Do you know what the pop up camper weight is? This question is not something that many people outside the RV world will ask, but understanding the towing capacity of a vehicle is not something you want to know after buying it. When you consider purchasing a popup camper, you may wonder how much weight it has. This way, you can determine if it can be towed by your vehicle or not. It differs depending on the type of camper you want to buy.
Popup campers vary in size and facilities. So, what’s the average pop up camper weight? A small popup camper can weigh as low as 600 pounds, and a large one can weigh as much as 4,500 pounds, but the average popup camper weighs 2,000 pounds. It’s nice to know how much your camper will weigh before hitting the road. Pop up camping is becoming popular day by day. Check the Popup Camping Market Trends.
For those who love camping and enjoy road life but have no way to tow a travel trailer or buy an RV, popup campers are very suitable. These campers are much more convenient and lighter than traditional travel trailers. Their small size and ability to be easily folded and towed ensures minimum wear to the car.
What you must know about the Pop up Camper Weight before Towing a Popup Camper
When buying a popup camper, it’s best to know the weight of everything. A lot of terms and weights exist, and to tow a popup camper safely, you should know the meaning of each on the weight list.
UVW (Unloaded Vehicle Weight)
It is the popup camper weight when it leaves the manufacturer with a full tank of fuel. Essentially, this is the lightest weight your camper will have before you fill it with your gear.
CCC (Cargo Carrying Capacity)
It is the amount of equipment, water, and other necessities you can pack. If you start with an empty camper van at UVW, please weigh all items before you put them in the camper van. Even though you don’t have an empty campervan, weigh everything to help you make sure you don’t load past your carrying capacity. You will be surprised to find that everything adds up quickly. Start with the essentials and add them from there.
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
This is the maximum weight that the trailer axle can safely support. This rating entails gear, water, and the weigh of the camper on the frame. Exceeding this rating may cause the trailer to fail on the load.
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Ratio)
This is the weight that your vehicle can carry, including the weight of the hitch and the car’s carrying capacity. Consider the passengers, pets, and equipment stored in the car for the carrying capacity of your vehicle. GVWR is not only related to your car towing but also related to things inside the car. You also need to ensure that you save some weight for yourself in the car.
Read Related Article: Micro Camper
Pop up Camper Weight Categories
Popups are the lightest campers you’ll find, although their weights can vary greatly, like a fifth wheel or travel trailers, depending on size, shape, and materials used. Given the wide variety, every camper should be able to find a camper that suits his needs. Functions, advantages, and storage space will also vary from one style to another. Some are specifically designed to survive on rugged tracks, while others may be great for enjoying outdoor scenery. In all, Popup campers have three different weight categories. Let us discuss each type so that you can make a decision:
Mini Pop up Campers
Have you ever seen the Clippers pop up from Coachman? How much does it weigh? Well, it weighs only 600 pounds, and some mini campers are even lighter at about 500 pounds. There are some more massive models in this category, such as Sylvansport’s GO pop up camper. However, it is unlikely that popup in this category will exceed 1,000 pounds. If you are traveling alone or with someone, then such a mini popup would be a good investment. Add a folding table and several folding chairs with the camper, and you are ready to go.
A significant advantage of mini popups is that they are easy to tow, and your vehicle will never suffer excessive wear and tear.
Medium Pop up Campers
The weight of a medium-sized popup camper van may exceed 1,000 pounds and stop at around 2,000 pounds. As expected, they can hold one or two people more than a mini popup and have some added features. One significant benefit of the medium popup is that you can use a typical car for towing. Therefore, many people prefer the medium size to a large size.
Larger Popup Campers
The larger popup weighs more than 2,000 pounds. Such a considerable weight is not surprising because they are larger, ranging from 8 to 12 feet. However, the length of some models maybe 17 feet, and will become about 30 feet when unfolded. Unsurprisingly, the larger size has more conveniences than the mini and medium popups. Forest River’s Flagstaff is the perfect example of a large popup camper. Weighing approximately 2500 pounds, this model offers a slide-out and popup sleeping area. Usually, these campers have larger sleeping areas, extra beds, larger living spaces, kitchen areas, shelves, etc. These campers are best for large families.
Although more substantial than the other two types of campers, these popups are still lighter than many different kinds of campers. However, before buying, please make sure that your vehicle can withstand this weight.
Are pop up campers worth it?
Popup campers have many benefits. Compared with RV, they are smaller and cheaper. In many cases, the fuel consumption of towing a popup camper is better than driving an RV. Compared with RV, popup camper will not take up many funds. If you’ve already got a towing vehicle, you are already halfway there. Since the popup camper does not have an engine, you significantly reduce to price tag right off the bat.
Since popup campers are on the trailer, they can be left in the campground. This allows you to ride your vehicle freely after setting up the camp. Being able to leave the trailer behind can save campsites and make exploring the area easier. Most national parks have steep and winding roads, so being ready to leave the trailer and weight is ideal. Once everything is removed, the popup camper becomes small and compact. By reducing the size, you can get better gas mileage on the road than traditional travel trailers. The low profile of the popup camper makes it more aerodynamic than a travel trailer too.
Reducing to a compact size can not only save fuel consumption but also helps to store popup campers. Compared with traditional travel trailers, it is much easier to store a folding popup camper.
Do pop up campers leak when it rains?
Most campers do not leak water when it rains, but this depends on the condition. If your tent has holes on the sides or even the roof, then a leak will occur. Also, campers with poor design or older age are more likely to leak than airtight and newer campers.
Today, most camper tents are made of one of several materials. These include canvas, vinyl, and so-called Hypalon. The canvas is malleable and soft, and when you sleep under the stars in the popup, it will bring you a real camping feeling. However, it is comfortable to wear and tear. If this happens, your popup will leak when the rain starts to pour.
Are pop up campers good for winter?
Yes, popup campers can be used in winter. But you need to take some precautions to ensure that the camper is not damaged. You will need to ensure that the camper is customized so that it can retain heat. Before putting on your snow boots and arranging the sled, make sure you (and your camper) are prepared for the winter weather.
Are pop up campers waterproof?
New types of popup campers are waterproof, but over time, they may lose water resistance. The used old popup camping canvas may not maintain the same condition as the new one. Therefore, waterproofing may be required from time to time. Newer models of popup camping canvas are not pure canvas, but a combination mainly made of canvas cotton and vinyl. The vinyl material provides excellent waterproof performance for the popup camper.
Can a car pull a popup camper?
It is an essential and obvious question for people who have just purchased a popup camper or are considering buying a new camper. This is also crucial, not only because you want to know if you need a special car arrangement but even if you can just use the car you already own. When choosing a popup camper, please remember how much your current car can tow.
Unless you plan to upgrade the vehicle, please keep it below the towing capacity of the vehicle. To know how much your car can tow, you can check the owner’s manual or look up the vehicle’s VIN code. You can also check your vehicle brand and model to understand your towing capacity. Keep in mind that towing capacity may vary, depending on whether you have the basic model.
Once you have determined the weight your vehicle can tow, it is best to keep it a few hundred pounds below that limit. It provides you with some swinging space to pick up excess equipment or water. Besides, staying below the limit and not pushing too hard can reduce vehicle wear. Remember, when determining the popup camper weights that your vehicle can tow, the weight includes the weight of the packaged trailer and the weight you put into it. Also, keep in mind that water is heavy, but it is also necessary. Water weighs eight pounds per gallon. It is a major factor worth considering when determining what you will carry or leave behind.
Can a Honda CRV tow a pop up camper?
Whenever you want to buy any camper, you must first confirm that your Honda CRV can tow it. If the camper does not have a hook, it should be installed before purchase. After you are sure that you have thoroughly taken care of your Honda, you can look for the best camper that the Honda can tow. Honda CRV can tow some small campers, which may be travel trailers or teardrop trailers. Here are some small campers that Honda CRVs can easily tow:
Pika Campers
Pika is one of Timberleaf’s little classic campers. The timber leaf has some lightweight teardrop-shaped trailers, which are well-shaped, and Honda CRV can tow most of them. It is why the camper takes the legacy of being among the lightest weight pop up campers so far. It has the smallest campervan that can accommodate a 4-inch double bed, perfect for two people. Its size is five and a half feet by eight feet, which is desirable for any Honda CRV.
TAG Teardrop Camper
This camper is well known to be dragged behind a small Honda CRV with five-cylinders, and the weight is very light. As we all know, it is the best among several campers, and it has a wooden cabinet whose sound system and TV are well structured. Its back cover can be quickly opened to reveal its kitchen, which includes storage shelves, a box, and a stove with two burners. It has a curved window at the front of the trailer that can be opened for fresh air, ventilation, and other outdoor activities.
Hummingbird 10RK camper;
As we all know, this camper is among the best choices for towing with a Honda CRV because it comes with a larger rig. With this design, you can have a teardrop-shaped curved edge trailer that contains a very high profile and RV full-size ceiling height. Although the camper is so compact, it includes many features that make it comfortable and luxurious.
Luna Lite Camper
This camper is known to combine the best trailers of the teardrop class in one unit. It has a front square profile, a curved rear, and a larger window, which is known for providing the best sense of connection and ventilation. As we all know, this camper is very light and strong, and the Honda CR-V perfectly reflects the sun when used with multiple colorful trays.
Chase flyer camper
The Chase Flyer contains the fewest customizable mini-trailers that can allow you to add only the exact features you need. The camper has batteries and a solar panel, which can be used to build an off-grid electrical system. It can also come with an alternative for three carpet interiors, lifting kits, foam mattresses, ventilation holes, AC, electric brakes, and some off-road tires.
Can you tow over your towing capacity?
You know what the towing capacity of your vehicle is; it’s in your user manual. Unfortunately, when you bought that new camper, you did not consider your towing capacity. When your camper is loaded, it becomes quite difficult for you to resist the temptation to overload it.
Do not do this! There may be a lot of hassles awaiting you. Suppose when a pedestrian gets on the road in front of the vehicle, and you are driving at a reasonable speed, it will be difficult for you to stop because of your overweight camper. The rate generated by your vehicle’s momentum and the heavy camper can overcome the braking force of the car and drive you towards the unfortunate pedestrian.
Even if you do arrive at the campsite successfully, you will find trouble when you disembark. Whenever the towing load exceeds the listed capacity of your vehicle, you can encounter many mechanical problems. The vehicle will also wear out quickly.
Is it worth buying a pop up camper?
As far as RVs are concerned, popup campers are the most convenient option on the market. If you only go camping a few times a year, it may not be worth spending a lot of money on a full-size travel trailer. You can get a popup for a lesser amount. Moreover, because the start-up cost is lower, ensuring it is also cheaper. Before buying keep the pop up camper weight in mind.
Are teardrop campers worth it?
A great benefit of the teardrop camper is that it will not cost you a lot of money or other resources. Your vehicles don’t need to drag them so hard, and you don’t burn too much gasoline while in motion. It makes the teardrop camper an excellent option for all.
What is the best small camper?
Forest River r-pod is currently the best small camper. According to research, Forest River’s r-pod trailer product line provides affordable luxury vehicles with the lowest trailer weight in its class. These mini travel trailers are made to be easily towed and extremely powerful. This production line also has 11 different floor plans, an expandable layout, and a popup tent room that can accommodate a queen-size bed.
With these many different layouts to choose from, you can determine which is best for you. Do you need more sleeping space? Do you like the back kitchen? Or you like a spacious bathroom? Want to stay away from the slides? No matter your preference, there is an r-pod layout that suits you.
What Can I Tow With 5000 Lbs Capacity?
Larger SUVs, such as the Kia Sorento with a V6 engine and all-wheel drive, Volkswagen Atlas V6, and many other similar sizes, vehicles can help you tow a load of 5000 pounds. However, when choosing one of them, please be careful not to get too close to the vehicle’s maximum rating, especially if you are not sure how to calibrate the weight of pop-up campers correctly or if you want to drive into the mountains.
Towing Tips for Pop up Campers
Before you get onto the road, make sure everything is in order. You don’t want to arrive at your destination and realize that something is wrong. Before leaving home, you need to check the trailer to make sure everything is ok. It is way less frustrating to find something damaged before you leave the house, so you have time to repair it.
Please check the brakes before taking off. Hook up the camper and perform a test drive before loading it. Ensure your vehicle has enough braking power to stop safely when towing the camper. If you have trailer brakes, make sure they are also in reasonable condition. Check the trailer lights. Ensure that all lights are working, including tail lights, signal lights, and brake lights. Even better, make sure that all your car lights are also working correctly. It is best to know the views are wrong before leaving than to drive without lights at night.
Also, before leaving, make sure the tires are properly pressurized. When driving for a brake test, it is a good idea to go to the gas station briefly. Many gas stations provide free tire pumps.
Overweight trailers are quite unsafe and are not suitable for your vehicle. To best avoid this, weigh all equipment before putting them into the trailer or vehicle. This may appear like a hectic task, but it is better than being overweight. Equipment, water, and passengers add up to the weight of the popup camper quickly.
Bottom Line
Everyone who camps regularly is familiar with pop up camper weight. They are excellent substitutes for temporary tents, which can be used as emergency shelters and are also great for all who don’t like sleeping in tents. What is the pop up camper weight? Can you take it with you and use it as a temporary residence when necessary?
The pop up camper weight is usually lightweight. They are designed for travellers looking for campers they can set up quickly and easily. Over time, their size and shape continued to evolve, but they can still be towed by May vehicles with ease, as highlighted above.
