Campers
Campers are the smaller version of glamping and those who are very big into the amenities of glamping might even say if you are in a camper you are doing it wrong. But, on the other hand if you are wanting the more rugged and outdoorsy feels of camping, a camper may be the right choice for you.
I have always been a fan of campers because they often provide the one amenity I truly need to survive any camping trip in Texas, most months of the year… AIR CONDITIONING! This is the biggest upgrade in my opinion when you graduate from a tent to a camper. Of course you also end up with a bed, at least a partial kitchen, sometimes a bathroom, maybe running water…
First is the differences between campers. A camper is typically a towable that is about 20 ft or less in length. They usually have a single room that houses kitchen, dining room, and bedrooms. Fairly lightweight so often towed with smaller vehicles. A small camper will have hard sides with electricity, water, possibly even a bathroom. There is also a popup camper. These have a hard shell when condensed, but take a little bit of setup (similar to a tent) where they “popup” and have canvas sides. But, these often times will still have air conditioning, running water, electricity…
These typically will either sleep 2 or 4 depending on the size. Keep in mind the following differences between small campers and popup campers.
Small campers
16K – 40K New
13 ft – 23 ft in length
1,700 lbs – 4,800 lbs
Popup campers
10K – 21K New
8 ft – 16 ft in length not popped up
1,400 lbs – 3,000 lbs
Before you jump in to a new camper consider going to look at them, go see the RV show if it coming to your neck of the woods, look at the resale market, or consider renting one first. This is a large purchase and if you haven’t done much camping, towing, or trailer maintenance it can be a bit of a shock.