Are pop ups a dying breed?

[Arruba]

Where we camp most of the time i see a few pop ups...Rarely do i see a newer one like ours.
Most are older ones...We do see the ocassional A-Frame pop up....Big TT's are 90% of what we see.

You don’t see a lot of new pop ups here either. You see them, just not really new. I’ll have to pay attention if any dealers here have any new ones on the lots at all. Heck, around here you don’t see small hard side trailers very often either.

 

[myride]

Into my first of 2 weeks in Jasper. This week I've noticed probably 20% of campers using PUPs just in my loop alone. TTs are probably 60%, The last 20% is tents, A frames, truck campers and just 2 of us in hybrids

No new ones but a lot of late 90s to mid 2010's

 

[Claymore417]

So I was very pleasantly surprise last week. We were at Grundy Lake PP in Ontario, and I saw loads of popups!! Lots of old ones which was nice to see. Mines a 1996 Viking, and I just keep doing repairs to keep her going. Great to see others doing the same.

 

[Lug_Nut]

Maybe it's simply that this thread has been in my subconscious, but I've been struck by the appearance of a higher than previously recognized percentage of pop-ups on our current trip* through eastern ME, NB and PQ. Just an east-coast thing?

*"our", meaning "we" and in the Casita.

Must have been an east-coast thing.....
I'm two day's into my* trip to the Black Hills and I don't see a similar percentage of folding trailers as were seen in the maritimes. I have seen a higher than expected percentage of Airstreams, not the Avion and others, but honest-to-goodness Airstreams.

*"my", meaning me, solo in the Colorado, but being pulled by the Saab Sonett, not the Volt.

 

[penny]

I see a lot more new pop ups at the rv dealers than there used to be. They definitely have huge benefits and are always a temptation to me!

 

[Beatrice]

So, I was sitting outside after I got off work in the campground office this afternoon, and it is a beautiful coastal Carolina evening. I looked around at the campsites in my area and there is one little old popup in, the first one that's been in since 4th of July weekend. So, in the middle of 40' 5th wheels and big motor homes, there she sits. And of all the campers in here (aside from myself--maybe because I spent so many years in a pop up) they are the only people actually sitting outside talking and seeming to have a great time. Thats what I miss about seeing popups--The people that come with them actually seem to enjoy the outdoors. A big 5th wheel is across the aisle from me--I know there are kids there because I saw them 6 days ago when they ran out of the truck and dashed inside the camper--haven't seen them since. And that's why I hope popups never die...

 

[campfire Joe]

So, I was sitting outside after I got off work in the campground office this afternoon, and it is a beautiful coastal Carolina evening. I looked around at the campsites in my area and there is one little old popup in, the first one that's been in since 4th of July weekend. So, in the middle of 40' 5th wheels and big motor homes, there she sits. And of all the campers in here (aside from myself--maybe because I spent so many years in a pop up) they are the only people actually sitting outside talking and seeming to have a great time. Thats what I miss about seeing popups--The people that come with them actually seem to enjoy the outdoors. A big 5th wheel is across the aisle from me--I know there are kids there because I saw them 6 days ago when they ran out of the truck and dashed inside the camper--haven't seen them since. And that's why I hope popups never die...

Nice story. And so true!

 

[campagain]

We went at the end of May, and then again this past weekend with our 2 pups. The May event had more pups, but, it was a bigger campground. The last one had none besides ours (that I saw). My thoughts are:

1. ours are older, but we maintain them; many people today don't want to be bothered with taking care of anything on their own
2. setting up pups requires effort and a little work; see #1
3. a lot of civilians have no idea that the canvases can be replaced- that said, they won't buy an older pup
4. new pups are nearing the $20K price- you can buy a used TT for that

I could be wrong, but, that's my take. I will admit though that at my age, I do not really enjoy setting up a pup in the sweltering heat of August

 

[WimStang]

Yes, pups are getting expensive. I could have bought a small TT, for what I paid, however I did not want to pull that much weight around and needed a small profile that fit in the garage. Did not want to store offsite. The small profile, of the Aliner, allows me to easily travel cross country without the burden of finding a site that fits the profile, and on and on. The biggest part of my decision is that I have a comfortable home and have no need to pull a rolling home around the country. I have been there, done that. I did want to get off the ground, but not to the point that I was sitting inside watching television. To me that's not camping. Each to their own. I am still very active, at 71, and not ready for the rocking chair. I love being outdoors, hiking, exploring, and enjoying nature. Are pups dying? Yes to some extent, as the population ages and is not as active, but there are some of us old guys, who are in good shape, kids are grown, and want the freedom of a pup. I live in Wisconsin and the last time I camped there were many pups in the campground. In my mind the pup gives me the freedom to really experience the outdoors. Mine may die when I do, but until then, it will live to the fullest, with no regrets.

 

[campagain]

Yes, pups are getting expensive. I could have bought a small TT, for what I paid, however I did not want to pull that much weight around and needed a small profile that fit in the garage. Did not want to store offsite. The small profile, of the Aliner, allows me to easily travel cross country without the burden of finding a site that fits the profile, and on and on. The biggest part of my decision is that I have a comfortable home and have no need to pull a rolling home around the country. I have been there, done that. I did want to get off the ground, but not to the point that I was sitting inside watching television. To me that's not camping.

Amen, brother!!

 

[rth3775]

We had been staying at electric sites most of the last year, and I was beginning to think the same thing... we were the only PUP in most campgrounds!! But then we just took a trip to Rollins Pond, ADK where there were no hook ups and smaller sites and I'd say almost 1/3 of the sites were PUPs! It made my heart happy.

 

[tfischer]

We had been staying at electric sites most of the last year, and I was beginning to think the same thing... we were the only PUP in most campgrounds!! But then we just took a trip to Rollins Pond, ADK where there were no hook ups and smaller sites and I'd say almost 1/3 of the sites were PUPs! It made my heart happy.

That's a good point. When you have a large TT or RV you tend to require full service. I've only had one campsite in my camping life that has had sewer... and that was an accident when we were given an 'upgrade', and I don't have the hardware to make use of it anyway lol. We normally don't even have electric when we camp... this year has been unusual where every site we've been on so far has had electric. But I just scheduled one for the last weekend of August which doesn't, so we'll be dusting off the solar panels again.

 

[rth3775]

That's a good point. When you have a large TT or RV you tend to require full service. I've only had one campsite in my camping life that has had sewer... and that was an accident when we were given an 'upgrade', and I don't have the hardware to make use of it anyway lol. We normally don't even have electric when we camp... this year has been unusual where every site we've been on so far has had electric. But I just scheduled one for the last weekend of August which doesn't, so we'll be dusting off the solar panels again.

Yep our solar panels served us well for 4/5 days in the Adirondaks, even despite all the shade from the pines!

 

[Claymore417]

I’m at Killbear on the shore of Georgian Bay.

Tons of tents and TT. Once again, very few pups

 

[campfire Joe]

We had been staying at electric sites most of the last year, and I was beginning to think the same thing... we were the only PUP in most campgrounds!! But then we just took a trip to Rollins Pond, ADK where there were no hook ups and smaller sites and I'd say almost 1/3 of the sites were PUPs! It made my heart happy.

Wow Rollins pond. I camp right next to you in Fish creek. Rollins is usually closed in the fall when we camp at fish creek. But you are right when we camp fish creek we see lots of popups. that's a long trip for you from Rochester to Rollins pond!

 

[rth3775]

Wow Rollins pond. I camp right next to you in Fish creek. Rollins is usually closed in the fall when we camp at fish creek. But you are right when we camp fish creek we see lots of popups. that's a long trip for you from Rochester to Rollins pond!

It is a long way but we tent camped ADK long before the PUP (and kids). The PUP went to Hyco Lake, NC and Bar Harbor, ME (picture from our Bar Harbor site) it's first year so we are used to the road! It's been to Rollins Pond twice, Cranberry Lake once, and Browns Tract once for ADK trips....we love hiking and kayaking in the mountains!

 

[Raven]

So I’m sitting here at my site watching the weekend people pulling into the campground where I’m currently camping. I haven’t seen a single tent trailer come in; just big, bigger, and mammoth sized travel trailers. And when walking around the campground I only counted one other tent trailer and two hybrids.

What’s the point of camping if you bring you whole house with you and sequester yourself in a giant sound proofed box away from nature?!?

Well, I can only speak to this issue as a prospective buyer. I have been researching campers pretty heavily for over a month. And it took me quite awhile to discover the Aliner, which is what I will probably buy. The pop-ups are NOT heavily advertised. And most dealerships in my region don't carry or promote pop-up campers of any variety. It's just plain harder to discover what's out there that might meet your needs.

I looked at a lot of more main stream travel trailers, and I felt like they were too claustrophobic - too few windows. But I didn't even know about other options, and only stumbled upon them.

I suppose the pop-ups aren't as lucrative for dealers. But there's a market for them. I want one.

 

[rth3775]

Well, I can only speak to this issue as a prospective buyer. I have been researching campers pretty heavily for over a month. And it took me quite awhile to discover the Aliner, which is what I will probably buy. The pop-ups are NOT heavily advertised. And most dealerships in my region don't carry or promote pop-up campers of any variety. It's just plain harder to discover what's out there that might meet your needs.

I looked at a lot of more main stream travel trailers, and I felt like they were too claustrophobic - too few windows. But I didn't even know about other options, and only stumbled upon them.

I suppose the pop-ups aren't as lucrative for dealers. But there's a market for them. I want one.

100%... Almost 3 years ago when we purchased, the dealer had 3 PUPs in inventory and endless options of any size travel trailers. We were glad we found what we wanted, but they could have easily upsold us on a nicer PUP too... I'd love to have one with a slide out dinette.

 

[campagain]

I can say though, that when COVID hit, we needed a canvas for our Coleman pup. When I called Bear Creek to get one, they told me that they had a 6 MONTH lead time. I was like, wait, WHAT? Their response was that when COVID hit, everyone started buying up old pups, renovating them, and rediscovering camping. That said, SOMEONE's apparently still buying pups

 

[tenttrailer]

I think they are slowing down right now. Less profits for rv manufactures and not all the features for the buyers.

But I think there will be a resurgent as fuel gets more expensive due to world wide carbon taxes, increase world oil usage and limited supply of oil. Fuel sipping cars and EV will replace the fuel hogs of today. We will see the small light weight rvs and trailers that can be pulled by compact and sub compact's