Post by: bassyk on August 02, 2015, 01:35:47 PM
our main issue is our set up / pack up times at the moment and the jayco's look to be far quicker than our current setup.
So my point of all this is to find people that have moved on from their "pop top" style van such as the swan , flamingo etc.. and find out what the down sides to this style of set up to see if it is worth us changing
we have 2 kids (3 & 6) and all the stuff that comes along with them too
TIA
Post by: PhilW on August 02, 2015, 03:01:27 PM
Really enjoyed the Eagle and had no issues regarding the pack up time.
I think people place way too much emphasis on the whole "Set up / Pack up" thing.
I have a good mate with a Customline soft floor camper and found very little difference in set up time between that and our Eagle. I probably could have made it quicker however never rushed.
My main reason for the change was to get something with rigid sides and thus a little more solid.
We do a lot of coastal camping and the prevailing N/E winds in summer would really give the pop top a work out.
Also the winding mechanism for the roof, although well proven,was perhaps I thought a potential weak point.
Having said all of that.........the pop top campers are very good value for money and great rigs We certainly had some fantastic family holidays in ours and will miss it.
I hope this helps with you decision.
Post by: Palmer on August 02, 2015, 03:49:29 PM
Post by: seenthelight on August 02, 2015, 09:38:54 PM
I have an eagle outback and the only problems we find is storage..eg(1) living out of bags,
(2)A pain to enter for road side stops (3)unable to enter the rear of the prado if set up and still
connected to the camper....(4)unable to tow it hard off road(we have swags & tents for that)
Road side stops we can be in bed in about 10 minutes,pack up about 15 minutes,
full set up about 20 minutes...no bed end covers, no bag awning...bag awning add 20minutes+
What I like about the camper is 1/room to move in wet weather (4 people) 2/ease to tow, fuel economy when towing
3/able to cook inside if need be...
Cheers
Geoff
Post by: nab on August 03, 2015, 02:04:58 AM
Setup time is about 40mins from unhitching to all open, beds made, awning up, bed ends up with poles to sitting down at the table ready to make lunch. A little bit quicker than my old soft floor camper.
BUT for an overnighter it only takes about 10mins, wind it up and push the beds out (no awning or bed ends). With the soft floor you basically had to set it up the same whether it was it was a week or overnight stay.
We have 3 kids (~2, 4 & 6) and suits us well. We only spend time inside if it is pouring with rain (even then the kids play in the mud!) or sleeping. Another benefit is that if the ground floods you are up out of it, also being so high it stops the snakes coming in when the kids don't zip the door up properly on the old soft floor...
Post by: The punter on August 03, 2015, 09:40:34 AM
While the demo at the shows looks very appealing the issue that concerned us was having to put a lot of "stuff" inside and still have to double handle things at setup time. Maybe we just take too much stuff!
Post by: bassyk on August 03, 2015, 10:39:55 AM
I have a 2005 Dove. The original Jayco interior storage is pretty average IMO for day to day living. I gutted mine and redid the inside so we had somewhere to store all our clothes etc without living out of bags and it is much much better.
Setup time is about 40mins from unhitching to all open, beds made, awning up, bed ends up with poles to sitting down at the table ready to make lunch. A little bit quicker than my old soft floor camper.
BUT for an overnighter it only takes about 10mins, wind it up and push the beds out (no awning or bed ends). With the soft floor you basically had to set it up the same whether it was it was a week or overnight stay.
We have 3 kids (~2, 4 & 6) and suits us well. We only spend time inside if it is pouring with rain (even then the kids play in the mud!) or sleeping. Another benefit is that if the ground floods you are up out of it, also being so high it stops the snakes coming in when the kids don't zip the door up properly on the old soft floor...
Cheers everyone for the great replies , a lot of the points everyone as mentioned are valid to us.
-we would like to do the "quick overnight stays" however the setup/packup of the soft floor camper puts us off this and even moreso if there is some moisture around!
-I really like the appeal of being able to do the 10min setup if all we want to do is get in sleep and move on (previously we have stayed in motels with the CT still on the back of the car) this would allow us to set up off road or at a caravan park for a quick nights stay
nab - if you don't mind do you have pics or a build up of what you've done with the inside of yours? as this would be a potential downfall to us too.
our current setup we live out of a couple of large space cases that go inside the trailer and get moved inside the tent once setup.
thanks again and keep the replies coming
Post by: bassyk on August 03, 2015, 10:46:05 AM
We recently seriously considered one, but the reason from moving from a soft floor was primarily setup time. Constantly double handling gear became tiresome especially for lots of one nighters.
While the demo at the shows looks very appealing the issue that concerned us was having to put a lot of "stuff" inside and still have to double handle things at setup time. Maybe we just take too much stuff!
So I take it you ended up staying with your soft floor as the gains weren't enough to be worth the change?
this is what I am wary of and trying to avoid.
so often its "the grass is greener on the other side" until you get there......
Post by: The punter on August 03, 2015, 10:49:10 AM
So I take it you ended up staying with your soft floor as the gains weren't enough to be worth the change?
this is what I am wary of and trying to avoid.
so often its "the grass is greener on the other side" until you get there......
Nope, we bought a LCT Reconn :-) - all the "stuff, can stay stored unless we need it, true 5 minute overnighters, and more beer!
I have a mate that has a Jayco, and he advised me that the difference in setup between a soft floor and a Jayco wasn't anywhere near as good as they make out at the shows. He also hates his bag awning as the whole thing needs to be lowered if you change your mind and want it up later in your stay. This is why we went the Thule awning.
Post by: Colmano on August 03, 2015, 03:42:21 PM
We have just bought our Swan (March) after much decision making...We had our heart set on a soft floor, hired one for 6 weeks (incl a lot of 1 nighters) up to Cape York...There was a considerable amount of stress in the one nighters, especially with tired kids (12, 13 & 10mths) and arriving at stop late in the day...upon our return, and having given it a red hot go, we decided against it, and went the Swan.
Pros
- Set up ease (one of us can do on our own)
- Nice seating comfortable seating inside
- Nice having sink/fridge/microwave & drawers
- Feels solid, secure & warm in wet weather
- Comfy beds for all - no need for stretcher set up, etc
- Tows nicely
Cons
- Too big for my garage >:(
- Storage looks great when u first see them, but a lot of cupboard space consumed by HWS, pipes, etc
In our first few trips, we found ourselves moving bags, clothing etc off one chair onto a bed, the back again...but to overcome this, we have shelves in the wardrobe and we're about to order a set of Skytracks to take care of small items (wallets, hats, towels etc) that seem to accumulate throughout the day with two teenagers...
Basic set up time (no bed flies) is around 20mins....add an extra 15mins for the bed flies. We have a wind out awning that is very convenient and has held up under some decent winds no issue.
It's not perfect, but for us it met the budget and does what we ask of it...and we love it...given an extra $20k in the budget and we would've gone to an Expanda with bunks...
Good luck with your decision :cheers:
Post by: topcat on August 03, 2015, 06:37:43 PM
TC
Post by: RebsWA on August 03, 2015, 10:05:12 PM
Packing up after rain, wet canvas over the bed.
Difficult to access some of the limited internal storage.
Too much trouble to access interior at roadside stops.
Access to front bed by standing on lounge. (broke the 3ply once)
Have to climb over partner to get out of bed when first in bed.
Insufficient depth for decent mattress.
Pillows had to be off bed for pack down.
No real gain over our soft floor camper for set up and pack down.
Access to rear of tug limited on overnight stops if hitched up.
Post by: nab on August 03, 2015, 10:32:31 PM
http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=35404.0 (http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=35404.0)
Also, there are probably more quicker and easier to setup soft floors than our old 14ft one, not sure how quick yours is.
Our friends bought a PMX camper and it had the same basic tent as our old one (with a few extra flaps/zips). Last time we went camping with them it reminded us of why we sold it!
Post by: cruiser 91 on August 05, 2015, 10:39:19 PM
Our 02 OB has a extended draw bar that gives us no hassles opening the rear door of the Cruiser when the camper is hitched. Just something to think about :D
Post by: rockinj on August 06, 2015, 12:36:05 PM
Negative
1. I agree with the statements made re storage - there really isn't much. As a tall person it is a pain crawling on the floor trying to access things. We find we are constantly moving bags also which gets tiring really quickly. The inside always looks messy due to this.
2. I worry about the day I have to pack up the canvas in wet weather, I hate to think what this would do to the beds. I have wondered should I buy two small tarps to place between the canvas and beds if the happens.
3. No access or HARD to access the van when travelling or when packing to go away
4. Would love to somehow option an outdoor kitchen like a CT but there is just no room to do this
Good points however are;
1. I have one!!!!!!!
2. Set up is reasonably easy. ( I struggle to push the 'hockey sticks' out and be able to also slide them in place by myself though. I can do it but it is a struggle. I am quite strong so am thinking I have not worked out the angle for this. Any hints?)
3. Pack up is also reasonable, it takes A LOT longer to pack up all the 'stuff' than actually pack up the trailer.
4. Budget camper???
5. I can set up/pack up this camper by myself with help/hindrance of our 7yo son, it takes me a lot longer by myself obviously.
6. 17 min set up when hubby and I are both there including bed flies (not with poles) and wind out awning (I am sure we can get it faster!) lol
7. I love the low profile when towing
We don't get to go away much and when we do it is usually only for one night so for us set up/pack up is a MAJOR factor. To be honest, if I had the money I am pretty sure I would love an expanda or similar mostly as I suspect they are a little quicker to set up than the flamingo types plus the added benefit of hanging space.
Post by: jimc1 on August 06, 2015, 05:08:21 PM
True the setup of the camper is longer, the more we do it on a trip, the faster we become. Last trip we were setup and cooking in about 15 mins by the end. Knowing how much of the awning canvas to setup, became the trick.
pros.
super fast setup. kettle on in 5 minutes kinda thing.
permanent place for everything
semi secure in camp site (well you have a key to lock the door)
cons
wider than my camper trailer which means use of wing mirrors
cabinetry not made for corrugations. ( I hear the new ones are not much better)
beds too short for anyone over 6 foot tall.
if the weather is bad the family cant "live" inside due to limited internal room
got to setup the annex to make more livable space
no matter what the manufacture claims, you cannot sleep 8 in a dove, unless they are all kids under 5 years old!
Post by: Goose on August 07, 2015, 09:18:57 AM
I'm surprised to read the setup times are quite similar too.
Good thread.
Post by: buildermidwife on August 07, 2015, 10:01:40 AM
These are the reasons we went back to the wind up style of camper .
They only take a few minutes more than the caravan to set up . (Good exercise )
They are a bigger inside than a lot of caravans .
They are a lot easier to tow than a caravan
We like the windows all around .
Our friends we travel with still have a jayco hawk which they took to all the places we went in the ultimate .
Cheers Paul
Post by: UIZ733 on August 07, 2015, 11:21:04 AM
Dislikes;
1 It was too wide (for my liking).
2 We found the beds claustrophobic (the plastic/vinyl was just above our heads and condensation was a problem).
3 Pulling out the beds and winding up the roof was not as easy or quick as it looked at the show.
4 Putting it all back down was not easy either.
5 Bagged awning was slow to erect and even slower to put away.
6 No outdoor cooking option.
Likes;
1 Interior space was good.
2 Being able to sit comfortably when indoors was good.
3 Good value for money.
Good luck with your research and choice.
Post by: Jen, Sprogs n Him on August 08, 2015, 09:16:56 PM
We just spent 3 weeks in the Kimberlys, with quite a few one nighters and roadside stops.
Couldn't be happier with it. .
Pros: low profile for towing, outside access to waeco and kitchen and all storage boxes for roadside stops, flip the top tighten the poles and we're ready for bed.
Kids beds were on top of ours so pull them down on the floor and your good to go. Overhead clearance from our bed to roof is about 5 feet, nice and high.
All clothes are stored in bags or boxes under the bed, which is still accessible with the bed down, or through the back hatch if camper is folded up.
Set up time is literally 5 minutes. Add 10 for the annex.
Took it on some gnarly corrugations and nothing came loose or broke..
For longer stays, we zip on the kids tent then we have more room inside.
We've never really liked cooking inside a camper or caravan so only really need to go inside to sleep..
I throw a tarp over the bedding incase the floor is grotty but no issues with wet canvas inside for folding up.
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Post by: Jen, Sprogs n Him on August 08, 2015, 09:18:55 PM
Slightly off track, but have you considered a hard floor camper?
We just spent 3 weeks in the Kimberlys, with quite a few one nighters and roadside stops.
Couldn't be happier with it. .
Pros: low profile for towing, outside access to waeco and kitchen and all storage boxes for roadside stops, flip the top tighten the poles and we're ready for bed.
Kids beds were on top of ours so pull them down on the floor and your good to go. Overhead clearance from our bed to roof is about 5 feet, nice and high.
All clothes are stored in bags or boxes under the bed, which is still accessible with the bed down, or through the back hatch if camper is folded up.
Set up time is literally 5 minutes. Add 10 for the annex.
Took it on some gnarly corrugations and nothing came loose or broke
For longer stays, we zip on the kids tent then we have more room inside.
We've never really liked cooking inside a camper or caravan so only really need to go inside to sleep..
I throw a tarp over the bedding incase the floor is grotty but no issues with wet canvas inside for folding up.
Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk
Post by: 03hilux on August 11, 2015, 10:24:51 PM
Slightly off track, but have you considered a hard floor camper?
We just spent 3 weeks in the Kimberlys, with quite a few one nighters and roadside stops.
Couldn't be happier with it. .
Pros: low profile for towing, outside access to waeco and kitchen and all storage boxes for roadside stops, flip the top tighten the poles and we're ready for bed.
Kids beds were on top of ours so pull them down on the floor and your good to go. Overhead clearance from our bed to roof is about 5 feet, nice and high.
All clothes are stored in bags or boxes under the bed, which is still accessible with the bed down, or through the back hatch if camper is folded up.
Set up time is literally 5 minutes. Add 10 for the annex.
Took it on some gnarly corrugations and nothing came loose or broke..
For longer stays, we zip on the kids tent then we have more room inside.
We've never really liked cooking inside a camper or caravan so only really need to go inside to sleep..
I throw a tarp over the bedding incase the floor is grotty but no issues with wet canvas inside for folding up.
Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk
Or maybe a forward folding camper.
Post by: xcvator on August 11, 2015, 11:33:47 PM
Slightly off track, but have you considered a hard floor camper?Can you tell us which camper you have please ?
We just spent 3 weeks in the Kimberlys, with quite a few one nighters and roadside stops.
Couldn't be happier with it. .
Pros: low profile for towing, outside access to waeco and kitchen and all storage boxes for roadside stops, flip the top tighten the poles and we're ready for bed.
Kids beds were on top of ours so pull them down on the floor and your good to go. Overhead clearance from our bed to roof is about 5 feet, nice and high.
All clothes are stored in bags or boxes under the bed, which is still accessible with the bed down, or through the back hatch if camper is folded up.
Set up time is literally 5 minutes. Add 10 for the annex.
Took it on some gnarly corrugations and nothing came loose or broke..
For longer stays, we zip on the kids tent then we have more room inside.
We've never really liked cooking inside a camper or caravan so only really need to go inside to sleep..
I throw a tarp over the bedding incase the floor is grotty but no issues with wet canvas inside for folding up.
Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk
Post by: Jen, Sprogs n Him on August 11, 2015, 11:56:14 PM
Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk
Post by: Jen, Sprogs n Him on August 12, 2015, 12:01:01 AM
We have a Pioneer, Longreach model..
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Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk
Post by: HKB Electronics on August 12, 2015, 10:37:43 AM
Why we changed:
After two or three days rain everything got wet.
Packing up or setting up in the rain is a pain.
Setup time though not great becomes a pain when your moving daily.
Little security.
Flapping canvas can disturb you at night if your a light sleeper.
In our old model there were droughts when the wind blew.
We now have a Vista, release two catches and push the roof up and your
setup. On recent trip even TVAN owners admitted they would have liked the setup
time of the Vista.
On one occasions TVAN owners opted to stay in cabins to avoid having to pack up wet canvas,
was not an issue with the Vista.
Cheers
Leigh
Post by: Muckinhell on August 13, 2015, 04:43:32 PM
Post by: Swannie on August 13, 2015, 05:45:46 PM
liking this thread, trying to sell our aussie swag to upgrade to a wind up. How do people normal pack these before taking off? just pop the top and crawl in and start the fridge and pack as well?
Yeah mate, I always have the roof wound up an inch or so can climb in to fridge, put towels back in etc etc. I also throw all the clothed bags on the floor just inside the door
swannie
Post by: Muckinhell on August 13, 2015, 07:53:23 PM
Post by: Palmer on August 13, 2015, 08:29:52 PM
Yeah mate, I always have the roof wound up an inch or so can climb in to fridge, put towels back in etc etc. I also throw all the clothed bags on the floor just inside the door
And if you are "pre-cooling"the fridge on 240v power, make sure that lights aren't able to be on / turned off. We found this out the hard way when we burnt holes in our canvas in an old jayco, because the lights were on and the heat cooked the canvas.
Post by: Muckinhell on August 14, 2015, 04:43:28 PM
by the way would anyone see an issue with one of the pop tops with the onboard shower toilet combo? love the idea but bit hesitant as well.
Post by: lilstookie on September 02, 2015, 01:16:44 AM
not enough storage for everything....nowhere near
setup time similar to ours
inside kitchen
annexe area too small...we live outside and only use the inside of our tent for sleeping
wasn't impressed with quality of cabinetry and fittings
not (in our opinion) up to the rough roads we regularly travel for the next xxx years.
The only real pro for us was that they're off the ground.
We've paid the deposit on and looking forward to December delivery of a Cub Spacevan hardfloor with bunks as an option. We seriously considered a Drifta DOT (not enough undercover area) and the Ecomate forward fold (heavy, not enough storage, liked the two awning idea but not enough space with the main one on).
Lil :)
Post by: lockyer on September 11, 2015, 12:32:21 PM
We bought a 1978 Millard Pop top c/van and spend $$$$ restoring it, which I loved doing, and our last pet has pasted away so we can do lots more weekends away and extended weekend travelling as well. To give you an idea we are heading to Bribie Island (SE Qld) for 4 nights but will free camp(over night) between home and Bribie near Woodford because with the van it is less then 5 min's and we are having afternoon drinks and watching the sun set. One of the good thing with a pop top van is you can do some shopping for food and can load the fridge/cupboards without crawls around.
Cheers ( this maybe my very last post on here, has been a great resource over the years Thanks Guys/gals)
Post by: Jen, Sprogs n Him on September 11, 2015, 07:09:15 PM
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Post by: Red1 on September 11, 2015, 09:19:54 PM
Post by: glenm64 on September 12, 2015, 12:01:23 AM
Sold it primarily for the following reasons
After a few days of rain bedding gets wet.
The canvas flaps too much for sleeping in windy conditions.
In cold weather the cold comes through the mattress and it is freezing.(Mrs. starting to get arthritis)
3 way fridge in van meant you have inbuilt vents which caused dust issues when on long off road trips.
We're getting a bit older now and an ensuite onboard for the Mrs. makes life so much easier, as we free camp mostly.