Pop Up Camper SETUP (10 Steps- On Campsite)

[@aqua4476]

Watching ya'll struggle a bit makes it more surreal than the other videos of watching professionals do it. Thank you for this

[@robandmirjana]

@@aqua4476 thanks haha! P.s… even now we still struggle or forget to do things!

[@flamecrow]

Love it, I’m obsessed now. I want one and I rarely am outdoors or camp but it looks so fun

[@NorfolkSouthern-xt3xx]

I camp alone,...the awning would be a pain in the butt trying to set up by myself. Nice little camper and well worth considering to transition up from a tent.

[@robandmirjana]

I've set up the camper and awning alone before. It's actually not too bad once you get the hang of it. Deff worth the upgrade!

[@wendywilson1736]

It does almost take 2 people. 😏 And you've got to keep an eye on the weather, if you use it. Hefty winds.and thunder storms could rip it off. But, I do love it when the weather is nice, and there aren't enough trees shading the door and windows.

[@NorfolkSouthern-xt3xx]

@@robandmirjana and I CAN"T WAIT to upgrade from the tent. What people don't understand is that part of the fun of camping is setting up camp. The 1940LTD is my choice,and I'm saving up for my down payment! I hear people say that we'll "rough it" in a hotel room,...well,that hotel room is going to be far more expensive than a campsite. I'll take camping ANY day of the week over a hotel room because in a hotel you never know who slept in that bed last. I want to sleep in my OWN bed,...be it in the camper,or my bed at home!

[@matthewmuse3655]

Just bought our first popup Flagstaff 14otg! This will help for our first time out! Thanks!

[@robandmirjana]

Enjoy!! :)

[@will_in_texas]

I’ve been looking at the Viking pop up by Forest River. I like yours much better. Lots of counter space.

[@robandmirjana]

Hey! We wanted a Viking too until we saw this one! We wanted more counter space compared to a gaucho (another couch). It’s way more practical!

[@AlanLI-le6ru]

Thanks for the video, may I know the weight limit on the expanded bunk?

[@robandmirjana]

@@AlanLI-le6ru hey, I think ours is somewhere from 800-1000lbs, but you’d have to call the dealer or check the manual to be sure!

[@soggybottom123]

Great video guys, I have been considering getting a pop up and was wondering how the set up works and this was very clear and simple. Suggestion for a future video - How often do you actually use it? Im trying to see if it makes sense to spend 10-15K on something that I may only use 3-5 times a year. - How well does it hold up in a rain storm? - How often do you do maintenance on it and what maintenance is required? - Besides the lights (which I love) have you done any other upgrades... Look forward to your next video.

[@robandmirjana]

Thanks for the comment and suggestions!!! We purchased the trailer in Sep 2021 and used it 3 times that Fall and 6 times this year. I would say if you get out at least 5 times a year it’s worth it- especially since it extends the camping season. It even encouraged my parents and grandparents (in their 70s) to come camping :)

[@robandmirjana]

We haven’t had any leaks (even in heavy rain). Only thing is you need to open it up at home to let it air out if you close everything in the rain (same as if you had a tent). No maintenance so far- just a bad battery the the dealer replaced for free. Check out the full camera tour video we posted for a breakdown on all the upgrades :)

[@felixramirez2863]

the night before we go home, we saw on our weather app that it will rain heavy tomorrow so what we did is pack up our pop up camper and sleep inside my pick up truck just to avoid packing the camper wet, anyway it was our last night

[@tommyphan2311]

Would you please share a link for the racks you installed on top of the camper?

[@robandmirjana]

@@tommyphan2311 hey, I believe they were the SportRack Camp Trailer Rack System - SR1020

[@wendywilson1736]

I'd like to see More detail on the actual leveling at the beginning. You kind of brushed over that part.😏 HOW did you get the levelling blocks under the tires??? We've been fortunate that our sites have been level, so far. BUT, I have watched folks park on hilly sites. and I don't always catch.how, because I get busy setting up our own.

[@robandmirjana]

Hey, thanks for the comment! it’s basically a process of trial and error! I have a small level i use to first guess how many blocks we need. We then put them behind the wheels, drive on to them, and re-check the level. If it’s off, then I’ll drive off, add/remove a block, and check again. Sometimes it takes 3 times. But it’s pretty quick if you keep someone in the drivers seat, and someone else’s adding/removing blocks

[@putattention]

I was also wondering how you get the blocks under the tires! Thank you!

[@VinniePepperoni]

You don’t need to use a impact gun to turn the screws, just a decent cordless drill will turn the screws without the impact on the screws or threads

[@robandmirjana]

Yeah that’s true. My impact is smaller and easier to carry, but both work!

[@mikeham5465]

Awesome thanks

[@jamieallen9665]

Hi. We just bought the 2318esp. There seems to be some space above the door that lets air in and it’s not completely sealed ? Wondering if that’s how your door is ?

[@robandmirjana]

@@jamieallen9665 hey, did you try lowering the roof a bit when the door is installed? That’s the only thing I can think of (assuming they use the same door system). If not, ask the dealer or Rockwood directly. I’m curious what the issue is!

[@nicolefoustoukos7290]

We have a 2020 1940ltd and we were having the same issue with the door and door clips coming undone. We just lowered it a tiny bit and it worked! 😊

[@paulhunter2323]

In this set up video, which Campground are you at. I can hear trains in the distance, which I'm a train enthusiast. Great trailer, I have the same model 2021 Rockwood Freedom 1940 LTD, bought New. We get out about 18 nights of camping, which could be visiting 6 - 8 campgrounds depending on length of stay.

[@robandmirjana]

Hey! This was Oastler lake! Nice, the Rockwood 1940 is such a great model. Happy camping :)

[@irmazayas5190]

Hello Rob and Mirjara my problem is that I have an 2014 forest river tent trailer model 1970 and I can get the lights to work , the heater works but not lights .please help me on what should I do.

[@robandmirjana]

Hey! Maybe the fuse tripped/needs to be replaced, or the bulbs need replacing. Sometimes our fuse trips when we plug in too many devices. You can give Rockwood or your nearby dealer a call to help troubleshoot. Hope you’re able to fix it! Happy camping :)

[@irmazayas5190]

​@@robandmirjana Thank you

[@TerraFirmaX]

Hey man, great video, thank you

[@robandmirjana]

Thank you! Happy camping :)

[@davehobby6421]

Not much change from my 1998 popup, lol. One thing worse though, why the bed support not hinged right from under bed, my trailer has support installed right under bed, so one less step.

[@robandmirjana]

Oh that’s nice! Anything that makes setup/ teardown quicker is a plus!

[@CTRadventures]

We are currently Florida tent campers. We have seen a lot about popups and with a 4cy truck we are limited to alot of hard sided campers. My question is this, do they stay cool during the host summer or are they just has hot as a tent. We have a 12k BTU portable AC unit that works wonders once the sun is directly off the tent mid day, nights we can get it sub 68 degrees, but mid days are brutal. The other thing we are looking at is the set up time, I see alot of popups take as much time as it would with a tent. Just looking for guidance to see if it would be worth jumping into or just saving the cash. Thanks so much

[@robandmirjana]

It doesn’t get too hot! The 360 degrees of air flow helps. On super hot days, we usually run the AC and it stays pretty cool. I’m not sure the AC specs, but it requires 30amp electricity. Setup can take some time at the bringing but gets quicker once you learn. Honestly just parking and leveling the trailer can take the longest depending on the site. We think it’s a great upgrade vs the tent!!!

[@CTRadventures]

@@robandmirjana interesting! I appreciate the input!

[@haleypage2947]

Do you have a warranty or would you recommend one?

[@robandmirjana]

Hey, we had a 1 year warranty come with the trailer. We had the battery replaced and water tank drain repaired. We didn’t look into extending it so can’t really provide any recommendations. I’m sure for a larger trailer with more appliances/moving parts, it would be worth considering!

[@bebokiroshani1683]

Aslamualakum mashallah zabardast i like campaign motar Home im from Pakistan Islamabad ❤

[@johnduncan4725]

Suppers in the oven🎉

[@RichardGallagher-h7f]

How did you get the blocks under the back wheel?

[@robandmirjana]

Hey, we just drive up on to them!

[@sjTHEfirst]

You should really not put down the STABILIZERS until after you raise the roof. Level - Lift - Stabilize

[@robandmirjana]

Good point! I’ll try that next time!

[@kenny4real696]

nice

[@DoRC]

Two things. First and most importantly is you should never pick your camper up by the stabilizer jacks. They're called stabilizers for a reason. They are not designed to lift the camper and you could damage The frame of your camper by doing so. Second one is you should never use an impact wrench on the jacks. The screws are not designed to deal with impact like that and you're going to chew them up over time.

[@robandmirjana]

Thanks for the advice! I can’t imagine how much time and effort it would take manually cranking all 4 jacks. I’ll probably give it a try to see. Do you think we could just replace the screw overtime? Or would using the impact on a slower speed help? Seems like best approach is leveling with the wheels & front jack, then using the 4 stabilizers. Any other advice?

[@DoRC]

@@robandmirjana generally what people do is they will level the camper side to side first by leaving it connected to the vehicle and then driving up onto leveling blocks. I use a ramp based leveling system that is like a wedge that you drive up on and the further you drive on to it the higher that side goes. This makes it a lot easier than dealing with blocks but will only give you about 4 inches of lift. In my opinion this is good for most situations. Once you've got it leveled side to side you can then disconnect from the vehicle and use the front jack to level front and rear. Once you've got it leveled front and rear and side to side you then use the stabilizers to just put pressure on the ground to prevent the camper from wiggling around when you're in it. Since you're not actually using the stabilizing jacks to lift the camper you just use a regular drill to lower them. You just lower them till they touch the ground and then go maybe a half or 3/4 of a turn more. The problem with using the jacks themselves to lift the camper for leveling is that the parts of the frame that the jacks are attached to often aren't designed to handle the weight of the camper so you can end up bending the camper or twisting the frame.

[@DoRC]

@@robandmirjana Also take a look at the Bluetooth level mate pro. It's a module that you bolt to your camper and then you connect to it with your cell phone. This allows you to remotely check the level of your camper so you can level it side to side from inside the vehicle in conjunction with the ramp style side to side levelers and then level it front to rear without ever having to look at the camper itself. Between the level mate pro, the ramp style side leveler and using a drill to extend the stabilizers I can level and stabilize my camper in about 3 minutes in most situations.

[@robandmirjana]

Awesome, thanks! I’ve seen those ramp style blocks and they seem great. Might have to get a pair! Once we spent quite some time leveling and realized that side to side is best, then front to back! Makes such a difference. Appreciate the advice. Happy camping :)

[@robandmirjana]

@@DoRC I’ll take a look at that product! Sometimes when the campers off level a bit, it makes a huge difference with how the door closes and how loud it squeaks when you move. I find the more we go, the quicker we get at setting up

[@JohnPaolini28]

Did it come with the awning?

[@robandmirjana]

Yeah it came attached!

[@LIVE4THEADVENTURE]

What about raising it without electricity??? I have two batteries and they show 98% charge but winch won’t engage to raise it. When plugged into electric it raises just fine. Do I need to switch something over to DC??

[@robandmirjana]

Hey, I’m not too sure about that. Our first battery went bad and would die out near the end of the lift (unless plugged in). Is yours on a proper trickle charger when not in use? It’s weird how two won’t work. There’s always a manual lift you can use with an Impact incase it doesn’t work!

[@LIVE4THEADVENTURE]

@@robandmirjana I just saw on the side of the two batteries that they are 5 years old and the previous owner only used the camper one time and stored it in his garage so they sat for 5 years. In the morning I’ll get two new batteries and see.

[@robandmirjana]

Good luck! Hope the new ones work fine

[@LIVE4THEADVENTURE]

@@robandmirjana got two new batteries today and that did the trick! Thanks for the help and fast response!!

[@based_life7698]

What are the weight limits on the beds? Do those little rods really hold up potentially two people? 😅

[@robandmirjana]

I think the limits are 1000 pounds each bed :)

[@stiller1980]

Hey there. I’m assuming you have the same Ever chill fridge in yours as I do in my small flagstaff pop up. Does yours make a light beeping noise throughout the day and night every hour or so? I got my dealer to look at it and they had to reset it. Hopefully that’s all it is but I can’t find anyone else with the same Issue. Thanks!

[@robandmirjana]

Hey, no I haven’t had any issues with it

[@JessicaTravelsNY]

Which Ontario park? Looks nice. I am in the WNY area.

[@robandmirjana]

This was at Oastler Lake I believe. We’ve been camping Upstate New York and it’s awesome!

[@glensmithcpa1909]

Your trailer has "limit switch" settings for the UP motion AND down motion. You don't have to depend on watching the "green wire". When lowering the roof, the down limit switch will turn off the motor when the roof comes down all the way AND keeps slight tension on the wire when adjusted correctly. Therefore, when raising the roof, the motor stops AUTOMATICALLY, even if you continue to hold the switch in up position! And the same thing when lowering the roof. The motor stops AUTOMATICALLY when lowering the roof, even if you continue to keep the switch pushed down! The adjustment screws are under the cover that holds the up-down switch!

[@robandmirjana]

Hey, thanks for the comment. That’s good to know. Ours defiantly aren’t set correctly (maybe since it was used). I held it too long once and the green wire snapped (I had to fix it). Likewise when we lower the roof, even through it’s down, I can still push the bottom and the motor stays on. It might also be dependent on the model. I could test it by just holding it up, but dont wanna see what happens lol.

[@justsayingtoday]

Its really cool but about time you finish setting up. summer is over and you need to go !

[@robandmirjana]

Hahaha it’s not that long… About 20 min I say. Double the time it takes to set up a tent, but deff worth it!

[@et3rn03373]

i have a 2015 jeep cherokee trailhawk. i noticed u have a cherokee. did u tow this with the cherokee?

[@robandmirjana]

Hey, that’s actually not our vehicle. We tow with the Jeep Wrangler and it’s no problem at all!

[@UncleFjester]

4 minutes in and I think Ive decided to stay with my ground top tent...Thanks

[@robandmirjana]

😂😂😂 we thought that at first. But the more you set up the popup, the quicker it takes! For the added luxuries, it’s worth it!!

[@melaniedeare5427]

LOL! I can identify!🤣

[@DavidJackson-bd6py]

Great video, we just purchased the 1640 LTD so this and your other video were helpful to review. Where do you store your safety bars while traveling? (in the video, they first appeared in your hand :) ) ...... thanks

[@robandmirjana]

Congrats on the purchase!! Glad you enjoyed them :) We leave those (and pretty much everything else camping related) in the camper on the ground during travel. The main things we keep in the car are the impact driver & leveling items (blocks, chocks, front plate). This allows us to level the trailer first, then open the door/unpack everything and setup! Happy camping!

[@HJ-jm6hf]

Nice setup video! In case you had rain or snow at winter season. How you dry the canvas? inside garage?, need to unfold it completely while you dry it? I am looking forward to see some maintenance video as well.😊

[@robandmirjana]

Thanks :) We store ours in the garage so there’s no exposure to snow. If it rains, we just open it up in the driveway after the trip and let it air out. Usually after every trip (even when it doesn’t rain) we air it out for a few hours (including the fridge). It only takes 10 minutes or so to pop up (we don’t drop stabilizers or anything like that)

[@HJ-jm6hf]

@@robandmirjana Thank you for the info. I got one more question. when you dry out at drive way, is it able to pull/push it out by yourself or still need to hook up at vehicle hitch? Thanks!

[@robandmirjana]

No problem :) We are able to push it pretty easily with 2 people without hooking up. We purchased a double wheel from Amazon and it helps a lot (we have an interlock driveway).

[@melaniedeare5427]

I would need help! Please explain what a double wheel is.@@robandmirjana

[@ostrobogulous1]

Question: Is there a way to manually crank the top up if (for some reason) the power mechanism doesn't work? 🤔

[@robandmirjana]

Yes, there’s a little cover your remove and then you can crank it using the impact driver or hand tool. I believe it’s the same one that fits the jacks.

[@ostrobogulous1]

@@robandmirjana Thanks!!!!

[@NorfolkSouthern-xt3xx]

@@ostrobogulous1 I was wondering about that myself!

[@ostrobogulous1]

​@NorfolkSouthern-xt3xx All of these places should hire me as a tester. I'm always watching for how it will go wrong when I try to do it myself. It's a Murphy's Law thing with me...🙄😂

[@jonzimmerman5172]

Hello, is your roof rack stock or after market?

[@robandmirjana]

Hey, it’s a Sportrack Camp Trailer rack and we had the dealer install it upon purchase

[@CombatDoc54]

This was all 10 reasons why I got rid of mine and bought an Arctic Fox.

[@robandmirjana]

Hahaha 😂

[@NorfolkSouthern-xt3xx]

@@robandmirjana still will be better than a tent,....so what if there are just a few more steps to set up! Only thing is on first time setting up it may take me a while,but I feel that the more I use the camper,the faster set up will become as I become more familiar with the set up process!

[@jericamercado4987]

How many people can sleep in that pop up?

[@robandmirjana]

Hey, we can sleep 4-5 adults comfortably. There is a queen bed on one side, a double/full bed on the other side, and then the dinette drops to another comfortable bed (between a single and double). You could probably fit two kids on the dinette if you had to!

[@kevtd23]

Anyone care to weigh in on towing this model (or the 2514F) with a minivan? Would be newer model Toyota Sienna at 3500 max tow capacity. Dry weight looks ok at just one 3k but w/gear, maybe cutting too close?

[@robandmirjana]

Ours weighs in at approx 1800lbs dry and I’ve towed it several times with my Jeep (max tow 2000lbs). I think with a max of 3500 lbs it should work!

[@kevtd23]

@@robandmirjana got it, thanks. Sounds like you’ve had no problems running the townweight right up to the max for your Jeep so yeah, if I get the larger trailer (2514f w/dry weight at 2800#) I should be ok loading up to the max for the sienna. Good to get that rough estimate.

[@PowellDunlop-e3j]

Lindsay Track

[@LilBroBro09]

Just so you know the awning is wrong the way you did it the pole doesn’t go into the ground there’s a place you put it in the side so the pole is diagonal

[@robandmirjana]

Hey, you can do either option! There’s a little cap you can take off if you want it to snap into the side of the camper, or you can keep the cap on to stand on the ground (with a hook to peg it down)

[@chericlark2996]

Where are your wheel chocks? 😂

[@robandmirjana]

It was very flat 😂. We use them now more often haha

[@chericlark2996]

@@robandmirjana I asked because my first hybrid rolled and bent one of my levelers. I learned the hard way 😉

[@robandmirjana]

Oh man… thanks for the tip!

[@NorfolkSouthern-xt3xx]

@@chericlark2996 Oooops!

[@mariemarie6142]

Too much work ! 😜

[@robandmirjana]

Haha it’s well worth it

[@NorfolkSouthern-xt3xx]

@@robandmirjana setting up,...as I said in an earlier comment,...is part of the fun of camping!

[@coltwinchester6124]

I don't like the door set up. My older viking camper door was so much easier to set up.

[@robandmirjana]

Thanks for the comment! I’ve never set up one of those half doors, but it’s seems like a lot of manufacturers are transitioning to a full door. I heard it’s because the handle positioning is more convenient, but who knows… It’s not too bad to pull down and do. Only takes a minute or two :)

[@Caglarsax]

I think aliner is better.Too much work

[@robandmirjana]

Thanks for the comment! Do you find aliner a little squished? We looked at one but it felt a bit claustrophobic.

[@Masterchief68]

Aliner is easier to put up but not near as much room inside as the pop up

[@wendywilson1736]

I don't think a pop up is too much work! And ours is all manual. True, we can use a drill on the stabilizer jacks, but we have to crank up the roof by hand. We still think it's easy enough to set up. It is a challenge packing up when it's windy, though! But, an ALiner would be, too! I also think it would claustrophobic. That's just one of 4 main reasons why we quit our teardrop project, and shopped for a pop up.

[@NorfolkSouthern-xt3xx]

@@wendywilson1736 Pop up for me all the way,...I'd be too claustrophobic in a tear drop,or an a-frame type camper!

[@wendywilson1736]

@NorfolkSouthern-xt3xx yes,.that is why we abandoned the teardrop. Also, no real place to sit inside if it was raining, or just too chilly. Plus, we had a senior basset hound at the time, who had occasional accident. Pour hound count help herself, but we wanted to make her as comfortable as possible. We were able to camp with her for two seasons in our pop up, but she was giving us signs last March that she just wasn't enjoying life anymore, so had to let her go. We miss her as our camping buddy.

[@DavidJohnson-mq6wl]

How much are they？

[@robandmirjana]

That’s hard to answer! Depends on your location and local dealer price. We got ours a year used so it was a bit cheaper! Deff recommend looking into a lightly used one.