15 Best Pop Up Camper Hacks and Ideas [With Pictures]

Camping is an enjoyable and bonding experience. What makes a camping trip even better? Bringing your kids along and introducing them to the animals and camping traditions. However, we’ve compiled 15 pop-up camper hacks that will make any trip a success for you and the whole family. Among them you’ll find tips for organizing your space, staying safe at the campsite, etc.

You will get five main benefits from reading this pop-up camping guide:

• This article will throw light on all the necessities you need while camping trip.
• A proper guideline to paying attention to hygiene.
• Food is a must for survival and especially when you have struggled loads to make your adventure fruitful.
• You need to secure your valuables and focus on their privacy and safety.
• The below-discussed hacks will also educate you on organizing things like extra beds, batteries, etc.

15 Pop-Up Camper Hacks You Didn’t Know You Needed

Here are 15 of the most useful pop-up camper hacks you didn’t know you needed to know!

1. Prep your battery before a camping trip

A car battery will die if you don’t use it now and then, even if you’re not living in your camper. To keep your battery healthy while camping:

• Disconnect the battery from the negative terminal on the car.
• Leave it disconnected overnight.
• Put a new, fully charged battery in its place for the night.
• Remove that one and replace it with your own (fully charged) battery for when you’re camping!
• After using your battery while camping, switch them again to give the other one a break.

When you’re ready to go home, follow these steps in reverse:

• Reconnect the old battery to its negative terminal.
• Put your good battery back in the car, ready for next time.
• Repeat this procedure about once per month for the best results. In addition, top off the water levels in your holding tanks before leaving.
• With all of these tips, you’ll be able to take full advantage of your 10+ hour power supply!

2. Arrange all your camp items by height

If you’re like me, you can never have enough camp items. Between cooking equipment and backpacks, it is nice to have them all within arm’s reach while I’m lying on my tent cot looking up at the clear blue sky.

The only problem is finding a place to store them when not in use – especially if they are different shapes or sizes! So, this tip is for those of us that want to be able to quickly grab our lantern from under our bed without having to climb into bed first. Arrange your lanterns, water bottles, and other gear by height so that the tallest ones will be at one end of your cot and the shortest ones will be at the other. Next time you need something, it will be a quick grab without having to get out of bed!

3. Storage items in water bottles

We all know the feeling of needing a few essentials on hand but not enough space in the car or at camp. That’s why water bottles can be one of your best friends in the trip. Use them to store lighter items, like snacks and food, when you don’t need a cooler. The vessel provides insulation, so they’re perfect for smaller items that may spoil quickly – great if you want to put them in the fridge or freezer too! Plus, it’s easy to track what’s inside with an instantly recognizable shape.

If you have some more critical things to carry with you, try putting a pack towel around it and tying it off tight. This will make the item easier to carry and protect you from bumps. Make sure to wipe down the outside of anything you transport before packing it up to get rid of any dirt or mud. A few towels rolled up tightly work wonders for throwing dirty clothes into after a long day instead of having them spill over the back seat.

4. Use the rope to hang items

The rope is one of the most versatile tools as a popup camper. From tying stuff down to making shelves, it’s always handy. These pop-up campers can also be used as an alternative for drawer pulls or towel racks when you’re out of space.

Just cut some pieces about three inches long and tie them together. Tie them around anything that needs to be hung, and voila! A new way to store your clothes and towels. Roll up everything, grab two pieces of rope and tie them on either side of the top piece.

Slip this over the hooks on either side at eye level to create a shelf for your clothes. If you don’t have any rope, use old t-shirts as a substitute. Fill the pockets with dirty laundry on one hook while hanging other clothes on another.

5. Portable shower hacks for pop-up campers

You won’t need to use a bucket and the hose with your own pop-up campers to create a makeshift shower. All you’ll need is water, an empty plastic 2-liter bottle, and shower curtain rods. Cut off the bottom of the water bottle about three inches up from the bottom with a box cutter or razor blade, and place it on your bed next to you in the morning. Fill it up with warm water when needed throughout the day, and keep it at arm’s length while using it. Use bathroom towels to wipe out extra water. Do the process behind shower curtain rods.

To rinse the shampoo out of your hair, fill the empty bottle with warm water. Put it over your head (like a shower cap), so you can quickly rinse out soap suds without getting soap in your eyes. To wash dishes without running out of hot water, use cold instead. Please bring plenty of dish soap for greasy pots and pans because hot water will only worsen them.

6. Keep valuables safe from critters

There are many creative ways to keep your goods safe from critters during your camping trip. If you have any of these lying around at home, put them in the pop-up camper to help prevent unwelcome visitors. Pop-up camping will be beneficial. Another idea is to seal up all holes in the camper with expanding foam insulation. It will seal gaps and create an airtight space – perfect for keeping out pesky creatures.

The campsites recommend bringing a motion-sensitive light inside the pop-up camper to ward off bugs. These lights can be triggered by movement or continuously throughout the night.

7. Organize

I’ll admit it. When I first purchased my pop-up camper for a trip, I was overwhelmed by the gear I had to lug around. If you find yourself in this same boat, try organizing your gear into groups and packing each type of gear in its bag. Plus, if you can get creative, these bags are perfect for keeping out critters on an extended camping trip. Pop-up are the must-have on the list.

8. Ventilation

Ventilation is key to reducing the odors of cooking inside. It allows for the buildup of moisture and condensation from cooking, showering, or even sitting inside for too long. The easiest solution is to buy an air conditioner that fits nicely in your window by attaching it outside or vertically to your window frame. In our pop-up camper, we have opted for the second option. You can also purchase vent covers for those who don’t want to change their vehicle permanently. They attach to your windows with suction cups and are easy enough to remove when you need them off.

Another idea would be to install fans in different areas of the camper or camper roof. You can install one near the kitchenette area and one near your sleep. So they can help keep things circulating. An oldie but goodie hack is to place bowls of ice around the interior space, which helps draw heat out and cools down the entire camper in a matter of minutes. A space heater is also preferred in tent camping for a fantastic camper. They see the space heaters as an amazing pop.

9. The Extra Beds

Sleeping quarters can be scarce in a pop-up camper. Give yourself and your guest an extra sleeping option by adding a bed above the cab on the passenger side. The best way to do this is with a cot from Walmart or Academy. Have an extended warranty on the top bunk to save time and headache later if something happens. The most cost-effective materials for building this type of setup are wood, including 2x4s, 1x4s, and plywood. A Sawzall is needed to cut through the truck’s metal frame, and a drill will come in handy too.

Measure carefully so that you end up with two pieces 8 feet long and 10 inches wide. Use these measurements as guides when cutting out the wood. If your boards are slightly different lengths, then don’t worry. They’ll fit together perfectly! To ensure they stay in place, attach them using 3-inch screws and a screwdriver.

10. Gas & Electrical

Your pop-up camper has some pop-ups like a battery to power the refrigerator, lights, and other amenities while tripping. But there are steps you should take before heading out on your trip to make sure it has enough juice:

• Start by shutting off all your appliances when you’re not using them – think of that as something else to pack in your bags!
• Then, check your owner’s manual for information about how often you need to charge the battery during long trips.
• If you’re going to be away from home for more than one night, charge the battery daily or two. You can do this while at home or use an outside electrical outlet if you’re staying somewhere without a generator.
• When camping in colder weather, plug an extension cord into an outside outlet and run it into your camper through a window.
• Plug lamps into outlets along the cord, providing plenty of light inside the camper. Another option is to invest in a gas generator (or two) to let you power your fridge, lights, and anything else running on electricity outdoors.

11. Cleaning and Storage

After cooking:

• Unpack your dishware and utensils where they are out of the way. Outdoor cooking in a tent trailer even by an already fantastic camper is not that easy. Follow-up comments of already fantastic camper in a matter of outdoor cooking.
• Wash each item and then store them away from the kitchen area, like on top of the fridge or near your bathroom, so you don’t forget them when packing.
• Use a hanger to dry towels. You can’t skip kitchen and bathroom towels. The kitchen and bathroom towels are essential for trip.
• Clean up spills right away.
• Use binder clips to keep spices organized in their packets (they’re more stable than putting them in jars).
• Don’t let bugs live with you for more than a few hours by setting traps with vinegar or cayenne pepper and baking soda.
• Turn a two-person tent into a four-person one by just zipping the two tents together. Sleep outside with your feet propped up using long sticks. Keep warm at night using extra clothes as an insulator under your sleeping bag. Fill every unused space in your camper with airbags to help protect it from rough roads or sharp turns during travel.

12. A/C System Mods

In camping, you find yourself in a hot environment that doesn’t have many fans or AC available, you can use your vehicle’s A/C system to cool things down. While your car isn’t running, grab an electric wire and detach one of the battery terminals. Take some insulation (like a paper towel) and put it around the exposed metal wires of the battery. Then take a wrench and twist the two ends together. That should do it! The next time you turn on your car, this will recharge the battery and power up both A/C systems.

A second way to make your camper cooler without such furniture is by installing an evaporative cooler pad with a thermostat near your truck’s dashboard. Once you’re done camping, soak it with water from a hose and let it dry out for another trip! A third option is setting up solar panels that would lower the temperature in your camper. With these three hacks combined, you should be able to beat any heatwave without much trouble at all!

13. Water Systems For Camping

You’ll have to have some water system inside your pop-up camper. You need some hanging bags as well. If you’re near a water source, such as a lake or river, the easiest and cheapest way is to go out and buy some camper jugs of water, or hanging bags can be helpful too. But if you are far from any outside resources, you may need to bring your portable water tank with a pump.

They also use less energy than regular pumps because they can be powered by a 12-volt battery (the same one used to power your lights). Many other handy water hacks would make sense, depending on what you plan on doing while camping.

14. Security & Privacy

One of the best things you can do when camping in a pop-up camper is to secure your camper. After all, once it’s set up, you don’t want someone coming by in the middle of the night and making off your valuables while you’re sleeping. One way to ensure your camper is as safe as possible during your stay at the campsite is to park it close to other campers. Another good idea is to ensure no trees or shrubs near the front of the camper.

Otherwise, if somebody comes around late at night and tries to break in, they might be able to see right inside. If this doesn’t bother you, placing some motion detector lights near them might work.

15. Cooking & Stovetop

One of the most important considerations when purchasing a pop-up camper for your trip is which type of cooking stove will be best for you and your family. With the variety of options available, it can be hard to decide which one to get. This decision often boils down to the best type for your camping needs. But don’t make this decision without considering how you’ll use your new camper too! Depending on where you live, a simple grill may not be an option, so this might determine your cooking equipment.

Will you mostly cook breakfast or eat cold cereal? Will you spend most of your time in places with power? If so, then a camp stove is probably the way to go. The goal with these appliances is to make cooking easy and quick because time spent cooking adds time to clean-up. An RV fridge also helps save fuel by eliminating the need for ice packs in coolers.

Pop Up Camper and Tent Trailer Hacks [Gallery]

How can I improve my pop-up camper?

You can quickly improve your popup camper and better your camping trip by following the advice in this article.

Most of them are really affordable, if not free, and don’t take a lot of time to implement.

What are the pros and cons of a pop-up travel trailer?

Pros:

• Affordable
• Small and lightweight
• Easy to tow
• You can store them in your garage

Cons:

• Usually, there’s no bathroom
• Limited sleeping capacity

Conclusion

Going on a camping trip can be an advantageous experience, and taking your pop-up camper can make the experience even better. However, living out of a camper means dealing with it in every weather condition. So, having simple pop-up camper hacks on hand can make a living more accessible and convenient. These hacks will extend your camper’s life and usefulness and make it easier to use and prepare food while on the go!

Thanks for reading these fifteen pop-up camper hacks for a camping trip. I hope these hacks will prove very beneficial to you. Please state the hack in the comments, which you had enjoy the most and that you use yourself.