An inflatable pop-up camper is a small recreational vehicle. Most people who purchase popup campers do so to obtain the RV experience at a lower price. The average travel trailer is large, but smaller models are also available. The RV experience is similar, although it offers more amenities. Travel trailers are more difficult to tow than pop-up campers, which is one of the distinctions between the two. A popup camper is an excellent choice if you are looking for an RV with limited amenities and features, while also being affordable. In order to have a great camping trip, you should consider a travel trailer if you want the full RV experience.
Here we will compare these two RV types to determine which is a better choice for you. Now let’s get started.
Maintenance
The maintenance of popup campers is a little easier. Pop-up campers are quite small and don’t come with walls or doors. RVs like these require less maintenance because they are modestly sized. In contrast, travel trailers require additional maintenance for certain parts. A travel trailer mechanic may be required more often than not. It is important to know that visiting a mechanic that specialises in RVs might cost you about $100 an hour. Investing in routine maintenance will save you money when your RV breaks down. The cost of replacement parts will also be incurred. It is essential to maintain components in a trailer, such as the piping system, the awnings, and the appliances, to avoid costly repairs.
Insurance
The only costs you incur are when you buy your RV and when you have it repaired. It’s not true. You need to insure your RV, considering how much you paid to buy it and the appliances you have in it. Because popups are small and economical, they cost less to insure. Because your popup camper doesn’t have too many amenities, and because it didn’t cost as much to purchase, it could have low insurance premiums. For the simplest popup camper, it’s $20 extra, while for the more luxurious ones, it’s $200 extra. Travel trailers, however, cost between $220 and $550 per month on average. In spite of the low cost associated with popup campers, you never know what could happen to them.
Sense of adventure
Travel trailers are simply your home on wheels, while popup campers offer an authentic camping experience. There is no right or wrong answer to this debate. Nature is all that matters to some when camping. Popup campers give you the feeling of being outside even if you are in an RV. Hard-sided travel trailers cannot provide this sense of being outdoors. Travel trailers make camping feel like home because they are insulated and isolated from nature. Camping is all about enjoying nature.
Towability
Popup campers are much easier to tow than travel trailers. At its heaviest, a travel trailer weighs a minimum of 7,500 pounds. You should use a vehicle that can tow that weight and above to tow your travel camper. Always tow weights that are within your vehicle’s towing capacity. Consider your vehicle’s capacity before you buy a travel trailer. The dry weight of a 38 foot travel trailer is 8,500 pounds, for example. It means you must account for both that weight and any additional weight from your things. On the other hand, popup campers typically weigh 600 to 2,300 pounds, so almost any car can tow them. Because popup campers don’t have wooden walls, they are light. Their lack of hard sides and basic amenities also help. Normal cars can easily tow tent trailers that weigh 600 lbs to 2000 lbs.
Storage
Popup campers are the best storage solution. When you don’t have a large garage, storing a travel trailer can be quite stressful. If you store it somewhere, your travel trailer could be severely damaged. Winter storage is especially important. You should never ignore this factor. Taking your trailer to be repaired could end up costing you not only time, but also money. Popup campers are advantageous because they require less space. Therefore, they can be stored in your garage until needed. As travel trailers require more space, this is not the case. A storage unit might be necessary if you do not have enough space.
Price
Popup campers cost less than travel trailers. Travel trailers average $30,000, while popup campers average $16,000. You can even purchase a brand-new popup camper for as low as $7,000. However, they are still more expensive than pop-up campers, sometimes 5 times as expensive as Class A, B, or C motorhomes and fifth wheels. Travel trailers can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000, or even more in some cases.
