Any other Pop-up camper owning members?

I have a older 4 wheel on my 83 Toyota, I built the motor up with LC engineering goodies so it pulled the extra weight with out issues.
 It's my home away from home in the duck swamps!

So I have a question....how exactly do you figure out what you can and can't tow?
I ask, because I am thinking more and more about the idea of a PUP. My hubby was looking into converting a used cargo trailer, but after seeing Weimarian's lovely set-up, it got my mind spinning.....

Jim, how do you like your Coleman? You mentioned that it didn't go well with the winds at Bodega...how did you manage? Any damage?

So I have a Kia Sorento (V6, 276 hp) which has a GVWR of 5203, yet the manual says the max tow weight is 3500. How much do those PUP's weigh?

-Cherie

The smaller basic tent trailers are around 1000 lbs. and some of the larger tent trailers can be around 3000 lbs.  My 09 Tacoma has a 4.0 v6 and it tows my Coleman Santee with no problem.  Any trailer over 1500 lbs. is supposed to have brakes and then you will need a brake controller on your tow vehicle.  Many newer tow vehicles will already have the vehicle pre wired for a brake controller and it will be pretty much a plug and play.  It took me longer to find the existing trailer plug connector under the dash then it did to plug it in and mount it to the dash.  You can also get a kit for many tow vehicles that adds a trailer wire connector that also plugs into your vehicle's light system without any cutting or splicing.  Adding a reciever hitch is a bolt on easy deal too.   
If you decide on a Coleman or Fleetwood trailer look for one with a aluminum roof, the ABS roofs were trouble prone.  Most of the smaller Coleman/Fleetwoods had a aluminum roof.  To save money you could find a trailer with the roof racks already mounted for your yaks and other toys. 
Just because your tow vehicle is rated for 3500 lbs. does not mean it is a good idea to look for something right at the max rating as it will strain your vehicle. 
searchtempest.com will allow you to look through all Craigslist listings without having to search a specific area at a time.  If you wait till good weather starts the inexpensive campers will get snapped up super fast.
You would not have any problems towing this small basic trailer and it has a aluminum roof:
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/rvs/3613802421.htmlIt probably does not have a fridge or even an icebox and probably no heater either.

Here is one in Lodi although it probably has an ABS roof and is a little pricey for the year:
 http://stockton.craigslist.org/rvs/3567046068.html

Now compare to this rental trailer:
http://stockton.craigslist.org/rvd/3587506975.html
this trailer looks to be self contained with every option but it will be 3000 lbs. or more.  It most likely has an ABS roof.  It will be a lot more money too if you found a used one.  This rental place is in Flag City by Highways 12 and 5. 
Coleman/Fleetwood have been out of business for a while now too just to let you know.   

Mudshark, that is a nice set-up. Narrower than my truck which allows you access to some roads I can't take. Another guy I camped with had a FWC on an '83 Toyota. He had a 400 V8 squeezed into that thing. Not registered in CA obviously.

I have a less then pretty 1978 Coleman Valley Forge. Simple to tow and set up. Due for some new canvas the zippers are pretty much shot.

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The smaller basic tent trailers are around 1000 lbs. and some of the larger tent trailers can be around 3000 lbs.  My 09 Tacoma has a 4.0 v6 and it tows my Coleman Santee with no problem.  Any trailer over 1500 lbs. is supposed to have brakes and then you will need a brake controller on your tow vehicle.  Many newer tow vehicles will already have the vehicle pre wired for a brake controller and it will be pretty much a plug and play.  It took me longer to find the existing trailer plug connector under the dash then it did to plug it in and mount it to the dash.  You can also get a kit for many tow vehicles that adds a trailer wire connector that also plugs into your vehicle's light system without any cutting or splicing.  Adding a reciever hitch is a bolt on easy deal too.   

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Thanks! That was great info! I checked out those craigs list postings - thank you for finding/sharing those!
I am thinking we could tow a 8-10 foot PUP box (collapsed/closed) safely, but it sounds like it depends a lot on what is inside the PUP. We don't need a shower/bathroom. I think you are right about not towing the limit, and the importance of avoiding putting any kind of strain on the trany.

-Cherie

Our pup weighs under 1000 lb empty.  Sink, 2 queen beds, and bench seats is all the amenities she has.  We didn't get any tears at bodega, just shook like hell!!!
I picked up a propane catalytic heater (6,000 to 18,000 btu on a 20lb bottle) at home depot and we were WAARM the whole weekend (awesome).   Its old with 2 minor holes and canvas spots from previous life, and looks like hell but keeps the dirt, bugs and critters off at night

We pull it with either the Mazda 6 (v6) or the Dakota (v8) with no problems and it has no brakes.

Oah yeah, its an 8foot box...

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Mudshark, that is a nice set-up. Narrower than my truck which allows you access to some roads I can't take. Another guy I camped with had a FWC on an '83 Toyota. He had a 400 V8 squeezed into that thing. Not registered in CA obviously.

that is a clean old Toyota.
I have had mine for 15 years, and its been good to me, but I'm going to be selling is soon as my 1970 gmc  with a 6bt cummins should be done in a a few months.
 I paid 1200 for my FWP and love it, I'm thinking of building a utility bed trailer to put it on, because it won't fit on my gmc.

There is a forum that is mostly pop-up campers called Wander the West. Lots of FWC owners on it. That would be a good place to see if anyone else has put theirs on a trailer. Good place to get modification ideas as well. Expedition Portal is another one to check for ideas.

Burnside is where that couple got stuck in the snow this winter and he died.  The gal made it out about a week later.