I've popped up for 13 years. Just picked up our new Aspen Trail 1700BH
It is like the smallest bunkhouse with an RV Queen sideways up front. It is pretty no frills. There is a Coleman 16FQ and a Kodiak 175 versions with the Coleman being identical except for badging and the Kodiak being fiberglass outside and more bells and whistles with a higher price. I lifted it and will look at 15 inch tires next year. I have a Fastway E2 6,000 lb hitch. There are lots of versions of this (Jayco 174) but the difference is that the Dutchmen version is 8 feet wide vs the 7 feet on the others. Makes a lot of difference inside.
So, I only towed it home about 8 miles on the highway and it towed like a dream but I do have a Ram 1500 Outdoorsman (rated at 10,500/1650 capacity/3.92 LSD rear end E rated tires) so I'm not surprised. But boy, the wind resistance is something else compared to the pop up. I actually used to get some of my best gas mileage (18-19) with the pop up. I don't know why, but the top was perfectly even with the top of my bed and I think it created a favorable wind thing (technical description). Not so much with the TT I can already tell.
We have been looking for years and for some reason they just kept getting longer, slide outs? and more expensive in her eyes. I finally said, stop the madness. We use it as a rolling motel room mostly and this has all our basic needs (hers toilet and shower) and mine, short and light. We live in MT and like Nat Forest areas where the roads are not always the best and thus the lift. These units sit VERY low on the lot. So, I'm hoping for at least another five years until retirement. Then we will see... See you on the road.
