Travel trailers have long been the most popular RV type, and by all indications, travel trailers will continue to be the most popular type of RV in the Edmonton area and beyond.
Before we ask why travel trailers are so popular, let’s define what a travel trailer is. Travel trailers are simply a wheeled vehicle pulled by a tow vehicle; travel trailers do not move with their own power.
There are a wide variety of sizes and configurations of travel trailers. The two main categories of travel trailers include 1) a standard trailer towed by a bumper hitch, and 2) fifth wheel trailers, which are connected to a tow vehicle via a hitch on the rear bed of a truck (typically considered their own RV type category).
Most have hard walls and tops, but one common type of travel trailer is a tent trailer, which folds down into a compact package and opens up into a soft-sided RV for sleeping, cooking, etc. These are great for people with young families and just starting out in RV life.
A popular option in travel trailers is a toy hauler. They’re often seen in fifth wheels, but you can get them in a travel trailer as well. For those not familiar with them, a toy hauler is an RV trailer with a garage in the rear in which one can park motorcycles, snowmobiles, personal water craft, ATVs, etc. Toy haulers are extremely popular in Alberta, where we love our motorized off-road vehicles!
> Shop our Toy Hauler Rvs now.
So, why are travel trailers so popular? The reasons will vary, depending on who you talk to, but the main advantages of travel trailers are:
- Cost – If you compare the cost of a travel trailer to a self-propelled RV, you’ll see a tremendous cost advantage, because the travel trailer doesn’t require a motor and the associated mechanical systems. Instead, to pull a travel trailer, one can use their existing truck, SUV or even a car (if the trailer is light enough).
- Simplicity – Without an engine and transmission, the list of things that can go wrong with this type of RV is much shorter.
- Variation – Without the requirement of a driver’s seat up front, or a raised section above the hitch (like in a fifth wheel), there is tremendous flexibility when it comes to floor plans. There are also many different sizes of travel trailer to choose from, starting as short as eight feet right up to 30 plus feet long.
- Fuel efficiency – It is typically more fuel efficient to travel with a tow vehicle and travel trailer than it is to travel by motorhome. There are even some trailers available where the roof section can be lowered, helping to create less drag and a lower center of gravity on the road.
- Usable space – Compared to a motorhome, trailers have more available space. A travel trailer doesn’t nedd a driver or passenger seat, which can make a big difference, especialy in a smaller unit.
- Convenience – Once you’ve arrived at your destination, you can unhook your travel trailer, get it set up and then head out to explore the area with your tow vehicle. It’s much easier than just having a motorhome to get around, or having to deal with towing a vehicle behind your motorhome (no dealing with tow bars, etc.).
