My distaste for this idea comes from my distaste my tent trailer left me with. However, we did get a LOT of use out of the tent trailer before it pissed me off. The pop-up camper seems like it would be kind of a hybrid between tent trailer and roof top tent? Might check all the right boxes?
Things I love about the idea of a popup camper:
1) light
2) low profile
3) sometimes cost
Drawbacks: canvas and three leg jack design
Things I'd rather have a full size camper for:
1) hard sides
2) never having to dry it out after a rainy trip
3) setup latrine, stove, fridge, etc
Drawbacks: HEAVY and high profile
I would hope that a pop up truck camper would be much better then a tent trailer. I would think that the minimal amount of fabric in a truck bed popup camper would help retain some heat and cold air has needed, and not be nearly as noisy in the wind or leak in the rain. I also think it would be much better than a rooftop tent, there would be much more space inside. The one I'm looking at is 7' tall inside, so I could stand up with LOTS of room to spare.
Do you already have a truck in the works? A pop up style opens up more truck options than a hard side one due to weight. Just think of the places you could take an older Tundra with a pop up
I have been looking at a couple early 2000's Chevy 1/2 ton trucks. I think I would be fine with a 1/2 ton truck, I do want to be able to tow my Willy's to Moab every now and again and these truck popup campers that I am looking at way around 2500 pounds wet and loaded. I think a 1/2 ton Chevy with 5.3l V8 and 4L60E would fit my needs well enough.
I would probably set the truck up with improved suspension and upgraded shocks and a set of BFG all terrains that were perhaps one size larger than stock for more capable dirt road adventures.
I agree with Marc.
I say build your teardrop trailer, without the wheels. Then winch that sucker up on your flatbed truck and secure it. I have no doubt you would end up with a better product, and save a ton of coin. RV's are built like crap.
I know what you're saying, but my biggest issue is that I am not much of a builder. I don't like working with wood and I am not sure I would ever have the time to build something that could be anywhere near as good as a camper that I could buy. Even the idea of building a teardrop trailer would have been a huge project for me to tackle, building a camper that was big enough for me to stand up in is out of my capability.
Build your own
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I have never done the pop up camper, but have had many hard sides. many pro's and con's. The worst thing that can happen is that you don't like it.
I have seen far too many home built campers that look like ass, much like the one pictured! I know what I'm good at and building something like a truck camper is not it. I would rather just buy one.
I loved my old FWC even though it was a well worn 80's model. Aluminum frame was super light and strong and there was no wind noise from the fabric sides. The furnace rocked for winter camping. Several nights below zero in that thing.
Biggest complaint was the floor plan (I prefer the dinettes/booth) and the upper bunk was pretty small. I'm sure the newer ones are better in that regard.
I think the majority of pop-ups are built cheap and not well constructed.. probably fine for the average camper but not really designed for off road/dirt road use the way the FWC (along with a handful of others) is.
I wish I could find a Four Wheel Camper flat bad Hawk model that's a few years old and in good condition. I would love to own something like that! I understand that a lot of the other camper brands are cheaply built, but finding a Four Wheel Camper has been difficult. And believe me, I am looking often.
My dad has one and I've used it a number of times. It's not bad at all. It has the 4 season option so more insulated than most. It also has a head and electric jacks on all 4 corners. Can't remember the brand now, but it's a good one. Not bad in the wind either.
Would love to find a pop up camper with a Winter package, that would be the best over all option! Good to hear that it does pretty well in the wind to, that is my biggest concern. I don't want to feel like I'm in a tent when the wind picks up.
find a Flippac or a Wildernest
I really don't like those, to be honest with you. They are much more like a tent then I want.
Do you have a secret longbed pickup we don't know about?
Not yet.... I have been looking for a while and I'm waiting for the right deal to come a long.
