Skip to main content

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.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A Guide to Winter Fishing on the Oregon Coast

When it comes to finding the perfect winter fishing destination, the Oregon Coast won't leave anglers disappointed. The mild weather coupled with an abundance of fishing locations and fish make Oregon's coastline a perfect place for winter fishing adventures. What's the Weather like on the Oregon Coast in Winter? The average temperatures in the winter on the Oregon Coast are around: high 51° F and low 42° F . Other weather factors include high wind gusts up to 80 mph and the bulk of the annual rainfall of 75" coming down from October to May. Basically, the wintertime weather on the Oregon Coast is rugged enough to filter out the fair weather visitors, yet mild enough to welcome anglers looking for some of the best fishing in the world without the crowds. Types of Fish to Catch and Where Weather is mostly a secondary consideration for anglers visiting the Oregon Coast; their first consideration focuses on the types of fish there are to catch. I

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 &quo

Using HubSpot to Develop an Effective eCommerce SEO Strategy

Generating quality traffic to an online store is something 1.3 million eCommerce businesses are trying to accomplish in North America alone. With millions of eCommerce stores vying for website visitors, the competition to be on favorable search engine results pages (SERPs) is inevitably thick. Fortunately, there are many free and paid SEO resources businesses can use to rank higher in search engines. One of the most popular and effective resources is HubSpot; let’s discuss how to use HubSpot to develop an effective eCommerce SEO strategy. Before we begin, let’s hear HubSpot’s definition of SEO strategy from their article called “How to Create an SEO Strategy for 2018 [Template Included]” : “Modern SEO strategy is the process of organizing a website’s content by topic, which helps search engines like Google understand a user’s intent when searching. By optimizing a web page around topics first, you can rank well for long-tail keywords related to that topic.” Factors for Developi

5 Benefits of Selling a Home for Cash in Southern California

Southern California remains one of the most desirable places to live in the U.S., as well as one of the most expensive. This is evidenced by the housing market in California being ranked as the 3rd most expensive in the nation with SoCal having the most impact. While high housing prices and demand may cause homeowners to assume selling their homes will be easy and profitable, is this really the case? Ultimately, the answer to this important question will depend on the specific variables involved, yet, in general, selling a house the traditional way is never easy, especially in SoCal. The good news is there are viable alternatives for selling a home the traditional way. In an effort to explain, let's examine 5 benefits of selling a home for cash in Southern California. 1. Declining SoCal Real Estate Market: The real estate market in Southern California saw a decline in 2018 from the year before, as a 2018 article found at CNBC explains: Southern California home sale