Beckers 1,136 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 Anyone?? We were looking for a new tent but now DH said lets consider a pop up. We would have to use my 2003 Saturn v6 to tow on.Any thoughts? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ftwildernessguy 778 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 Yeah. Don't do it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beckers 1,136 Posted February 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 Really? That bad??? Dang. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PureTcrazy...rita 380 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 I would imagine it depends on the weight of the pup. I have a friend who pulls a rather large boat with hers with no problem at all. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beckers 1,136 Posted February 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 We checked the owners manual and its rated at 3,500 lbs. we are looking to start small and cheap so it wouldn't be anything to huge or heavy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wak648...Bill 94 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 In my non Larry voice, depending on the GWV (do not go by the dry weight of the unit) of the pop up, you could be pushing the limits. Dont forget you still have to figure out the weight of all the passengers, cargo, and a full tank of fuel of the tow vehicle. Other things to consider and what might help is trailer brakes, which you would need a brake controller wired in the TV, and adding an after market transmission cooler to the TV. Nicki aka Rebelstand 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CakeHenn 4 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 If you are only looking at really short trips I could probably do it and even then you would need to put some money into the Saturn. It's just not worth it. If you are really serious I'd start looking for a good sized SUV or a half ton truck. Both should do fine pulling any pop up out there. Look for something that already has a tow package. When it comes to tow vehicles I'd say buy something that has much greater capacity then you think you need because once people buy one RV they sometimes fall in love with it and then end up selling that one and buying a larger one. Happens to so many people including me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CakeHenn 4 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 One other though is you could rent a class A or C to get in an RV fix. They are not cheap to rent but honestly they are not cheap to buy either. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beckers 1,136 Posted February 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 Buying a bigger car isn't in the budget yet (plus we are hoping to keep our current ones until they beg for mercy). We were hoping be able to start small and cheap and see how it goes before making any large purchases. Trips would probably be close to home, no more than 3-4 hours and probably just long weekends at first. Plus if we don't leave South jersey we won't have to worry about hills or mountains lol!Thanks for everyone's input. Keep it coming if you have more, gives us stuff to think about that we didn't think of! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beckers 1,136 Posted February 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 My dad also had a ford 250 that we could use if the car seat would fit in the second row. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dblr....Rennie 224 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 My dad also had a ford 250 that we could use if the car seat would fit in the second row.Now your talking, we can school you at Gettysburg all you want on tow vehicles and rv's. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CakeHenn 4 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 Yeah when I was talking short trips I was thinking less than an hour. With the Saturn you would be overheating your trans pretty quick unless you had a cooler. Long time ago I had a Explorer Sport V6 and towed a uhaul trailer...ended up overheating and screwing up my trans. Never again do I want that happening. If you can borrow the 250 you would be in business. I can certainly understand not buying new vehicles (or new to you) and budgets. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beckers 1,136 Posted February 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 Oh cakehenn that sucks. My dad doesn't use it truck much any more so its not like we would be putting them out by borrowing it and more often than not they would probably be with us. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 Yeah when I was talking short trips I was thinking less than an hour. With the Saturn you would be overheating your trans pretty quick unless you had a cooler. Long time ago I had a Explorer Sport V6 and towed a uhaul trailer...ended up overheating and screwing up my trans. Never again do I want that happening. Well you don't have to worry about that anymore as UHaul won't rent anything towable to "Explorers". I've got a V8 Explorer Sport Trac with tow package, factory transmission cooler, and 7K tow limit, and I can't even rent their tiniest trailer.But my BIL with a small Sante Fe can. STUPID!!!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AC in A2......Aaron 693 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 I saw a couple tiny trailers at the Fort that look like they have a queen bed in the trailer and a large tent that folds out from the trailer. Could something like that work for you? I think those trailers could probably be hauled by a golfcart but i confess i dont know much on this topic. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
caveat lector 181 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 My dad also had a ford 250 that we could use if the car seat would fit in the second row.Do it. It will make for a safe relaxing start to your vacation. :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 Yeah, there are some tiny popups out there, that are not much more than a box that holds tent material. Something in the 1,000 - 1,200 lb range would be doable. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stacktester 78 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 Look at the 8' pop up bodies. They're light and tiny and might fit your bill. I'd go at least 1k pounds under your tow rating to leave room for people and gear. Good luck. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CakeHenn 4 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 Yeah most towing ratings assume just one driver and a a full tank of gas. SO when your entire family is there plus coolers and all your other camping stuff it really adds up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stacktester 78 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 Just go on rv.net and type in the ? you're asking here and ol cupcake will answer you to a tee lol. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beckers 1,136 Posted February 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 We have decided to squash the idea of the Vue. I love my girl but I don't want to run her into the ground. My husband's boss has a pop up and said we can come over this weekend and he will show us how it goes up, what the inside is like, etx to get a better idea before we go on a goose chase to find out its not what we want. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CakeHenn 4 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 We spend two years wanting an RV before we actually pulled the trigger so no need to jump into it faster than you feel comfortable. Personally once we got our first one I started wishing we would have bought one a lot sooner. But you do hear stories of people that like the idea of RVing, get one, and then it just sits unused. I think the idea of getting a used pop up or smaller travel trailer is a good one for anyone wanting to start RVing. If you end up not liking it then you really are not out too much and because it's used you won't take a very big deprecation hit...in fact some have sold used trailers for as much or more than they bought them for. Best time to buy is fall/winter...worst time is probably spring. Kind of like boats. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LONE-STAR 370 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 We have decided to squash the idea of the Vue. I love my girl but I don't want to run her into the ground. My husband's boss has a pop up and said we can come over this weekend and he will show us how it goes up, what the inside is like, etx to get a better idea before we go on a goose chase to find out its not what we want.When it comes to campers. No matter what you want, it's never what you want. But some come closer then others. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dblr....Rennie 224 Posted February 23, 2013 Report Share Posted February 23, 2013 If you would really like to see a bunch of rv's at one place try to get to a show,plus they have campgrounds with info there also, here is one that would be close to you next week. http://www.readingrvshow.com/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CakeHenn 4 Posted February 23, 2013 Report Share Posted February 23, 2013 If you would really like to see a bunch of rv's at one place try to get to a show,plus they have campgrounds with info there also, here is one that would be close to you next week. http://www.readingrvshow.com/I agree with going to a show. You can really see what's out there. If you are buying new you will also get your best price at a show. But in your case it sounds like tipping your toe in with a used unit might be the best bet. I'll warn you...lots of people go with the best intentions to only look and end up buying HAHA. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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