Used Tent Trailers: The Pop-Up

I was looking online for used campers earlier this year and started to get overwhelmed by the options. Used campers come in all sizes and many serve different purposes. You have teardrop, travel, tent trailer, 5th wheel and so on and so on. For my family, a used tent trailer was our best option and here are a few reasons why.

 

First and foremost, a great benefit of buying a used camper is the price. Specifically, a used tent trailer will be your most cost effective option and you can get the most bang for your buck. I went down to several dealers that specialized in new and used tent trailers and was shocked by the price difference. I was looking for a tent trailer with AC, refrigerator, hot water heater, water pump, toilet and shower. New, I was looking at $9,000 minimum for the baseline. Having a bit of sticker shock, I spent the next few afternoons on eBay.com. Within 5 days I found a 1998 Coleman in pristine condition that was garage kept that had all that I wanted but was over half the price I ran into at the dealer.

 

The tent trailer  is also very light weight and can be easily towed by most vans, light trucks and SUV's. I tow my Coleman with a 2007 Chevrolet 1500 Silverado and notice no great difference in gas mileage. I average about 17 miles per gallon with the load, 19 without the load.

 

In addition to cost, size and features the tent trailer is ideal for a family of four. The family sleeps comfortably in the two fold outs. I personally have two small girls and they love the space they have on their side. Personally, the only recommendation that I have is to purchase some egg-crate foam for any adults sleeping in the camper. Most used tent trailers come with the standard camper mattress. This can get uncomfortable as the evening goes on, especially if you weigh more than 180 lbs.

 

In addition to spacious fold outs for sleeping, most tent trailers have a small dinette, three way refrigerator, storage areas under the seating benches and a cooking area. It's a great advantage if you can find a used tent trailer that has a full kitchen area that has a sink with hot water, four burner cook top and ample storage. Again, if you are looking at used campers to save some money it would greatly benefit you to purchase one with a cassette toilette and shower. First, both are handy to have in an emergency, if the location you are camping doesn't offer facilities or if the facilities are just nasty.

 

The last great feature of the tent trailer is it's ease of setup. Tent trailers are easy to setup and most can be taken from fully packed to ready to sleep in 15-20 minutes.