The term pop-up camper is used to describe an RV that is equipped with expandable living spaces. In contrast to slide-out RVs, travelers usually have to manually adjust pop-up campers so they can enjoy the extra space. Because a pop-up camper is typically constructed with a great deal of flexible material, they are often referred to as tent trailers.

The first brand that usually comes to mind when someone mentions pop-up camper is Coleman. The Coleman pop-up camper has been used by people who enjoy the great outdoors since 1967. Coleman pop-up campers normally range in weight from 1,500 to 4,000 pounds, which means they can be towed by most mini-vans, SUVs, and family-size sedans,

Even though they resemble tents on wheels, some pop-up campers are equipped with small dinette sets, mini refrigerators, cooking surfaces, and even showers and toilets. Depending on how much expandable space you get, expect to pay anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 for a new Coleman pop-up camper. Most Coleman pop-up campers can easily accommodate a family of four.

Jayco is another company that has been manufacturing pop-up campers. The Jayco pop-up camper has many of the same features as the Coleman version, but it is best known for its unique lifer system. This system was patented by the company and is still in use today.

For people shopping for a new RV, pop-up campers and trailers remain good values. These days a lot of people are upgrading to slide-outs, which feature automatic controls. As a result you generally get a phenomenal deal on a used pop-up trailer.