Setting Up Your Vehicle for Towing a Fold Down Camper

It is important to make sure that you have the proper towing set up on your vehicle.  Whether it’s a truck, car or van you will need to have the following:  A class II or class III receiver, hitch and ball.  The difference between a class II and a class III is size.  The class II is smaller and good for towing trailers in the 2000 pound or less range.  The class III is larger and is for towing trailers well above the 3500 pound range of large fold downs you may encounter.   Unless you have a four cylinder towing vehicle you may want to consider getting the class III as you may want to have the option of towing something more substantial in the future. 

In addition to the hitch, ball and receiver you will need a seven pin (round) electrical connection installed.  This connection is different from the flat 4 connector found on most towing vehicles in that it has additional connections for the brakes on the trailer and for charging the battery on the fold down trailer.  Only on the lightest of the light trailers that are not equipped with brakes will you not have to have the 7 pin round plug installed. 

Most newer fold down campers over 1200 pounds are going to be equipped with electric brakes.  Your towing vehicle will need to have a brake controller installed.  The brake controller will apply the electric brakes on the fold down camper when you apply the brakes on the towing vehicle.  This is for safety and will reduce the stress of slowing and stopping on the brake system of the towing vehicle.   

Most reputable rv dealers will be able to determine the suitability of your towing vehicle for the fold down camper you are selecting and install all the necessary towing equipment to ensure a safe hook up and tow, or recommend a nearby business that can do the installation for you.

New or Used?

If you are a newbie to fold down / pop up tent camping you may want to rent a one and try it out to make sure you will be happy with this style of camping before making an investment in one.  Most larger metropolitan areas have one source or another that can rent you a camper for a weekend or a week.   The cost of a rental will be equal to about two to three monthly payments on a comparably financed camper, but would be a better than several years of payments on something you would seldom or never use again. 

Buying a used camper could save you some money provided you buy it right.  There may be some wear and tear, ripped or mended canvas and strange smells.  But, if the price is right then you may be able to overcome some minor defects.  The best way to establish the value of a camper that has been used is to use a guide like nada.com and look up the year and model of comparably equipped fold down campers to see what they are worth.  Condition and seasonality will affect value despite what “the book” says a fold down is worth.  So, just use a third party book as a guideline to make sure you are not paying too much.

Buying used from a private party has its perils.  If you are unfamiliar with the systems in a fold down camper then you may overlook things that are broken or that are about to break.  Leaks and shoddy repairs are another thing to look out for.  Also, title fraud is on the rise.  The fellow that gives you a great deal on a fold down may have a hidden lien against the title or even himself that will not be discovered until you try and title it in your own name.  Chances are the culprit will be long gone when you seek redress, and you will be forced to cover the lien yourself or abandon the fold-down as un-titleable.  Get identification, and make sure that the person selling the fold down actually owns it and has a clear title. 

If you buy used from a reputable dealer you will avoid title issues, and provided they check out their units you will usually get a fold down in good working order.  Contact the local branch of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) before you shop and patronize those with the best ratings.

The most important thing to remember when shopping at a dealer is to have a good knowledgeable salesperson and ask a lot of questions.  A good salesperson will also ask you a lot of questions about your camping style and experience to determine the best type of new or used fold down for you in their inventory.  A good salesperson is not your adversary, they are your friend.