TLBaja79 - 10-18-2015 at 06:58 PM
I'm wanting to get a pop up camper for my truck in the future.
We enjoy camping out on beaches, dirt roads, etc... so sturdy construction would be very important.
What sorts of 'accessories' have you found to be highly desirable in Baja?
What are considerations I need to make before purchasing one?
What brand is the best? I have seen a handful of different ones but don't know too much about any of them.
Thanks for the discussion!
advrider - 10-18-2015 at 07:29 PM
Take a look at expedition portal, They have a lot of good info on campers and such..
dizzyspots - 10-18-2015 at 10:19 PM
northstar tc650,,,
Skipjack Joe - 10-19-2015 at 05:28 AM
Get one that's as light as possible. Get one with an aluminum frame. A heavy potop defeats it's purpose. I like the 4 Wheel campers, although I think
it's overpriced.
MMc - 10-19-2015 at 06:49 AM
Disclaimer, I still tent camp. I have been around a few and the Phoenix is what I would start looking at first. I have friends that like there's very
much and as campers go it nice inside and pretty user friendly. http://www.phoenixpopup.com/
[Edited on 10-19-2015 by MMc]
boe4fun - 10-19-2015 at 07:41 AM
Alaskan campers are pretty much bulletproof, but a bit heavy and pricey as well.
Tod - 10-19-2015 at 08:05 AM
Hallmark....somewhere there is an article comparing 3 of the pop ups and Hallmark comes out on top. More expensive than most but really well made. I
have a Cuchara and use it on my one ton in MT and the NW a lot. Made 7 Sisters trip with no problem and north road from San Juanico.
Bit question that impacts space is whether to have inside toilet and shower. We have it but never use it. Friend had his built with storage in that
space and is really nice. We do love having all the other amenities....heat, refer, hot water, plenty of room to be out of the weather and eat/play
cards.
The really best and in a league of its own are XP campers. Look them up. Amazingly well built and designed and much more expensive. You asked for the
best!!
BooJumMan - 10-19-2015 at 08:58 AM
Lots of variables, but I think any big named company is fine. I only have experience with 4 Wheel Campers and Northstar and both are really good. If I
were to buy, I would get a 4 Wheel. They are built for a beating.
Also, expedition portal does have a lot of good info.
pappy - 10-19-2015 at 10:44 AM
check outfittermfg.com aluminum frame pop up. built in Colorado. comes standard with most things 4 wheeler charges as extras...
Mexitron - 10-19-2015 at 01:05 PM
Better to buy used campers? Just wondering if they lose their value quickly like some other things (exercise machines, pool tables, spas for
example). What are the cons of a pop-up verses a regular camper in regards to weather and ease of use?
Sunman - 10-19-2015 at 01:39 PM
Four Wheel. My used 2003 is going on 8 years in my possession and still in great shape.
DianaT - 10-19-2015 at 04:54 PM
This is our latest popup camper, the Outfitter Caribou LIte all covered with the gumbo mud from the Dempster Highway in the Northwest Territories --- we took this camper for a 9000
mile ride this summer --- many gravel and dirt roads. On their website, there is a video of one of these in Baja.
It weighs in at about 850 pounds dry weight. Right now we are on another trip and in Longmont Colorado for a few repairs. We had NO problems with
the first Outfitter which was bigger. We have had a few problems with this one, but they are very good about addressing all problems. Unfortunately,
where we live, we can't have anything fixed locally as there are no RV places!
Just another option for a light weight pop-up with a very low profile .
Our first favorite "must have" is the heater that came with it --- probably not as important in Baja, but we have been camping in below freezing
weather in Montana.
Our second favorite --- or maybe our first, is our solar panel and refrigerator that is larger and only runs on the battery or electricity --- the
reason for the solar panel. We have had the three way refrigerators before and found them difficult to use and maintain a constant temperature. Just
our experience
Oh, we also like that this camper is fully usable off the truck.
Lots of different options out there ---- this is just another one.
Good luck!
On edit --- this camper came with one Fantastic Fan and we could have had a second one. For Baja, I would highly recommend having a Fantastic Fan ---
they are very powerful.
And being this light weight it only cuts our gas mileage by about 2 mpg --- we don't keep exact records. But I can tell you that when I am driving,
I don't feel this camper going up or down hill even with the water tank full!
[Edited on 10-20-2015 by DianaT]
[Edited on 10-21-2015 by BajaNomad]
Tod - 10-19-2015 at 08:01 PM
Ditto the Fantastic Fan. We added a second one this summer! We also have solar and love that.
tripledigitken - 10-19-2015 at 08:16 PM
Fantastic Fan x3
Some Cons of pop up campers
frizkie - 10-19-2015 at 11:29 PM
I had a Palomino pop up for a few years and drove to Baja Sur and back about four times.
Until the turnbuckles ripped out of the bottom of the camper, and the cupboards landed on the counter top after the Puertecitos road from Mexicali to
Gonzaga Bay but that was 15 years ago and that road was "The road from Hell". Good thing we had a chance to visit with CoCo though 
Another problem for me was lack of storage space and, of course, when you drop the roof it is a pretty tight fit when you want to go back and have a
quick nap before you hit the road again 
Oh, yes, and then there was the time in
LA Bay that the wind nearly ripped the door off...Mine had these Dutch kinda doors that when the camper was popped up it was a full door I've noticed
some of them don't seem to have a totally full door when top is lifted, that's something to make sure you do have, a full back door... Mind you, I
also had my Porta-Bote on the top of the camper for a couple of years driving down, and they advise against carrying anything on top of a pop top
camper and also mine was on my 4x4 Mazda and I did some pretty crazy roads with it. It didn't take the beating very well. 
watizname - 10-20-2015 at 07:46 AM
I had the Palomino with the full size door also. Having that door is nice, but you sacrifice a full top rail and the camper "racks" out of square
when extended if not absolutely level. It's fixable, but a POA when collapsing it and trying to get that watertight seal all the way around. Having
a toilet is really nice for nighttime use and for the ladies. Took ours to Baja a bunch and it lasted OK. I would go for a more solid build though
for off road.
best pop up a skamper
Skinnybumplip - 10-20-2015 at 10:42 PM
This is s 1985 skamper that fits nicely in my generation 1 Tacoma 4x4
Have taken this down a few times. The size and weight is perfect
The dry weight is 850lbs and the screen sides all around makes for great visibility while inside. I just got done painting it the picture of it at
punta San Jose was a few months back
[Edited on 10-21-2015 by BajaNomad]
