Choosing the Perfect Travel Trailer

Choosing the perfect travel trailer can be a big task to take on! If you’re in the market for a new travel trailer, you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed by all of your options. There are, after all, an enormous number of options out there, and trying to narrow them down can leave your head spinning.

Because you want to make sure you get exactly the right trailer for you and your family, we recommend you go into your shopping adventure with a list of criteria. By hammering out a few crucial criteria and having a firm idea of what you’re looking for, you’ll be able to quickly and easily eliminate the models that won’t work for you, leaving you with a much smaller pool to choose from.

What criteria should you be going by? We recommend figuring out what you want in terms of the categories listed below.

Weight

Weight is at the top of the list for a reason. It is perhaps the most important thing to take into consideration. Why? Because your vehicle needs to be able to safely tow whatever trailer you buy.

In order to determine what kind of weight range you’re working with, check out the towing capacity listed in your truck’s manual. This is the maximum amount of weight your truck can haul.

You must keep the combined weight of your trailer, cargo, water in the tanks, and even the people in your vehicle below this number. Therefore, you will want your trailer to fall well below your truck’s maximum towing capacity in order to ensure you’re towing safely.

Length

Another thing to take into consideration is the length of the trailer you’d like to buy. To an extent, the length will be limited by the weight you’re able to tow, but it is still something to keep in mind.

Longer trailers offer more living space. However, they are also much harder to park when on the road and can make it nearly impossible to find a spot in tighter campgrounds. Weigh the pros and cons and try to find a length that offers enough space for your family without hindering where you can travel.

Floor Plan

Because RVs are so small, finding the right floor plan is absolutely crucial. A floor plan that uses the space well and offers your family all of the furniture, appliances, and comforts they require can make even the smallest trailer feel just big enough. On the other hand, a poorly-thought-out floor plan—or one that simply doesn’t suit your needs—can feel cramped and uncomfortable.

For this reason, you will want to shop floor plans carefully, making a point to imagine yourself living your day-to-day life as you walk through any RV you’re seriously considering.

Storage Space

Another thing that becomes especially important thanks to the small size of RVs is storage space. Far too many travel trailers are made with far too little storage space, and this makes long-term travel or traveling with a lot of people nearly impossible.

Therefore, while shopping for your new trailer you will want to make sure to check out the storage space. Try to imagine where you will store each item you normally carry with you during travel. Be sure there is plenty of room for each of these items and more. You never know what extra things you may need to stock your RV with.

Features

Of course, you will also want to keep in mind those key features that might make or break a trailer for you. For instance, many people insist on having slide-outs in order to increase interior space. Other people absolutely must have an auto-leveling system, a backup camera, or a trailer that is solar-ready.

Decide which features you can’t live without, then use that information to narrow things down even more.

Here are some popular features that make RV life easier:

• Slides

• Power jacks or auto-leveling

• Backup camera (or backup camera-ready)

• Solar panels (or solar-ready)

• Outdoor kitchen

• MaxxAir vents

• Power awning

• Enclosed undercarriage

• Heated tanks

• Dual-pane windows

• Double-wide xxle

• Onboard generator

Bumper Pull vs Fifth Wheel

Lastly, we must point out that there are actually two very different types of travel trailers out there: bumper pull trailers and fifth wheel trailers.

In some cases, your desired weight, length, and/or floor plan may already rule out one or the other of these trailer types, which is why we included this particular consideration at the very end of the article. That said, if all other preferences you’ve considered haven’t yet ruled out either option, this is yet another thing you’ll have to think about.

Bumper pull trailers are ideal for those who tow with a van/SUV or wish to use a truck bed cover. They tend to be cheaper than fifth wheels, but don’t usually include as many special features. An enormous number of occasional campers choose the bumper pull option for the cost and the fact that they are usually lighter in weight.

Fifth wheel trailers require a truck with an open bed. They tend to be heavier than bumper pulls, meaning you’ll likely need at least a quarter-ton truck to pull one. They are also almost always more expensive than bumper pull trailers, but they tend to include more features and a better quality build. These RVs are a good option for those who full-time or want to use their rig for extended trips.

Conclusion

Hopefully this information helps you make the right decision for your family and makes picking out your new RV a fun and exciting process, rather than an overwhelming one.

Not even sure what you want in terms of these criteria? Try doing a little bit of window shopping before diving into the process of elimination and eventually the actual shopping. An RV show is the perfect opportunity to do this, as it allows you to walk through hundreds of rigs without a salesperson breathing down your neck.

Click here to learn more about the benefits of RV shows.