Buying a Pop Top
Submitted: Thursday, Feb 22, 2007 at 08:21
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sp76
Hi all. We are trying to decide which brand of pop top to buy. We want to do short travel (2-3 weeks stints), on road and have two children, 7 and 8 year old. Our towing vehicle is a Ford 03 BA station wagon. Any advice/recommendations/suggestions are appreciated. Thank you.
Reply By: True Blue - Thursday, Feb 22, 2007 at 11:07
Thursday, Feb 22, 2007 at 11:07
Evernew.
AnswerID:
223352
Reply By: yakodi - Thursday, Feb 22, 2007 at 11:32
Thursday, Feb 22, 2007 at 11:32
Short trips, weekends, etc, heaps of options, Coromal campers, Jayco - expanders & campers, etc, Goldstream campers, Windsor rapids, or a caravan with bunks, It pretty much depends on budgets, how important those creatures comforts are, and how much time you like to take to set up, and how much weight you are able to tow.
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Follow Up By: sp76 - Thursday, Feb 22, 2007 at 18:48
Thursday, Feb 22, 2007 at 18:48
Thanks for your response. We are looking for easy quick set-up with some creature comforts. We have fitted a HD towbar which apparenty can tow 2300kg. Can you offer any comments on the brands you mentioned in your reply...ie good, bad, things to watch out for etc?
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Reply By: Member - Robert A (QLD) - Thursday, Feb 22, 2007 at 15:11
Thursday, Feb 22, 2007 at 15:11
Looks like Goldstream Campers would be out of the equation know.
We have bought a Jacyo. Everyone seems to have a different opinion, but after months of looking around dealer, shows etc. We found value for money and also the dealer we used Jayco come out on top.
Rob
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Follow Up By: sp76 - Thursday, Feb 22, 2007 at 18:52
Thursday, Feb 22, 2007 at 18:52
Thanks for your response. We have started having a look around at the different brands of pop-top and like the Jayco. The only thing is the head height in the second bunk doesn't seem too good. As with most sales yards they each seem to bag the other...the coromel guy told us that the fibreglass on the newer Jayco are prone to cracking on heavy corrugation...and the jayco guy told us the coromel were pricy without any extra features. Its hard to find honest comparisons between them...
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484276
Reply By: CoastCampa - Thursday, Feb 22, 2007 at 17:05
Thursday, Feb 22, 2007 at 17:05
We have 3 kids 5,7,10 and purchased a 2nd hand Coromal Silhouette 390(wind up type van) about 12 months ago and it works
well. Has heaps of good features although haven't been that impressed with service from Coromal.
Tows
well, easy to setup(after you've had the usual horror first setup) and good amount of internal space due to push out type kitchen - if you go that way make sure you get awnings over the canvas bed ends as they give you more privacy and keep you 1 more step removed from the weather. They do make the setup alittle longer though - as does a front annexe.
It's also relatively compact(compared to a standard van) when you have it stored.
We paid circa 20K for ours second hand(high 20's new) so have a good look around - there also plenty of other choices(Jayco etc).
Good Luck
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Follow Up By: sp76 - Thursday, Feb 22, 2007 at 18:56
Thursday, Feb 22, 2007 at 18:56
Thanks for your
feedback. My partner had been leaning towards the campervan side of things (being that he always did "real" camping (swags etc) when he was younger. I like the idea of as little set-up as possible so was leaning toward the pop-top. However its great to hear how other people travel and I appreciate your comments.
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484277
Reply By: Jimbo - Thursday, Feb 22, 2007 at 22:16
Thursday, Feb 22, 2007 at 22:16
Brand is not the issue,
First consider the flooprlan that suits your family. Then review the the features that the van may offer.
It has to suit you, the name on the frame is not important.
The best way is to do the tour of every dealer's yard near to you and make a choice.
Then pick what you like.
Jim
AnswerID:
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Reply By: HGMonaro - Friday, Feb 23, 2007 at 09:55
Friday, Feb 23, 2007 at 09:55
gotta agree with Jimbo... no use looking at things that won't actually accomodate your family! However, it's no use rocking up the the van yard and being shown things you're never going to be able to tow, so find out what you're legally allowed to tow, decided if you want to tow that much (you may not what to... I'm an advocate for having a bit of capacity in reserve), make sure you allow for the junk you are going to put in the van, then hit a few carvan dealers and get them to show you what's available. There's a lot of different options!
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