Hotel prices fell during Covid. But now, the golden days of cheap pandemic travel are over. Inflation is at an all-time high, and hotels are rising up to never-before-seen average prices.
Instead, what about just buying a camper? There are many different types of campers, from large to small.
It’s a big upfront investment, sure, but it’s an on-demand hotel room anywhere you travel. Who knows, it may pay itself off soon enough with how expensive hotels are getting.
If you’re looking for a new camper, we are here to help. Here are the most common types of RVs on the market, and tips on how to choose the right travel camper.
Table of Contents
The Cheapest Types of Campers: Pop-up Campers
Looking for the smallest and most dirt-cheap option? Then consider a pop-up camper. These are those campers that “pop up” like a tent from a trailer base.
The main benefit of a pop-up camper is that they are very small. Small enough that you can tow them with the average vehicle rather than a truck. In fact, many people tow their pop-up campers with compact cars.
You can store them with ease in your garage or backyard. This is a huge benefit if you want to save money on storage fees. At the very least, it keeps your backyard clutter-free.
Set up can take a while, but since they are small, they fit almost anywhere. It’s easy to position them at the campsite, and easier still to adjust their position.
Pop-up Trailer Downsides
Pop-up campers do not come completely without drawbacks. For starters, they don’t have many on-board utilities. Most of them lack more than a basic freshwater tank. The vast majority do not have any sort of generator, either.
The walls of a pop-up are fabric material. That means insulation will be next to nonexistent. Expect to freeze in colder temperatures unless you bundle up.
You will likely not have a shower, toilet, or kitchenette. You won’t be able to watch TV or switch on the lights inside. Of course, this may not be a downside if you are going for something minimalist.
Teardrop Trailers
Teardrop trailers are a happy midway point between pop-ups and trailer RVs. They have hard sides, but with a very small profile. While you won’t be able to tow it with your Chevy Bolt, most people can tow it with a compact car.
Teardrops have many more amenities than the pop-up. You typically have a basic kitchenette, toilet and shower, and some extra storage space in the back. It usually includes lights built-in to the inside and a battery to power them
They are a bit more difficult to store at home, but most people manage to. Again, you are saving a lot of space and money when you purchase this.
Teardrop Trailer Downsides
However, the teardrop suffers from many of the same problems that the pop-up does. Even though it does have a working bathroom, the water and waste tanks are small. In most cases it will not come with a generator, leaving you to buy one yourself.
It does have hard walls that are more insulated, but not by much. Don’t expect to take this out on a snow camping trip unless you have thick sleeping bags. Consider a sprinter camper van if you would prefer a teardrop trailer in vehicle format.
Full-Sized Travel Trailers
This is perhaps the best all-round option if you don’t want a full-blown RV. A travel trailer provides all the most important amenities that you would expect, albeit in a smaller form factor.
That means you have a full shower and toilet with much larger water and waste tanks. You have a fully-functioning kitchen, sometimes one on the outside. Most travel trailers include a built-in generator and complete wiring–perfect for watching some TV.
Travel trailers are also quite roomy. You may be able to sleep an entire family in one with no issues. Storage space is also far superior, so buy this one if you need extra room for luggage.
In addition to all of this, they have actual insulation. When you sleep inside of a travel trailer, you do not need to worry about freezing to death–or burning up. You can actually bring out your trailer in the event you want to camp in extreme temperatures.
Set up is also, ironically, faster than a pop-up or teardrop. Since you have everything up and running, all that matters is where you position the trailer. Thanks to its relatively small form factor compared to an RV, it’s easy to maneuver.
Travel Trailer Downsides
There is one major downside: you will need a vehicle capable of towing it. And by vehicle, we mean a sizable truck such as a Ford F150. Midsize trucks may struggle depending on the size of the travel trailer.
To add to that downside, your gas mileage will tank when towing such a large trailer. These trailers are not aerodynamic, so there will be a ton of wind resistance. In some rare cases, heavy wind could make it impossible to tow it.
Last but not least, you will need a place to store it. Travel trailers won’t fit into most backyards, so you will need to rent a storage space.
Find the Right Camper Options for You
There are plenty of types of campers that fit the budget and desires of any customer. You have the smallest of the small, like pop-up campers which are easy to store and minimalist. But if you want a full-blown experience, you should get a teardrop trailer or travel trailer.
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Hotel prices fell during Covid. But now, the golden days of cheap pandemic travel are over. Inflation is at an all-time high, and hotels are rising up to never-before-seen average prices.
Instead, what about just buying a camper? There are many different types of campers, from large to small.
It’s a big upfront investment, sure, but it’s an on-demand hotel room anywhere you travel. Who knows, it may pay itself off soon enough with how expensive hotels are getting.
If you’re looking for a new camper, we are here to help. Here are the most common types of RVs on the market, and tips on how to choose the right travel camper.
Looking for the smallest and most dirt-cheap option? Then consider a pop-up camper. These are those campers that “pop up” like a tent from a trailer base.
The main benefit of a pop-up camper is that they are very small. Small enough that you can tow them with the average vehicle rather than a truck. In fact, many people tow their pop-up campers with compact cars.
You can store them with ease in your garage or backyard. This is a huge benefit if you want to save money on storage fees. At the very least, it keeps your backyard clutter-free.
Set up can take a while, but since they are small, they fit almost anywhere. It’s easy to position them at the campsite, and easier still to adjust their position.
Pop-up Trailer Downsides
Pop-up campers do not come completely without drawbacks. For starters, they don’t have many on-board utilities. Most of them lack more than a basic freshwater tank. The vast majority do not have any sort of generator, either.
The walls of a pop-up are fabric material. That means insulation will be next to nonexistent. Expect to freeze in colder temperatures unless you bundle up.
You will likely not have a shower, toilet, or kitchenette. You won’t be able to watch TV or switch on the lights inside. Of course, this may not be a downside if you are going for something minimalist.
Teardrop Trailers
Teardrop trailers are a happy midway point between pop-ups and trailer RVs. They have hard sides, but with a very small profile. While you won’t be able to tow it with your Chevy Bolt, most people can tow it with a compact car.
Teardrops have many more amenities than the pop-up. You typically have a basic kitchenette, toilet and shower, and some extra storage space in the back. It usually includes lights built-in to the inside and a battery to power them
They are a bit more difficult to store at home, but most people manage to. Again, you are saving a lot of space and money when you purchase this.
Teardrop Trailer Downsides
However, the teardrop suffers from many of the same problems that the pop-up does. Even though it does have a working bathroom, the water and waste tanks are small. In most cases it will not come with a generator, leaving you to buy one yourself.
It does have hard walls that are more insulated, but not by much. Don’t expect to take this out on a snow camping trip unless you have thick sleeping bags. Consider a sprinter camper van if you would prefer a teardrop trailer in vehicle format.
Full-Sized Travel Trailers
This is perhaps the best all-round option if you don’t want a full-blown RV. A travel trailer provides all the most important amenities that you would expect, albeit in a smaller form factor.
That means you have a full shower and toilet with much larger water and waste tanks. You have a fully-functioning kitchen, sometimes one on the outside. Most travel trailers include a built-in generator and complete wiring–perfect for watching some TV.
Travel trailers are also quite roomy. You may be able to sleep an entire family in one with no issues. Storage space is also far superior, so buy this one if you need extra room for luggage.
In addition to all of this, they have actual insulation. When you sleep inside of a travel trailer, you do not need to worry about freezing to death–or burning up. You can actually bring out your trailer in the event you want to camp in extreme temperatures.
Set up is also, ironically, faster than a pop-up or teardrop. Since you have everything up and running, all that matters is where you position the trailer. Thanks to its relatively small form factor compared to an RV, it’s easy to maneuver.
Travel Trailer Downsides
There is one major downside: you will need a vehicle capable of towing it. And by vehicle, we mean a sizable truck such as a Ford F150. Midsize trucks may struggle depending on the size of the travel trailer.
To add to that downside, your gas mileage will tank when towing such a large trailer. These trailers are not aerodynamic, so there will be a ton of wind resistance. In some rare cases, heavy wind could make it impossible to tow it.
Last but not least, you will need a place to store it. Travel trailers won’t fit into most backyards, so you will need to rent a storage space.
Find the Right Camper Options for You
There are plenty of types of campers that fit the budget and desires of any customer. You have the smallest of the small, like pop-up campers which are easy to store and minimalist. But if you want a full-blown experience, you should get a teardrop trailer or travel trailer.
