10 Best Pop-Up Campers

A pop-up campervan is a perfect vehicle for people who are new to road-tripping or camping, as well as experienced travelers that don’t want the inconvenience or cost of a large RV.

The smallest type of motorhome on the road, pop-up campers are incredibly convenient because they are collapsible, which means they are easy to tow and store. And, despite their small size, they can accommodate between two and eight people, depending on the model.

Pop-up campers are incredibly convenient because they are collapsible, which means they are easy to tow and store. Jayco 1006 Pop-up Camper Trailer by Korey99 / WikiCommons / CC BY-SA 3.0

What is a Pop-Up Camper?

A pop-up camper is a type of recreational vehicle that is towed behind a motorcar or a truck and that can be collapsed for easy storage and transport. When fully set up, a pop-up camper is similar to a tent, but provides plenty of interior space for living and sleeping and is far easier to set up and take down.

A conventional pop-up consists of a metal trailer frame and a box, a hard roof, and “soft walls” made of canvas, vinyl, or a similar material. The walls have windows with screens and the frame has pull-out bunks for sleeping.

Basic popup campers usually include several features such as sleeping bunks, a fold-down dinette that serves as both bench seating and a tabletop, storage cabinets, an onboard freshwater tank, a sink, interior DC lighting, and a 12-volt DC power system (including an AC to DC converter and a deep cycle battery.

Many pop-up campers also include additional features such as an electric or gas absorption refrigerator, an electric water pump, a rooftop air conditioner, an exterior shower, a water heater, one or two propane tanks, and a skylight or roof vent. Some premium models also include a shower, toilet, wastewater tanks, and a slide-out section to increase interior space.

Pop-Up Teardrop Camper by Tacticaltv / WikiCommons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Types of Pop-Up Campers

In addition to traditional pop-up campers, there are several special types of pop-ups on the market, including:

• High wall pop-ups: these have a taller box which allows for residential-height countertops and more storage space
• Motorcycle campers: lightweight pop-ups small enough to be pulled by a motorcycle
• Toy-hauler pop-ups: an open cargo deck for transporting ATVs, motorcycles, etc.
• Off-road pop-ups: a pop-up with rugged construction and raised suspension for off-road use
• A-frame: a small solid wall folding camper
• Flip-out pop-up camper: features a soft tent roof that flips over to become a bunk
• Inflatable trailer: compressed air side walls and roof

There are several types of pop-up campervans. 1977 Volkswagen Bus T2 Camper by nakhon100 – Volkswagen Bus T2 Camper / WikiCommons / CC BY 2.0

Things to Consider When Shopping for a Pop-Up Camper

There are several factors to take into consideration when shopping for a pop-up camper.

1. Weight

The weight of a pop-up camper is determined by the weight it can hold, and it will depend entirely on the type of vehicle that is going to tow the camper. The heavier the camper, the more features it is likely to have, however, it will mean needing to have a heavier duty vehicle to tow the camper.

2. Heating and Cooling System

Having a heating and cooling system can make your road trip more comfortable when days are hot, and nights are cold. A powered rooftop fan is also a great feature to have on a pop-up camper for not only keeping interiors cool on hot days but keeping away flying insects like flies.

3. Kitchen with Appliances

A kitchen area with appliances is super convenient and makes cooking on the road that much easier. Most models come with a small refrigerator, a sink for washing, and a stove. High-end models can also feature an oven, a microwave, and countertop space for preparation.

4. Storage Space

Storage space is essential but the more storage space the pop-up camper offers, the heavier it will be to tow. Good planning will allow for less storage space to be needed and you won’t have excess items that are not used.

Pop-Up campers can be towed or fitted to a truck or a van. Wildcat pop-up camper by Travelers / WikiCommons / CC BY-SA 3.0 pl

Best Pop-Up Campers

Best Overall: Air Opus

The Air Opus is one of the best pop-up campers on the market. Small, lightweight, and easy to tow, the Air Opus comes with everything that you might need for a trip into the wild and is super easy to store after your trip.

One of the best features of this pop-up camper is the “Air Pole Technology,” which sees the trailer opening up and self-inflating into a full-sized camping trailer in just 90 seconds. This state-of-the-art technology uses air tubes and an electric pump, making setting up and taking down a quick and hassle-free process.

The Air Opus has a spacious interior with electric lighting, skylights, and windows. It also features a fully fitted kitchen with a microwave, a comfy dining and living area, and a built-in bedroom. It has a ceiling height of 2.5 meters which offers plenty of standing room for tall adults.

Specifications:

• Weight: 2,387 pounds
• Person capacity: 2 adults
• Dimensions closed: 206” x 66” x 53”
• Dimensions opened: 206” x 66” x 120″

Best Pop-Up Camper for Families: Coachman Clipper Classic

The Coachman Clipper is a fantastic option for a family-friendly pop-up camper with over a dozen floor plans and countless extra options. Weighing in at 2,840 pounds, the camper can accommodate up to four adults and three children and can be tailor-made to suit a wide variety of personal needs.

The Clipper Classic is spacious and airy with a king-size bed, a queen-size bed, a gaucho bed/sofa with thick heated mattresses, a four-seater dinette that can be converted into extra beds for children. A bathroom has a shower and a cassette toilet and a kitchen with a dual-burner stovetop, a refrigerator, a sink, and the interior has air-conditioning and a furnace for cold weather camping.

Some of the best features of this amazing camper include a Jensen Bluetooth stereo, LED interior lighting, solar panels, a storage security system, and a bike rack.

Specifications:

• Weight: 2,840 pounds
• Person capacity: 4 adults, 3 children
• Dimensions closed: 228” x 85” x 55”
• Dimensions opened: 281” x 85” x 144”

Best Truck Pop-Up Camper: Four Wheel Campers Raven

Described as ‘virtually indestructible,’ the Four Wheel Campers Raven is a truck camper made entirely from a robust aluminum frame with a removable camping pod attached by a series of safety hooks and clasps. It is easily set up and removed so the truck can be used for everyday activities like going to work, moving about town, or shopping and as a camper on the weekends.

The Four Wheel Campers Raven is available in a variety of options from base models to luxury options with built-in showers and comfy bench-style dinette seating. All models come with a large queen-size bed that fits on top of the truck and on popping the roof, a spacious dining area that seats two is opened, as well as a kitchen area with a fully functional kitchen. Other features include cooling and heating systems, window, insulation, lighting, and stylish furnishings.

Specifications:

• Weight: 1,040 pounds
• Person capacity: 2 adults, 1 child
• Dimensions closed: 118” x 80” x 60” (70” floor)
• Dimensions opened: 118” x 80” x 78” (70” floor)

Four-Wheel Campers are truck campers made entirely from a robust aluminum frame with a removable camping pod attached by a series of safety hooks and clasps. Aluminum framed Four Wheel Camper on Toyota Tacoma by Gillfoto / WikiCommons / CC BY-SA 4.0

BunduTec WILD

The BunduTec WILD is another truck camper that caught our eye and made the list of best truck campers. Made from high-quality materials and boasting ample storage space, this two-person pop-up truck camper is made for half-ton pickup trucks and is a popular alternative to the tow-behind variant.

Strong and lightweight, the BunduTec WILD is framed in wood and lined with lightweight aluminum, and the interior features a comfortable seating and sleeping area, a bathroom with a shower, and a toilet. A kitchen has a two-burner stove, refrigerator, and a sink, as well as a water heater, and a furnace for cold weather camping.

Other features include LED lighting throughout, multiple USB and 12-volt outlets, an electric roof lift, and a roof fan vent. Optional accessories with the BunduTec WILD include a glass sink countertop, electric corner jacks, stylish overhead cabinets, and a skylight.

Specifications:

• Weight: 1,630 pounds
• Person capacity: 2 adults, 1 child
• Dimensions closed: 151” x 84” x 63” (84” floor)
• Dimensions opened: 151” x 84” x 85” (84” floor)

Best Value Pop-Up Camper: SylvanSport GO

The SylvanSport GO is another ultra-lightweight pop-up camper that is ideal for first-time campers or those looking for a small pop-up camper. This four-person camper is 100% waterproof and comes with insulating bed platforms that are great for camping in colder areas.

It is easy to tow and back into spaces at campsites due to its size and it has a great roof rack with a low loading height at just 53 inches and a carrying capacity of 165 pounds so you can load up those mountain bikes, kayaks, and surfboards!

It has a waterproof tent pod that deploys and retracts from the hinged case which is mounted below the equipment rack and offers multiple comfy dining and sleeping options when set up with a standing height of six feet and five inches. The tent is 80 inches long and 116 wide and can comfortably accommodate four people. The tent can also be removed so the trailer can be used to haul gear or supplies.

Specifications:

• Weight: 840 pounds
• Person capacity: 4 adults
• Dimensions closed: 143” x 75” x 53”
• Dimensions opened: 154” x 124” x 108”

Camping in the outback 

Best for Outdoor Activities: Forest River Rockwood Extreme Sports Package Camping Trailer

The Forest River Rockwood Extreme Sports Package Camping Trailer is a sports-lovers dream. It comes with a roof rack that can support up to 150 pounds of outdoor sports equipment from kayaks, canoes, and mountain bikes to surfboards, kitesurfing equipment, and more.

The beautifully designed interior boasts an L-shaped sofa that converts into a bed, a wood-effect floor with wood units to match, LED interior lighting, and a spacious cooking area/kitchen with a covered three-burner range.

Digital amenities in the ESP include USB and aux ports, a media receiver with Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi booster, an MP3 player, and a recharging station with two additional USB ports – ideal for the digital nomad. A 190-watt roof-mounted solar panel with a 1000-watt onboard inverter provides renewable energy to your batteries and allows you to power your outlets while camping off-grid.

Other top features include a 12-volt electric water pump, extra storage over the bunks, a patio light for outdoor dining or relaxing, and a Vinolon Supreme Tent with smoked vinyl windows. It boasts a 20-gallon tank for freshwater so you will have access to clean water when heading into the backcountry.

Other Great Pop-Up Campers

Forest River Flagstaff

The Forest River Flagstaff is another great hard-sided A-frame pop-up camper with a wealth of amenities. This hard-sided pop-up camper has the solid exterior of a travel trailer with the soft material shell of a tent camper, giving you the best of both worlds.

Easy to tow and set up, the Forest River Flagstaff has a white fiberglass exterior with an autumn wood interior and comfortable, stylish furnishings. Amenities include a comfy seating area with a dinette, a kitchen with a two- or -three-burner indoor range, a 12-volt refrigerator with a 100-watt roof solar panel, a microwave, and plenty of cabinets and storage space.

Different models offer different bathroom types from a Port-A-Potty to a hard wall shower with a residential flush toilet and the interior has LED lighting throughout. Other features include a 12-volt water pump, a 30-amp detachable power cord, a 35-amp converter, a courtesy light on the front, an outside griddle, and an automatic gas regulator.

Specifications

• Weight: 2,648 pounds
• Person capacity: 3 adults
• Dimensions closed: 250” x 84” x 68”
• Dimensions opened: 250” x 84” x 168”

Camp365

The Camp365 is a simple pop-up camper that converts into a spacious 700-cubic-foot cabin. Designed with an aerodynamic shape and a small road profile so it’s easy to tow and back into campsite spaces, the Camp365 is four feet wide and less than seven feet tall when folded down for travel and storage.

Unfolding and setting up the Camp365 cabin takes less than 10 minutes and when fully up, the airy interior sleeps up to six people. The beds can be folded away to make space for relaxing or entertaining.

The kitchen has a two-burner, a portable pull-out stove that can be set up indoors or outdoors, a stainless sink, 12-gallon water tanks, and ample storage in the form of 39 cubic feet of in-floor and side and front dry storage as well as optional portable shelving and full-length hanging bars.

Specifications

• Weight: 1,495 pounds
• Person capacity: 6 adults
• Dimensions closed: 186” x 48” x 80”
• Dimensions opened: 186” x 140” x 120”

Livin’ Lite Quicksilver 8.0

The Livin’ Lite Quicksilver 8.0 is an ultra-lightweight pop-up camper with a simple, yet highly innovative design. Built on an all-aluminum superstructure, this four-person pop-up camper is super easy to tow thanks to a manual crank swivel jack on the tongue that requires very little effort.

The Quicksilver boasts two full-size beds and a dinette that can convert into an extra double bed to accommodate two more people. It has a small kitchen area with two oven burners and a sink, however, does not have a bathroom.

Additional features include an optional aluminum rear storage rack for packing more gear and if you plan on going off-road, you can choose the optional Off-Road Package that replaces the standard 12-inch tires with 15-inch all-terrain tires.

Built on an all-aluminum superstructure, this four-person pop-up camper boasts two full-size beds and a dinette that can convert into an extra double bed to accommodate two more people.

Jayco Jay Sport by Jayco

Offering four different floor plans, the Jayco Jay Sport has something for everyone. This versatile pop-up is airy and stylish with ample places to relax and modern furnishings that make it feel like a small home-away-from-home. The camper comfortably sleeps eight people and features a spacious fully functional kitchen area with a range of appliances that have been pre-plumbed for propane.

The Jayco Jay Sport pop-up camper has a heavy-duty, corrosion-resistant frame with a domed, seamless fiberglass roof and a mildew-resistant aluminum ceiling to which a water-repellent tent is attached on either end for extra space. Although there is no bathroom, there is an exterior shower and optional add-ons include a canopy awning and a double-entry step.

OPUS Off-Road

The OPUS Off-Road is a fantastic little camper for off-road enthusiasts. The quick-inflating tent takes just 90 seconds to inflate to full size and when fully set up has eight-foot ceilings, a full outdoor kitchen, plenty of windows, and skylights.

The four-man tent has an interior that has been specially designed to be functional, comfortable, and luxurious. Spacious and light with plenty of windows and skylights, the tent has a ceiling height of 2.5 meters, a large kitchen with a two-burner gas hob, a cabinet-mounted three-way fridge, a work surface with drawer units for storage. A demountable table and a seating area are great for relaxing, and fixed double bed areas have inner privacy tents.

Optional extras include a BPW WS3000 stabilizing hitch coupling; a Saracen WS3000 Hitch Lock, which comes with reduced insurance premiums; a Nemesis Ultra Wheel Lock with a guaranteed 20% discount on insurance premiums from SafeGuard Insurance; a 10-meter mains extension lead; a 12 Volt 110 Ah Leisure Battery; an Enduro Remote Control Motor Mover that rotates 360º and can move an OPUS up a 1-in-4 slope.

The OPUS Off-Road has 23-liter water and waste carriers and two high-quality lockable OPUS Alloy Roof Bars made from lightweight aluminum with smooth end molded caps. A carrier provides space for a variety of sports equipment such as mountain bikes, kayaks, and surfboards.

Aliner Ranger 12

The Aliner Ranger 12 is an A-frame pop-up camper with hard-angled walls that not only make it look like a little house on wheels but also make it super-insulated for camping in extreme weather. The Aliner Ranger 12 is available with two-floor plans, both of which have a kitchen with a refrigerator, microwave, and sink, as well as a comfortable sleeping area for up to four people.

The camper is available in four sizes: a 10-foot cabin on 13-foot frame; a 12-foot cabin on 15-foot frame; and a 15-foot cabin on an 18-foot frame, and there are three different models:

• Standard – water hook-up
• Upgraded – 11-gallon freshwater tank, a three-way refrigerator, and two-burner stove
• Deluxe – larger three-way refrigerator with a freeze

Other features include hardwood cabinets, a cable connection, a front utility light, and windows for panoramic views.

Northstar 600SS

The Northstar 600SS is a pop-up camper that is compatible with midsize trucks like the Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado, and Nissan Frontier and features excellent interior and exterior storage capacity. The two-person pop-up camper has a queen-size mattress with room to spare, and a kitchen with a two-burner stove, a refrigerator, and plenty of storage space.

Other features include an electric roof lift and four corner jacks, while optional extras include an exterior port shower, a roof air conditioner, and high-end cabinets.

Specifications

• Weight: 1,258 pounds
• Person capacity: 2 adults
• Dimensions closed: 146” x 77” x 58” (75” floor)
• Dimensions opened: 146” x 77” x 83” (75” floor)

Life on the open road by

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a pop-up camper difficult to set up?

Most pop-up campers are very easy to set up with two people as they have built-in cranks and slide-outs that are usually quite easy to maneuver.

Should I store my pop-up camper expanded or closed?

It is best to store your pop-up camper with the pop-up closed. As with any RV, everything needs to be cleaned and put away properly so that the RV is all set to go the next time it’s time to go camping. Leaving the tent set-up will expose the material to the elements and possibly damage it. Make sure the canvas is well-dried before collapsing the sides and roof to prevent mildew.

Can I store my pop-up camper with a cover over it?

Yes, you can, however, don’t put an airtight cover over the top of the camper as this will restrict airflow and may cause mildew to grow. Choose a fabric that will allow airflow but still help keep off dust and dirt from the roof of the pop-up.

Does a pop-up camper have a bathroom?

This will depend on the model of the pop-up camper, however, many folding camping trailers do not have a bathroom.

What happens when it rains?

Since a pop-up is a soft-sided RV, the canvas will get wet and will need to dry out. If you prefer the canvas to stay dry, you can always spread an awning or a tarp over the top of the pop-up. While the roof is made from hard material for extra protection from the elements, the canvas can be torn by flying branches in a storm, so keep that in mind.

Happy camping!