✅ ❌ 6 popup camper PROS and CONS - family travel and camping

Lots of families wonder if a popup camper is right for their family adventures. With over 10,000 miles of road trips, camping, and family travels behind us, here are 6 popup camper pros and cons from our popup camping experience.
More at our family travel blog:
Camping road trip: 8 ways our family prepared for 6 weeks of popup camping
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7 reasons why we chose a popup camper
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Pop up campers: 5 things to know
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Here's to finding everyday adventure wherever you are!
All the best,
Learners and Makers
INSTAGRAM : / learnersandmakers
MORE TRAVEL TIPS & FAMILY ADVENTURES: learnersandmak...
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[@JillLalande]

We had a 60’s pop up during the 70’s when I was a kid. It had the two beds and a dinette and that was it! No power, no water, not even a door. It had a zip up tent door. My parents hauled three kids all over Canada with that and we loved it. My husband and I are now retired and have downsized to a pop up. My mom is amazed that it has power and water and a real door. Ha! Our heater doesn’t work, so we just haul a portable plug in heater and my husband uses his electric blanket. Last week we spent a week camping. It got down to 6C at night ~42F. The air was cool but inside my sleeping bag it was 26C or ~79F so we stayed nice and warm. We never even turned on the electric heater. Nothing beats waking up to the sunrise with all of your windows open on the bed end and just seeing the red sky, the trees, and the water. I got woken up at 2am one night by a truck idling with its high beams on pointed right at me. Ugh. He was good when I walked over and asked him to turn his lights out - he didn’t even realize that we were there. The only downfall where we live is that in the summer sunset is about 10:30pm and the sun rises again around 3:30am. Makes for a short sleep if the light wakes you. We’ve got blackout curtains, but I love to sleep with my bed end wide open. My husband bought me an old fashioned sleep mask for those long days/short nights. I’m blessed in that my mom has a huge empty garage. After we’ve camped, we can fully set it up inside of there to air out. Such a bonus for us! I’m glad that we downsized back to a pop up, it sure is a great feeling being out in nature. I enjoy your channel!

[@LearnersandMakers]

I’m so glad you’re enjoying it. Those short nights can definitely be tricky, because I tend to wake up with the sun too!

[@CampingDad247]

we bought a 2009 coachmen clipper last year ,best money i ever spent! we had such a great summer! :)

[@LearnersandMakers]

Yes! We feel that way too. Made some many more camping trips possible.

[@joaniemarie9468]

Agree with you about the versatility of a popup camper. Our family had one in the 1990s and it served us well and didn't break our small budget.

[@LearnersandMakers]

It has really made it so easy for us to do so many adventures. Especially during covid when outdoor adventures were one of the safest ways to travel.

[@Arguingwiththedog]

How well ( or poorly) does your pop up hold heat in cold weather?

[@LearnersandMakers]

@@Arguingwiththedog It won’t hold heat overnight. We have camped in freezing temps, but I wouldn’t say it was comfortable. 😂 It is mostly nice to start off the night cozy and then whoever is brave enough to get up first and turn the heater on before everyone else gets out of warm sleeping bags.

[@amos4art]

Thank you, your videos are really informative!

[@LearnersandMakers]

Glad it was helpful!

[@williamrusk1675]

I love pop up trailers

[@flamissia4]

Thank you, that was very informative. Sounds like you have a wonderful family life. I enjoyed homeschooling my 4 children and being able to travel more and learn from the real world together. Brings back many happy memories. I would have loved to have heard more from the kids, too. Take care!

[@LearnersandMakers]

Thank you! Love hearing from fellow homeschool families. :)

[@moonbatau1]

Nawwww, what a sweet family :) I love my old poptop, I just love the freedom

[@Monarch67]

I hated tent camping as a kid and younger adult so I am surprised I am loving it with our pop up trailer in my 50s.

[@LearnersandMakers]

Being off the ground and having a little bit of inside space makes such a difference! Still feels like a tent though!

[@donajean33]

I loved your video! We are getting one tomorrow & this was useful.

[@LearnersandMakers]

How exciting! Yay to new adventures!

[@donajean33]

@@LearnersandMakers We got it & back from our 1st camping trip! Had a blast.

[@downhill615]

WE GOT A FOREST RIVER 2280 BHESP POP UP. WE LOVE POP UP CAMPING AS WELL.

[@LearnersandMakers]

That's awesome! It's such a great way to extend the camping season.

[@leeannsanchezmrs.leeannspl8389]

Our major pros are the gas mileage and the windows!! ♡♡ especially vs an enclosed travel trailer. Biggest con would be not being able to jump in the camper at a rest stop and fix lunch or go potty!

[@LearnersandMakers]

The set up take down and not being able to use the camper on the fly is definitely hard. We can get a wonderful breeze through the camper and it really stays nice and cool. We would usually tie our lunch on travel days with a little grocery run.

[@jessicahargrove1403]

“We didn’t have coffee!” True pnw folks right there :) Love your videos! We just bought a pop up last fall. We haven’t used it yet. :) looking forward to it this summer. Question: we live in PNW. When your camping in the rain. How do you dry out your pop up during the long rainy winters (like when you get back home).

[@LearnersandMakers]

We were always lucky I guess. Since it was mostly shoulder season that we camped (fall or spring not winter) we could catch a few sunny days to pop it up and dry it out. You’re going to have such great adventures!

[@wymandyer6261]

awesome and informative,,,thank you

[@LearnersandMakers]

Glad it was helpful!

[@williamrusk1675]

Just started watching your video and you said your not limited in where you can take a pop up camper but you can't take them in certain national parks for instance Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone doesn't allow them and there are others that say they allow campers as long as the canvas isn't exposed which we know that's what popups do. Just thought I would let you know you should check before making a trip

[@LearnersandMakers]

Yes. If it’s a tent only camp ground that is a limitation. We feel like since our popup was so small though we had a huge number of campgrounds (that allow trailers) to pick from. Small is not the trend we are seeing on the roads.

[@justmejo9008]

Compared to tenting the work is probably the same right❓ I just took my grandkids camping for the first time. I have always been a tenter and was wondering if I should get a tent trailer or just a small hauling trailer for all the extras that I need for them due to vehicle packing space. WOULD LOVE if any of you can help me decide.. help‼️😅

[@LearnersandMakers]

I think the set up is easier than tenting. Not sleeping on the ground is so nice! Plus, it extended our camping season. Spring and fall camping are amazing. A small hauling trailer will be less set up. We now travel with a small Class C RV and the set up is so quick.

[@justmejo9008]

@@LearnersandMakers good points. Thanks for this

[@rotart12arx3]

How do you keep the water tank and hose from freezing when it is below 32 degrees out? Drunk people at midnight and dogs barking is not a good sound to hear.

[@LearnersandMakers]

We've been so lucky with campgrounds being quiet, but I know it can be a problem. That's definitely an instance we would be wishing for a little more shelter. Honestly, I'm not sure why our water tank/hose didn't freeze! The water in the sink froze, the water bottles outside froze... When our heater is working (which is most of time, but we have had occasions when it isn't) we usually heat the camper up pretty toasty before bed. Then it's on first thing in the morning. If you wanted to heat again in the middle of the night, you could. Most pop-up campers come with a propane heater, and if it's not working, there are lots of options out there these days.