About Pop Up Trailers…
If you are the more outdoorsy type, but also have a bunch of gear, consider renting or buying a pop-up trailer. These fiberglass or canvas space savers fold almost into a box that you can tow behind your vehicle without blocking as much of the view from your rear window as a larger camper caravans would. That means, if you get a smaller one, you do not need side window extenders. Pop up trailers are a lot less cumbersome going up inclines in comparison to their large cousins the camper, fifth wheel or caravan Not only that, they are easier to park at campgrounds and maneuver through city streets or off the beaten path roads.
Most of them are light weight enough to be towed behind a compact car. They range from 1500 to 4000 pounds and are 8 to 18 feet long when in their compacted state. There is even a small pop up trailer that can be towed behind a motorcycle. Now that would be a conversation maker around the trailer park campfire!
The Pop Up Trailers do their thing by cranks. Some more modern ones are controlled by an automatic hydraulic lift, so you do not have to be a superman to maneuver it into it’s full height. It takes less than an hour to set it up , pullout the lawn chairs and stoke up the grill. You will be pleasantly surprised at the features some of the travel trailers have. Many boast a mini kitchen, a shower and even a toilet. Some luxurious models even sport air conditioning and heating, but expect to pay good money for them. These campers come in sizes to sleep two, four or even six adults. The windows may be plastic with UV coating, or mesh zipped into canvas.
Often they have beds that slide out, similar to the cabins on boats. Even though that means the mattresses are a bit thin, it sure beats sleeping on the hard ground, unless you really like that sort of thing. You can snooze safe and snug in a bed above ground under a hard rooftop instead of fighting tent poles and stakes. Some popup campers have extenders to add more square footage undercover. The extenders allow the camping trailers to accommodate chairs and tables for eating and games. Most extenders are canvas and have zipped netting to keep the pesky critters out. Some are fiberglass and slide out from the sides by hydraulics. If the weather turns bad, you can get undercover fairly quickly. You may be in for a bumpy night, but you will stay dry, and certainly be more protected than if you were in a tent.
Even if you like to sleep under the stars, the pop-up can be just the camping trailer you need. It gives you the choice to cook the burgers outside on the campfire grill and boil the corn on the cob or beans inside on the stove. You can have the drinks in a fridge instead of spending your time searching for ice to put in the cooler. Then of course there is the indoor toilet versus, well, nature. You can camp out in sleeping bags one night, or sleep inside if the mosquitoes are particularly hungry the next night. It will definitely store your stuff better than the trunk of your car. And campers always have stuff.
You can find Pop Up Trailers in a variety of materials. Some are made of canvas, some fiberglass and metal, many a combination of both. So, no matter what your price range is, there is a good chance you can find a new or used Pop Up Trailer to fit your needs. A decent used one that is a canvas/hardtop combo can be found for $500 dollars. New pop-up campers range from $5,000 on up to $20,000 depending on the material and the amenities.
They may be called a variety of names from soft-sided campers, to fold down trailers, to camping trailers. Some have been advertised as tent campers. Sometimes they are called truck trailers. The one thing they all have in common is they are on wheels, provide shelter and can be easily towed. For the novice just getting into camping, or even the one who likes roughing it a bit, Pop Up Trailers can be ideal. One word of advice, though. Backing up with one does take a bit of practice and a friend to copilot.