Tips for pop-up camping with ease

Pop-up camping is an excellent way to experience the great outdoors without compromising on comfort and convenience. With the right preparation, you can create lasting memories with your family. Follow these tips below and stay flexible as you embrace the serenity of nature with your pop-up camping.

1 -

Practice Setting Up Your Camper

Familiarize yourself with the setup process of your pop-up camper before hitting the road. Some campers, especially the older models, can have their own little tricks for proper setup. Things may have shifted over the years, or modifications have been made. It's a good idea to learn all of its quirks from the start... and I mean very beginning. Ideally, this should be done alongside the previous owner before handing over the keys. Have them teach you how to properly pull the slides, level the camper and compact it back down again.

2 -

Leveling and Stabilizing Your Camper

Properly leveling and stabilizing your pop-up is crucial for a comfortable experience. Use leveling blocks or pads to even out the camper and prevent any awkward tilting. Once you're level, use stabilizing jacks to secure the camper in place, reducing unnecessary movement when you're inside. This is all essential for safely camping and will give you peace of mind when you're resting inside.

3 -

Popping up can be a two-person job

My husband and I took our camper on a two-week trip while I was seven months pregnant, so I wasn't the best traveling companion when lifting things like luggage. The same was also true about helping to get our slides out. Because they're manual, it takes some effort to push/pull them in and out. Towards the last couple of days of the trip, my husband's back was hurting from doing it alone. All this is to say if you can have help popping the camper it'll make your experience a lot more relaxing.

4 -

Plan Your Campsite Ahead of Time

Many campgrounds have size restrictions. Research and plan your destination in advance to make sure your pop-up camper fits comfortably. If you're staying at a campground, reserve your spot early, especially during peak camping seasons. Sites with water hook-ups and electricity go fast, so secure a prime location as soon as you decide on your destination.

5 -

Pack Minimally

Since pop-up campers have limited storage space, packing intentionally and minimally is a must. Make a checklist ahead of time if you can. It will really pay off when you're laying comfortably in bed and not surrounded by suitcases and bags. Account for all the camper's storage spaces before you go, and consider multi-purpose items to save space and avoid overloading. With a well-thought-out checklist, you can make sure that everything you pack serves a purpose and contributes to an easy trip, rather than weighing you down, literally and figuratively.

6 -

Always Check the Weather

When my husband and I were camping in Utah with our pop-up, we got stuck in a nasty rainstorm one night. Not only was it raining hard, but the wind was harsh as well. These campers are about 50 percent canvas, so that wind made it feel like we would tip over with every gust. This was a particularly bad storm, but if you can avoid potentially scary weather, I would. Pop-up campers are also not as well-insulated as traditional RVs, so knowing what to expect will help you prepare for potential temperature fluctuations. Keep a close eye on the weather forecast before and during your camping trip.

7 -

Choose your bedding carefully

This might be one of the most useful things on this list and something no one really tells you. When the beds slide in, they rest right on top of the dinette, etc., so it's obvious to remove everything on top of those before packing up. However, we learned quickly that when the roof cranks down, the canvas folds up into the camper and on top of the mattresses. We had a significant amount of bedding which wouldn't allow the roof to seal properly over the sides. We had to remove the heavy and cumbersome foam mattress topper and all the bedding, roll it up and shove it into the small space left in front of the bench when the camper closed. We had to do this every time we closed up and remake the bed whenever we settled again. It was... very annoying. Learn from our mistake and go minimal with bedding.

8 -

Use your car for storage

This is kind of a game-changer. You'll have to tow your camper anyway. Why not use your car for extra storage? This doesn't mean bring a bunch of extra things that you probably won't end up using but it will come in handy once you run out of space in the camper for those essential items. Another option that I like to take advantage of is my car's roof rack. I have a metal frame rack that I put a zipped-up roof rack bag on. I can fit so many things up there, like our luggage, stroller, dog food, etc. All those oversized items that the camper just won't fit but are still very much needed.

roof rack

roof rack bag

9 -

Mind the canvas edge

Our 150 lb Great Dane always insisted on sleeping on our bed, not the empty one at the opposite end of the camper. One night while camping, I woke up to see that only his top half was still inside the camper. The bottom half was dangling outside because he had fallen through the gap in the canvas surrounding the bed. Our camper was pretty old, but most of these pop-ups only have bungees securing the canvas around to underneath the bed, so if one of the hooks comes loose or you're missing one, the gap gets bigger... big enough for a Great Dane to fall through. Make sure everything is securely fastened before going to bed, and if you are missing pieces, it's in your best interest to replace it.

10 -

Invest in a propane stove

When we renovated our camper, we opted to take the indoor stove out completely and get a propane stove to cook outside with. We did this because cooking inside these campers can be a bit dangerous. Not only is it risky if something goes wrong and a fire starts, but it will also fill your camper with food smells, making it very dangerous if there's any sort of wildlife in the area. It's not like cooking in a house or a larger RV. Your walls are fabric, so those smells will stick to everything. Investing in a small camp stove will not only be safer, but it'll allow you to enjoy the experience more by having nice meals outside.

11 -

Use mini fans and a space heater

If you're taking your pop-up on a long trip with different climates like we did, both fans and a space heater are must-haves. And the temperatures can even change drastically from night and day, no matter where you are. Many pop-ups have heat and ac installed within; however, this isn't an option unless you're staying in a campground with an electric hook-up. Invest in both and you'll stay comfortable throughout your trip. I like the small fans that you can easily wrap around one of the poles that hold your canvas. Below are the ones I used, myself and have no complaints about!

Mini fan

Heater

12 -

Invest in a trunk fridge

This was the best decision we made when using our pop-up. We bought a portable, top-loading, plug-in fridge and kept it in the back of our 4Runner. It was plugged right in the trunk while we drove, and we our food kept cold for a while after we parked. If we were camped somewhere that had hook-ups, we just plugged it right into the electric to keep it running overnight. It saved us money because we didn't have to buy food every night that would go bad or eat out, costing us more. You also want to avoid having a giant cooler in the camper, taking up floor space, and creating food smells.

Find it here

13 -

Pack Up Thoughtfully

When it's time to leave, take the same care in packing up your pop-up camper as you did when setting it up. Make sure all items are stored in their proper places, and the camper is all locked up and secured for travel. Throwing everything recklessly back in the car and camper will make for a very frustrating arrival back home and potentially sour a perfectly good trip otherwise. And don't forget to dispose of trash responsibly and leave the campsite as pristine as you found it!