PUP Slideouts

[TimK]

We all know the The Big Plus of PUP slideouts: Wonderfully Increased Interior Room. BUT, what are the minuses? If there's a plus, there's GOT to be a minus, no?

I'm looking to buy a new PUP (lost my last one to divorce) Spring of '11, and I'm trying to decide if I need/want a slideout. I'd like to hear about the warts, too.

[sgip2000]

One minus is the added weight.

[Gabby]

Less storge floor space when folding down and traveling.
Added canvas/corners/openings to possiably allow the intrusion of water when raining.
Possiable downthe road maintenance/repairs to track sliding mechanism.

With that being said, having three Pup's now with the current one and last Pup to own I'm glad i have a slide out...

[Satch]

There is definitely less storage space when folded down.  Maybe a few minutes added to setup and break down.  Depending on your TV the added weight could be an issue. 

After having two PU’s one without the slide and one with, I definitely prefer the latter.  The added space is great, especially if you have kids.  Less storage space is not a concern as there is still plent of room for all our gear.  As with everything it is all personal preference.

[brgmgb]

Pluses:

• More room when popped up

Minuses:

• Extra weight
• Extra steps in setup
• Something else that can break/go wrong
• Less room when popped down (unpopped)
• May not be able to get to refrigerator or cabinets when unpopped
• More weight on one side of camper due to slideout

We have had three PUPs.  The first had no slideout.  The next two have had them.  We debated with this last purchase.  If Jayco would have made a 1208 that took the 1207 layout, replaced the U-table area with a J-Sofa on one wall and porta-pottie cabinet on the other, and had the front storage compartment, we would have bought it.  The 1006 was just too small and tight between the J-Sofa and table.  We chose the 1206 with slideout and bath/shower.

[bradnailer]

The negatives have been already mentioned, but to me, it's worth it to have the slide out.  I love the extra space.

[Baytoven]

The most annoying negative for us from the list is the storage issue.  Our dinette is raised so the cushions do not ride on it when stowed.  Storing the cushions takes yet more room in the aisle, not that the slim remaining spaces were particularly usable for gear before that.

Also the weight is an issue for us.  The slide eats into our cargo carrying capacity, so we run at GVWR.  It's no trouble for our TV however.

[retiredtraveler]

Joining the chorus. Would not give up the interior room (12 foot of unobstructed aisle) and we had to get a slideout in order to get a shower (a must have for us).
  Yes: more weight on tongue, you lose all floor storage area in front of pup(but we have outside storage bin which negates that). Also, there is storage under the dinette (the slideout) so it's not like you lose a huge amount of storage. We store under the table and under both dinette seats.
    Extra setup --- yeah, but only a couple of minutes. 

[RangerBill]

I would rather have my dinette slide out than a cassette potti ANY day!

[TooManyTents]

We had no slideout for four years and a slide out for seven.
Disadvantages?  Nothing we considered worth mentioning or worrrying about - just need to remember a bit more order of taking down, but that doesn't rise to the level of "disadvantage".

[ghacker]

Another "love my slideout" person. I don't think I'd buy a PUP, Hybrid, or TT without one. Maybe I'm claustrophic but it opens up the interior both visually and practically. I wouldn't go any other way. If there's more than 1 person it makes moving around inside so much easier, especially on those long rainy days when your activities are limited.

[ngatel]

The only limitation of significance to me is that the single axle FFT highwalls with slideouts have small cargo carrying capacity. We like ours a lot. But for just two people the extra room is not critical.

[chiefd]

As others have said weight and limited space when closed.  To offset this problem we bought a pup with a front storage unit and would not have it any other way.  The front storage makes up for the lost storage inside the PUP.  This causes another problem overall weight.  But ours still comes in under 3500 lbs loaded when we weighed it.

Of course we never travel with the water tanks full and all clothes food etc are in the Explorer.  It is all about choices and how you camp.

[Scramblin]

     My wife loved the Coleman we looked at(no slide), but after she stepped in the Starcraft 2407 beside it I really didn't have to do much talking.  With 2 DS and a Lab and plans to have DM and DD visit on occasion the extra floor space is the best!  Recently bought a Thetford and still have plenty of room to move.

[skipro]

I had to think hard to come up with a negative to my slide-out.  My biggest complaint is that I have to store the back cushions in one storage space, and the seat cushions under the table, so I lose a fair amount of storage space.  I've tried to come up with another place to put these but have come up empty.  If you've got an idea, I'd love eto hear it.