Fewer pop ups out there?

I've noticed this too. I have seen very few new PUPs on the road or at the CGs we've camped at the past few years. Most are older by at least 5 years. As said, the cost isn't that much higher for a small TT or HTT. And the later are simpler to setup. And I've seen lots of new TTs and HTTs, small and large.

Interesting observation. My wife and I have camped at (almost) every State Park and State Recreation in Indiana over the last few years. We have 4 more parks to go and we will have stayed at every one in Indiana (State... not private)...

Anyway, an interesting observation. At the State Parks in Northern Indiana (especially the North East) -- there is a very high proportion of pop-up campers. In the Central section of Indiana there seems to be a 1 for 1 mix: pop-up, TT, 5er, MH. (But TT's and 5er's are still more dominate). In the Southern part of the state, 5er's and horse trailers are the dominate RV in the state parks. Very few pop-ups in the Southern part of the state (that we've seen) at State Parks. It was very noticeable this year. So I think it's REALLY a geographical --- oddity.

You would think that Northern Indiana would have more motor homes, trailers and 5ers because this is the Meca of RV manufacturing. But PUPs rule! In the South, you would think the opposite. But not so.

I'm still baffled at this observation.

Not sure what's going on with the dealers, but when I think about the various dealers in my geographical area, you are right, there's not very many pop-ups. So I still think its a geographical "law of supply and demand". If the demand was more in your area, you better believe the dealer lots would be full!

LynnandCarol wrote:
the cost of a new top of the line pop-up is almost the same for a new small trailer/used TT.

That was a big deciding factor when we bought our TT. We had rented PUPs for years and wanted something of our own and the cost difference over a well equipped PUP and a basic TT was marginal.

We purchased a Jayco 1206 a few years ago in June, by September it was being traded off on a bigger travel trailer. After every trip there were screws on the floor and beds, the table broke in half from the sink laying on it (part of the fold down) . Cushions flattened out thinner than paper. My folks hauled a similar trailer for many years but the quality just wasn't in this one. I also see more of the half fold down/ half cabin trailers being towed so maybe these are the replacements.

the cost of a new top of the line pop-up is almost the same for a new small trailer/used TT.

Law of supply and demand at work.

I think as soon as the price of fuel stabilizes and people get used to it, they go back to bigger gas guzzling vehicles and RV's.
The gas companies are masters at playing us.