new to pop up camping

[kwatt57]

Hello All, I just bought a new jayco pop up and thought I'd ask for any sage advice for first time campers. We've Been tenting for awhile now so we aren't new to camping in general, but have never been out with a camper before. Anyone have any hard learned lessons or just plain useful tips your willing to share with the new Guy? any and all comments are appreciated! Thanks.

[stateboy]

Spend the first night in your driveway (or close to home). Check and run all the appliances. Download the owners manual from the Internet if it's a used one without it. Replace any safety devices if over 5 years old or batteries in them in general. Sanitize the water system and check for leaks. Others will chime in with more tips.

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[jaycojay]

My only advise i would like to offer you, and it's a good one ..... do "not" drop the jackstands down before attempting to raise the roof, and before lowering the roof, make sure they are in the up position. Reason being, the body on the pop-up needs to flex somewhat when the roof is going up, or down. With the stands down, they prevent this from happening .... and will cause the roof mechanism to jamb. Have seen it in a campground once, to a guy who was across from us. i had no idea, but my brother-in-law knew exactly what had happened. He went over and told him... they raised the stands, and down the roof went. Lesson learned!

[Fire_Instructor]

As was already suggested, download the manual and keep it in a binder so that you have it on the road. Also download the manuals for specific appliances, inverter, awnings, water pump, etc. The trailer manual gives very general instructions, but sometimes you need the extra detail in the device instructions that the trailer manual doesn't have. For a pop-up, this shouldn't be a lot of downloading.

Also, with a pop-up, there is usually a switch that keeps lights, sometimes the water pump, and sometimes other things from accidental operation while the roof is down. Find out where it is BEFORE it malfunctions (usually just stuck) when you are out in the woods.

Finally, learn how to properly level your unit. Single axle trailers are the EASIEST to level! Get it level from wheel to wheel using "leggo blocks" or wood planks, then once it's level wheel to wheel, then level it from to rear using jack on the tongue, crank the roof up, then STABILIZE with the stabilizers. Don't try to lift or torque the frame with the stabilizer. It's just a stabilizer, not a jack!

Open a cold, refreshing adult beverage of choice, and enjoy!

[RogerR]

For your first trip try to make sure you go slower than 65. Almost all tires on popups are not designed to go over 65!

Make sure they are fully inflated to the number on the sidewall. Could be 35 , 50 or 65.

Check the manufacturers date code. It is in a little oval and it is a week/ year format. You can do a short search to get help finding it. If they are over 5 years buy new. Lots of threads on that issue.

Always check that brake and turn lights are working, every time you hook up, not just before you leave home.

Be sure your mirrors let you see around the camper. If not invest in add on mirrors. ( I like the Milencos)

Stay safe and enjoy!

[barryg]

Previous posts advice is good. One thing I found to level the trailer side to side was the BAL Leveler. It was nice and easy to use. With a popup we found ourselves many times on quite uneven ground and blocks could start to get pretty high. I found this contraption and it worked great, easy peasy to use. Set the trailer where you want it, unhook it. level it quickly and on to the next step. There were several times where it was up a good six inches. Wish they made them for much heavier double axle trailers.

BAL - Innovative Products for the RV Industry

[RoyBraddy]

X2 on back yard camping first.... We learned alot about how things are suppose to work and what to have aboard doing this...

Our next step was going to a local camp ground. We have the Westmoreland State park just 25 miles away from us... This site is also close to a WALMART and a LOWES store.

This is abit different from camping in the back yard as you are committed more to the camping environment but you are close enough to home and surrounding stores etc to finialize on your camping plans...

Even today I still head for the Westmoreland State Park to try out my mods and find out the pitfalls etc... Best to find the short fall out early on then to be sitting up in the high country miles from anything like along the Virginia/West Virginia wooded winding state lines... The gots bears up there haha...

Once they smell your fresh ground and brewed bean coffee then they show up every morning wanting some...


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Roy Ken

[Lifespalette]

All of the above recommendations are excellent. I would also add if you don't have a lot or any experience in pulling a trailer behind your tow vehicle, go to a large parking lot after hours and practice, practice, practice. Get accustomed to how it handles, how the trailer will short cut your turn radius and especially how to back it into parking space. Put out some rubber cones one at the end of each space marking line and one at the back line....and when you can get it in and out of the space with bumping into the cones, your ready for anything. Trust me, you'll appreciate the skill. I've been to parks that were wide open and most are pretty good about maintaining the maximum clearance, but then there's always the one where you pull up to your site and there's a stand of trees on both sides of 10' drive or you decide to try boondocking. You'll also appreciate good "trailering skills" pulling into or out of service stations for fuel. I was out in Colorado several years back to help my little sister remodel her bathroom. I was pulling a 16' utility trailer that contained my portable contracting shop (carpentry). Watched a guy in the next bay pull out with a pop up camper behind his tow vehicle. I'll admit space was limited to begin with but up in the mountains it's the norm not the exception. Trailer's turn radius is always off track from that of the tow vehicle and pulling out his off tracking trailer clipped one of those big luxury pickups....you know, the $68K+ Cadillac Cowboy rigs, owned by an honest to gawd really big cowboy. Total damage to both truck and PUP probably around $6k......many things can spoil the start of a weekend camping trip..............and that's one of them. Some things can't be avoided, accidents happen, but knowing how to expertly handle your towed trailer is something you don't have to add to that list.

[WyEm]

I would add to trace and learn all your systems, water, drains, LP, electrical, etc.