Soon to be new tent camper owner

[cl00bie]

My wife and I have been tent camping for the past 24 years. But this last escapade prompted us to look at each other, soaked to the skin as we were trying to break camp and say: "We need to get a camper".

We're both in our early 50's so it's time. We have found the camper we believe we'll buy. We have looked at a few and we think we'll settle on a model 720. We now have to have a hitch installed on our Dodge Neon (standard trans.) and hopefully have it for a maiden voyage in mid August.

This is a nice step up for us, and we'll be able to store it in my wife's mom's garage (there's no car in it).

[steveqvs]

Congrats and welcome!

[chevy02]

oh you will love the pop up much better than a tent, wont be long till you move into a TT or a 5er. Also welcome to the forum

[Bill U]

Like you we graduated to a pop-up, then to a TT. Please keep these simple rules in mind:
1. After hooking up, do a twice walk around to insure everything is properly attached and in order
2. Look under the camper before pulling out.
3. Do not force the top down when folding the camper up. I found that the beds have to be fully shoved in, in order for the top to seat. If the beds are sticking out only 1/2 inch then the top will not seat.

[bluebell]

Hi there, I noticed you mention towing the 720 with a Dodge Neon manual trans.?? I don't mean to question this, but I recently owned a Jayco tent trailer that weighed about the same as the 720, I towed it with a Toyota Tacoma V6 pickup. That was as much as I would want to tow with that truck, I would hazard to say your Neon will not tow that trailer very well at all. Small cars like that are not meant to tow anything at all really, you might want to look into a bigger vehicle, just my two cents. Hope this helps. Enjoy your trailer, it really is a huge step in camping comfort, we loved ours.

[acadianbob]

We did the same thing at about your age!! Let me tell you, getting off of the ground and staying dry is a BIG DEAL. And you have someplace to be on those rainy days. Have great adventures!

[cl00bie]

Originally Posted by bluebell

Hi there, I noticed you mention towing the 720 with a Dodge Neon manual trans.?? I don't mean to question this, but I recently owned a Jayco tent trailer that weighed about the same as the 720, I towed it with a Toyota Tacoma V6 pickup. That was as much as I would want to tow with that truck, I would hazard to say your Neon will not tow that trailer very well at all. Small cars like that are not meant to tow anything at all really, you might want to look into a bigger vehicle, just my two cents. Hope this helps. Enjoy your trailer, it really is a huge step in camping comfort, we loved ours.

Well, the 720 deal fell through. After trying to contact the gentleman to pay him (he worked nights) someone slipped in and paid him first. But everything happens for a reason. We just purchased a 176 SD. About 1700# unloaded weight, sized almost perfectly for my wife and I, and in a color she loves.

It's going to be much easier to tow than the 720. I have ordered a brake controller for my hitch to allow me to use the electric brakes (which the seller says have just had new magnets installed).

I expect to get a lot of great info here. She'll be going on her maiden voyage the Thursday after next.

[tlmg_camping]

I looked at the specs for a 2005 Neon and it was rated to tow 1500 pounds. That means with an empty trailer, no propane, no battery, no options (refrig, canopy, spare tire, furnace), no clothes, no food, no passengers, you are already 13% over your rated capacity. I tow a 1700 pound popup with my V6Tacoma and it comfortable, but has to work a bit on the hills with the AC going. Of course moving forward isn't the only concern. My Tacoma is 1000 pounds heavier than your Neon which makes for better stopping and turning. I would suggest you reconsider your TV.

[cl00bie]

Originally Posted by tlmg_camping

I looked at the specs for a 2005 Neon and it was rated to tow 1500 pounds.

Was that manual transmission?