Hip Campers You Can Park Anywhere – and Actually Afford
If you’re looking to start your RV adventure and have seen the prices of some of the new RVs, or sizes, you may be wondering if the lifestyle is really for you. While some larger RVs can come with size challenges and learning curves, there are simpler rigs that offer a great trade-off — less complexity for an easier start. For example, some of these use off-the-shelf systems for water delivery and toilets, which makes preparing the rig for winter a much simpler task.
To help you explore what’s out there, we’re covering 10 really hip, affordable campers that you can basically park anywhere.
1.Wayfarer Vans
“One of the interesting things about Wayfarer Vans is that they offer the opportunity to bring your own van and use their interior systems to customize the final product. The final price is considerably less than many pre-packaged vans, and you can tailor the pieces Wayfarer provides to create a van that fits your own camping style.
Since the pieces aren’t necessarily permanent, you can also make changes or adapt things based on your experience or whatever adventure you’re heading to next. How affordable? Wayfarer offers systems that add under $25,000 to the price of a van, which is especially attractive if you find a used van, or get a great deal on a new one, and have it upfitted
2.Winnebago Solis Pocket
Winnebago makes all sorts of camper vans from the smaller Solis Pocket to much larger and several very adventure-ready models. The reason the Solis Pocket made this list is that it’s very compact but also priced with an MSRP below $150,000 which is relatively affordable for a fully-outfitted Class B camper van.
There are two floor plans available in the Solis Pocket. Of note, the Solis Pocket 36B plan is built with a bath that spans the width of the rear of the rig. This puts a lot of functionality into a smaller and relatively affordable package.
3. Aliner Switchback
The most popular vehicle in the U.S. is the full-sized pickup truck, so it makes sense that we include a couple of pickup campers in this list. The first is the uniquely designed Aliner Switchback. This camper is basically a blank canvas that is a folding top that swings open and goes from being just slightly taller than the pickup cab, but folds open to provide a great deal of headroom.
This is essentially a bedroom on the back of your truck. There is also a connection to the truck which provides 12-volt power to the little camper. You can also employ shore power to it, which enables the 120vac household outlets inside the unit. Another thing this has are two very long lockable drawers that draw out and provide space for a lot of gear, such as fishing, camping, and hunting gear.
4. Four-Wheel Campers CampOut
One of my favorite pickup camper choices is the Four-Wheel Campers CampOut. This is a pop-up camper that fits into the bed of many full-sized pickups, but there are also models for mid-sized pickups. What I love about this rig is the modularity. You can either go full-bore on this and get it completely outfitted or go in steps as the interior and components are modular.
That also makes these very affordable with prices starting around $24,000 plus your pickup. The Campout also offers features for boondocking and overlanding, since you can start with a pickup that’s got significant off-road capability, or that would give any luxury car a run for its money in terms of style.
5. Casita
Texas-based Casita trailers are small “fiberglass egg” shaped RVs that are surprisingly affordable and tend to last a very long time. Their solid fiberglass shells are less prone to leaks and require less maintenance. The MSRP on their 15’ “Patriot” model starts at just $20,999 with that trailer having a gross weight (GVWR) of 3,500 and a dry weight of a scant of 1,776 pounds.
Yet all the full travel trailer features are available including a bathroom and full kitchen. These are available either an all-electric model or outfitted with a propane system. Casita also makes larger models than the Patriot up to 24 feet in length.
6. Ember RV Spark LE
The Ember RV Spark LE, which company founder Ashley Bontrager affectionately calls the “Sparkle”, is essentially a teardrop trailer in terms of functionality but offers more than that. It is quite capable of being towed off-road with larger off-road capable tires and a willing accomplice in the suspension and build of this trailer. At under 2,000 pounds dry and with a hitch weight of 205 pounds (dry) the choice of vehicles that are very capable of handling this vehicle is wide.
These are also garageable if you don’t take advantage of the optional roof rack and use that for taller cargo. The thinking behind this smaller rig is that many of the people choosing it are coming from the world of tent camping and backpacking so the standard feature list does not include things like a stove or refrigerator, although Ember offers things like induction cook tops and 12-volt coolers as options. You can learn more about what’s included in our full review.
7. nuCamp T@B 360
While nuCamp’s T@B trailers might look like a traditional teardrop, they’re actually larger than most teardrops and feature a bathroom and kitchen inside the trailer itself. That means it’ll be accepted in more places, but at just 16’ 8” in length these easy-towing compact trailers can be nimble campers.
Surprisingly, there is a good amount of capability in this small package with 28 gallons of freshwater storage and almost 1,300 cargo carrying capacity.
8. Palomino O.V.E. 15.2
Want to get off grid with a small crowd for the weekend? The Palomino O.V.E. (On Vehicle Equipment) is a pop-up travel trailer built for weekend off-road getaways. Easily towable by most half-ton pickups, the low-profile O.V.E.’s remote-controlled pop-up top offers massive headroom when it’s parked for camping. In between camping trips, however, it stores easily inside most garages.
The configuration and build are very similar to that of a truck camper but with the benefit of being a smaller trailer. This unit is also equipped with a top-notch off-road suspension, so this could be a great option if you’re planning to go to places that are barely visible on the map. Learn more about this unit in our full model review.
9. Rockwood A213HW
We got a chance to look at the Rockwood A frame A213HW camper last year and found that pop-up campers have really come a long way. As noted in last year’s review, these offer much of the functionality of a traditional travel trailer when fully deployed but folds down to be easily towable and garageable to boot.
Inside there are twin beds that can become a king-sized bed, but there’s also a full kitchen and even a toilet and shower. That’s a lot of functionality in a package that’s under 3,000 pounds dry and shorter than 21’ in total length.
10. Ember RV Overland 190MSL
Ember RV’s Overland 190MSL showcases an exceptional build and content at $73,016 MSRP, almost double what many of these trailers list for. So why is it on the list? Because the build quality earns it. The build quality of these is noteworthy, including the aluminum external skeleton design, the Curt independent suspension, and Ember’s exclusive EmberTrak system that enables you to reconfigure the back of the trailer to be just about any type of spa e.
The challenge with these is that, since they are built to be very off-road friendly, they’re also heavier, so that’s something to keep in mind when deciding on tow vehicles. That heft doesn’t translate to bulk though; there’s no doubt these can fit just about anywhere at just 22 feet 6 inches in length. And there’s also a 55-gallon freshwater tank which is something you’d expect more in a larger rig. We did a full review of the model here.
Before You Make a Purchase
This list might be a great shopping guide for your new adventure vehicle or just an idea list for what’s next in your world. One of the biggest considerations is where you want to spend your adventure time. Established campgrounds place few restrictions on your RV’s features, however going off the grid or using services like Harvest Hosts narrows your choices considerably.
Harvest Hosts, for example, requires your rig be fully self-contained with working kitchen and bathroom function, which doesn’t have to be elaborate, but outdoor cooking is off-limits and a toilet is non-negotiable. Some campgrounds also skip shower houses, so you’ll want to decide whether a built-in shower matters to you, or whether you’re one of the hearty souls fine with adult-sized wipes.
In the end, your deciding factor comes down to where and how you camp, which means size restrictions, built-in functionality versus destination requirements, and your budget are all part of the equation.
Tony Barthel