Thinking of buying a new or used travel trailer? Great choice! Perhaps more so than any other class of RVs, travel trailers are available in a wide variety of configurations, sizes, and price points. Plus, many are towable by vehicles you may already have in your driveway. That can save you time and money! Let’s see why else a travel trailer is a great investment for your next RV purchase.
1. A Wide Range of Prices
The first advantage travel trailers hold over other RV classes is simple: cost. Generally speaking, travel trailers offer the widest range of prices to fit the widest segment of RVers. One comment on a previous RV LIFE article eloquently summed it up this way, “People buy the RV they can afford.”
But I am not making any socio-economic assumptions about people who currently own a travel trailer or who are considering buying one. There are dozens of considerations that factor into an RV purchase, and cost is only one variable.
Travel trailers do offer the broadest array of affordable RV pricing. You could pay as little as $10,000 for a new pop-up, soft-sided trailer or you could pay more than $190,000 for a 2024 Airstream Classic. With a range that broad you can spend as much, or as little, as seems prudent to you. There are different amenities with each price level, but the point is, there is a travel trailer option to fit every budget.
2. A Vast Selection to Fit Any Need
Travel trailers come in a variety of sizes, styles, and floorplans. This includes pop-up trailers, folding trailers, teardrop trailers, and huge 36-footers with four slideouts. Most travel trailers are somewhere in between these extremes and offer a pleasant assortment of living spaces.
3. Towable by Many Vehicles
Because most travel trailers are smaller and lighter than fifth-wheels, they can be towed by smaller lighter vehicles. With careful control of the tongue weight and using anti-sway bars, travel trailers will tow smoothly behind any vehicle that has an appropriate tow rating for the weight of the trailer. Always heed the tow rating of the tow vehicle.
4. A Lower Profile
I suggest this as a distinctive feature of travel trailers, with the caveat that some of the largest travel trailers are taller than most of the travel trailer class of RVs. However, even the tallest travel trailers have a lower profile than Class A diesel pushers, or even large fifth-wheel trailers.
But the low exterior profile does not limit the functionality and comfort of most travel trailers. There is still adequate interior ceiling height to move around in the trailer in a standing posture. The lower exterior profile, on the other hand, allows travel trailers to access some campgrounds and routes that are closed to larger vehicles.
We have encountered low bridges and overpasses under which a travel trailer would easily pass, but made the route impassible to us in our Newmar motorhome. Some gas stations have low-clearance coverings over pumps. Many state parks and rustic forest service campgrounds have low-hanging branches over the interior roads. The concern about the height of your RV can add extra stress to travel days. Travel trailer owners are not as likely to be bothered by these concerns as people towing a large fifth-wheel or driving a larger motorhome.
5. Travel Trailer Parts and Repairs are Readily Available
The popularity of travel trailers means that finding parts or service centers is not as challenging as with other RV classes. I spoke with a mobile service technician who was frustrated by not being able to get essential parts for two new Entegra motorhomes he was servicing. We had the same problem with a slide cover for our Newmar, which will not be available for eight months. Of course, there could be supply chain issues for specific parts, but the prevalence of these RVs and the fact that many of them use the same internal components makes these RVs a bit easier to service.
The Verdict
Travel trailers are popular because that they are easy to tow, have a lower clearance, are easy to back into a site, and offer the full range of amenities. That includes indoor and outdoor galleys, a full wet bath, separate bedroom, and comfortable living spaces. All at an affordable price that will match almost any budget.
