Pop ups, dirt roads, and dust... (1 Viewer)

[re_guderian]

So I've been looking real hard at a Jayco Baja 10C here in town (last year's camo off road pop up) and was wondering if any of you have used these on dirt/forest roads, and how well sealed they are against the dust kicked up by the tow vehicles. Any thoughts/experiences? I'm also debating whether my 80 will be an adequate tow vehicle for ~2800 lbs of trailer up the mtns here. I'm doggin' it as it is on 255/85/16's now with stock gears...

 

[REZARF]

I think (though not sure) that Romer, here on the board has that style pop up and he has dragged it everywhere. You might check with him.

Hope it helps.

Drew

 

[Rubiconcruiser]

Please allow me to add a few words of wisdom. I have a Maggolina airlander pop up tent mounted on my trailer, Weight is right at 200 pounds as it is now built. Sleeps two failry comfy, wind and dust free as far as the elements go. Utah was 22 degrees during thre night and snowing. I was comfy. Good investment. autohomeusa.com the website to go to.

 

[re_guderian]

Please allow me to add a few words of wisdom. I have a Maggolina airlander pop up tent mounted on my trailer, Weight is right at 200 pounds as it is now built. Sleeps two failry comfy, wind and dust free as far as the elements go. Utah was 22 degrees during thre night and snowing. I was comfy. Good investment. autohomeusa.com the website to go to.

Would be nice, but I just sold my roof-top tent. I have a wife, two kids and a dog to worry about, so the RTT, or trailer TT idea got shot down.

 

[spressomon]

Would be nice, but I just sold my roof-top tent. I have a wife, two kids and a dog to worry about, so the RTT, or trailer TT idea got shot down.

FYI: My Autohome/Overland tent has a king size mattress...depending on how big your 2-kids are it might work...

 

[re_guderian]

FYI: My Autohome/Overland tent has a king size mattress...depending on how big your 2-kids are it might work...

Hmmm... The wife and I are used to a Cal King, and I'm 6'4", and she's 6'. The kids are 7 and 11 y.o., and tall, and neither one sleeps well with others (tosses, turns, and sleeps sideways). That'd likely kill the camping enthusiasm...

 

[Mike S]

Hmmm... The wife and I are used to a Cal King, and I'm 6'4", and she's 6'. The kids are 7 and 11 y.o., and tall, and neither one sleeps well with others (tosses, turns, and sleeps sideways). That'd likely kill the camping enthusiasm...

Couple suggestions...

Whether the 80 will tow 2800 lbs. in the mountains: you'll find out if you take the road up to Jacobs Lake on the North Rim. I towed my trailer (about 1200 lbs.) up there with my 60, but I was not going very fast - it was about 100 degrees out.

Several of our customers have mounted TWO OverCamp tents side by side on their trailers. Room for two people in each tent. A thought, any way.

Mike S

 

[Snook]

Hmmm... The wife and I are used to a Cal King, and I'm 6'4", and she's 6'. The kids are 7 and 11 y.o., and tall, and neither one sleeps well with others (tosses, turns, and sleeps sideways). That'd likely kill the camping enthusiasm...

My Overcamp is only a queen size. Four years ago, we, four of us, my wife and two girls all could barely fit in, then year later they kicked me out. Now, our girls is 8 and 11 and slept with their mother last weekend. She wondered why she still have stiffness in her neck as of now.

Regards,

 

[NZcruiser]

I own a 2006 Starcraft RT10 pop top (fairly similar). It's been on some real dusty roads. It never gets any dust inside the camper, but obviously alot on the outside and underneath which is kicked up by the cruiser. It washes off easily though. I think the only places dust could get inside these when folded down are through the door and around the roof section, but these are fairly well sealed with rubber seals. Mine probably weighs about the same - I dont know what your mountains are like, but it seems to tow up mine OK. You definately notice it on the back, but it doesn't slow me down to the point where you are constantly moving over to let traffic overtake you. I can keep up with the flow of traffic fairly well (1HDT HDJ81), I notice myself changing down to third gear a little more though. I do wonder what my EGT's are like though during a long trek uphill - I need to install a pyrometer to measure the temps!?

 

[re_guderian]

I own a 2006 Starcraft RT10 pop top (fairly similar). It's been on some real dusty roads. It never gets any dust inside the camper, but obviously alot on the outside and underneath which is kicked up by the cruiser. It washes off easily though. I think the only places dust could get inside these when folded down are through the door and around the roof section, but these are fairly well sealed with rubber seals. Mine probably weighs about the same - I dont know what your mountains are like, but it seems to tow up mine OK. You definately notice it on the back, but it doesn't slow me down to the point where you are constantly moving over to let traffic overtake you. I can keep up with the flow of traffic fairly well (1HDT HDJ81), I notice myself changing down to third gear a little more though. I do wonder what my EGT's are like though during a long trek uphill - I need to install a pyrometer to measure the temps!?

Good to know. Do you have a furnace on yours? If so, does that opening let in dirt? And yes, I am jealous of your turbo diesel...

 

[NZcruiser]

yeah I have a furnace in mine, plus i have a fridge and a hot water heater as well. The vents at the back of the fridge and hot water heater on the outside of the camper let dust into the swithing area behind the vents but these are selaed off from the inside of the camper so no dust can get into the camper through there. The furnace heater has two small 2" round in/out vents on the side of the camper as well but I have never noticed any dust getting in through there either yet.

 

[re_guderian]

yeah I have a furnace in mine, plus i have a fridge and a hot water heater as well. The vents at the back of the fridge and hot water heater on the outside of the camper let dust into the swithing area behind the vents but these are selaed off from the inside of the camper so no dust can get into the camper through there. The furnace heater has two small 2" round in/out vents on the side of the camper as well but I have never noticed any dust getting in through there either yet.

Thanks! That's what I was looking for...

 

[rusty_tlc]

I've looked at the Baja and it's competition. I've also been towing RV's over dirt roads for a number of years.
From what I saw these offroad tent trailers are not a lot different from the standard version aside from the axles and trim. The points where I have broken travel trailers are not reinforced, ie the frame isn't gusseted or otherwise strengthened where the cross members meet the frame rails. The undercarriage is not sealed. The point where the flooring meets the frame and the siding meet the frame are open and will eventually let dust in. Although I couldn't look at the wall construction I saw no mention of any extra fasteners being used. The cabinetry is also glued and stapled rather than glued and screwed.
As far as the 10c in particular, unless you need the cargo platform I'd opt for a bigger trailer or shorter wheel base w/o it.
If you are getting a great deal on last years modle great, but don't expect much better performance than a standard version Jayco Pop-up.

My plan is to buy a used pop-up and put a torsion axle under it. Then I'll gusset the frame and seal the undercarriage up with 1/8 melmine, silicone and Great foam. I'll also block and scrtew the inside corners of the cabinets.
BTW this all stuff I've wound up doing on Travel Trailers over the years, FS washboard can shake anything apart after a while.