I think the REAL reason for the demise of the PUP is AFFLUENCE! When we bought our Coleman PUP 33 years ago in 1983, PUPS were everywhere! Our family of 4 were young, the kids small and a PUP was luxurious by camping standards then! PUPS outnumbered TT's back then as an economical way to upgrade from a tent. Ours was a 82 Coleman Sun Valley which was pretty big for the 80's and it cost only 3000 as a demo. It weighed only 1000 lbs and we actually towed it with a Toyota Celica then later a Plymouth Voyager 4 cyl mini van! We used it for almost 30 years and each year the number of PUPS declined and TT's and class A's increased. Just like bigger houses for 1st
timers, campers evolved into much fancier big TT's and the much more affluent baby boomers as they are retiring can afford much bigger and nicer TT's . I also think concerns over security with the way the world has changed are leading buyers to secure TT's compared to a PUP with just canvas between where you and the family are sleeping and the outside world. When we go camping now, Pups are about 10% at best compared to TT's, 5th wheels and class A's. So just like our homes were bigger and fancier than our parent's homes.. so it is with campers these days!
