Fishing, Hunting and Camping
Tips, articles and reviews by people like you.
How To Find Pop-Up Camper Parts
Before we get to how to find pop up camper parts, I want to share how we ended up with one. If your in a hurry, jump down to the next section called “How To Find POP UP Camper Parts”.
My wife and I, along with our children are huge campers. I have been camping since I was a child but my wife started when she met me. I even proposed to her on a hike camping trip on the edge of a mountain.
One thing she talked me into was getting a camper which I’m not glad we did. I was a large pop-up camper that we used for almost 5 years. I’m sure you know like me that over time, campers in general get worn, pop-up’s maybe even more. Things break, wear out and get dinged. When it came time to find parts for our pop-up camper, it was like I ran into a brick wall.
See, we had Coleman, they might be known for a lot of camping gear but Coleman is not known for campers. In fact it is harder than you think to find any Coleman pop up camper parts! I wanted to share a little of what I learned on my search.
Where to Find Pop Up Camper Parts
One thing that I have learned is it really depends on what type of parts you are looking for. Many parts are interchangeable like stabilizers, cranks, door parts, etc. Your best bet is always check places like Amazon first (<- already filtered for you). Search the part you are looking for like “pop up camper stabilizer jacks” or “pop up camper awning”. If it is basic parts like this, I have never had any trouble finding it on Amazon.The issue comes when you are looking for pop-up camper parts that are specific to your model. This could be the canopy, part of the plastic body or the canopy pole that goes over the beds. This is where it gets to be a pain. Even when you visit the manufacturer websites, they do not have the parts themselves.I found out that specific dealers get the license to carry parts for each manufacture. That means the only way to get these parts is to find a local dealer that supplies parts for your brand of pop-up camper. This can be quite the task in itself.
How to Find your Local Dealer for Parts
I found out the irritating way that each city can only have one “dealer” for each brand of camper within a certain distance of each other. The reason behind this is so no camper store is competing over customers for the same campers (hense keeping the prices up). Only the dealer of that brand can get and sell parts for it. I will use our current camper as an example. We purchased a brand new 2013 Forrest River (manufacture) Shamrock (brand). We found the camper in Indianapolis at the trade show. Since we live in Cincinnati, we figured we would be able to get that camper at our local dealer (same dealer, different city). But the problem was, our local dealer didn’t carry the Samrock camper because another dealer sold the Rio brand. The Roo camper is the same as camper as the Shamrock, just a different “brand”. So it gets a little confusing. So my local dealer sells a different manufacture so they are not competing with the other in town dealer that sells the Forest River Roo… Have I lost you yet! Confusing, I know.Okay, back on point. To find a local dealer that sells your manufacture, you can contact the maker of your camper. Remember that the maker is not the brand. Forest River also made our Coleman camper, so we would call Forest River and ask for the contact of the nearest dealer. Your camper should have a sticker on it with the manufacture of who made it. You can usually find it near the door or on a window.
My Last Thoughts on Pop-UP Camper Parts
I will also bring up the following point. I also learned that just because pop up campers are cheaper to buy, doesn’t mean pop up camper parts are cheaper. Plan to pay top dollar for any part you need from a dealer. This brings me back to always search Amazon before contacting any dealer. If you can find it there, you will save a ton of money.
Why We Upgraded form a Pop Up camper to a Hybrid
Okay, if you are still with me hear and care to hear, this is why we we upgraded from out pop-up to a Hybrid.Firstly, it was just time. We were outgrowing our pop up quickly. We had two boys at the time and planning on a third. Our oldest boy was getting to the age where he wanted to bring a friend camping with us.The other reason was because finding pop-up camper parts for our year and model was just getting too hard. Plus the price is outrageous. We were paying almost $30 per canopy arm bracket, the little part that attaches to the ceiling to hold up the canopy over the beds. I don’t know why but we were breaking them left and right.We upgraded to the Hybrid I spoke about above, the Forest River Shamrock. Ours came with three fold out beds, a real bathroom and two, yes two pull out. We do love it, but everyone is different. It all depends on what you want.Enjoy the camping this summer!
What to Wear While Fly Fishing in the Fall
Whenever the stress and strain of our working lives gets too much, whenever we tire of spending our days under fluorescent lights and hear the call of the wild, whenever we yearn for quiet and solitude in an increasingly hectic and interconnected world… fly fishing really is the hobby that keeps on giving. It provides us with calm and solitude. It releases our senses from a world of screens and digital chatter and allows us the opportunity to spend some quality time with mother nature. Whether you choose to eat what you catch or throw it back, fly fishing is a great way to leave the stress of modern living behind and reconnect with yourself or strengthen your relationship with friends and family.
But as the colder weather sets in, you may think that it’s time to hang up your rods. But nothing could be further from the truth.
Can I really carry on fly fishing in the fall?
Absolutely! In fact, it’s arguably the best time to do it. The natural world is at its most beautiful in the fall months. Approaching a river shrouded in mist surrounded by trees adorned with red and golden leaves? What could be a more idyllic way to spend a lazy October morning?
Of course, as the weather grows colder and wetter, you’ll need to make sure you’re well prepared for whatever the weather brings.
Dress in layers
The fall weather can be unpredictable. A gray and murky morning can become brilliantly bright and sunny by lunch time. Likewise, a bright and sunny fall day can turn into a dark and drizzly evening. So be sure to dress in layers which you can take off or put on accordingly. Start out with one of our stunning Drift Hook Fly Fishing t-shirts and a pair of jeans or shorts and layer up with…
Waders and boots
Your waders are essential in keeping your legs warm and dry in those frosty fall waters. Many experienced fly fishers don’t always wear these, especially in summer. But given how cold waters can get at this time of year it’s always a good idea to pack them.
Make sure you also pack reliable wading boots to keep your feet warm and help you to get traction underwater. A good wader belt is also recommended to secure your waders and prevent water from getting into them.
Fishing vest
A fishing vest can not only help to keep you warm, it’s also a very useful place to keep everything you need for a relaxing day by the water. It can store things like your wallet, glasses and car keys as well as clips for bigger items like water bottles. It can help to keep your belongings near and is a good alternative to a bag or backpack which can affect your balance.
And don’t forget your sunglasses!
Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean that your eyes don’t need to be protected from the sun’s rays.
Check our range of fly-fishing apparel
We carry a wide selection of apparel for men and women to ensure that they get the most out of their fly-fishing experience. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out our store page!
About the Author
Matthew Bernhardt, a third-generation Coloradan, grew up at the forefront of the state’s fly-fishing revolution, enjoying time on the water side by side with experienced guides and lifelong anglers.
By combining his passion for fly-fishing with input from other experienced fly-fishers and guides and his fine arts degree from Colorado State University, Matthew spent five years carefully developing the Drifthook Fly Fishing System, built to help every angler catch more trout.
When he’s not spending time with his wonderful family, you’ll find him out on the water catching MONSTER trout, and he anxiously looks forward to the day when his kids are old enough to join him there.