Our rig, camper roof down for traveling.
We started researching a new truck and camper to purchase towards the end of 2006. Peter had been wanting to get a new used truck for awhile. In the beginning of 2007, he found a truck that he liked and he purchased it. A 2001 white Dodge (Cummins) 2500 Ram Truck. (Yah, I know, like every other truck you will see at an endurance ride.)
We live approximately 3 hours away from Reno, NV., and we go up there a few times a year for various reasons. Sometime in early 2007 we took a trip to Reno to go to a R.V. show where a lot of different camper brands would be displayed.
Pete had already decided that he wanted a pop-up camper versus a full size camper. We had also already decided that we wanted a bumper pull horse trailer versus a live aboard rig or a motor home, and I had already purchased my horse trailer in June, 2006. I bought a 2 horse slant load Circle J aluminum bumper pull horse trailer. We had decided we wanted a camper versus another type of rig because besides endurance riding, we like to go camping (without the horse).
In Reno, we saw a lot of different pop up models at the show, but neither of us really liked what we saw. They were all so small, not much bigger than our camper shell. We did more online research when we got home, and Peter found a pop-up camper that he was really impressed with called Hallmark. They are only sold where they are made in Colorado. However, the owners/makers of the Hallmark campers would be at a sports expo a few weeks away in Sacramento, CA, so we drove over to check it out. Peter's brother, sister-in-law and nephew live in Sacramento. We stayed with them and had a nice visit.
We both fell in love with the Hallmark pop-ups. It was a done deal. In the next few weeks we finalized our order. Besides choosing which model we wanted, there were other choices to make such as choosing between an oven or a microwave. We choose an oven. In March 07, Peter drove the new used truck to Colorado and came home with the camper on it.
Here is the link for Hallmark campers:
http://www.hallmarkrv.com/
This is the model that we purchased:
http://www.hallmarkrv.com/campers/cuchara/
We love this camper so much. First of all, it is such a luxury for my endurance rides. It is roomy inside when the roof is raised. Pete, our dog, Hana, and I are very comfortable in it. We change the table area into a bed and that is where we hang out when we aren't sleeping or outside. That is where Hana sleeps at night too. It has forced air heating! Do you know how nice it is to be able to turn on the heat and warm up a place before getting out of a cozy, warm bed at 4:30 or 5:00 a.m.? And to take a hot shower after riding 50+ miles? Complete luxury! The bathroom is small. I have room to stand up and put the shower hose over me to shower. Very quickly army style as to not waste water. The walls of the bathroom fold up and down for when the roof comes down. One of the best features of this camper are the two large windows on one side. I am showing photos of the camper that are from endurance rides as well as various camping trips that Pete and I have taken. Here is the whole set up with the horse trailer and the camper's roof raised. It goes up 12 inches. It is also the only pop-up camper that has a roof that raises up and down with a motor. We just have to turn on a switch.
Roof Down
Roof Up
Hanging Out Inside the Camper
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