First trip

[Xjsport95]

I’m taking my first trip in the popup next weekend… I’m used to class a coaches… while new ballgame for me in a pup… I think I have everything fixed and ready to go… does anyone have any tips or tricks for first timers? Anything specific I shld bring?

 

[Sjm9911]

Make sure you check it out at home first. Bring a level and leveling blocks. Pups like to be level. Other then that, a jack that will lift the pup and check to see the wrentch fits both the tires and spare. Sometimes they have a diffrent size nut on the spare.

 

[jmkay1]

Stay fairly close to home on the first trip or two until you know you packed everything you need. Gosh knows I've had to drive all the way back home from camp because I forgot something.

Keep a piece of paper and pen handy to make a "to bring/to do list" so when you get home from your trip you remember what you need etc. Storage is at a premium in popups so you have to remember you can't go crazy bringing everything with you otherwise your going to play musical boxes way way too much.

 

[JiffyPopJunkie]

Bring chocks for your wheels and put them in place before you unhitch and put your stabs down before entering the pup. As jmkay said, pen and paper is probably the best thing to bring. You'll be surprised how big the list will be.

 

[Tonya Harding]

If using an awning, tip a corner a tad lower for run off in case of rain; hi winds, roll it up before they hit...we carry a couple of large nylon tarps (Kelty) "just in case", small portable charger such as a WeeGo for phone/jump start if no hook ups...

 

[Mark CASTELLANI]

our first trip was a 750+ "round trip adventure" that included driving the New Jersy Turnpike during Friday Night Rush-Hour traffic, in the pouring rain.... DON'T DO THAT! LOL

seriously though... if you haven't already done this, spend this coming week "driveway" camping... pop it up and down as many times as you can... use the "systems" as many times as you can... hitch it up and drive around the neighborhood... practice backing up between cones in a school yard... and, like it's been said, take notes... that's what we did... like they say "Practice makes Perfect"

That said, I still took just about every tool from the garage that I had and then, over time, learned what I truly needed.

Unlike you, coming from a Class A, we tented for years before our first PUP so, other than the "mechanicals" [ie: tire and chassis tools], we were set for just having a "tent on wheels"

Happy Trails!

 

[Mark CASTELLANI]

FWIW... here's my "Check List" [PS: converted from an Excel Spreadsheet]

Happy Trails!

 

[Mark60]

Good idea on the checklist, I had to make 2- trips home last year to retrieve major items I needed and left at home so now it’s a list before I go and items accounted for.

 

[Mark CASTELLANI]

okay... here's some more [can ya tell that I'd rather be out camping today and not stuck at home?]

Happy Trails!

 

[Mark CASTELLANI]

Good idea on the checklist, I had to make 2- trips home last year to retrieve major items I needed and left at home so now it’s a list before I go and items accounted for.

That's what I love about the PUP [see my post, above]....keep all camping/PUP dedicated items stowed in there and ONLY have one or two things to load before a trip

Happy Trails!

 

[Mark CASTELLANI]

Good idea on the checklist, I had to make 2- trips home last year to retrieve major items I needed and left at home so now it’s a list before I go and items accounted for.

PPS:... those liss are printed, laminated and kept in a 3-ring binder

When DW and Kids needed to find something [or get it for me], they knew where to find it

"Everything has It's place and Everything IN it's place"

Happy Trails!

 

[Xjsport95]

Well… first trip didn’t go so well… left a day early… I driveway camped and everything went great… day of the trip I had a blow out half way there, put on the spare. Got it all set up going good, started getting chilly so I turned on the propane to start the furnace an get it keeping temp in the camper around 10, propane starts leaking from the regulator, ran down to the camp store and picked a comparable one up. Installed it by flashlight… furnace turns on but won’t light, can’t get the stove to light. Went back to the party come back to camp at 3am and it’s 40 degrees… froze all night… Other than the issues, I guess it wasn’t too awful bad, packed up a day early to figure it out

 

[Hey Now Bob]

okay... here's some more [can ya tell that I'd rather be out camping today and not stuck at home?]

Happy Trails!

I like the "coffee pots".