Pop-Up Campers: Advantages and Disadvantages

Above, the 1985 Starcraft Starlite 16 on the Keene Ranch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Pop-up campers (or tent trailers) are usually the starter RV for young families before moving up to bigger towable RVs and motorhomes. I started out with a 1985 Starlite 16 by Starcraft. At the time, it only cost around $4,000 (give or take). We used it for about six years before getting a micro-mini Class C motorhome.

There are advantages and disadvantages to pop-up campers and MotorBiscuit has posted an article discussing each.

They begin with:

From cross-country road trips to weekends in the woods, there’s an RV to meet everyone’s needs. But pop-up campers offer one significant advantage over other types of recreational vehicles. However, that benefit comes with several disadvantages.

One huge selling point of pop-up campers is their affordability. Compared with other RV types, pop-up campers are the cheapest option. The average price for a new one averages $17,000, but shoppers can find models for as little as $10,000. And used ones can be found for under $5,000.

 To read more, go here.