It’s easy to see why pop-up campers are so appealing. They give you the freedom and comfort of an RV but in a smaller, lightweight package! But what do they weigh exactly? Well, this actually varies, with weights ranging from 1,000 lbs to 5,000 oz or more.
Below we’ll take a look at the weights of the most popular pop-up campers, as well as find out what the different weight abbreviations mean, and everything you need to know about towing your pop-up camper and levelling it. Let’s get to it!
15 Examples of Pop-Up Camper Weights
| Brand and Model | Weight | Weight Designation |
| Aliner Expedition | 3,500 lbs | GVWR |
| Aliner Ranger 10 | 3,000 lbs | GVWR |
| Coachmen Clipper 108ST | 2,687 lbs | GVWR |
| Coachmen Clipper Express 9.0TD | 2.194 lbs | GVWR |
| Coachmen Clipper Classic 1285SST | 3,296 lbs | GVWR |
| Flagstaff 206LTD Pop Up | 1,608 lbs | UVW |
| Jayco Jay Sport 10SD | 1,720 lbs | UVW |
| Meerkat Pop Up Camper | 900 lbs | UVW |
| Rockwood 1640LTD | 1,465 lbs | UVW |
| Rockwood Freedom 2514F | 2,654 lbs | UVW |
| Sylvan Sport Go Tent Trailer | 800 lbs | GVWR |
| TAXA Outdoors Cricket | 1,753 lbs | UVW |
| TrailManor 2518KB | 2,580 lbs | UVW |
| TrailManor 3124KB | 3,140 lbs | UVW |
| Safari Condo Alto R1713 | 1,825 lbs | UVW |
As you can tell from our chart, there is a lot of variation between weights. You may also be wondering what the initials UVW or GVWR even mean. Let’s find out.
A Guide To Weight Abbreviations
GVWR and UVW will be abbreviations you’ll come across quite a bit when shopping for a pop-up camper. You may not have come across them before, but thankfully once you know what they mean it’s quite easy to tell them apart.
UVW is also known as dry weight, and tells you how much your camper weighs when it’s completely empty. Meanwhile, GVWR is the opposite.
It tells you much your camper weighs when it’s completely full. If you’re thinking about towing, always keep GVWR in mind. Let’s break down a couple more weight abbreviations.
GAWR: This stands for Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, and tells you much your axle can carry safely.
CCC: This stands for Cargo Carrying Capacity, and tells you how much weight your camper can safely carry, and includes the weight of things like food, water and personal belongings.
But while you may encounter some other abbreviations, GVWR is arguably the most important abbreviation to keep in mind, because it will tell you how much your camper weighs when fully loaded.
Your vehicle needs to be able to tow the GVWR safely, otherwise it could end in disaster!
If you can’t see any GVWR mentioned, you can work it out for yourself by adding the UVW (or dry weight) to the cargo carrying capacity.
The tongue weight is the static force the trailer places on the hitch ball, and is crucial for towing safely. The tongue weight is also known as hitch weight, and tells you how much weight your camper is putting on your vehicle at the hitch connection.
Too little weight and the trailer will be unstable and may start to sway. But too much weight could overwhelm the rear tires of your vehicle.
The correct tongue weight should be about 10% to 15% of the total trailer weight when loaded.
How Much Do Pop Up Campers Weigh?
As you have seen from our above chart, pop-up campers come in all shapes and sizes, but the average weight is between 2,000-3,000 lbs.
While there are certainly pop-up campers that weigh less than 2,000 lbs and weigh more than 3,000 lbs, on average pop-up campers tend to weigh more than 1,000 lbs and less than 5,000 lbs.
At 800 lbs, the Sylvan Sport Go is the smallest pop-up camper in our chart, followed by the Meerkat trailer that has an UVW of 900 lbs. However, motorcycle pop-up campers weigh even less.
The Flagstaff Tent HW29SC is one of the largest pop-up campers at a staggering 4,999 GVWR and an open length of nearly 28 feet.
The Rockwood Tent High Wall series, the TAXA Mantis, and the TrailManor 3124 series are also considerably large pop-up campers.
What Is The Best Car For Towing A Pop-Up Camper?
A car with a towing capacity of over 1,000 lbs is able to tow a pop-up camper, but what kind of camper you can tow will depend on the vehicle you’re towing it with.
When we talk about towing capacity we mean how much weight your vehicle can tow safely without damaging the drivetrain or engine.
Generally, it’s recommended to stay within 80% of your vehicle’s maximum towing capacity when towing a trailer or any kind of RV. So for example, if your vehicle can tow up to 3,500 lbs, you can safely tow a trailer with 2,800 lbs of GVWR.
But how do you find out what your car’s towing capacity is? You should be able to find this information in the ‘towing’ section of your vehicle manual. If your car is unable to pull any weight at all, this should also be stated in the manual.
If you can’t locate your manual or find a specific section on towing in your manual, the information should be available online. Before attempting to tow anything with your vehicle you should consult its towing capacity.
Is it Difficult to Tow a Pop-Up Camper?
No, not at all! As pop-up campers are super lightweight and low profile, they are a dream to tow and are easier than other camper trailers to tow.
In fact, if the vehicle you’re towing with is well-equipped to pull your pop-up camper behind you, it’ll feel like you’re driving normally with nothing attached to your car.
But for the easiest and safest towing experience, make sure you have followed all the correct loading and hitching procedures.
How Fast Are You Allowed to Drive With a Pop-Up Camper?
This will all depend on where you live, as every state has different rules when it comes to towing speed limits. You can find out this information online, but always drive carefully when you’re towing a trailer.
55-70 mph is considered a safe speed, but always consult on what your state’s towing speed limits are.
Properly Levelling A Pop-Up Camper
Levelling a pop-up camper needn’t be a difficult job, and with the right tools and some patience it can be pretty easy. No matter what kind of RV you’re driving, you need to know how to level a camper.
Not only does a level camper make for a more comfortable stay in your RV, but it makes sure everything is all, well, level, and doors can open and close properly. This is especially important if you have a fridge in your RV.
After all, you don’t want your food to spoil because your fridge door is open when you thought it was closed! There are a few pieces of equipment you will need to have to hand in order to level your pop-up camper.
These are wheel chocks that prevent the wheels from rolling, wood blocks or levelling pads that make sure the sides are level and even, and a bubble level, so you know when everything is fully level.
Getting your camper in the right position:
When you’ve arrived at your campsite, keep your pop-up camper connected to your car. Once your camper is where you want it to be, use the bubble levels to check what sides need to be lifted.
Make sure to check all sides, so all the sides and the back and front.
Levelling a pop-up camper from side to side:
Now you know what sides of your camper need to be level, you can grab your leveling tools!
If using a drive-up leveler or leveling pads, place them under the tire on the lower side. When using a leveler you can reverse onto it or drive up onto it.
Just make sure to go slow, and get out of the vehicle and check as many times as you need.
Now that you have your pop-up trailer level from side to side, you can place wheel chocks beneath the other tire. With a BAL tire leveler you don’t need to move the camper.
Firstly, keep the camper in place by chocking the tire on the higher side. Then you can place the BAL leveler beneath the lower tire.
You can raise the lower side with a ratchet wrench until the bubble level shows your camper is level from side-to-side. Make sure to check your bubble level a couple of times though!
Now you can unhook your camper from your car. Always make sure that the wheel chocks are in place to prevent your camper from rolling. Now you need to level your camper from front to back.
Levelling a pop-up camper from front to back:
You can use your tongue jack to do this. Place levelling pads or a wood block beneath the tongue jack to help you with leveling before you unhook the camper from the car.
Bring out the stabilizer jacks:
Now your camper is level from all sides you can set the stabilizer jacks. These help the camper to stay level while you’re moving around inside it. Otherwise, your camper would be shaking and wobbling!
Once the stabilizer jacks are lowered, check your bubble levels to ensure your camper has remained level. If your camper is parked on soft ground, levelling pads can be placed under the stabilizer jacks for better weight distribution.
However, stabilizer jacks should only be for stabilizing, and not for levelling the whole campier. They are not designed to level – or even hold – the weight of the camper.
And there! Your camper is leveled, and you can move onto the fun stuff!
Related: Why pop-up campers usually don’t come with AC.
Advantages of Pop Up Campers
One of the primary advantages to a pop up camper is its light weight and portability. The average weight of a pop up camper is anywhere between 500 to 4,500 pounds, but most are around 2,000 pounds.
This makes them ideal for towing with a smaller vehicle such as an SUV or even a car. Their light weight also means they can be set up quickly, freeing up more time for fun and exploration.
They also don’t take up much space in storage, making them a great option for those who lack the space for a larger RV or trailer.
Furthermore, pop up campers are often more affordable than traditional RVs and trailers, making them ideal for budget-minded travelers.
Pop up campers offer many of the same amenities as larger RVs, including a kitchen area and sleeping spaces.
While pop up campers may not have as much space or features as traditional trailers and RVs, they offer enough amenities to make any camping trip enjoyable.
Pop up campers are also ideal for those who like to explore off-road as they can handle most terrain better than larger units. This allows campers to explore areas that are inaccessible to larger vehicles.
Can You Rent a Pop Up Camper?
Yes, pop up campers can be rented from a variety of sources, including RV dealerships and online rental services.
It is important to note that pop up campers are typically not as easy to find for rent as traditional RVs, but if you do your research you should be able to find one.
Be sure to ask about the pop up camper weight when you call to inquire about a rental, as some pop up campers can be quite heavy and require a vehicle with adequate towing capacity.
How Much Does A Coleman Pop Up Camper Weigh?
The weight of a Coleman pop up camper varies depending on the model, but they typically weigh around 3,000 pounds.
Be sure to research the exact weight of your specific Coleman model before attempting to tow it. Many models also come with additional features that can add extra weight and require an even larger towing vehicle.
This is especially true if you plan to max out the cargo capacity of the trailer.
What’s The Average Jayco Pop Up Camper Weight?
Jayco pop up campers typically weigh between 1,500 and 1,800 pounds.
Again, the exact weight of your model will depend on its size and features, so be sure to look into the specifics before renting or purchasing one, as they can weigh up to 3,500 pounds, and the cargo capacity varies by model.
Final Thoughts
While the average weight of most pop-campers is between 2,000-3,000 lbs, the truth is that pop-up campers can weigh as little as 900 lbs and as heavy as 5,000 oz or even more.
There are a few abbreviations to keep in mind, and while they may not be abbreviations you’ve ever come from before, they have pretty simple definitions and once you learn what they are it’s easy to make sense of pop-up camper specifications.
One of the most important things to be aware of though is weight designations and the towing capacity of your car. If your car cannot handle the weight of your camper, then that is both bad news for your pop-up camper and your vehicle!
Always be aware of both towing capacity, and the towing speed limits of the state you live in.
Through this blog, I want to share all of my hints and tips, along with reviews of the best RVing accessories. I hope this blog will help others with their RV trips, and make traveling easier for you.
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