Types of Towable RVs

When it comes to choosing a recreational vehicle, you have two basic options: towable or self-contained. The towable route provides you with so many options to choose from and gives you the freedom to use your towing vehicle as easy transport while you’re on your trip. You’ll need to narrow your decision down to a particular type, though, and that’s where things can get tricky if you don’t have the right knowledge under your belt.

This guide to towable RVs, should get you thinking about which style would best suit your travel needs.

Travel Trailers

Also known as a camper trailer, this is the RV style that has the most variety within it. You’ll find small teardrop options alongside lengthy, tall campers. That’s why it’s important to know what you need in your rig.

Pros

Diversity in choice is never a bad thing! You’ll also get to choose from open floor plans with slide-out options to further increase interior space. The low vertical profile makes it easy to fit under bridges without concern. And like with all towables, having easy access to your towing vehicle means you aren’t hauling your entire camper trailer with you to go to the grocery store, the laundromat or the local museum.

Cons

You’ll have to make sure your passenger vehicle is capable of handling the weight of the camper you choose. If not, you’re going to need a bigger towing vehicle which adds to your expenses. Travel trailers are also not the most luxurious option available, so if a high degree of comfort is essential to you, you may wish to look towards fifth wheels instead.

Fifth Wheels

This type of towable is easy to recognize by its unique hitch that descends from above to lock into a coupling in your towing truck’s bed. The coupling helps distribute the load of the trailer more evenly because it’s placed ahead of the rear axle of your towing vehicle.

Pros

Fifth wheels are extremely stable to tow and easy to maneuver, despite what their size might imply. The way that the coupling works means that the trailer itself can be much larger than a bumper-pull hitch trailer can be. This means that fifth wheels are some of the biggest and most luxurious towables you’ll find on the market, so if spacious living quarters and tons of storage are of great importance, this should be your top choice!

Cons

That same unique coupling system does require you to have a specific type of towing vehicle: a pickup truck that’s capable of hauling the weight and holding the coupling installed in its bed. If you don’t already have such a vehicle, then you’re looking at a much higher investment. Fifth wheels are also large enough that storing them can be more difficult as they likely won’t fit in a garage like a small camper trailer could. Finally, the general cost is pretty high, which can turn away some buyers right off the bat.

Toy Haulers

This is more of a designation than a separate type; toy haulers can be either fifth wheels or travel trailers depending on what hitching style they use. Toy haulers are made with an enclosed cargo bay space in the rear to hold powersports vehicles for off-roading or motorcycles and bicycles.

Pros

If you’re a fiend for off-roading adventures while you camp, this is the ideal solution! You won’t have to tow an extra trailer because you can simply load your quad or bike into the cargo bay and secure it in place. The garage space is also versatile so you can use it for hauling furniture or heavy equipment, too. You’ll also get a huge variety to choose from, since they can fall under either hitching style.

Cons

Whichever toy hauler you choose will have the same drawbacks as the type of trailer