3 Reasons Why Travel Trailers are the Ideal RV Choice

Choosing and purchasing the right RV to travel and live in is an important decision to make. The right choice depends on the specific factors and variables involved in each situation, including the preferences of the buyer and the intended use. In an effort to help, let's discuss 3 reasons why travel trailers are the ideal RV choice.

1. Lighter and Easier to Manage:

Out of the 10 million households with RVs in America , travel trailers are the most common RV choice. There are many reasons for this, including the fact they weigh less than 5th wheels. Motorhomes don't need to be towed, so their weight isn't as much of an issue. The choice then is really between towing a 5th wheel with a gooseneck hitch vs. a travel trailer with a ball hitch.

An article found on Camper Report called: "Average Camper Weight (with 13 examples)", explains more:

"In short, an average camper trailer weighs around 5,200 pounds...dry weight, which means the weight of the trailer when its tanks are not filled and it has no gear in it."

Travel trailers weigh from around 2,000 to 8,000 lbs, while 5th wheels weigh from around 6,000 to 12,000 lbs. In general, 5th wheels weigh around 1,000 lbs more than travel trailers of the same length. Travel trailers also include small camper setups like the tent trailer, teardrop trailer, and other new innovative compact models.

Essentially, travel trailers with the ball hitch setup are easier to manage for most people; 5th wheels require a gooseneck hitch to be installed in the towing truck's bed and are harder to hook up than the ball hitch for most people.

The downside is that travel trailers are 5 to 6 feet longer when towed than a 5th wheel of the same length; this and the more stable gooseneck setup are why 5th wheels are generally more stable going down the road. Yet, travel trailers allow empty truck beds to be used whether towing or unhooked.

2. Most Affordable Option:

Overall, travel trailers are lighter on the wallet or purse as well. This is an important reason why they're so popular, especially since half of the 430,000 RVs sold in 2016 were to buyers under the age of 45 (stat from 2017 CNN Money article).

With financing options available, owning an RV is easier than ever, yet historically the market targeted older consumers, either retiring or more financially able to vacation often, rather than younger generations just starting out in the workforce.

The main variables determining the price are:

age (used or new)
length
amount of slides
brand
amenities (built-in washer and dryer, surround sound, outside kitchen, etc.)

New or slightly used travel trailers range from $10k to $30k. Used, they can be found for as low as $1,000 for a pop-up tent trailer. Like the weight, 5th wheels have an inflated price compared to travel trailers (around $15K to $50k), and motorhomes are 3-5 times more expensive.

3. More Compact Options to Choose From:

Another reason travel trailers might be an ideal choice for consumers is because they offer more compact options. Some models are light enough to be towed by a car, yet can sleep a family of four, like the Cricket camper featured in an article on Curbed called: "The 7 best campers and trailers of 2017", written on Dec. 21, 2017 by Megan Barber.

The Meerkat Trailer is another innovative compact travel trailer model the article features, as it explains the benefits:

"At only 900 pounds – and $17,820 – this lightweight unit can be towed by almost any 4-cylinder car and it can even fit in a standard garage."

Small compact motorhomes and travel trailers are great options for those wanting to be more mobile and less bulky on the road. Travel trailers though are much cheaper than compact motorhomes, and 5th wheels don't come nearly as short and compact.

Conclusion

For most people, travel trailers are the ideal RV choice, as they are lighter, more affordable, and have more compact options. This isn't to say 5th wheels and motorhomes aren't great options as well; ultimately, the right choice for each situation depends on the specific variables and preferences involved.

Choosing and purchasing the right RV is an exciting experience that dealers are happy to help customers make. Their experience and expertise are available to help customers determine the right RV choice for them. Contact a nearby dealership today to learn more, or go and visit their location to find the right motorhome, travel trailer, or 5th wheel.

Time and Technology Are Overwhelming Us

As the world turns, so do the days of our lives… The line from the soap opera “Days of Our Lives,” which was on in the 80s and 90s. My grandma used to watch those shows along with “Highway to Heaven.” I remember watching some of them with her, which seems like a lifetime ago. Time and technology are interesting topics in my mind. Time for how it is hard to describe, difficult to analyze in its impact and scope. Technology for how it is taking over our lives and conditioning us in immeasurable ways. In general, time and technology are moving faster than my ability to understand them in any coherent way; in any way that helps me make sense of their impact in my life or society in general. While time has been a constant factor in measuring the change that occurs for our ever-dying and decaying human bodies, technology has come about with a vicious agenda, a hyper-intensified importance and progression. Technology has rapidly changed our perception of time; in my opinion, it has sped up ou...

6 Tips for Setting Up Community Gardens in HOA Neighborhoods

In the modern digital age we're living in, setting up a community garden may be exactly what HOA neighborhoods need to get their members off their digital devices and back to nature a bit. Community gardens promote positive relationships within neighborhoods , provide healthy activities for people of all ages, and if done well produce a good amount of healthy food. In an effort to help planners get their thoughts aligned, here are 6 tips for setting up community gardens in HOA neighborhoods. Gain and Gauge Support from Homeowners Board members and homeowners interested in starting a community garden should start by gauging the support for the idea with community members. Planners can gain and gauge support with methods such as: surveys emails text messages phone calls flyers word of mouth announcements at board meetings articles fundraiser events The main idea is to see how much support there is for such an idea; just keep in mind that some people may get excited...

Dallas Residents Have Medieval Times to Keep Them Entertained

One of the more fascinating attractions in Dallas, TX must be Medieval Times at the Dallas Castle , where dining out takes on an entirely new flavor of excitement. Residents living in Dallas are only minutes away from turning back the clock and having the time of their lives at Medieval Times in Dallas, TX. Dinner and a Tournament Are Only an Arrow's Flight Away! Many may remember this exalted restaurant when it was showcased in the movie "Cable Guy" starring Jim Carrey in 1996. While patrons may not actually get into the arena like the actors in the movie did, essentially, they'll be able to place a cardboard crown on their heads while they eat a meal of kings and queens and watch the two-hour tournament from front row seats, cheering in between bites and drinks of course. The meal-time tournament entertainment consists of 6 knights in shining armour jousting on real-life horses (steeds), sword fighting with real swords, and conducting the flight of the ...

What Happens to the Writer's Brain

Too many ideas and voices. It’s been around 40 days since I published an article, and I wanted to explain what happens in the writer’s brain. Essentially, I have too many ideas for articles to write and this causes my brain to meltdown and write nothing. While these ideas are flowing through the brain, life is happening; appliances need replacing, cars need repair, family trips, people passing away, bills getting lost in the mail, and other life happenings like work and chores. In between all of this, these ideas sometimes don’t find place to be expressed in the short time frame I have to share them. The exercise becomes too difficult, the writing takes a back seat to just relaxing and doing productive things around the homestead. Still, the writing brain is getting backed up with all of these ideas, and it begins to distrust they will ever see the light of day by being expressed and published. The hope of finding a fluid streamlined workflow for these ideas to be published diminishes ...

Business and Society Articles

Search This Blog