FAQs About Travel Trailers

Travel trailers are the most popular type of non-motorized RV, and require a vehicle (usually a truck or SUV) to be towed. Also referred to as bumper-pulls, pull-behind trailers, tow-behind trailers, towable campers, or simply just “campers,” travel trailers come in a wide variety of lengths, sizes, floor plans, options, and price points. Travel trailers are relatively easy to set up, and once you arrive at your destination, you can unhitch it, leave it and still have a vehicle to explore. 

For us, the decision to buy a travel trailer came down to what our tow vehicle would be and overall budget. We had a set budget that included both a new tow vehicle and a new RV. We decided to buy our tow vehicle first—a diesel Ford Excursion—and then chose the RV based on what it could pull. We knew our tow vehicle wouldn’t be able to pull something big, like a fifth wheel, and travel trailers are typically more affordable than some of the other larger towable RVs on the market. Additionally, we were planning to live in our RV full-time and we knew we’d be downsizing from a large house, so we wanted something that felt like a home. Travel trailers come in so many different sizes and layouts, and have a wide variety of residential-style amenities. Our travel trailer has multiple sleeping areas, a fireplace, a kitchen island, and a full bathroom—all of which are ideal for larger families or RVers who do a lot of hosting. Some of the biggest factors for choosing our exact travel trailer were:

• Multiple, separate bedroom spaces
• Two exterior doors—one at the front and one at the back
• A large, spacious family room with an entertainment system
• Modern-looking interior with lots of windows

A travel trailer truly feels like a home on wheels. Because they are typically larger than lightweight or teardrop campers, there is more storage and cabinet space—especially in the kitchen. There is also lots of extra sleeping space and it’s easy to find a travel trailer with bunkhouses. Having multiple “bedrooms,” each with their own door, is great for privacy. In addition to the large kitchen space and full-sized refrigerator inside, many travel trailers come equipped with an outdoor kitchen or grill and a mini fridge, which is great for kids and entertaining. Most travel trailers come with a full bathroom and some even have hook-ups for a washer and dryer.

The sleeping arrangements and layouts in travel trailers are practically endless. Because travel trailers vary greatly in size and length, they can comfortably sleep anywhere from two to ten people. Many come with two or three separate sleeping spaces, in addition to the convertible dining tables and pull-out couches. Travel trailers with lofted beds and bunks are great for kids and can help save you floorspace. Bedrooms in the rear or front of the travel trailer can offer large windows and nice views. To help determine which layout and sleeping arrangement might work best for you, here are some questions to consider:

• Do I plan to travel with a large group or have frequent visitors?
• Do I want a separate sleeping space with a door?
• Do I want a nice view from my sleeping space?
• If I’ll be traveling with kids, where do I want them to sleep?
• If I’ll be traveling with pets, where do I want them to sleep?

First, determine how you plan to use your travel trailer. If you want to take your RV out for the occasional camping trip, stick to something that will fit your family and can ideally be towed with a vehicle you already own. If you plan to use your RV frequently or even go full-time, really consider the interior space and layout. Ask yourself: If it rained for a week straight and we couldn’t go outside, would this be enough space to house everyone comfortably?

You should also consider where you plan to take your travel trailer. Will you do a lot of remote, off-grid camping or will you stick to established campgrounds and RV parks? For remote camping, you might want to consider a smaller travel trailer—one that will allow you to fit in tight spaces and travel through national parks (on average, national parks will allow RVs with a maximum length of 27 feet).

Start your search by watching travel trailer walk-through videos online. This will really help you get a feel for the different layouts and options. Then, once you have an idea of what you want, do some in-person walk-throughs at a dealership.

Here are some additional options to consider:

• If you plan to move around a lot, consider an auto-leveling system
• If you plan to boondock, consider a solar package
• If you plan to use a lot of appliances in your RV, consider generator size (*bigger generators do mean more weight and more noise)
• If you plan to drive a lot, consider the height of your travel trailer (bridges and tunnels can have low clearances)

While many travel trailers are good for boondocking, there are a few things you can add to your RV to make the dry camping experience even better. Here are a few things to consider if you’re looking for the ideal boondocking travel trailer:

• A solar package or an extra generator
• Higher ground clearance
• Smaller and lighter weight
• Larger tanks (especially fresh water)
• All-terrain tires

Choosing your tow vehicle is just as important as choosing your travel trailer. Since travel trailers come in so many different shapes and sizes, it might feel overwhelming to find a good match for your tow vehicle. A good rule of thumb is to stick with a large SUV or a half-ton pickup truck for a smaller travel trailer (5,000 pounds or less) and a heavy duty truck for a larger travel trailer (more than 5,000 pounds). However, you should always consult your dealer when determining tow weight and tow capacity, as numbers can vary by vehicle and by RV.

There are a lot of resources both online and in your vehicle’s owner’s manual to help you figure out your exact tow weight. Many RV dealer websites also have the option for you to filter your search based on your exact tow vehicle. And the same works in reverse—if you already have a travel trailer, car manufacturer websites can help you pinpoint if the vehicle you’re considering will be able to tow your current RV.

There are a lot of different hitch options and considerations, so it will take some time and research to figure out which is the best one for you and your unique travel trailer. We currently use the Equal-i-zer 1,400 weight distribution hitch, which also has built-in sway control. This particular hitch has helped prevent our tow vehicle from squatting (also called trailer sag) and reduced any sway from passing trucks or windy conditions.

If you purchase your travel trailer from a dealership, have the dealer or on-site technician walk you through the full hook up installation. Take videos so you can remember all of the details, and then try hitching it yourself with the technician present. For reference, the basic hitch connection steps are:

1. Backing your tow vehicle up to the front of the RV
2. Lowering the hitch onto the ball receiver on your tow vehicle
3. Installing your weight distribution bars
4. Hooking up the electrical connection
5. Securing the safety chains

Once you have your travel trailer hitched, the next step is driving with it. Our three biggest recommendations for towing are:

1. Take turns extra wide
2. Triple check your blind spots when merging
3. Always take it slow

When backing up with a travel trailer, it’s always helpful to have a spotter or someone outside the vehicle to guide you. Make sure you’re able to hear one another clearly—use a phone or walkie talkies to help. A simple technique for backing up is to keep your hands on the bottom half of the steering wheel. This way, the RV will turn in the same direction as the steering wheel. Here’s a quick checklist of things to do when backing into a campsite:

1. Get out and look at the space you’re backing into (check for low hanging branches, large rocks, potholes, soft dirt or sand, etc.)
2. Determine where you want to drop the RV and the general direction of how you want to get it to that spot
3. Have your spotter clarify their directions (do they want the RV to turn or the tow vehicle to turn) and always use the driver’s view for left or right directions
4. Take it slow and avoid dramatic turns

Leveling your travel trailer will highly depend on the spot that you’re parking in. For example, if you’re boondocking, the ground might be uneven or rocky compared to an established RV resort where all of the spots are typically smooth and paved. If you have an auto-leveling system, this will make setting up your travel trailer a lot easier. Once you place your RV and disconnect it from your tow vehicle, simply press the leveling button and your RV will do the rest. We like to travel with a handheld bubble level to double check that our travel trailer is actually even and level. Place the bubble level on a smooth surface inside your RV, such as a countertop, floor or table, and check both left to right and front to back.

If you’re in a more remote camping spot and the ground is uneven, you may have to assist the auto-leveling system with some additional leveling blocks. If one side of your RV is lower than the other, stack some blocks in front or behind the tire on the low side, then pull or back up your travel trailer so the wheel sits on top of the blocks. If the front or rear of your RV is lower than the other, you can raise or lower the stabilizing jacks until they feel tight. You may need to add some leveling blocks underneath the appropriate stabilizers if your RV is still uneven.

Some important things to note when leveling your travel trailer:

1. Never use your stabilizing jacks as levelers—these are not built to support the full weight of your travel trailer, and doing so can cause serious damage to your RV’s frame.
2. When leveling your travel trailer, your tires should never be lifted off the ground. Make sure every tire is either firmly placed on the ground or has adequate leveling block support underneath.
3. Be sure and use wheel chocks once your tires are secure to help prevent your RV from rolling.

You should never ride inside a travel trailer while it is moving. Not only is it illegal but it is also extremely unsafe. Things inside can move around or fall out and there aren’t any airbags or safety restraints.

All RVs, including travel trailers, must have insurance just like a standard vehicle. Most insurance companies offer RV insurance, so you shouldn’t have a problem adding it to your existing policy. Insurance prices may vary based on the year, make and model of your travel trailer, so be sure to share all of that information with your agent. It doesn’t hurt to shop around and get a few different quotes to find the best, most affordable option.

The price of a travel trailer can vary greatly—depending on the size and amenities, they can range anywhere from $15,000 to $150,000. Some features that will impact the total price might include:

• Upgraded or residential-style appliances
• An automatic leveling/stabilizing system
• A four seasons package (to camp in a wide range of weather conditions)
• The size of the main bedroom and mattress
• Entertainment systems
• Storage space
• Materials used and quality of construction
• Number of slideouts

Most travel trailers do not come equipped with onboard generators. Travel trailers do typically come with a single 12-volt battery, but this can only run basic appliances (like lights and your water pump) for short periods of time. Purchasing an additional generator can give you extra power and allows you to run all of your RV’s various systems.

Determining the size of generator you’ll need for your travel trailer is fairly simple. First, find out if your travel trailer has a 30 amp electrical service or a 50 amp. The difference between the two is how much power your RV will be able to draw. Next, figure out exactly what features and amenities you’ll be using and for roughly how long. For example, a standard 15,000 BTU air conditioning unit needs about 2,800 watts to start and then continues to run for a few hours at about 1,500 watts. With this in mind, we decided to purchase a 3,500 watt generator to ensure we had enough power. Things like electric stove tops and water heaters pull a lot of power, so be sure to check how many watts these require.

There are a few additional ways to power your travel trailer, beyond just the batteries and a generator. You can always add more batteries to your system or install solar panels. Having solar panels is a great way to naturally charge your batteries, allowing you to use them for longer periods of time.