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From YourSITE.com Types & Choices Maybe you know them better as fold-down campers, folding camping trailers or tent trailers. As kids we called them "Big Macs" – why I have no idea. But these days, they’re mostly referred to as pop-ups, and they serve as the best and most cost-effective way for young families to camp and travel.
Popular brands of pop-ups are made by Coleman, Starcraft and Forest River (Rockwood). Pop-ups are easily towable, ranging in weight from 1,500 to 4,000 pounds, and easily hitch to your SUV, truck, mini-van or large sedan. Of course, you’ll need a proper hitch and some information regardingtrailer weights and towing capabilities, but your dealer can help you with that. After that, you’re free to roam the country, confident that a dry bed, storage for your gear and a hot meal await you. Pop-ups deliver a major upgrade from a tent and sleeping bag, not to mention a much more reliable and durable barrier against the elements. Upon arrival at your campsite, the unit folds out (pops up!) into two large "wings" (usually through the use of a crank), which serve as two separate sleeping areas. The base of the unit, which indeed looks like a tent on wheels, usually features a small dinette, mini-refrigerator, storage areas and some kind of cooking appliances. A heater, outdoor shower and grilling area are also fairly common. More expensive units can boast a shower, toilet, a manual slide-out room (which greatly expands the roominess inside) and more deluxe cooking features. Travelers are protected from the elements by a mix of heavy canvass and hard-sided roof.
You can buy most new pop-ups for between $5,000-$10,000, a bona fide bargain considering its livability. A family of four, particularly if the kids are still young enough to consider sharing a bed fun, should have little problem eating, sleeping and dressing onboard, provided you don’t spend countless hours in a space that is still relatively tiny. Aside from the cost of the hitch (under $500), a pop-up adds little in the way of extra expenses. Your tow vehicle’s gas mileage will suffer somewhat, but only marginally, and insurance, tolls and maintenance costs are a fraction of higher-end RVs. The biggest challenge pop-up owners face is probably backing into their campsite. Just take it slow and have your co-pilot hop out and give you directions. Or better yet, opt for a pull-through campsite. Once your destination is reached and your unit set-up, your tow vehicle is now free to transport the family into town, the amusement park or other points of interest without a trailer in tow. Your mobility will certainly be the envy of larger motorhomers and trailer owners. Families who spent one-too-many camping trips suffering through cold nights and gear mishaps often soon find themselves on an RV dealer’s lot scouting out these entry-level units. And for many, buying a pop-up represents a couple’s first foray into the world of RVing, with the purchase of a larger trailer or motorhome not far behind. RV manufacturers know this, and hope travelers use a pop-ups as a springboard later on to a larger, more expensive RV. Until that time, however, enjoy these small camping wonders, the best value in the industry. Subscribe to Pop Up Times, the only magazines exclusively about pop up trailers.
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