A travel trailer is any vehicle that not only gets you places, but lets you stay there, too. Essentially, travel trailers are living quarters on wheels. The phrase “travel trailers” is often used interchangeably—although doing so isn’t exactly accurate—with recreational vehicles (RVs). Travel trailers are a type of RV, but with different vehicle classifications in different states, it’s important to know your local rules to ensure you have the proper licensing.
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Types of Travel Trailers
The types of travel trailers available are incredibly diverse, which makes sense: You’re going to live there for a night or a week or a month or beyond, so one person’s tastes in where to live will vary greatly from another’s. Travel trailers can be motorized or not, small or large or in between, have no-frills basics or luxurious comfort, all depending on what you want out of your travel experience.
Motorhomes
Motorhomes are motorized travel trailers, meaning the living area is built directly on a driving chassis. Class A motorhomes are the largest and resemble a commercial bus. Class B motorhomes are built on a van frame and can also be called camper vans. Class C motorhomes are built on a truck chassis.
Travel Trailers
Travel trailers are non-motorized living quarters you’ll tow with a truck or SUV.
Fifth wheelers
Fifth wheelers are also non-motorized living quarters and require a fifth-wheel hitch to attach to your towing vehicle.
Pop-up campers
Pop-up campers are foldable and collapsible, simplifying towing, and are less expensive than other travel trailers.
Truck campers
Truck campers are another economical option that slide into the beds of pickup trucks, allowing you to travel with your camping materials without needing to hitch anything to your truck.
Toy Haulers
Toy haulers are a type of recreational vehicle (RV) that combines living quarters with a built-in garage for transporting motorcycles, ATVs, or other large recreational toys.
Travel Trailer Common Sizes and Capacities
The sizes and capacities of travel trailers can be very different from one to the next, even within each classification. Here are some of the most common sizes and capacities:
- Length and width and height: Many travel trailers of all types will measure between 8 feet wide and the maximum legal width of 8.5 feet, but not all. Small pop-up campers and truck campers are often between 7 and 7.5 feet wide. Trailer lengths commonly start at 16 feet and can expand to more than 40 feet for Class A motorhomes. The height of a travel trailer rarely exceeds 11 feet, with most types and classes ranging between 10 and 11 feet high.
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): A travel trailer’s GVWR will depend on its class, type, size, axles, composition and more. Generally, going from smallest to largest, a pop-up camper will have a GVWR of 2,700-4,000 pounds. A small, single-axle travel trailer ranges from approximately 2,000-4,500 pounds while a large, double-axle travel trailer ranges from 6,000-10,500 pounds. Fifth-wheel campers often have a GVWR of 17,000-20,000 pounds.
- Payload capacity: Subtract the weight of the trailer from the GVWR and get the payload capacity, which puts the payload capacity of most travel trailers around 800 pounds (small travel trailers), 1,100 pounds (pop-up campers), 1,600 pounds (large travel trailers) and 6,000 pounds (fifth-wheelers).
- Tongue weight: The recommended tongue weight (downward force exerted on the hitch ball by the trailer’s tongue or coupler) for travel trailers is 10-15% of the trailer’s total weight, including the load.
Towing and Hitch Needs for Travel Trailers
The right towing vehicle and the right hitch are essential to a safe, smooth hauling experience of any non-motorized travel trailer.
- Hitch type: Many travel trailers use ball hitches, but depending on the size and payload capacity, a travel trailer may need a fifth-wheel or gooseneck hitch.
- Hitch class and rating: Hitch classes range from Class I to Class V and most travel trailers, depending on the size, require at least a Class II hitch but might require up to a Class V hitch. Fifth-wheelers require fifth-wheel hitches.
- Towing vehicle capacity: Check your owner’s manual to find your towing vehicle’s gross combined weight rating (GCWR) and make sure you can safely tow your loaded trailer.
- Braking systems: Travel trailers towed behind your vehicle will have electric, hydraulic or surge brakes to assist with control and stopping while towing heavy loads. Tail lights, turn signals and reflectors are often required by law.
Travel Trailer Pricing
The price of a travel trailer depends on the type, size, construction and amenities. A new non-motorized travel trailer can start around $12,000 and go up to $35,000 or more. A fifth-wheel trailer can range from $25,000-$60,000 and motorhomes can get up to $80,000. The more budget-friendly options, pop-up campers and truck trailers, generally range from $5,000 up to $20,000.
Travel Trailer Add-ons and Extras
Travel trailers can be as lavish as you want. Looking for the essentials to help you feel comfortable while camping? Great. Looking for true luxury that makes you want to spend every minute of your day in the travel trailer? You can do that too. The more extras you add, the higher the cost, so depending on your budget and your desires, you can outfit a travel trailer exactly how you want it. When looking at used travel trailers for sale, take into account what the trailer already has and what you might want as you consider your options.
- Beds for you and everyone in your traveling party, from king to queen to twin and even bunk beds.
- Fully equipped kitchens and bathrooms can make your trips especially comfortable and convenient.
- Couches, chairs and tables make socializing, relaxing and dining easy.
- Furnaces and air conditioning help you travel to warm or cold climates with the assurance of comfort inside your trailer.
- Any type of entertainment you’d have in your own home, such as televisions and sound systems can enhance your travel experience.
- Ample storage is essential to any trip.
- Slide-out extensions increase the living space inside your trailer once parked.
Popular Travel Trailer Brands
Some of the popular trailer brands buyers consider when purchasing a travel trailer include:
- Airstream
- American Coach
- Bigfoot Industries
- Dutchmen
- Grand Design RV
- Gulfstream Coach
- Jayco
- Keystone RV Co.
- Winnebago
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