Camper Chat 1.0

[Desertbreh]

Towing is rated at 3.5k lbs, so I imagine the thought is that most people towing responsibly won't need a trailer brake controller.

Which is funny because you usually want trailer brakes on anything over 2k lbs. I really like the trailer brakes on my popup.

I'm probably going to skip messing with the tow vehicle and do this:

https://getautowbrake.com/

This way, I don't have to mess with the JL AND JT if we want to tow the camper with either.

Towing any more than 10% of the rated capacity is dangerously irresponsible bro. Get a Peterbilt.

Fact. Peterbilt is always the answer.

[Desertbreh]

Anywho...

Shit went down yesterday. In a good way.

Appointment was at 11am to pick up the tinycamper; goal was to leave at 7am. Ended up hitting the road at 7:30 and then also hit construction on Rt. 33 and Rt. 80 in PA. Headwinds were fierce, but the changing leaves were perty.



I ended up arriving at 11:20, not terribly late, but a little behind schedule. Was greeted by the delivery specialist, Michael, and we did the walk around and checked that everything worked. Lights, stereo, fridge, AC, heat, doors and locks, etc. Then we hooked her up for the first time, and thankfully my brake controller and 7-pin wiring job worked flawlessly. I had no trailer to test it on so this was a total shot in the dark up until the first hookup.





Ended up hitting the road around 1:30 PM or so with the deal signed and sealed, funds handed over, and keys in my hand. Stopped at Sheetz for the first meal of the day and some gas and off I went.



Rolled into the driveway at 6pm after stopping to take a nap at a rest stop - and yes, I did sleep in the trailer. So fantastic being able to stop, crack the window and turn the vent fan on and konk out for 20 mins. Pulled great, I was able to maintain 70-75 without an issue, I did find that manually shifting the Jeep on inclines was best, though. Really reluctant to kick down, and there's no tow/haul mode. As for empeegeez, I need to fill the tank today and calculate the impact the trailer has. Really didn't seem too bad, though.



This feels weird and incredibly but I’m excited to use it.

[CaleDeRoo]

That's a sweet camper. Would sleep in 5/7

[razr390]

This is a great investment. A proper place for the in-laws to sleep in when they’re visiting! Keep your family drama in my driveway, Karen.

[wap]

This is a great investment. A proper place for the in-laws to sleep in when they’re visiting! Keep your family drama in my driveway, Karen.

[dubshow]

Towing MPG calculated out to 12.8 MPG over very hilly terrain and doing 70-75.

Yeah that's about right. I got 12 towing the rabbit.

[Johnny_P]

[Apex]

First overnight happening Tuesday night.

In the backyard?

[Apex]

In the backyard?

Nah, taking a run down to Massey’s landing in Delaware to grab a spot next to my parents for one night while they’re down there for the week.

Right on Rehoboth Bay, site backs right up to the water.

Oh nice! That should be a fun first run.

[Johnny_P]

Time for

[CaleDeRoo]

Went out tonight and checked pressures, lug torque, put some loctite on the lag bolts holding the AC unit to the roof (recommendation from other intech owners) and removed the crossbars on the roof rack so it’ll eventually fit in the garage.

Gotta dig out some sheets and blankets and pillows for it, and we’ll be ready for the first run.

Thing is pretty roomy. Need some curtains, doe.

https://www.smarttint.com/

Flip a switch boi

[Irish]

First trip done and in the books.

Towed it down to a place on Rehoboth Bay in Delaware called Massey’s Landing. My parents and a couple of their friends are there for the week, so I loaded up the slide-out kitchen with beer and snacks and went down for a quick overnight.









Verdict is that this is an awesome little unit. Will be ordering the magnetic screen for the back door, and I'm going to look into replacing the solid glass in the curbside door with a sliding window + screen as well for more overnight ventilation when not using the AC. AC is powerful enough to turn this thing into a meat locker, by the way.

It's solid as a rock with all the landing gear deployed, easy to set up, easy to tear down and drive off, and it pulls quite nicely with no sway or wandering. The JKU is not the most ideal tow vehicle (a transmission with more gear range than the 5-speed auto would be better), but it did well enough. I saw 13.6 empeegeez on the road tugging the tinycamper.

[Apex]

Adventure Awaits!

[wap]

[CaleDeRoo]

Love this thing.

[Desertbreh]

First trip done and in the books.

Towed it down to a place on Rehoboth Bay in Delaware called Massey’s Landing. My parents and a couple of their friends are there for the week, so I loaded up the slide-out kitchen with beer and snacks and went down for a quick overnight.









Verdict is that this is an awesome little unit. Will be ordering the magnetic screen for the back door, and I'm going to look into replacing the solid glass in the curbside door with a sliding window + screen as well for more overnight ventilation when not using the AC. AC is powerful enough to turn this thing into a meat locker, by the way.

It's solid as a rock with all the landing gear deployed, easy to set up, easy to tear down and drive off, and it pulls quite nicely with no sway or wandering. The JKU is not the most ideal tow vehicle (a transmission with more gear range than the 5-speed auto would be better), but it did well enough. I saw 13.6 empeegeez on the road tugging the tinycamper.

You have my attention.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

This is fantastic! Love it.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Researching campers with the thought in the back of my mind of upgrading ours.

Taxa Mantis is my perfect camper. Short enough to store in my garage. Pops up so I can stand in it. All the features I want, nothing I don't.

I'd buy one today....if it wasn't $50k

[Apex]

Researching campers with the thought in the back of my mind of upgrading ours.

Taxa Mantis is my perfect camper. Short enough to store in my garage. Pops up so I can stand in it. All the features I want, nothing I don't.

I'd buy one today....if it wasn't $50k

You should quit FCA and start building these out of your garage.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Researching campers with the thought in the back of my mind of upgrading ours.

Taxa Mantis is my perfect camper. Short enough to store in my garage. Pops up so I can stand in it. All the features I want, nothing I don't.

I'd buy one today....if it wasn't $50k

You should quit FCA and start building these out of your garage.

Don't tempt me...

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Researching campers with the thought in the back of my mind of upgrading ours.

Taxa Mantis is my perfect camper. Short enough to store in my garage. Pops up so I can stand in it. All the features I want, nothing I don't.

I'd buy one today....if it wasn't $50k

Gotta be something between that and your pop-up now.

My list of requirements are

The biggest pain to me about the popup is setup. It takes a while. I'd really like something that sets up and breaks down faster. BUT, I like the space inside and I like being able to stand up in it. And the compact size is perfect so I can put it on a lift in my garage and park underneath it.

Requirements:
No taller than a vehicle when stowed
6' interior height minimum (over 6'5 is hugely appreciated so I don't have to duck)
Easy setup
<$20k

Our popup hits all these but the setup. It's also showing its age and I'm worried we use it too much and it'll start degrading to the point where I spend more time working on it than enjoying it. Time is precious these days.

There's just not much out

[troyguitar]

Gotta be something between that and your pop-up now.

My list of requirements are

The biggest pain to me about the popup is setup. It takes a while. I'd really like something that sets up and breaks down faster. BUT, I like the space inside and I like being able to stand up in it. And the compact size is perfect so I can put it on a lift in my garage and park underneath it.

Requirements:
No taller than a vehicle when stowed
6' interior height minimum (over 6'5 is hugely appreciated so I don't have to duck)
Easy setup
<$20k

Our popup hits all these but the setup. It's also showing its age and I'm worried we use it too much and it'll start degrading to the point where I spend more time working on it than enjoying it. Time is precious these days.

There's just not much out

What steering ratio do you need?

[ChrisoftheNorth]

My list of requirements are

The biggest pain to me about the popup is setup. It takes a while. I'd really like something that sets up and breaks down faster. BUT, I like the space inside and I like being able to stand up in it. And the compact size is perfect so I can put it on a lift in my garage and park underneath it.

Requirements:
No taller than a vehicle when stowed
6' interior height minimum (over 6'5 is hugely appreciated so I don't have to duck)
Easy setup
<$20k

Our popup hits all these but the setup. It's also showing its age and I'm worried we use it too much and it'll start degrading to the point where I spend more time working on it than enjoying it. Time is precious these days.

There's just not much out

What steering ratio do you need?

Single axle. Easier to maneuver IMO.

[Apex]

You should quit FCA and start building these out of your garage.

Don't tempt me...

[troyguitar]

What steering ratio do you need?

Single axle. Easier to maneuver IMO.

Dat short wheelbase, lightweight edition.