Best Lightweight Pop Up Campers For Your Small Vehicle

Pop up campers can be folded down to be very small and is excellent for camping. They allow you to rest pleasantly off the ground yet are additionally lightweight as well as simple to tow.

A popup camper is a big jump or upgrade from camping in outdoor tents. They have facilities like seats, tables, compact cooking areas and sometimes even a bathroom area which all depends on the manufacturer and the model. The design of these pop up campers will surely save you a ton of gas compared to other types of rvs.

A small pop up campers can be hauled with nearly any type of automobile: a truck, suv, family vehicle, or even your compact cars. Below you'll discover a checklist of things you should look for as well as several of the very best pop up camper layouts for tiny vehicles.

What Is A Popup Camper?

A pop-up camper is a kind of recreational vehicle that is towed and can be collapsed for simple storage as well as transport. When you set one up, this kind of trailer offers a very spacious interior in contrast to its size when you collapse it. Its fairly affordable pricetag makes it a great choice for someone who is starting out.

Pop up campers, because of their reduced height are an ideal fit for lots of people who intend to camp with the utmost minimum and not too far away from home. The smallest campers can weigh anywhere from 600-800 pounds and can be conveniently maneuvered and also towed effortlessly. In-fact, at times you will certainly not even really feel the camper that you are carrying. It is however, your duty to remember that it is back there. The lightweight material that is used to build campers are the main reason why they can be so light.

Are there any 600 pound pop up camper?

The lightest camper i have been able to find is from a company known as Hiker Trailer. This company has a base model camper that weighs in at a surprising dry weight of only 640 pounds.

• Steel 14″ Wheels
• 205 Tires
• Black Powder Coated Frame
• Two Rear Shelves
• One Front Shelf
• Aluminum Fenders
• Vinyl Flooring
• One Exterior 110 V Plug
• All aluminum exterior
• One 110 V Power Strip
• White Trailer
• Manual Roof Vent
• Safety Chains
• DOT Trailer Lights
• One Curb Side Door w/Lock
• Two Operable Windows w/Screens
• 4-pin Wire Harness

This rv delivers great gas milage which makes it a great fuel efficient motorhome.

1. 2022 COACHMEN VIKING EXPRESS 9.0TD

This travel trailer comes it at a dry weight of only 1418 lbs. That is very light compared to most of the other travel trailers out there on the market.

Let the 2022 Viking Express Camping Trailer help you remember what camping is all about, spending time with your family and friends.

The all new Viking Camping Trailer has been engineered around one simple word... EASY! Easy to set up, easy to store, easy to use and most importantly, easy to enjoy! Viking Camping Trailers provide a whole new dimension in camping trailers starting with the ease of towing created by our aerodynamic profiles and extending through ease of use and set up with our Patent Pending Glide-N-Lock bed system. Viking boasts stunning appeal and loads of features centered around convenience and practical comfort features that the most experienced camper appreciates.

Interior Features available

• Ultra Comfort 4" High Density Cushions
• Dark Ash Cabinetry
• Residential Laminated Countertops
• Glide-N-Lock Cable Supported Beds
• LED Interior Courtesy Lights (Floor)
• Deep Bowl Acrylic Sink
• 100% Adhesion Residential Grade Linoleum
• 2-Burner High Output Range
• 20,000 BTU Furnace
• 12V LED Interior Lights
• 12V On-Demand water pump
• LED Bunk Fan Lights
• 120 Watt/12V Refrigerator/Freezer Cooler
• 120V GFI Recept

Exterior Features available

• Electric Brakes
• Dual Drive Winch
• Heavy Duty Tongue Jack - w/Wheel
• E-Coated Tubular Steel Frame
• Spare Tire & Carrier
• Radial Tires
• Wide Trac Ultra Lube Spring Axle
• (4) Heavy Duty Scissor Style Jacks
• Automotive Grade Metal
• 4-Layer Laminated Seamless Roof
• Laminated Insulated Bed Platforms
• LED Exterior Lights
• Goshen Lift System
• Exterior Wall Mount w/LP Quick Connect
• One-Piece Screen Door
• Prebraced for A/C
• 16 Gallon Fresh Water Tank (1706XLS)

2. 2020 Hummingbird 10RK

The 2020 Hummingbird 10RK comes in with an Unloaded Vehicle Weight of olny 1570 lbs making it a very lightweigth travel trailer.

Make your camping experience an enjoyable one in the 2020 Hummingbird 10RK! This travel trailer was built to be a lightweight and spacious model. You’ll find this camper has quite a lot of features for tailgators, such as exterior speakers, an outside grill and a power awning. And if you’re planning on spending the trip indoors, the Hummingbird has lots of perks such as a super comfy bed and residential style countertops.

3. 2022 nuCamp TAG XL

With a total dry weight of 1505 lbs, the discover can give you your next big adventure. With a TAG XL, you can experience all that nature has to offer from the comfort of an impressive premium travel trailer. This teardrop trailer’s rear galley gives you everything you need to eat well on the road. Hit the hay at night in an inviting and warm interior — complete with a large window for stargazing. No matter where your TAG brings you, the possibilities are endless.

If you want to take your camping experience to the next level, the TAG teardrop trailer by nuCamp is ready for adventure. It's lightweight and easy to tow.

The TAG travel trailer is the perfect trailer for those who love the outdoors. This lightweight unit is a great option for someone who is looking to start camping and do a little exploring.

How Much Does A Pop Up Camper Weigh?

Larger pop up campers that include a cooking area, sink, can weigh upwards of 2000 pounds, while the more simple ones can weigh around 600 pounds. The weight of a pop up camper can differ depending on the size and amenities the specific model offers. Obviously, the bigger your vehicle, the bigger your pop up camper can be. The tiniest camper you can find is easily transported by any car with a hitch and wheels.

Table of examples

Different Types of Pop-up campers

Pop-up campers come in many different styles and types. Here are the main ones you will likely come into contact with

• Toyhauler pop-ups


A Toyhauler pop-up is one where the toy is towed on top of the pop up or in the front. The toy can be anything like a motorcycle.

• Motorcycle campers


As the name indicates, a motorbike camper is a camper that is constructed to be pulled behind a motorcycle and used for camping. They are pop-up campers, just extra small ones.

• High wall pop-ups


A high wall pop up camper is a pop up camper that has high walls and includes many amenities while not being a full recreational vehicle like a motorhome.

• A-frame


A-frame pop up campers are all light-weight. They can be towed with with any type of small vehicle.. Unlike the conventional popup camper, A-frame are constructed with a hard side. This makes them much more long lasting and also weather condition immune for outdoor camping. This kind of tiny travel trailer is ideal for couples or tiny families that wish to spend the evening or night out in nature and not having to sleep in the elements.



Off road pop up campers are also called off road tent trailers. They are small, and can be towed behind a truck or SUV. Some can even be towed by small cars. However, it is best to use a 4x4 if you are planning on taking one off-roading.

What are the different types of weight to consider when pulling a camper?

• Dry weight of the camper

Dry Weight is the real life weight of a car or trailer having the basic equipment that comes with it without gas, fluids, freight/cargo, guests/passengers, or any type of optional equipment.

Some people go as far as to include these in there meaning:

• Dry weight means a vehicle may or might not consist of Recreational Vehicle batteries.
• Includes fuel or liquids for any onboard generators
• Gross vehicle weight

This is a vital criterion to know. This is actually the real weight of the camper you are towing. It includes the complete dry weight of the camper, weight of all passengers, weight of water, weight of the fuel and the weight of whatever exists in the camper.

• Tongue Weight

Tongue Weight, also called Tongue Load is the actual weight weighing down on the hitch which is caused by the trailer.

• GVW

Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) is the real weight of the fully packed automobile or trailer, including all freight, fluids, guests, and optional devices or equipment, which was measured by a scale. If you remain inside a motorhome or camper and not pulling anything, then the GVW is the complete weight of the Motorhome as well as whatever is in it.

• Hitch Weight

Hitch weight is the amount of weight that is placed on a hitch by a camper, any rv or a travel trailer's tongue put on the drawback it is installed to. Any type of individual who is thinking about acquiring a camper needs to know the towing capacities of their vehicle and weight of the camper.

4 Things to consider before buying a pop up camper

• Space will be tight

While some pop-ups are substantial in dimension, generally, they live on the more smaller side of the recreational vehicle range. and not only when they are collapsed. Even when they are completely deployed, the readily available room within is limited. There's much less clearance in the areas designated for sleeping. The kitchen space is small. And also storage space is also very restricted.

Some people see the small size and limited space as a benefit in some ways. The smaller sized interior space will likely motivate you to spend even more time on the outdoors, which is normally the reason someone would by a camper anyways. This confined space will make you feel more like you're a camping rather than some other type of outdoor living.

• Sometimes no AC or heat

Being partially built of a canvas that is non-insulated, if you try to heat or cool your pop-up camper, it probably will not work. Travel trailers, various other RVs, pop-up campers do not usually feature any type of heating or cooling because of their non-insulated build structure.

Your best bet will be to bring a space heater, generator, and or a fan to cool or heat your pop-up camper. This will however not work as well as it would in a small office or room.

• What about the weather?

Other types of rvs will do a better job of protecting you from the elements. A good suggestion would be to make sure you check the weather before you go out camping. You would not want to be in a pop-up camper with temperatures too low. On the other hand, you also wouldn't want to be caught in a thunderstorm in a pop-up camper that isn't covered like the others.

• Rent one before you buy one

Simply put, pop-up campers can give you a great camping experience and be a very cost effective method to enter the RVing scene. Renting a pop-up camper is a very effective way of testing out whether or not one of these small rvs is for you. Before making any type of investment into one, you can rent one for about $50 to $100 per night to see if your investment will be it.

How Many People Can a pop up camper Sleep?

Hard-roofed pop-up campers can conveniently sleep 4 or 5 individuals, and usually come geared up with a tiny galley cooking area and also a dining area which is called a dinette. Larger pop up campers can sleep up to 8 people.

So which pop up for camping?

The best thing to do in order to find out which pop up is best for camping is to try a few of them before making your final decision.

Conclusion

A pop up camper can give amazing experiences that you won't find in any other kind of camping. A pop up camper is way easier to tow than a motorhome and provides more comfort than a simple camping tent. Simplicity is the main reason why people would choose to purchase one of these. Make the necessary checks before taking the leap of buying one and you will never be disappointed.