Coachmen·Pop-Up·2025

Coachmen Clipper 108ST

Name: Coachmen Clipper 108ST
Brand: Coachmen
Price: 14000 USD

3.9across 2,600 reviews on retail listings

|13 ft|1,600 lbs|Sleeps 4

The Coachmen Clipper 108ST is one of the lightest and most affordable pop-up campers available. Perfect for tent camping families who want to get off the ground.

BudgetFirst-TimersFamilies

MSRP from

$14,000

$ Budget

SolarNone

Slide-Outs0

Specifications

Length

13 ft

Weight

1,600 lbs

Sleeps

Fresh Water

20 gal

Gray Water

N/A

Black Water

N/A

Features

Canvas Tent Ends

Dinette/Bed

Stove

Icebox

12V Lighting

Stabilizer Jacks

Highlights

Under $14K and 1,600 lbs — the most accessible RV you can buy

Folds to 56 inches for garage storage and easy towing

Canvas sides create a glamping experience closer to nature

What owners report

Summarized from Reddit and owner forums — not a first-hand test.

The Coachmen Clipper 108ST is about the most affordable, lowest-commitment RV on the market — a sub-$14K, roughly 1,600-lb tent pop-up that gets a family of four off the ground with a real bed, a stove, and an icebox. It folds to around 56 inches for garage storage, tows behind small SUVs and minivans, and gives kids the open-air, canvas-walled experience that hard-side trailer owners often miss. For tent campers ready to upgrade without a five-figure leap, it's an easy yes.

The tradeoffs are the classic pop-up ones, amplified by budget-grade build. Setup and teardown take real effort — popping the roof, supporting the bunk ends, and clipping in bars is a multi-step job, not push-button — and canvas walls mean weather and security are always a concern. Owners report inconsistent quality: some camp happily for years, while others document leaking refrigerators, water-heater boards failing just out of warranty, ill-fitting canvas, and a miscut window zipper within weeks. With no holding tanks or bathroom, it's strictly dry, three-season camping, and you'll need to dry the canvas at home if you pack up wet.

It's best for budget-conscious first-timers and young families who want a cheap, storable way to find out if they love RVing. Cross-shop it against the Rockwood and Flagstaff pop-ups, which forum regulars consistently rate as better-built for not a lot more money — the Clipper wins on price, the Rockwood/Flagstaff win on canvas and fit-and-finish. Buy with eyes open, keep up with the small fixes, and the 108ST delivers a lot of family memories per dollar.

What owners like

+Under $14K and about 1,600 lbs, it's one of the most accessible RVs you can buy — owners tow it with small SUVs and even minivans
+Folds down to around 56 inches, so it stores in a standard garage and barely affects fuel economy or visibility while towing
+Canvas tent ends sleep four and deliver the open-air, close-to-nature feel families say they can't get in a hard-side trailer
+Gets the family off the cold, wet ground with a real bed, a stove, an icebox, and 12V lighting — a huge step up from tent camping
+Simple systems mean cheap, DIY-friendly repairs, and PopUpPortal and Forest River Forums document nearly every fix
+Far cheaper to buy, insure, and store than a travel trailer, so it's a low-risk way to test whether RVing fits your family
+20-gallon fresh tank and a basic galley cover weekend trips without hunting for a spigot every few hours

Common complaints

−Setup and teardown are real work — popping the roof, sliding out and supporting the bunk ends, and clipping in bars is not a one-person, one-minute job
−Recurring component failures show up early: refrigerators that leak inside after a day, water-heater control boards dying just out of warranty, and flimsy outdoor-kitchen latches
−Build quality is inconsistent by model year — some owners are happy for years, others list a dozen defects within the first week
−Canvas sides mean almost no security and a lot of weather exposure — wind, rain, and cold all get through far more than a hard-side
−Cabinet hinges that won't stay adjusted, step hinges loosening, and awnings that pop loudly are common small annoyances owners learn to live with

Questions owners ask

What can tow a Coachmen Clipper 108ST?

At roughly 1,600 lbs dry it's within reach of most midsize SUVs, many small SUVs, and minivans — owners commonly tow it with vehicles rated around 3,000-3,500 lbs. Always confirm your vehicle's tow rating and add a weight-distribution or sway setup if needed, but this is one of the easiest RVs to pull.

How long does setup and teardown take?

Plan on 10-20 minutes once you're practiced. You crank up the roof, slide out and support the bunk ends, secure the support bars, and tension the canvas — it's manageable but it's not a one-person, one-step process, and teardown means dealing with the canvas. Packing up wet risks mildew, so dry it at home when you can.

What problems should I watch for?

Owners report refrigerators that leak inside after running a day, water-heater control boards failing right after warranty, ill-fitting canvas and a miscut dinette window zipper, loose step hinges, and flimsy outdoor-kitchen latches. Quality varies by build, so inspect a used one carefully and budget for small fixes.

Is it warm enough for cold weather?

No — canvas walls offer little insulation, so it's a three-season camper at best. Owners stretch the shoulder seasons with a furnace (if equipped) or a safe portable heater plus good sleeping bags, but hard freezes, strong wind, and heavy rain are where the canvas shows its limits.

How does it compare to a Rockwood or Flagstaff pop-up?

Forum consensus is that the Rockwood and Flagstaff pop-ups are better-built — nicer canvas, better fit and finish — for a modest price bump. The Clipper's advantage is being cheaper and lighter. If budget is the priority pick the Clipper; if you can stretch, the Rockwood/Flagstaff are the more durable long-term choice.