TL;DR: Travel trailers offer versatility in towing, size, and affordability. Key differences from fifth wheels include towing style and body shape. Sizes range from 13 to 40 feet, appealing to a wide audience. They're easier to set up, less expensive, and available in various floor plans, from single to three-room models, making them ideal for beginners to seasoned campers.
People have been utilizing towable caravans for hundreds of years. However, in the 1930s and '40s they became more livable and less stigmatized. Drivable RVs continue to soar in popularity, but travel trailers remain very solid contenders. To hit the road in these lower-frill options, you only require a capable tow vehicle and an appropriately-chosen hitch. Have you ever seen a travel trailer at a campground or Harvest Hosts location and wanted to learn more about them? If you're interested in learning more about travel trailers, then please read on!Learn the differences between their:
Towing style
Body shape
Size
Price
Ease of Setup
Floor plans
Trailers vs Fifth Wheels
Many new RVers, or those that don’t own a towable, may get confused on the differences between travel trailers and fifth wheels. However, there are some key differences to note.
Towing Style
Fifth wheels require a special hitch that’s installed in a truck bed in order to be towed properly. Travel trailers just rely on a standard hitch, meaning that they can be towed by ma y vehicles, and not just heavy-duty trucks. Lighter models can even commonly be towed by smaller trucks, SUVs, wagons, jeeps, and more.
Body Shape
Travel trailers are sleek RVs that are typically designed into a rectangular shape, while fifth wheels are infamously known for their goosenecks, which extend over the bed of the truck. Travel trailers do not have this feature, as it could cause the trailer to become unstable and unbalanced, due to the towing style and shape.
Main Features
Sizes
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Travel trailers can range from tiny thirteen-foot campers all the way up to full size trailers of forty feet in length. Due to all the choices and possibilities, these are truly a type of RV that can appeal to the masses. There is guaranteed to be an ideal travel trailer option for everyone, no matter how many people (and/or pets!) are camping with you.
Price Point
The price point is another feature that is a big seller. Travel trailers are some of the most popular and affordable styles of RVs on the market. Not needing to install a special hitch, or purchase a heavy-duty truck is also a huge plus that can drastically reduce the upfront costs for RVers. Their light construction also helps save with gas costs.
Ease of Set-up
Because these travel trailers do not require special construction or hitches, many RVers would say that setting them up and towing them is a less complicated process. In addition, most people find towing a trailer to be much easier than driving a motorhome, leading more people to purchase them. Not to mention, most drivable RVs have a towed car behind them, which also requires a special set-up. For these reasons, many beginners tend to select travel trailers as their RV of choice, and it's easy to see why.
Floor Plans
Travel trailer floor plans vary greatly due to their various sizes. Here, we’ll outline some popular floor plans, as well as some of the best features of each.
Slideouts
The number of slideouts, if any, depends greatly on the size of the RV. Older travel trailers typically do not have slideouts, no matter how large they are. However, modern technology and innovation has given travel trailers the ability to operate motorized slideouts, which adds much more living space. The tiniest of travel trailers will not have slideouts, but many modern styles over thirty feet in length will tend to have at least one slideout, or even up to three. Unique travel trailers, like Airstreams, do not have slideouts, no matter the RV length.
One Room
Single room travel trailers are the smallest of travel trailer models. These usually range from eight to to twenty feet in length at the most. Even the smallest of models will have a kitchen of some sort, at least one place to sleep that can usually convert into a sitting or dining area, a fridge, and sometimes an optional wet bath. As a reminder, a wet bath is a bathroom and shower combo, meaning that the toilet is made of a material that’s designed to get wet on the outside.
Two Room
Most newer travel trailers models come equipped with at least two rooms, which includes a main living area and a separate bedroom. These models typically have dry baths, but some may have a wet bath depending on how the total size and square footage of the trailer. The living areas in the two room models are typically pretty generous, often including at least one sofa and a separate dining area. Kitchens in these models also tend to be more spacious and have more countertop space.
Three Room
Larger, newer travel trailers can even contain as many as three separate rooms. These models will obviously run at a higher price point, but they still tend to beat the costs of hotels and Airbnbs. Three room travel trailers include a living space and two bedrooms, the secondary which often may contain one or two sets of bunk beds. Having an extra bedroom is a huge advantage to those traveling with another couple, to those with children, or to those who work from the road. The extra bedroom can provide some much-needed privacy or could even serve as a private office.
Additional Features
Similar to their counterpart, the fifth wheel, travel trailers can also have bunk areas or loft options. This can provide extra sleeping space that children adore. Newer models of travel trailers are very stylish and comfortable. Many won’t even miss the comforts from home with theater seats in their living room, a big screen TV, and a cozy fireplace.
Travel trailers are often considered underrated in the world of RVs. After all, fifth wheels are known for their size and luxury, while drivable RVs have the convenience factor. Travel trailers are a wonderful style of RV that can come at a cheaper price point, while still being packed with luxurious features. Next time you’re shopping for an RV, step into a newer model of a travel trailer. You’ll see exactly what we’re talking about!
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