13 pop up camper tips and tricks

[@brittanymcdonaldbarr1106]

Good to see I’m not the only one taking a bigger fridge with me.

[@tonykulesza6067]

Polish American pop up camper myself as well. It's great to see your flags on your pop up.

[@bradleydaiker4095]

Thanks for taking your time to show a new rookie popup camper owner a few tips about making things a little easier:-)🙏👍

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

You bet! I am still learning every time I go on a trip. Hope you have a great time making memories with your new camper!

[@CroakerOutdoors]

Reflectix panels between the zip up canvas and mesh also help for heat and privacy at night.

[@TKO-qj5zx]

Love the hanging shelf idea

[@JSp-ft1ue]

Can you please post a video of installing the hooks in the ceiling of a pop up? I really want to do this but am afraid I will damage something or it won't be strong.

[@TKO-qj5zx]

@@JSp-ft1ue I used the stick on ones in mine. They work pretty well but not for heavy stuff

[@generatormike]

Pop up gizmos are a must reflection in the wing windows this keeps noise and heat out plus no moisture wicks through onto your pillows

[@adamcuttler9665]

Thank you John these aren't just tips are kind of necessities

[@diggascryptoawarenessdownu7246]

Thank you mate, it all helps a first timer like myself, and I have a bit of a blank canvas inside so I am keen to know what is important in space available. Happy Days and God Bless

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers!!

[@dougfam4477]

This pup up gizmos (pugs) are worth the money. They make a hug difference in our Texas heat. I aslo made refletix bunk window covers.

[@virginialemm864]

Great ideas! We now have a small motorhome now, but still have our pop-up in the garage (one of the BEST attributes...no storage fees!). It’s a 1995, Jayco Jay-Series 1206! It was like I was taking a tour or my own trailer, LOL! Even the upholstery is the same!

[@GereDJ2]

I like wine and cocktails sometimes and got a 9-12 glass hanging stemware rack for the ceiling above the sink of my Coleman Popup because I like to use real wine glasses sometimes. Glasses are removed for travel. Easy install and very handy. Doubles as a wind chime in windy conditions and glasses will walk right out of the rack. A tiny bungee at end opening cures this problem.

[@chrisswan6343]

Fans and refrigerators are great if you have electricity. But, we camp up in the U.P. in the state forest. Boondocking in the woods take a little different tack.

[@arkansashorsetrails1]

Love your tips! My favorites are the Pop-up Gizmos & the O2 Cool fan. We will be trying these out. It gets really hot here in Arkansas!

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

Thanks for watching and giving me feedback on your favorite tips!

[@ltyr2002]

Cleaver camping is a wonderful occupation which I have enjoyed with my family for decades! I wish I was out there thinking of new inventions right now! :) Happy Trails!

[@tiffanyelliott1722]

Thanks, John, for your helpful, practical tips and lessons you learned. Just might get my dream pop up camper this year!

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

Go for it! I was a tent camper for years, then we got the pop up and had it about 6 awesome years and last year was our first season in our 26 foot travel trailer. Love it all!

[@446hemi]

@@JohnsDIYPlayground I AM ALSO IN MICHIGAN...CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YEAR AND MODEL THIS JAYCO IS?

[@webcompanion]

@@446hemi 2006 Jayco 1206

[@harrymills2770]

Your setup reminds me of the Camp Host spot at Wilderness Gateway Campground on the Lochsa River (U.S. Highway 12, in Idaho, close to the Montana border).

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

I hope to be a camp host someday but in a travel trailer with just a little more room for an extended stay. Loved our pop-up though, had it for 6 seasons!

[@dreamseeker3783]

Looking to buy my first pop up and these tips are great! Thanks

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

Glad you liked it! My baby is a 1996 Jayco model 1206. It’s been a great camper for us. It feels like our home away from home when we camp!

[@john17467]

Nora M I warn you it’s going to be fun.

[@dreamseeker3783]

John Nygren I'm ready!! Woot woot!

[@carolyncoppola974]

Love the tips and tricks! Thank you! Question-do you have a video about the cabinet? Love that idea, especially with the mirror and lights.

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

Hi Carolyn! Unfortunately I don't have any further video detail on what I did for the cabinet mod. The mirror I used was just 12" x 12" squares you can pick up from Walmart or similar and stuck them to the back of the door with foam tape (3M's VHB tape would also work well - just clean the surfaces first). The lights inside were 12 volt strips I also taped up inside with foam tape. There is the switch panel that I wired and soldered myself, so a bit more of a challenge. Then the quick connectors I used are called Anderson Power Poles. Again, some soldering or crimping involved. I picked up the 12 volt source to power the cabinet from the 12V power running to the water pump under the cabinet.

[@Grammie0911]

Does the cabinet have to be collapsed Each Time you close the popup?

[@traceyjscott069]

Thanks for the tips John!

[@chrischocolaad9319]

Thanks for posting ! Love the tips!

[@paul662013]

Great tips thanks ;-)

[@DKHomestead]

John, how did you anchor your awning support to the trailer. Thanks, Don

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

There was this clever clasp / bracket design that came with the new awning when I purchased it from Carefree Awnings. The vertical post of the awning has this little foot on it; you could use a long nail or tent stake to hold it down, or you could take that little foot and put it into the receiving bracket mounted to the pop-up camper side wall. Releasing it was easy, yet it didn't come undone with the winds. Carefree awning seems to call the bottom of the vertical post the "Carport Foot" and the part on your pop-up that receives it is called "Bottom Bracket Kit". Here's an illustration: www.carefreeofcolorado.com/documents/Campout-metric-IPL.pdf

[@donniehelmly4920]

If you add a vent at the Grey drain. It drains better..just add a T

[@masoukamil]

I love your Polish flag. Pozdrowienia

[@jim-uu2db]

believe your propane detector is way too high up. does bring back memories of oour coleman popup.

[@Masterchief68a]

You would think the manufacturers of pop-ups would build them with that silver stuff on the tops of the canvas from the factory, everyone installs it!

[@cathyslaton9998]

Good ideas Thanks for sharing

[@Yoopergurl11]

Can you do a dewinterizing video? Thx

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

Hi Charlene! I'm sorry but I dewinterized early this year due to a trip we just got back from. The steps for me are relatively simple: 1) plug into house power and check all appliances and lights for function, 2) refill propane tanks, check all propane appliances like stove, hot water tank, and furnace for proper function, 3) Flush out the RV antifreeze with fresh water, then add in 1/4 cup bleach per 15 gallons of capacity to the fresh water tank, then fill the tank completely full. Exercise the faucets until you smell bleach; let sit overnight. You can then drain the system and dump this water just about anywhere as it's not a lot of bleach. If you still smell bleach you can run a similar flush with more water or add 1/4 cup vinegar per 15 gallons of capacity with the water. 4) finally check over general maintenance items like lubricating sliding surfaces, stabilizers, etc as well as checking the torque of the lug nuts (generally 105 ft-lbs) and the tire pressures (inflate to max tire pressure when cool).

[@DirtRoadLanding]

love the flags

[@melissahawrelechko388]

Hi, great tips, thanks for sharing. I do have a couple questions, if you don't mind. Did you waterproof the hooks you put in the ceiling to stop from leaking and how do you have those tall cabinets? Like where do they go when you put your trailer down fully? Thanks!

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

Thanks for watching and commenting Melissa! The tall cabinet is stock from Jayco and has a unique hinge on it that lets the cabinet slide over to the middle of the camper and pivot down to the floor for travel. Only issue is needing to clear most our stuff out of it for travel and setting back up again at camp. The roof you can think of as a sandwich of an aluminum sheet on the outer roof, then a 2" or so wooden frame filled with styrofoam, followed by an aluminum sheet you see from the inside as the ceiling. The hooks I used are only about 1/2" long, so they don't penetrate the outer roof, so I did not seal them. If water is coming in through the hooks then it means the top roof panel joint or seams are leaking. I didn't put the hooks into the wood frame either, so these hooks do not hold a lot of weight.

[@johnmccormick2883]

Nice tips ... thanks!

[@szosytak]

Nice. Maybe You know where I can buy some pop up camper in Europe, Poland?

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

I don’t know but I would love to go camping in Poland! It’s very beautiful there, I hope to visit again soon. My wife was born in Poland

[@whatwasthat3269]

I have that exact jayco. Mines a 94 1206 jay series with the Bathroom ,huge fridge with freezer, that same closet. My canvas is starting to show its age but still works great... I like your tips I need to get those bunk end covers.

[@remngtn870]

A lot of great ideas!! I just bought the same trailer, also have a jeep. Any issue pulling this camper with your Jeep?

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

Going up a significant grade hill on the highway can have the Jeep engine straining (my Wrangler is a 2007 with the 3.8L V6). In those cases I disengage the overdrive gear. Other than that no issues. Make sure your trailer tires are under 5-6 years old (check DOT stamp) and always inflate to max psi before every trip. Keep speed at or below 65 mph.

[@motoadventure4495]

Pozdrowienia z Polski ;)

[@jhudstudio4144]

Good stuff! Thanks!

[@KHAlive]

Quick question since I have basically the same exact camper as you do I’m trying to get an idea of what the bed mattresses are are they one king one queen maybe you can help me out

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

Both sides are not standard mattress sizes, and one side is a little bigger than the other. We always slept on the bigger side and used queen size sheets.

[@TheSeanBampton]

Your smoke detector will work well in that location, however it's a bad spot to put a propane detector for use because propane is heavier than air and will settle towards the floor. Any propane detector should be placed near the floor.

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

Thanks for the tip! Yes in my video it was just a smoke detector. In my travel trailer it has a propane detector and is mounted close to the floor as you suggested.

[@4X4DMAN]

Dobre pomysly

[@mr.bluegrass9723]

what size is the tent trailer,? how does the jeep do putting it did you have to make any changes in the jeep or is it stock.

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

It’s a Jayco 1206 so all tucked in and ready for travel, the camper is 12 feet long, then about 3 feet longer for the tongue. My Jeep is a 2007 Wrangler and it has larger tires and a 2.5” lift. It towed ok and trailer is about 2200 pounds. I wouldn’t want to pull anymore weight than this. A 1/2 ton pickup is probably a better tow vehicle.

[@jimp6542]

Some of these are great ideas but the big concern is, when you are done camping, where does all this stuff go for storage. I used to be a big camper, have owned 2 pop ups and and I worked on them as one of my professions and my thing was just take the basics and things that are easy to stow. We never had any fans, whether big or small, and we live and camped in very hot North Carolina. Just open the curtains and let the wind do the rest. Never was hot in our campers. Great video otherwise and I hope you enjoy your camping experience.

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

Yes, storage is something to consider. I keep a few dedicated camping storage totes with lids that are stackable and I bring them in the back of the tow vehicle. I have a 1-page checklist for preparing to leave before any trip to ensure I don’t forget something.

[@corrinebrackney7679]

How does your Jeep do pulling your pop up? Do you have a V6?

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

It was OK. Trailer is about 2200 pounds, I would not tow much more than that. Yes, the Jeep has a V6, the old minivan motor. It was really barely to keep out of it's own way on any kind of uphill grade and I always stayed in the right lane. A half ton truck would have been a much better choice, but this is what I had.

[@alanolson1274]

John, I’m interested in how you installed the shelving. Can you give details?

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

Yes I used eyelets with wood threads on them and screwed them to the ceiling. Then I bought some lightweight chain and attached to the eyelets using D-rings. When I camp we can quickly attach and detach from the ceiling. It won’t hold a ton of weight but we store bread and snacks up there along with extra towels. 6 eyelets total. The shelf is around 6 feet long.

[@claudiaberry3166]

@@JohnsDIYPlayground will the eyelets puncture the ceiling?

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

@@claudiaberry3166 I use eyelets with about a 3/4" thread on them but the way these pop-up roofs work, you have about 1" do deal with before going through the top of the roof. You're only going to grab 2-3 threads so this means the roof-mounted shelf is for small loads. Don't put any heavy stuff up there. I think ours could hold 20-30 pounds at best.

[@pareloader5989]

Yeah Polska!

[@joechmiel709]

Nice tips, thanks, noticed the Polish flag, I'm polish as well👍

[@adamcuttler9665]

Everybody I known that is polish is awesome

[@casperw2133]

Piękna flaga!

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

My wife was born in Polska!!

[@mattgallagher8626]

Does your jeep pull the camper ok?

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

Yes but I would not recommend anything heavier than this trailer. The pop-up weighs about 2,200 pounds.

[@richardmiranda9719]

what motor does your jeep have

[@jrg116]

What kind of wheels and tires do you use what size?

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

Wheels were 4-lug steel, pretty small but I don’t know the exact size. Tires were Loadstar ST tires - these are standard trailer tires rated for a max speed of 65 mph. I bought the tires and wheels fully mounted from a local trailer repair store (not an RV store).

[@faerefolke]

I need a camper. For my marriage and mental health.

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

I think it helps with both! Thanks for watching

[@joshsweet8447]

Hahaha I just got one for the same reason

[@Hatfield1198]

Is that camper a 1406 ??

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

Jayco 1206

[@juneduckett337]

Put a Gismo over the canapy

[@rafawierzbowski6293]

Widzę Polską flagę to zapytam po Polsku. Planuję zakup tego typu przyczepy, ale nie znalazłem nigdzie informacji czy namioty nad wysuwanymi łóżkami są odporne na deszcz? Jak dla mnie wydaje się to oczywiste, że chronią przed deszczem ale chciałbym mieć 100% pewność przed zakupem. Pozdrawiam z Polski

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

Moja żona urodziła się w Polsce i tam odwiedziłem. Mam nadzieję, że dostaniesz fajnego kampera, którym możesz się cieszyć z rodziną i przyjaciółmi. Nie mówię po polsku, ale mogę powiedzieć, że tak, górna tkanina kampera jest wodoodporna (chroni przed deszczem) ... ale ważne jest dbanie o materiał przy użyciu odpowiednich chemikaliów winylowych i tkanin. Twoje zdrowie!

[@rafawierzbowski6293]

@@JohnsDIYPlayground Thank You so much. Best Regards for all of You.

[@cindyjohnson4208]

Wherever did you find all those products, I'v searched the web for ass for our popup

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

Most products are on Amazon. See the detailed description under my video for links to the items. Thanks for watching!

[@wedkarskafloryda8798]

Polska flaga ?!

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

Yes!

[@Ryan-gc6jc]

Go Lions!!!

[@stephaniek8739]

I am downsizing and begin demo/remodel on the 5th wheel this Sunday! I have to work fast in order to move in by the end of the month. I look forward to following your page for inspiration and any tips or tricks for my full-time life on wheels. I’ll be posting progress pics and videos on KZbin. Check me out in return if you’d like. 😃

[@michalsz2]

John...Po Polsku Jasko :)

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

Chciałbym móc mówić po polsku do mojej urodzonej w Polsce żony. Mam szczęście, że mówi doskonale po angielsku. Twoje zdrowie!

[@michalsz2]

@@JohnsDIYPlayground LOL Wish You all well!. Na zdrowie!

[@mozberg2191]

No wonder pop ups get banned

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

Banned? I've never heard of them banned from anywhere? Let me know and thanks for watching!

[@mjmkjun]

@@JohnsDIYPlayground FYI to clarify BANNED: Some campgrounds are restrictive of older RV's and other towables. Example: Select private campgrounds won't allow anything older than 2009 units. Think: "The Stepford Wives" movie (1975). Suited to the upper-middle-class ideals.

[@briannielsen7176]

Here's a tip don't buy a pop up buy a hard top.

[@JohnsDIYPlayground]

Good advice for some, not for all. They're low budget and I've enjoyed mine for over 6 seasons. No regrets.

[@TheSeanBampton]

We've had ours for over 12 years and love using it at every opportunity.

[@generatormike]

I actually have an awning on both side of my pop up