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Last Updated on May 15, 2025 by Paul Clayton
Table of Contents
Our Favorite Hard Sided Pop Up Campers
No matter how big an RV you need or can afford, you are probably limited by certain size constraints. And due to a shortage of storage space, not everyone can get the RV they genuinely need.
Hard-sided pop-up campers offer a little workaround around this problem.
Sacrificing a little headroom, pop-up campers are excellent for storage efficiency. Fold the roof down, and you have much more room to work in your garage.
We decided to showcase our favorite hard-sided pop-up campers to show that these campers can be no less convenient and comfortable than other RV types.
Key Takeaways
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- Hard-sided pop-up campers are a space-saving solution for those who cannot store a large RV.
- They compromise size and comfort, with some sacrificing headroom for better storage.
- The document lists seven different hard-sided campers, including Forest River Rockwood A214HW, Forest River Rockwood A213HW, Aliner Camper Classic, Flagstaff Camper T21DMHW, Aliner Camper Expedition, Aliner Scout-Lite, and Aliner Ranger 10.
- The Forest River Rockwood A214HW is the most feature-rich camper on the list, with a full bathroom and the biggest bed, but it is also the heaviest and most expensive.
- Forest River Rockwood A213HW offers a similar layout to A214HW but with a smaller bed and more dining space. It lacks a shower but has a toilet.
- Aliner campers are generally lighter and more compact. Aliner Classic offers good sleeping space for a smaller camper but lacks an indoor bathroom.
- The document concludes by mentioning Flagstaff Camper T21DMHW, highlighting its features but not mentioning specific details.
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The Best Hard Sided Pop Up Campers
1. Forest River Rockwood
Forest River’s hard-side pop-up camper series is rather popular. One of their lines is Rockwood, the top floorplan of which—A213HS—we chose for today’s overview.
As the Rockwood series’ top floor plan, A213HS offers the best comfort and amenities. Likewise, it is the priciest, so one must have a budget.
As the name suggests, the HS floor plans have taller walls than the non-HW variants. They are 5 feet 8 inches high, while non-HW variants are 5 feet 1 inch high.
On the other hand, the A213HS is also the heaviest camper on the line, weighing 2,700 pounds. It is nearly 700 pounds heavier than the smallest floor plan on the line and up to 200 pounds heavier than other HW floor plans.
The A213HS is 20 feet 10 inches long, and compared to the shorter floor plans in the Rockwood line, it has more room for amenities. Namely, it has a large 60 x 80-inch bed, while the shorter floor plans have 50 x 80-inch beds. This may seem minor, but it will matter to some people.
This floor plan stands out because it has only an interior shower and toilet. A213HW only has a toilet, while the rest of the floor plans don’t have any bathrooms inside.
On the other hand, the A213HS has to sacrifice some dining areas for the bathroom. In other HW floor plans, more area is allocated to the dining space.
However, the Rockwood A214HW is the best in terms of overall functionality and comfort.
2. Forest River Rockwood A122S
The Forest River Rockwood camper series. The A122S again has three high-wall and two non-high-wall floor plans, with the two lines being somewhat similar, if not identical.
We decided to review the A122S floor plan for a little more variety. Although the layout is very similar to that of the A122S, we chose a different one.
So, there are three differences that we would like to pinpoint between these two floor plans.
The difference is in the dining area. The A122S camper has a 30 x 81-inch dinette. Plus, one of the sofas in the Rockwood camper is longer, so there is more room for dinner overall.
The third difference is a rather big one. The A122S floorplan’s bathroom only has a toilet and no shower, which may matter to some. However, Forest River still includes an outside shower with a water heater and other necessary accessories.
A minor difference is that the A122S camper is the lightest Rockwood camper.
In the end, while the differences between the Rockwood campers may seem minor, they will matter to some people.
3. Aliner Camper Classic
Aliner offers several great hard-sided pop-up campers, and Classic is just one of them. Measuring 15 feet long and weighing just 1,590 pounds, the Classic is a relatively compact and light camper, though it isn’t the most miniature model.
When dealing with a camper of such a small size, you receive fewer comforts and amenities than you would from a large camper.
For example, the Classic Camper lacks an interior bathroom, which is typical for the size. Aliner still includes an outside shower with this camper, but an indoor bathroom is a must-have for some people.
On the other hand, this camper does have plenty of sleeping space. It has a 60 x 76-inch rear bed and a 44 x 76-inch front bed/dinette. This sleeping space is good enough for at least three people, maybe four if you travel with children.
Besides that, this camper looks similar to the other campers on our list. Most importantly, it has a fully equipped kitchen that is no less functional than the kitchens in most larger camper models.
4. Flagstaff Camper T21DMHW
The Flagstaff T21DMHW HARD SIDE HIGH WALL camper is a top-tier recreational vehicle that provides a blend of functionality, comfort, and durability. This camper has a 12-Volt Water Pump and Torsion EZ Lube Axles, ensuring smooth and efficient operation. The kitchen area features a 3-burner Indoor Range with a Cover and a Microwave, providing all the cooking facilities you need on your travels.
The camper also comes solar-prepped with an on-frame battery box and wiring, a 30-amp detachable power cord, and a 35-amp converter. An array of LED ceiling lights brightens the interior, which boasts raised panel cabinet doors and wood drawers with full-extension metal guides.
The doors and drawers feature positive latches and catches for secure storage. Interior floor lights add a touch of elegance, while the durable diamond plate front enhances the camper’s robustness. The camper’s exterior is outfitted with a fiberglass laminated roof, electric brakes, and four stabilizer jacks with sand pads for added stability.
The Flagstaff T21DMHW HARD SIDE HIGH WALL camper also includes an installed step, a large folding entry door grab handle, and a courtesy light on the front for easy access. An outside griddle, perfect for outdoor cooking or entertainment, enhances the exterior features. These combined features make the Flagstaff T21DMHW HARD SIDE HIGH WALL camper an ideal choice for any camping enthusiast looking for a reliable and well-equipped travel companion.
5. Aliner Camper Expedition
For those who can’t live without the more advanced amenities, the Aliner Expedition camper is probably a more suitable option. At first glance, the Classic and Expedition seem identical, but some significant differences exist.
The first and most crucial difference is that this camper is 18 feet long, 3 feet longer than the Classic. As a result, it has more room for other amenities besides the bed, dinette, and kitchen stuff that the Classic has.
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The optional toilet is the most significant addition to the Expedition’s amenity list. Although this model still lacks an interior shower, a toilet is a big plus for this camper.
The increased floor space also allows for twin beds in the back. Like the Classic, this camper still has a sofa bed and single big bed options, but some people may prefer the twin bed option.
The last notable advantage of the increased length of the trailer is that it has more interior room.
Another difference that should be noted about the Expedition camper is that it has an off-road axle by default. The Classic camper has a standard axle, though an off-road axle is available. For off-roading, the Expedition may be a much better option.
6. Aliner Scout-Lite
The Aliner Scout-Lite is yet another compact Aliner camper on our list. This one is noticeably more compact than the Aliner Classic camper we reviewed at the beginning.
This camper measures 13 feet long, 2 feet shorter than the Classic. It weighs just 1,180—270 pounds, lighter than the Classic, making it the lightest camper on our list. Those with limited storage areas and vehicles with low towing capacity would probably like what the Scout-Lite offers.
The Scout-Lite camper has the fewest amenities compared to the previous two Aliner campers and all the others on the list. This may sound bad comparatively, but Aliner included everything possible in its limited space.
As a result, this camper comes with a 30 x 75-inch bunk, a dinette, a dinette sofa that converts to a 40 x 76-inch bed, a smaller non-convertible sofa, and a sink. Aliner decided not to equip the Scout-Lite camper with any kitchen equipment, distinguishing it from the rest of the campers on the list quite a bit.
This camper is more suitable for short trips where you don’t need to prepare food. In addition, it may serve as a supplementary RV to your central unit in case you need more sleeping space.
So if your needs match these criteria, the Scout-Lite camper may be quite a good option.
7. Aliner Ranger 10
The last camper on our list, the Ranger 10, is very similar in size to the Scout-Lite camper we’ve just examined—it is just 4 inches shorter. However, there are some much more significant differences that we want to discuss.
The one crucial difference that sets the Ranger 10 camper apart from the Scout-Lite is that it has kitchen equipment, including a small 3-way 1.9-cubic-foot refrigerator and a two-burner stove.
This means that the Ranger 10 camper, even smaller than the Scout-Lite, can be used as a standalone RV unit no matter how long your trip is. It won’t deliver as much comfort and room as larger campers, but it still is a great camper for those who don’t need more.
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Another notable difference in this camper is that it has an outside shower. Aliner doesn’t include one with the Scout-Lite, which again testifies that it isn’t entirely meant to be a standalone RV unit.
Surprisingly, the Ranger 10 isn’t much heavier than the Scout-Lite. Weighing 1,225 pounds, it is just 45 pounds heavier.
Other than that, the Scout-Lite and Ranger floor plans are similar. At least, the dual-bunk floorplan of the Ranger 10 is—there is another floorplan with the dinette in the rear and just one convertible bed.
If you need self-sufficiency with a small footprint, the Aliner Ranger 10 is a good option.
