A pop-up camper is a type of RV that is collapsed for convenient storage and easy transport. It is towed behind your vehicle and can be unfolded for camping. Also called a tent camper, a pop-up consists of two soft “walls” that can be pulled out to create enclosed sleeping areas. While not nearly as spacious as a motorhome, travel trailer, or fifth wheel, a pop-up camper offers an easy, affordable way to travel the open road with sleeping and living accommodations that are more comfortable and expansive than tent camping. For people who are considering purchasing an RV for the first time, a pop-up can serve as a great test drive to determine if you enjoy traveling and camping enough to make the long-term investment in a larger rig.
Most pop-ups come equipped with:
- A fold-down table top
- Fold-down seats
- 1-2 sleeping areas
- Fresh water tank
Newer pop-ups can even come with a range of amenities found in larger rigs such as water heaters, small refrigerators, stoves or electric cooking plates, and rooftop air conditioners. Basic pop-ups will not come equipped with showers or toilets, so it’s important to plan your camping excursions accordingly.
Benefits of Pop-Up Campers
The small size of pop-up campers when collapsed allows you to travel to more secluded camping areas than you might be able to with a large RV. If you’re interested in off-roading and doing some dry camping, pop-ups offer a nice alternative to primitive tent camping. In addition, whereas most towable rigs need SUVs or trucks with specific towing requirements, pop-ups can usually be towed with any truck, SUV, or minivan. And perhaps the best benefit of a pop-up camper is their affordability. Many RVs prove prohibitively expensive for people who just want to take the occasional weekend camping trip and test out whether the RV lifestyle is for them. While pop-up campers can run the gamut of prices depending on their size and features, basic pop-ups can start as low as $1200.
Drawbacks of Pop-Up Campers
One of the major drawbacks of a pop-up camper stems from one of its major advantages. Collapsing a pop-up and setting it back up can be a time-consuming hassle. The travel-friendly features of this type of towable – lightweight, compact, versatile – also make it less substantial and resilient than other types of recreational vehicles. Pop-ups tend to break or malfunction more easily than their larger, more solid counterparts. And while pop-ups are relatively affordable compared to larger, more modern motorhomes, a pop-up that contains that amenities and features you want can actually be rather pricey, which may make it more cost-effective to invest in a used or older-model travel trailer or fifth wheel.
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