Popup Campers: Advantages and Disadvantages
With a myriad of variations in campers, travel trailers, and motorhomes, one of the most accessible campers for many families is the popup camper. What initially, and primarily, makes the popup camper an attractive option is its two biggest advantages: cost and portability.
It’s big…and it’s how much?!
Many of us would love to idealize our vacations in a large RV bus, travel trailer, or other extravagant motorhome. The problem with this scenario is simply expense; not only in the cost up front, but also in the upkeep.
Large recreational vehicles are not like family value packages in grocery stores; it’s not just space, but more amenities for the traveler means a more expensive vehicle to build.
A larger travel trailer or motorhome also requires more expense in getting it there and keeping it there. Gas is expensive and space is more limited compared to using a smaller recreational vehicle; not every parking space in an RV park is created equal.
Don’t get me wrong, large RV buses and travel trailers are great recreational vehicles, but for those who can afford them and one of the primary considerations when buying one is not only looking at the purchase price but also considering how much it is going to cost to use it; it doesn’t help any of us to have a nice motorhome or travel trailer which we cannot afford to take on vacation.
Your travel trailer needs to go on a diet.
I almost bought a beautiful Jayco 32 ft travel trailer on one occasion. There were, however, extenuating circumstances which became serious roadbumps to purchasing the Jayco: trying to haul it, and finding enough space to park it until I used it. The price was good, but I did not have the vehicle to haul such a trailer, or a place to put it; even though my brother-in-law and myself both talked ourselves into thinking there was enough space.
Popup campers are essentially half travel trailer and half tent. Not only are they compacted in height due to this combination, but in length as well; being that sleeping quarters are essentially part of the tent which folds out, floorspace, the trailer part, is mostly used for common areas (dining and social space).
With this design, a larger travel trailer can effectively be put into a package that is only 60 percent, randomly, of the length and less than half of the height for hauling; not to mention much less weight, thusly making popup campers ideal for someone to haul with a family vehicle rather than requiring a larger vehicle.
When considering a popup camper, do compare the gross weight of the camper against the recommended towing capacity of your vehicle. If the recommended towing capacity is not specified, then you will have to add the weight of your family (double the net weight of everyone combined*) to your trailer and compare that against the recommended hauling capacity of the vehicle**.
*Despite anyone’s honesty with what they weigh, people will need clothes, sleeping items, food, etc. Doubling the weight is intended to account for everything a family could take with a margin of error.
**Towing capacity is extraneous to carrying capacity. Hauling capacity is inclusive of carrying capacity and towing capacity.
Disadvantages of a popup camper.
Disadvantages with a popup camper design are in the sacrifices made which effects the design in the first place.
The first disadvantage is in the part where it is part tent; that being tents require set up and, unlike a travel trailer which is set into place and leveled, a popup camper needs to be erected. Now, obviously, there is not as much work needed in setting up many tents, but this is an additional step which needs to be taken and is something to consider, the ease with setting up a particular model, if you are going to purchase one.
Popup campers simply do not have that comfortable of beds. They are basically a fabric porch with the equivalent of a plywood base upon which a thin mattress has been placed; naturally this will vary by manufacturer. Additional padding such as foam mats used with sleeping bags or air mattresses can make the beds more comfortable and are not very expensive.
Popup campers are simply not likely to include a bathroom or shower. Wherever you plan to park, make certain facilities are available, or learn to love the great outdoors…uh…and how to identify poison ivy.
Being that popup campers are lighter than their travel trailer counterparts, they are even more susceptible to inclement weather. Travel trailers will rock in storms and winds, but popup campers have even less weight and their fold-out design is even less aerodynamic in high winds. Not only are tie-downs a good idea when setting up a popup camper, but so is ballast; rather than carrying sand bags with you for ballast, burlap bags and a shovel will allow you to make your own on the spot, just be certain to put them inside the camper.
One final note about popup camper disadvantages is weather insulation. Now travel trailers are not going to be insulated from the elements like a home is, but they are insulated well enough. Popup campers, however, are not well insulated from the elements. Heat and air conditioning are going to depend on the model. Like a tent, it does not hurt to have seam sealer and tarps as a backup; popup campers are going to be better sealed than tents, and be made of better fabrics which would be too heavy for a tent, but the possibility for leaks does go up with a popup camper over a travel trailer.
The advantages of a popup camper.
Now what I have already mentioned may seem to make popups campers seem less attractive as a choice for a recreational vehicle, but all recreational vehicles are going to have their disadvantages simply because they are not our home, for most of us anyway, and sacrifices need to be made o anything to make it portable.
Popup campers are simply less expensive than more full size travel trailers, and certainly a fraction of the cost of motorhomes.
Popup campers are more compact for storage compared to travel trailers of an equivalent size. Even with smaller travel trailers of 18 ft or less, they still require that much space at a minimum to store. A 24 ft popup camper will fit in the same amount of space and be less of an eyesore to the neighbors.
Unless you have experience towing, any kind of a load is going to be a challenge. A popup camper is more towing friendly for novices, especially as it does not block rear vision to any degree which a travel trailer or even a boat will. Now keep in mind, contrary to popular opinion, that a short trailer is more difficult to put in reverse than a longer trailer; this is just simply the pivot point, and a shorter wheelbase is going to pivot more quickly than a longer wheelbase, and pivot more to either side.
Another advantage to a popup camper is as an adjunct to a motorhome. Large motorhomes are expensive to buy, and additionally expensive to run. For families with more space requirements needing an economical solution for vacations, a small motorhome, say a Class C motorhome, or even a camper van, with a popup camper in tow will provide an option for more camping space without the expense of a larger camper, and will cost less to get it there and maintain.
As I have alluded, each form of recreational vehicle has advantages and disadvantages; if you want perfect, build a vacation home where you plan to vacation. A popup camper, like any other recreational vehicle fills a need; and that need is space and economics.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with just simply wanting a popup camper because you like them.
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Tags: camper, motorhome, popup camper, popup trailer, recreational vehicle, RV, tent, travel trailer, vacation