During 2020, RV travel became the way to go for vacationers looking for safe, affordable holidays. Over 90% of RV owners who rent their vehicles out saw a huge increase in demand stretching well into the new year.
Are you one of the thousands of people who’s recently discovered the joys of RV vacations? Is renting a travel trailer no longer enough for you?
Check out these types of camping trailers that could appeal to the explorer in you.
Classic Travel Trailers
Also known as caravans in some countries, classic travel trailers are large enough for people to stand up in without any adjustments. They’re between 10 and 35 feet long and have a hard exterior shell.
Depending on their size, most classic trailers have a bedroom, kitchen area, dining space, bathroom, storage space, and an entertainment center.
Some classic trailers include slide-outs that extend the living area once you’ve parked the trailer. The most luxurious of these trailers include high-end appliances and entertainment options and can accommodate up to eight people.
Teardrop Camping Trailers
Most vehicles can tow this small type of RV camping trailer. These diminutive designs are ultra-light and can weigh less than 1,000 lbs. Most aspects of these trailers are streamlined and compact, with a limited floor plan.
Teardrop trailers seldom have a built-in bathroom and are usually just a bedroom on wheels with a small cooking area in the front. Sometimes the back of the trailer flips up to reveal a cooking station with a mini-fridge, storage area, countertop, and small two-plate cooker.
They’re ideal for adventurous couples on a tight budget who don’t have a lot of space in their yard to store a large trailer.
Toy Haulers
These are the best camping trailers for people with a lot of ‘toys’ like mountain bikes, skis, and other outdoor equipment. These sport utility trailers have a built-in garage in the back that’s ideal for carrying all your outdoor playthings.
There’s a ramp built off the back of this garage for unloading heavier wheeled equipment. Often this doubles as a patio awning once everything’s offloaded.
Although these trailers offer plenty of storage space, you’ll lose some of your living space to this convenience. You can use the garage as an additional sleeping area though.
One thing to remember with toy haulers is that overloading the garage can disrupt the balance of the trailer, making it difficult to tow.
Stand-up Trailers
Like teardrop trailers, stand-up trailers are lightweight and easy to tow. They’re taller than the teardrop variety with standing room inside.
Sleeping areas are a top priority in these trailers but they have a more varied interior than teardrop trailers. Some have bathrooms on board, cooking areas, and relaxation areas that fold down into beds at night.
Every manufacturer follows its own design when it comes to these trailers, so you’ll find plenty to choose from.
They’re still small enough to fall within the scope of most vehicles towing-wise and are a good option for outdoor enthusiasts with less powerful vehicles.
Pop-up Trailers
Also known as camper trailers, these trailers occupy the middle ground between RVs and tents. They look a lot like classic travel trailers while in transit, but they have canvas sections that fold out when you’re setting up camp.
The main sleeping areas are usually contained in the fold-out sections, so you’ll have a lot more living space once the trailer’s fully set up.
There are two main types of pop-up trailers, namely:
- Soft-sided trailers
- Hard-sided trailers
Soft-sided trailers offer better airflow and a wonderful sense of truly roughing it, while hard-sided trailers offer better shelter from the elements.
Deciding between the two is largely a matter of personal preference since they’re both excellent options for your camping trip.
Pop-up trailers also feature cooking attachments, dining space, and bathrooms built into the interior. They’re lighter than most classic trailers but often a little beyond the towing capacity of ordinary vehicles.
Which Types of Camping Trailers Suit You Best
When it comes to figuring out how to choose a camping trailer, there are only things to consider. These are:
- Your budget
- Your towing vehicle
- How many people you want to accommodate
- Whether you’re going off-road or not
- Which luxuries you want
- A floor plan that suits your needs
The best way to decide on the ideal trailer for you is to rent different types of camping trailers first. That way you’ll get to experience the pros and cons of each without having to lay out large amounts of cash first.
If you really can’t find a camping trailer that ticks all the boxes for you, you can always opt for a customized trailer. A few companies like North American RV, CaravanWoods.com, and Recreation By Design can put together the ideal trailer for you.
Get Out There and Explore
Now that you’re familiar with the types of camping trailers available today, you’ve got a better idea of where to start your search.
It pays to take your time researching this decision at length. Take your future as well as existing needs into consideration.
You might be newly married now, but if you plan to have children soon, you’ll need to think of what’s best for them too. You don’t want to go through the entire process all over again every time your circumstances change.
Would you rather stick to conventional travel for now? Browse our blog for more fantastic ideas on where to go and what to do.
