Thoughts on campers/pop ups

[Bearkat]

My brother has a FEMA trailer at our lease and loves it. It has a lot a room and has bunks.

[brutus]

Camper cheap for the deer lease is the way to go. For some reason Mice love canvas on pop ups.

[Formerhr]

If it's to make the wife and kids comfortable, I would get the camper simply for the shower. Look for one with a corner shower, which is a tad bigger than the regular rectangle showers and give you a little more room to move around in the thing. I haven't researched a lot of popups recently, but the ones I've seen in the past are a combination crapper and shower. I don't know you're wife, but I can tell you my wife wouldn't be too keen on the crapper / shower combo.

If you've got electricity I would go with the electric heater over using the propane one. The furnace will eat up a lot of propane. Before we bought our building I was staying in our 5th wheel at the lease. I bought a heater / fan combo and it would keep the camper warm on the coldest nights.

I know you didn't ask, but... If this is a place where you feel you're lease is stable and long term I would recommend a portable building. I think ours is 14 x 30 and we have a bathroom with a real toilet, which is nice, and a larger shower than a camper. You'll still have room for a couple of sets of bunk beds, love seat, and a kitchen. You can buy a used portable building in studs and if you have some skills (or friends with skills) you can finish it out like you want. Plus you can keep mice out of a portable building, you ain't keeping mice out of a trailer.

Having stayed in both, the portable building wins hands down because of the functional bathroom and keeping the mice out. If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

[BNUTZ KILLIN]

I bought a construction trailer and love the thing. You can get on craigs list and find them all day long. They are more wide open so it gives you more room to move around. The only thing you will have to do is put a shower in but thats easy to do.

[tx07]

Popups leak around the canvas, Popups have air but no heat and it will get cold. Popups will blow and pop when the wind blows. Popups, you will hear every noise in the woods ie... coyote's, skunks, dogs barking etc....

Get the travel trailer. I stayed in a popup for 4 years and it ain't no fun in the winter or cold season. If you want to hunt a lot, make the wife comfortable and you will hunt a lot.

To add to that they will rot out fairly quick on the thread holding seams.

[Tmag]

Campers stay warmer and leak less.

[TTU TX Hunter]

When we crammed into a popup if felt like it was just a tent on wheels with electricity and plus if it gets cold the main beds are pretty much in the worst position! Our fifth wheel has come in handy but is honestly a little overkill get a used 28foot tandem axle!

[Coach W]

I had a popup for two years. Tried it hunting in N Panhandle- that was a mistake! The heater worked but it just couldnt keep up with the arctic blast. I got a FEMA Trailer a couple years ago, best decision ever... Now the wife goes often, and its very very comfortable. Was almost brand new, and literally paid a fraction of price of a normal camper. I was there last weekend when temp was in the teens, and i had to turn the heater down b/c it got too hot. Another advantage is that its a "park model"- meaning its designed to park somewhere and stay there for a while- perfect for hunting. Our plumbing is permanently tied in, so we just show up & turn on the lights, just like a house. When we leave, we just turn the water off and drain the lines out, and we're done. Also, the FEMA's have a full size toilet and a full size fridge! Ours will sleep 4 grown men, or 2 adults in the master and 4 more sleeping areas...
IMO- these are ideal for hunting setups and cheaper than regular campers...
So easy & convenient!

Yes SIR! Get you a FEMA trailer... Heck for what they are priced Get 2!

I got a FEMA trailer in the panhandle and its the best hunting I have ever been a part of... Running water, electricity, stove, microwave, toilet, shower, heater, A/C... the list goes on and on... you dont know what its like until you have one!

At my other lease I have a small tandem axle trailer I bought here in the classifieds.... WAY better than sleeping in the TRUCK!

NO WAY I WOULD GET A POP UP!

Get a beater, generator, and water tank and you can be rolling high for under 1000 bux! Even in the boonies.

Or get the FEMA and spend about 2-3 times that but you get what you pay for!

[Stan R]

Get a travel trailer as big as your truck and budget can handle.

[Rounder]

Whats the best place in the Houston area to take a look at a FEMA trailer?

My biggest concern with these things would be they are just beat to heck cause the people that worked in them didnt take care of them......but obviously that could could be the case buying from a dealer or private party as well.

[TXpapa]

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=233674

[Rounder]

I had a popup for two years. Tried it hunting in N Panhandle- that was a mistake! The heater worked but it just couldnt keep up with the arctic blast. I got a FEMA Trailer a couple years ago, best decision ever... Now the wife goes often, and its very very comfortable. Was almost brand new, and literally paid a fraction of price of a normal camper. I was there last weekend when temp was in the teens, and i had to turn the heater down b/c it got too hot. Another advantage is that its a "park model"- meaning its designed to park somewhere and stay there for a while- perfect for hunting. Our plumbing is permanently tied in, so we just show up & turn on the lights, just like a house. When we leave, we just turn the water off and drain the lines out, and we're done. Also, the FEMA's have a full size toilet and a full size fridge! Ours will sleep 4 grown men, or 2 adults in the master and 4 more sleeping areas...
IMO- these are ideal for hunting setups and cheaper than regular campers...
So easy & convenient!

Do most of these come equipped to just be plugged into a normal electrical outlet or would we have to set that up?

Is the hot water heater electric as well or propane?

Thanks for all the feedback?

[cashcropper]

Theres a 27 footer for sale for a grand on southeasttexas.com

[Mr.RonGilbert]

Whats the best place in the Houston area to take a look at a FEMA trailer?

My biggest concern with these things would be they are just beat to heck cause the people that worked in them didnt take care of them......but obviously that could could be the case buying from a dealer or private party as well.

They had a mess of them on I-10 in Baytown just west of Garth.. on the north side of the road. I will try and get by there and take a look. That would be the way to go... tons to choose from and perfect to drop at a lease somewhere. The cost is a third (or less) of what you would pay new.

I have a toy hauler (31'), a big A tent and a tiny tent.... depending on who goes with me and how long I am staying. When the price of fuel was out the wazoo it was cheaper to stay at a hotel than pull the camper.... less hassle etc.. that was on long trips though.

I also use my camper to bug out when a Hurricane comes.. I keep it loaded with canned food, water and spare clothes in case we have one headed down the jetties towards us.

[Tomkat70]

Speaking from experience I would not buy a pop up. The rough roads and weather realy take a horrible toll on a pop up. I love them but they just will not hold up in storms and all.