Pop-up trailer for newbies.

[Shearwater]

I have family members (nephew, wife, twin 5 year old boys, and 10 year old girl) who have become interested in getting a pop-up trailer for their minivan. Currently, they are tenting. My questions:
1. Who makes these trailers and which companies are the most reliable?
2. What features should they look for? Which aren't worthwhile?
3. What other factors should they consider?

We are long time RV'ers with B class campers but I know very little about the pop-ups. I intended to ask this in the folding trailer section but that seems pretty much dead. I'm fairly certain that they aren't interested in a hard sided foldable.
Thanks.

[Lwiddis]

Can’t emphasize enough drying the canvas out.

[sparkydave]

I bought my popup used, it's my first RV ever. I still have it and it's 15 years old. A Rockwood Freedom 1940LTD, and it was 2 years old when I bought it. Only thing I would change on it would be a refrigerator that I can get to without opening it. The wife and I love it, and it's still in great condition.

Keep the tents clean, don't close it up wet unless you can get it open again soon to dry it out.

[bikendan]

Shearwater wrote:
I have family members (nephew, wife, twin 5 year old boys, and 10 year old girl) who have become interested in getting a pop-up trailer for their minivan. Currently, they are tenting. My questions:
1. Who makes these trailers and which companies are the most reliable?
2. What features should they look for? Which aren't worthwhile?
3. What other factors should they consider?

We are long time RV'ers with B class campers but I know very little about the pop-ups. I intended to ask this in the folding trailer section but that seems pretty much dead. I'm fairly certain that they aren't interested in a hard sided foldable.
Thanks.

There are probably around 10 different brands of popups made. You'd have to look at each brand, to really know which brands make the better Popups.
There are a number of Popup-specific Forums on the Internet. Popup Portal and Popup Explorer are 2 of the best known. Have your nephew check them out and post questions there.

[Jebby14]

^a fridge is nice (even nicer if it can be accessed closed. as is A/C (takes the wetness out)

watch cargo capacity. some of them have very little.

buy used. lots of cheaper units from people upgrading to hard sides

make sure the van loaded with family has enough payload

id send them to popup portal which is a great forum for pop ups

I love a good popup. they still have that camping feel.

we used to have the popup with our aluminum boat and motor upside down on top so we didn't have to choose boat vs trailer. miss that the most

[IB853347201]

Getting one with a fridge as opposed to an ice box is nice..

[Campfire_Time]

Don't dismiss used. I think the cost of a new pop-up is outrageous, probably because canvas is very expensive. I've seen lots of really nice pop-ups for sale where I live.

[opnspaces]

Jayco and I think Forest River make popups. Like with any trailer they are going to want to figure out the towing capacity of the minivan before doing anything else.

A porta potty in the trailer is nice. a tipout or pull out slide would be nice.