Wondering, how much do pop up campers cost? I will take you through our analysis on how much it can cost based on various factors. We did some research on this before we bought one for us.
Brand new pop up campers can cost between $6000 to $42,000 based on features, design and built quality. Basic small pop up campers with standard amenities however can cost between $8000 to $16,000 where as off grid pop up campers and those with bathroom, cost significantly more in the range of $25,000 to $42,000.
Let me share all the findings.
We were thinking of buying an RV but were not sure which one would fit our needs inside our budget.
We wanted something which wouldn’t be very costly and could give us basic features to live while we traveled. After considering other RV’s like travel trailers, fifth wheel and motorhomes we zeroed in on pop up camper.
As you know, these campers are very modest and include very little space with canvas on the roof. Another very important thing that we considered was ease of towing. It folds like a box and can be very easily towed behind any car.
Most of these campers may not even include bathroom/shower and if they do, then the cost is higher.
Average Pop up camper cost
Here are some price examples of most popular and top pop up campers. Their prices vary based on features, sleeping capacity and style.
| Pop up camper | Price |
|---|---|
| SylvanSport GO | $8,995 |
| Livin’ Lite Quicksilver 8.0 | $13,575 |
| Jayco Jay Sport | $9,975 |
| Starcraft Comet | $12,000 |
| Forest River Flagstaff | $17,000 |
| Taxa Mantis | $32,500 |
| Coachmen Apex Nano 15X | $24,000 |
| Trail Manor | $33,830 |
| Camp 365 | $19,995 |
| Forest River Rockwood | $11,790 |
| Opus Off Camper | $28,270 |
| Turtleback Adventure | $42,000 |
| Aliner Somerset | $19,739 |
| Coachmen Clipper | $17,270 |
Why the price variation?
If you look at these examples, you will see significant difference between some. The prices range is from $8000 to almost $42,000. You will probably find more such campers that either cost lesser and even more.
This price difference can put anyone in confusion while deciding. However, if you do the analysis and check their features, the way they are built, you will understand this pricing difference.
To make it simple for you, let me list out main factors or features that causes this price variation. Knowing this will help you in understanding what it may cost you to get what you want in a camper.
Bathroom
If you are looking for a bathroom, toilet and shower inside your pop up camper then be ready to pay in the range of $18,000 and above. Jayco jay sport that we listed in our examples does not include bathroom which makes it less expensive.
Because bathroom or shower inside the camper would need a special design and consideration, its obvious the prices will be higher. Most pop up campers whose costs are below $15,000 generally include outdoor showers but not on the interior.
Amenities
While we were looking for a camper for ourselves, we indeed needed a low cost one but not by compromising on basic features. That made us explore and research into as many pop up camper as possible.
For most people, features like kitchen amenities, storage, mini appliances does make a lot of difference. Unless you want a frugal lifestyle with your pop up camper you wont ignore what is packed inside, for the given price.
Thankfully, there are a lot of companies that focus on providing value. This sometimes can be bad too. Many people complain of bad quality of construction in campers, which is mostly to keep the prices low with as many features as possible.
Some of the pop up campers that we listed here like Jayco, StarCraft are low cost but include good features as well. You will find many people complaining about their quality though. We have listed them despite this because they do have their own takers.
Anyways, lets discuss on what it really means. Here are the features that directly affect the price of a pop up camper.
- The prices depend on amenities like refrigerator, Air conditioner (availability and their size).
- Storage size is another important factor.
- Fresh water and holding Tank capacity.
- Added features like awning, lighting, propane tank capacity
- Safety features.
- If its a Toy hauler pop up camper, then obviously the prices will be significantly higher too.
- Hard side pop up campers cost a little higher as they provide better insulation. Aline campers that are basically pop up’s cost around $17,000 and include basic features.
More features also means more weight. There have been advances in how these campers are made as well to keep the weight low with innovative solutions. They weigh between 1000 lbs to 3000 lbs on average. Toy hauler models and those with higher sleeping capacity weigh more than 3000 lbs.
Heating and cooling isn’t very common in pop up campers. Models that include air conditioner are priced higher.
Build quality
Their price is directly linked to the built quality which includes everything internal and the exterior body. Pop up campers or any other towable RVs can be susceptible to damage and degradation, if the quality isn’t great.
There is a reason why some of the campers are higher in cost as compared to those that barely cost around $6000 or so. Quality of the material used in internal items like faucets, cabinets, sink, windows does make a lot of difference. Flooring, canvas quality is much linked to the price.
Why you should be bothered about quality?
If you look forward to using the camper for many years then be sure to not ignore this. Though, the towable RVs don’t have engine that can break, there are several things that can go wrong and you may end up paying for the repairs.
Bad quality walls, floor and canvas may start showing signs of damage early on. You don’t want a broken piece of kitchen faucet or a damaged seating inside your camper at an early stage. The walls, if poorly made, can leak. Same is the case with canvas. Winter cold can make it difficult in poorly made campers, so can rain.
There is a reason why quality matters and when you have quality, the prices are also on higher side.
Design and Customization
Ability to customize the camper as per your need while ordering can increase the costs. Many people look for campers that can be modifed and ordered with features that they desire. When this is the case, expect to pay much higher.
A camper with innovative design and optimized space do cost more. Such campers also weigh less and therefore are less hassle for you while towing.
Off grid camper
Solid built quality to withstand tough road condition takes the prices to new high. The turtle back camper in our example if you see, is priced way high as compared to others. That’s insane price for a a modest pop up camper but if you have checked it, its an off grid adventure built camper and that makes it costly.
If you are looking for such an off road experience then getting a pop up camper can cost you above $25,000 on average.
For off grid support, the camper tires are made for mud travel and also provided better ground clearance. The overall body construction is more rugged which increases the overall cost.
Space and sleeping capacity
This is an important factor that drives the price in all type of RV’s. Having luxury in a camper means having more living space.
On average, pop up camper can accommodate 3-5 people and higher the sleeping capacity, higher is the price.
If you are looking for a 6-8 people sleeping capacity then you may have to spend higher than $15,000 based on other included features. You would have 1 main bed with other sleeping spots made through convertibles beds. They do not come with slide out.
Used camper cost, Depreciation and other costs
Before we conclude, let me tell you various other things we researched on pop up camper prices. There are multiple things to know before buying the camper. You can easily make a mistake.
First, a brand new camper does cost more than $10,000 and based on features you may pay more. What about the used ones? As we all know, all type of RV’s depreciate a lot and so is the case with pop up campers.
You will get better deals in used campers for sure, but you need to be careful. The primary reason is, you may end up buying lemon if you don’t inspect it thoroughly.
You can buy used pop up camper online at prices as low as $2000 and even $1000. But, buying cheap pop up camper should be done after careful consideration as you may end up wasting that money on some worthless camper. The campers that we listed earlier can be bought in prices at half the MSRP once they are 4-5 years old.
The prices that dealers or companies list are MSRP and you can buy the camper at lesser prices. Also, there are multiple ways to get discounts. We did some research and found different ways to get such discounts.
- Buy during holidays and special deal times. The way you would buy a car, the same way.
- Buy during off season (fall, winter) when the sales aren’t great. Salesman try to make end of year sales and you may get some great deals.
- Visit multiple dealers to find the best deal.
- As always, do check if you are getting a less used camper at fair price.
Lets talk about other costs as well.
If you already own a camper then you know what i am talking about. Even if you are going to use the camper for short vacation, there are going to be costs on multiple things. Some of these include below.
- Paying for insurance of the camper
- towing equipment needed to pull the camper
- Storage during winter
- Extra insulation needed for winter camping like gizmos
- Pre winter maintenance (winterizing)
Conclusion
Pop up campers can be bought in at comparatively less prices as compared to other big RV’s. There are some great options in this type of RVs. You will have to spend more for luxurious and higher capacity pop up.
