Forest River Rockwood A122S vs Coachmen Clipper 108ST

Forest River · Pop-Up

Forest River Rockwood A122S

$15,000

4★ (2,200)

Coachmen · Pop-Up

$14,000

3.9★ (2,600)

Quick take: The Coachmen Clipper 108ST costs $1,000 less; the Forest River Rockwood A122S is 1 ft shorter and easier to maneuver.

✓Hard-sided walls (unlike a canvas pop-up) give you real insulation, security, and bug/weather protection while still collapsing for storage and towing
✓At around $15K it's one of the cheapest ways into a hard-sided trailer with a real bed, a dinette, and basic galley — a huge value versus a conventional travel trailer
✓Sleeps 4 in a tiny package, making it a genuinely family-capable entry trailer for the price of a decent used car
✓Big, active Forest River and pop-up forum communities mean a deep well of mods, fixes, and known-issue workarounds for nearly everything
✓Simple systems overall — fewer slides, motors, and complex electronics to fail than a big trailer, so the mechanical surface area for problems is small

✗Waterproofing is the Achilles' heel — owners report leaks at the bubble skylights, fan mounts, and seams, and dealers have flatly told buyers these A-frames aren't truly waterproof and need covered storage with a fan running
✗Mold and moisture damage are real risks: owners have found mold on fabric, warped moldy wood under benches, and soggy mattresses after just weeks of storage
✗Roof-lift actuator failures and even incorrectly wired electric brakes from the factory have been reported, so a careful inspection (and brake check) before towing is essential
✗Skylight blinds that bow and won't fully close, loose water-pump connections, and assorted small leaks mean ongoing fiddling and resealing are part of ownership
✗Folding hard-side design limits interior height and amenities — no real bathroom in most layouts, tight headroom, and modest galley versus a conventional trailer
✗It's an entry-level Forest River product, so factory QC is inconsistent — two identical units can vary a lot, and the brand's mass-market reputation is mixed

✓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

✗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