You may have heard the term “pop-up camper” before. However, you may not necessarily know what it means. A pop-up camper is a kind of recreational vehicle, or RV. It can normally be collapsed so that you can transport and store it more easily. It’s lightweight, and you can tow it.
This is different from a hard-top camper. You can tow one of those, but you can’t break it down in the same way you can with a pop-up version. Usually hard-top campers are larger and more expensive as well.
If you’re considering purchasing from a pop-up camper dealer, it can be an excellent choice for your family. You might take everyone on a trip and load supplies into the camper to take with you. It may surprise you how much food, furniture, and other items you can fit in one.
However, before you spend the money on one, you might want to know a little more about what the buying process can be like. We’ll talk about that in detail in the following article.
What Size and Features Might You Expect from a Pop-Up Camper?
If you imagine a pop-up camper, you should have in your mind one that is about 15-23 feet long. That is the average length that this item falls into.
You can also probably envision some features that are universal to pop-up campers, though of course every one is a little bit different. At a minimum, you can expect to see the collapsible roof that gives these campers their name. The partial canvas construction is standard as well.
You will likely see a large mattress inside it, though you can always remove that if you so choose. There should be a mess area, though it will not be as large or fancy as you would expect with a hard-top, full-sized camper.
Finally, you should see a bathroom, though once again, it will not be as spacious as you’ll get with a hard top version. It will be functional, but no more than that.
What Kinds of Vehicles Can Tow One?
As you start to shop around for a pop-up camper, you might want to be sure that the car you have can tow it. If you have something like a Dodge Ram then you’re not going to have any trouble regardless of how large the trailer is. However, what about if you have a midsized sedan or something along those lines?
If so, you should be pleased to know that many pop-up campers can still be towed with no issues by midsized family cars that don’t have an excessive amount of power. These campers were designed to be lightweight and portable, which is part of why the collapsible roof and canvas elements are part of their construction.
Still, if you’re starting to narrow down the models and brands to make a short list to choose from, you will probably want to read the fine print carefully if you don’t have a very large or powerful car. The last thing you want is to buy one that you can’t bring with you on camping trips. That would probably defeat the purpose.
You can always contact the manufacturer to talk to them about each model’s portability. You can also go to an outlet that sells them and speak to a salesperson if that’s easier for you.
The Best Brands
There are several reputable brands in this market, most notably ones like Jumping Jack, SylvanSport, Coachmen, and Turtleback Getaway. You might also do well with StarCraft, Jayco, or Livin Lite RV models.
Any of those are well known in this niche, but Coachmen and StarCraft are probably the best of the group. They consistently seem to get the job done in terms of price, features, and customization.
Where Can You Get One?
You can go to various stores and buy a pop-up camper. Any entity that sells RVs will likely have a wide selection of them. There are popular stores like Camping World that have dozens of locations around the nation. National Indoor RV Centers and Campers Inn RV are two others.
However, while you can certainly get a good deal at any of these places, you might do even better if you hit a weekend camping expo. These events usually happen a few times per year in most states.
You will often find a dizzying selection of pop-up campers with many sellers looking to cut a deal right there. That could be your chance to save some serious money.
Failing that, you might also do well hitting your local RV-selling entities during the offseason. Buying a pop-up camper between Memorial Day and Labor Day each year is usually not the best time to get a deal. Instead, go during the winter. You may not see as much inventory, but sometimes a seller will be more willing to give you one at a rock-bottom price.
How Much Does One Cost?
You can usually expect to pay anywhere from $10K to $25K for a pop-up camper. That depends on the brand, whether it is used or brand new, what amenities yours comes with, and so forth.
If you’re looking to spend on the lower end, then you might have to content yourself with an off-brand or gently used one. There is nothing necessarily wrong with buying one used, though, if it is in good condition.
What is usually key in such a situation is the warranty. If you see a used pop-up camper that is in your price range and looks good to the naked eye, then you might want to move on it before someone else snatches it up. Just like buying a used car, though, you want to watch out that you are not getting stuck with a lemon.
With a brand-new pop-up camper, you can expect at least a one-year warranty. For a used one, the seller might not give you better than 90 days. That factor might make you opt for a new one instead.
