Coachmen Clipper 108ST

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.