If you’re out on an outdoor escapade — whether it be the mountains or the shore — you can always count Popup campers to keep things easy and simple. They’re a great option, especially for growing families who are always on the go and typically need more room than usual. While they may not provide the perks that a travel trailer, motor home, or 5th wheel can offer, they nonetheless serve as an excellent choice for camping lovers. Its tented sleeping quarters not only allow you to sleep soundly under the vast expanse of stars but also make sure you’re comfortable and cozy while you’re at it.
Popup campers are typically tent trailers or fold-out campers that can collapse into a much portable and smaller package due to their partial canvas construction. Similar to travel trailers, they also have functioning bathrooms, large mattresses, and a mess area as well. Popup campers are convenient since they save you the hassle of hauling heavy and massive trailers for when you’re out on an adventure. Instead, you can merely fold them into a handy package that’s far easier to manoeuvre and tow compared to a full-sized trailer.
Not only that, but one significant advantage with opting for Popup campers is that they tend to be less expensive, making them easily accessible and affordable for many. They’re also an easy first step from camping in a tent, which is a great choice for those who are seeking to try camping for the first time. Depending on the type of camper you purchase, some Popup campers come with dining areas, bathrooms, kitchen, and heaters apart from beds.
Popup Camper Costs At A Glance:
Choosing the type of Popup camper that’s best for you can be confusing at first, especially when there are plenty of options to choose from. Apart from the features that Popup campers have to boast, one thing you should particularly consider is cost. The cost of a popup camper typically depends on the age, model, as well as whether you are renting or buying in the first place.
Popup campers that are inclusive of luxuries such as front desk storage or heated mattresses will be more expensive than the basic one. That being said, there is a significant difference between the costs of a Popup camper that’s new or used. If you’re wondering how much is a new Popup camper, you can expect a new camper to cost around $10,000 to $20,000 on average or more depending on how extravagant you want it to be. On the other hand, used campers are generally cheaper since they’re easily within the range of $2,000 to $10,000.
Best Affordable Popup Camper:
Now that you have a general idea about how much Popup campers can cost, it’s now time to look at some worthy options available on the market. That being said, here are eight of the best Popup campers you can bring with you on your next camping adventure.
- Coachmen Viking Express 9.0TD:
If you’re looking for an affordable and budget-friendly option, the Coachmen Viking Express 9.0TD is an excellent choice. With just the price of $8,000, you can already enjoy a decent amount of features, such as its unique single-pivot design, which significantly lessens the complexity and setup time by this particular Popup camper.
However, despite its affordable price, the only downside to the Coachmen Viking is that it’s not suitable for big family or friend groups due to its small size. It only offers a two-person sleeping capacity alongside a limited space in the interior.
Even so, the Coachmen Viking 9.0TD is still a great buy at just a low price since it’s lightweight, compact, and simple all at the same time. It’s also a great choice if you’re only out with a friend or two or with your significant other.
- Sylvan Sport GO:
The SylvanSport GO is impressive for its storage space despite its small size. Here, you can store just about anything under the tent pod, from bikes, motorcycles, camping gear, and more. You can also place some more of your stuff, such as kayaks or bicycles, above the tent pod on the equipment rack. Despite being small-sized at 80 inches long and 116 inches wide, it nonetheless sports a cool design and is also a hybrid of every Popup tent trailer. De
Its slideout is that it can only accommodate two adults and two children at the same time. Also, there isn’t any internal toilet, so it would be a great idea if you opt for a decent composting toilet should you go ahead with the Sylvan. Even though it’s relatively small compared to other campers, its roof can Popup to make for more ventilation and headspace.
Anyone will love this lightweight Popup camper because of how compact it is and how it can be easily towed. Moreover, the Sylvan Sport GO is ideal for people who have an affinity for the outdoors.
- 2017 Livin’ Life Quicksilver 8.0:
While this Popup camper may look simple and small at first glance, you can say that a lot of effort and thought has gone into its exterior design. The Quicksilver is built on a superstructure made of aluminum, making it an efficiently lightweight camper. Unlike the hassle that comes into hitching a trailer, you’ll find it convenient to do with the Quicksilver due to its manual crank swivel jack on the tongue that only requires minimal effort.
With two full-sized beds, the Quicksilver can easily accommodate up to four persons. Even so, you can make for more space for two more adults if you convert the dinette seating to a bedroom area. Though it doesn’t have a bathroom, it contains two oven burners and a small sink for your use.
You also have the option to add features such as an aluminum rear storage rack to carry additional gear or an Off-Road package that substitutes the standard 12 inches by 15-inch tires with all-terrain ones.
- Forest River Rockwood 1640LTD:
Another cheap Popup camper option you can go for is the Forest River Rockwood 1640LTD with just a price of $9,255.
However, the Forest River Rockwood is more than just its affordable price. It’s also nimble and compact while sporting a lightweight design alongside a four-person sleeping capacity. Not only that, but it also has a wide, open interior perfect for groups. You’ll also find no difficulty with this Popup camper since it only has a dry weight of 1,465 points, making it one of the lightest campers you can carry around and tow.
A wide variety of midsize and compact SUVs can easily pull this compact camper, such as the Kia Sportage, Honda Passport, Honda Pilot, and most minivans as well.
- Black Series Alpha Camper:
The Black Series Alpha Camper is the Popup camper you need for off-road adventures since it’s the most rugged on this list. This makes it all the more suitable for campers who want to go away from the campground and get off the beaten path.
The Black Series is an extreme and off-road Popup camper manufactured from the ground up to be one of the most rugged and well-built off-grid campers you can possibly purchase. For this, you can include some features such as
- LED lighting
- High ground clearance
- Duragal tube reinforced chassis
- Quad Shock Absorbers
- Deep Cycle 100 Amp per Hour battery that you can charge with Tow vehicles
- Outdoor kitchen
- Twin lockable propane tank holders
- Twin Lockable Jerry Can Holders
However, even with these off-grid features and heavy-duty materials, the Black Series Alpha Camper still prides itself on affordability since you can purchase it for only the average price of $9,995.
- Aliner Scout Lite:
This A-frame Popup camper features hard, angled walls that allow for better insulation against extreme weather conditions. With the Aliner Scout Lite, you usually have two-floor plans to choose from. Nevertheless, both options come with a refrigerator, microwave, stove, sink, interior lights, fan, LED, and an outside shower.
While relatively more expensive than the other options, the Aliner Scout Lite is still the cheapest harder-sided Popup camper you can find at just $12 000. This is because of the fact that hard-sided options tend to cost more, unlike the usual tent-style options due to manufacturing costs and the unique benefits exclusive to hard-sided Popup campers.
The Scout Lite accommodates enough space to meet your daily needs while being compact enough to tow and maintain with minimal effort. It’s ideal for one or two people, though four people can still have enough sleeping space.
Despite having clear advantages over the common tent-style design, its only downside is that its A-frame meant limited interior and sleeping space.
- Forest River Flagstaff Hard Side T12RBST:
If the Aliner Scout Lite proves to be too expensive for your liking, the Forest River Flagstaff Hardside makes for a cheaper hard-sided Popup camper option that should be on your shortlist.
This Popup camper is packed with plenty of features that help make your trip more fun and enjoyable while still maintaining a reasonable economical price. For one, the Popup camper offers convenience features like a full kitchenette with sink, outdoor shower, three-burner propane stove, a fridge, solar prep, and a microwave.
Furthermore, it also has one of the biggest amounts of storage space you can possibly find in a Popup camper due to its huge exterior front storage locker and flip-up bed. This allows you to bring loads of outdoor and camping gear to your liking.
- Coachmen Clipper LS 806XLS:
This Coachmen Clipper is the ideal box-size 8.5-foot Popup camper, thanks to its budget-friendly design and minimalistic design.
Its 18-inches and 54-inches wide dual insulated sleeping beds on either side allow for more than enough space for your family to sleep soundly inside the Popup camper. Moreover, it also offers plenty of features to make your camping trip stress-free and fun. It provides convenience features such as a hot and cold water sink, fridge, two-burner propane stove, 20,000 BTU furnace, 16-gallon freshwater tank, and a built-in awning as well.
Diving Deeper: How Much Does A Pop Up Camper Cost?
The cost of Popup campers goes beyond its purchase price; even so, it’s still as good as any place to start. You’re typically looking at a price range of $10,000 to $20,000, with the price spectrum simultaneously depending on the features, brand, and age of the model.
In a nutshell, you can have a rough idea of Popup campers’ pricing by looking at its features and newness. For instance, the new basic models on the low-end are more affordable than most since it only features a small dinette, some cooking appliances, a mini-fridge, and a few beds. Budget models, while smaller than their expensive counterparts, are considered significant upgrades to a tent because they tend to offer square footage alongside other features as you go up in price. Some of these include heated beds, heater or air conditioner, TV, cooking appliances, toilet, and more.
Meanwhile, larger, new models tend to be pricier, going up beyond $20,000. Used Popup campers are the cheapest option among these; however, despite not being particularly new, an old Popup camper can serve you just as a new one can. You only have to look at whether or not it’s been maintained well.
Buying Vs. Renting A Popup Camper: Which Is Better?
Popup camper pricing also largely depends on whether you are renting or buying it. When you purchase a Popup camper used at a reduced selling price, it still comes with similar costs to buying a new one. You will still need to maintain and insure it. Even so, you can still be able to purchase a lower-end camper in cash while simultaneously avoiding the financing cost.
Nonetheless, you still have a slew of things to consider when buying a used Popup camper, such as depreciation and more. With used Popup campers being older than the latest models, considering the cost of depreciation will allow you to determine whether a Popup camper is a great buy or not. For instance, fold-out campers tend to depreciate less compared to a new RV or vehicle, but they constantly lose value every year. You can expect about 20% within the first year and 10% per year afterward for around seven years.
On the other hand, the costs of renting a Popup camper often vary depending on where you live as well as the camper’s type and size. Most areas tend to have average rent prices of $30 for each night and a top out of $100 for every night. You also have to factor in other costs beyond the nightly rent.
If you’re someone who is confused about whether buying or renting a Popup camper is the most suitable choice to make, you first have to ask yourself how often you will use the camper. Also, you have to identify if you have a vehicle that can handle towing a Popup camper and whether or not you’ll need to pay for storage space.
The answer varies from camper to camper; nonetheless, buying a Popup camper is the best option if you’re one to camp often. Rental costs can add up more quickly than usual, but they make for a more affordable option compared to buying if you need to rent a vehicle and then pay for storage.
Reducing The Cost Of Buying A Popup Camper:
If you’re looking to buy Popup campers on a set budget, there are some easy steps you can keep in mind so you can reduce buying costs. The first is to pay up cash; however, you can also opt for these options below:
- Consider renting it out: After purchasing your Popup camper, you can rent it at times you’re not using it and also opt to recoup your purchase price however you want.
- Buy an older model, new: If you can find one, it’s also a good idea to buy a relatively older Popup camper. Through this, you can obtain a Popup camper that comes with high-end features at a significantly lower price.
- Shop end-of-year sales: If you decide to buy at a Popup camper dealer shop at the near end of the year when they’re highly likely to make room for new inventory — don’t forget to always negotiate.
- Buy from a private dealer: Even if it isn’t a heavily used and older camper, you’ll find yourself paying less if you buy from private sealers than going for a dealership.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- How much should I spend on a used Popup camper?
Used campers tend to have lesser prices than newer ones. For this, you can expect a price range of $2,000 to $10,000.
- Is it worth buying a Popup camper?
Popup campers are among the most budget-friendly options on the market compared to RVs. However, buying one may not be worth it if you only camp scarcely. Otherwise, you can get a Popup at just a fraction of its cost, and since they tend to cost less to start, that makes them cheaper to insure at the same time.
- How long do Popup campers last?
Popup campers can last for about 10 to 15 years on average, depending on how often you use it and how well you maintain it. Some Popup campers last less than the average years, and most of it is due to their owners not knowing how to take care of them properly.
Conclusion:
Popup campers are great for adventure-seekers who are always down for camping, all at an economical price. Not only are they compact and lightweight, unlike your usual RVs or trailers, but they also offer plenty of great features that ensure a memorable camping experience for everyone. Depending on what you’re looking for in a Popup camper, pricing costs generally depend on its features, newness, age, and model. You also have to consider whether buying or renting is the most suitable option for you; that way, you can arrive at the best choice when it comes to purchasing the option that best caters to your needs.
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