how you were going for the efficiency thing, but I'd suggest you use something less MOOPy, and just take them back home with you.

MOOPy? I have a bicycle so 4 pieces of firewood shouldn't be too much of a hassle to lug to a fire barrel. I won't have my own burn barrel but I'm sure someone either in my theme camp or in the neighboring ones will. If not, there's always the community burns.

I'm going to suggest that you get something other than firewood for your chocks. I've seen what happens to firewood out there. MOOPy before it hits the barrel, splinter and tiny bark pieces MOOPy. Someone on their knees picking up tiny pieces that are in the same color-range as the playa MOOPy. And that someone should be you...

[LowePro]

D,
I'd also suggest getting mentally prepared for a loooooooong road trip. Maybe you're already accustomed, but if not, get ready to drive slower than the rest of traffic, esp on hills, and budget extra time for your road trip compared to what Google-maps says. Towing for hours and hours is mentally taxing and involves constant low-level anxiety (at least for me) and I like to take more frequent breaks. Make sure the driver is well-rested and alert. Check all your trailer lights, blinkers, tires, fuses, and the light bulb over your license plate. Bring a few spare fuses and light bulbs. Also do some research to see if your hauler vehicle needs an E-brake controller or sway bars for such a long journey. I also like to get a little blind-spot fisheye mirror to stick on my sideview mirrors for towing, most autostores and truck stops sell them.

(2x4 or 4x4 Lumber blocks would be fine wheel stops and would still be cheap, the concern w/ firewood is that it's splintery and sheds chunks of wood scrap).

[misfit]

>>>> tiny bark pieces MOOPy<<<<
are there no trees or bushes around and on the playa. saying a piece of redwood is moop, maybe a bit extreme. go with untreated wood for your blocks, not plastic.

[Drawingablank]

I would highly recommend not using the built in awning. I have seen several of these self destruct in wooded campgrounds - from much smaller gusts than we often see on the playa.

A separate shade structure would be the way to go.

[shroom]

I was given a lot of good advice in here: viewtopic.php?f=277&t=68822

[demeter]

You may end up having to lug your firewood wheel chocks some distance to find a proper place to burn them unless you plan on bringing your own regulation burn barrel. I like how you were going for the efficiency thing, but I'd suggest you use something less MOOPy, and just take them back home with you.

MOOPy? I have a bicycle so 4 pieces of firewood shouldn't be too much of a hassle to lug to a fire barrel. I won't have my own burn barrel but I'm sure someone either in my theme camp or in the neighboring ones will. If not, there's always the community burns.

I'm going to suggest that you get something other than firewood for your chocks. I've seen what happens to firewood out there. MOOPy before it hits the barrel, splinter and tiny bark pieces MOOPy. Someone on their knees picking up tiny pieces that are in the same color-range as the playa MOOPy. And that someone should be you...

It would, of course, be me if that happened! I know a place that sells firewood without bark, etc but I will definitely keep that in mind when making my decision!

My only worry with 2x4s and 4x4s is whether or not they will actually DO anything to stop the trailer from moving.

[demeter]

I would highly recommend not using the built in awning. I have seen several of these self destruct in wooded campgrounds - from much smaller gusts than we often see on the playa.

A separate shade structure would be the way to go.

Hmm.. My camp has a community shade area... guess I just will play it safe and not set mine up!

[mgb327]

I bring a Jayco pop-up each year, 16' long "collapsed", 24' open. I love it. Inside shower, plenty of water storage, big bed, solar charger for all the 12v electric. It has the 4 corner jacks, I do not chock the wheels, as the playa is flat. The jacks will give enough stability. I tow it 3000 miles each way from Virginia. I like the fact that a pop-up is low, as you can see the car behind you in your mirror, and there is very little wind resistance. I fill the water when I get out west, no need to haul it. I use the shade canopy, properly rebared for security. The rug outside keeps a lot of the dust out of the inside, but I find it is not so bad, simply give it a good cleaning each year and it is good to go. I only use it for BM. The best of all worlds, not tent camping, yet not an RV.

[Jackass]

You don't need wheel chocks if you put down the stabilizer jacks (2 or 4) and "unload" the suspension. I've never bothered to use chocks on flat ground.

[gaminwench]

For future FWIW:

The search function on this site isn't very efficient;
you will get much better results using mighty google;

eplaya + keyword(s)

[demeter]

You don't need wheel chocks if you put down the stabilizer jacks (2 or 4) and "unload" the suspension. I've never bothered to use chocks on flat ground.

I was more worried about when the wind blew... could it blow hard enough to push the camper?

Oops, my virginity is showing

[Jackass]

If it blows hard enough to slide your trailer around with the legs down, then we're all doomed anyways and the wheel chocks would be the last thing on anyone's mind. At that point, domes would be up-rooting and ramshackle construction would come blowing in from all sides.

[mooserider]

MOOPy? I have a bicycle so 4 pieces of firewood shouldn't be too much of a hassle to lug to a fire barrel. I won't have my own burn barrel but I'm sure someone either in my theme camp or in the neighboring ones will. If not, there's always the community burns.

I'm going to suggest that you get something other than firewood for your chocks. I've seen what happens to firewood out there. MOOPy before it hits the barrel, splinter and tiny bark pieces MOOPy. Someone on their knees picking up tiny pieces that are in the same color-range as the playa MOOPy. And that someone should be you...

It would, of course, be me if that happened! I know a place that sells firewood without bark, etc but I will definitely keep that in mind when making my decision!

My only worry with 2x4s and 4x4s is whether or not they will actually DO anything to stop the trailer from moving.

One more point about firewood: many states have laws against transporting firewood from out-of-state, due to various tree-eating insect pests that they don't want brought into their area. So, don't use firewood (especially firewood from home [I noticed you weren't from Nevada]). If it has to be wood, use commercially-cut lumber (non-treated, so there won't be toxic fumes, since you plan on burning it).

If a little popup tent-camper can manage to climb over a 4x4, something really bad is going on, or you're using a semi-trailer's tractor to pull the tent-camper.

[Captain Goddammit]

You don't need the wheel chocks. I'm assuming you have corner jacks to stabilize the trailer (if not, get some!). I've never seen anyone have problems with their trailer rolling around. Rolling OVER in the wind, yeah I've seen that out there...

[Elderberry]

bumped this over to Shelter & Camping as it seems a better fit.

[Zubeneschamali]

One thing I learned from owning a p'up and wanting to stay comfortable in the summer was to use reflective tarps over the bunks. It really does wonders to keep the beds cool in the morning and delay the "sauna" effect. Never brought one to the playa so no experience with the potential failures that this may attract.

Setup was pretty easy, used a insulated tarp and clamped it over the top and sides of the bunks. Could see wind being the number one hazard here.