Travel Trailers

Travel Trailers

A unit designed to be towed by a car, van or pickup by means of a bumper or frame hitch, the travel trailer provides all the comforts of home and is perfectly adaptable for weekend getaways, family vacations, and fulltiming.

Size: 12 - 35 feet.

Cost (without tow vehicle):

• Average: $14,300
• Range: Most available from $9,500 - $63,000 new and $1,000 to $25,000 used, depending on age, make and wear and tear.

Sleeps: Up to eight people (depending on model)

Advantages:

• As with all towables, unit can be detached at your destination, freeing up towing vehicle for short trips and excursions, running errands and other conventional uses.
• Travel trailers are available with all the conveniences of home for sleeping, showering, cooking, dining, and relaxing . Without floorspace needed for the driver's cab, travel trailers offer a wide, flexible variety of floor plans.
• A feature found on many of today's travel trailers is the slideout. At the touch of a button, the slideout moves a portion of the RVs exterior wall outward as much as 3 1/2 feet to enlarge the living, dining, sleeping or even kitchen area. When extended, the slideout protrudes beyond the normal outside walls of the RV, like an addition on a conventional home.
• Today's market offers a large selection of suitable tow vehicles. Travel trailers can be towed by most full-size and many midsize family automobiles, SUVs, vans or other truck-based vehicles (consult your dealer for specifications).
• Telescoping travel trailers offer improved fuel economy. They can be lowered to cartop level for travel, eliminating the gasoline consuming wind drag. These units can also be lowered for storage in a garage or carport.
• New lightweight travel trailers have recently been introduced, designed light enough to be towed by most six-cylinder family vehicles. This lightweight version of towable travel trailers retain all the modern conveniences of the traditional vehicles and some even offer special features like the slideout. Typically, lightweight towables are under 26 feet, weigh less than 4,000 pounds and retail from about $8,000 to $14,000.

Disadvantages:

• On a long trip, if you want something to drink, you're co-pilot just can't hop in the back and open the fridge -- you've gotta stop, get out of your car or truck, unlock the trailer and get your drink. 
• Your co-pilot can't climb in the back and lay down. 
• Your passengers can't ride in the trailer. 
• Backing a trailer isn't easy and takes some practice. 
• If you don't have the proper tow package -- a vehicle not rated to tow the weight you're hauling or improper sway control -- a trailer can be very dangerous.

Choose this Type RV If: 

1. You aren't planning to fulltime; 
2. You plan on taking a couple of extended RV vacations per year and when you do arrive at a vacation spot, you plan on spending a week or more there;
3. You can't afford to tie up your transportation budget in a vehicle that isn't practical for driving to and from work every day, such as a motorhome or Class C;
4. You want the kind of travel trailer that will allow you to haul your recreational toys in the back.