This is my best overall pick for a travel trailer under 5000lbs of GVWR. It strikes the perfect balance between having enough features and not being too cluttered. It’s not super jam-packed but it’s not super minimalist either.
This can be very lightweight, even down to only 3500lbs of GVWR and thus towable by a car or SUV. And it also offers a ton of floor plans as well, some plans even offer bunk beds which are great for families. This trailer is also very suitable for off-road journeys with a very simple upgrade, so you don’t have to worry about that.
Specifications:
- Dry Weight: 2790-3400lbs
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 3500-5000lbs
- Height: 7’ 9”
- Length: 23’ 2”
- Beds: Up to 5
- Slideout Sections: Aqua lodge tent window
Features:
Easy Off-Road Upgrade: The KZ Sportsmen Classic Ultra features a rugged chassis that can take many hits. With the off-road upgrade, it gets a special rim and 15” mud tires. The extra clearance and rugged features make it an amazing pick as a travel trailer for off-road camping trips.
Great Family Options: From the bunk bed to a great kitchen, a deep sink, and a large dining table; this trailer comes packed with amenities that are perfect for a family. Not all travel trailers will offer you such amazing features catered towards families going camping together.
Homely Design: With just a bit over 23 feet of length, this travel trailer is not too big or too compact, but just the right size. This size makes everything super organized and comfortable. All of that combined makes the whole trailer feel like home.
Pros:
- The best option for families
- Great kitchen
- Easy off-road upgrade
- Rugged design
Cons:
- Not many exterior features
- The roof can feel low for some people
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Keystone Passport Travel Trailer
These travel trailers are very versatile and customizable. They have 6 layout options that have a GVWR under 5000lbs. These are very homely travel trailers with a lot of amenities and functionalities. This is the best travel trailer if you are traveling with a large group of people as this is the only one to offer up to 10 beds.
While they do not come with any slide out sections, Keystone does offer a lot of extensions. And they do have a good focus on the outdoors section with their retractable awning, patio entrance lights, and most importantly full stereo exterior speakers. These trailers are meant to make your camping trip much more fun.
Specifications:
- Dry Weight: As low as 3160lbs
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: Up to 5000lbs
- Height: 10’ 5”
- Length: 37”
- Beds: Up to 10
- Slideout Sections: None
Features:
Great For A Lot Of Passengers: The Keystone Passport is the only travel trailer on this list to offer up to 10 beds. While most can accommodate around 5-6 people max, this can host a large group of people very comfortably. Easily the best option if you have a large group of people traveling together.
Amazing Outdoor Facilities: This travel trailer focuses a lot on the exterior parts of the unit. It has amazing exterior stereo speakers you can use while camping, a retractable awning with LED awning lights, and even patio entrance lights. Everything you need to make your campsite shine.
Extensive Functionality: From having great stoves and electric lines to being winter-ready from the get-go; this trailer is perfect when it comes to functionality. It has all the features you might need on a long trip, so you don’t have to worry about needing to install a lot of extra stuff.
Pros:
- Can have up to 10 beds
- Exterior speakers and other outdoor amenities
- Ready for any weather
- Comfortable and quality furnishing
Cons:
- A bit on the bulkier side
- All the different sections can feel cluttered to some people
- No slideout sections
This one is an odd entry in this list. With the capacity of only two people in this trailer, this will not fit the bill for most people. But for couples or other groups of people traveling in pairs, this can be the best travel trailer ever. You can consider this my top pick for a compact travel trailer that can compete with all the others on this list.
The 10RK one is the smallest among the Jayco Hummingbird line. The only downside to that trailer is that it does not come with a bathroom. All the rest do have them. Other than that the Jayco Hummingbird trailers make the best use of their space with a comfortable sleeping area and even small kitchen sections, everything your pair would need for a great trip.
Specifications:
- Dry Weight: 1545-3015 lbs
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 2000-3950 lbs
- Height: Starting from 13’
- Length: 6’ 8” and above
- Beds: 2
- Slideout Sections: None
Features:
Super Compact: This is the leading feature of this trailer. With only 13 feet of length, it’s quite a small one. And it makes the very best use of that little space. If you want a small and compact lightweight trailer then this is the best option out in the market for you.
Great For Couples: If you are traveling with your significant other and want to have a memorable and intimate journey then this is the perfect trailer for you. With comfortable furnishing and adequate amenities all packed into a small place this is bound to create the best intimate environment.
Aerodynamic Design: The teardrop shape of the trailer and other subtle design choices make this one of the most aerodynamic trailers out there. With how compact and aerodynamic it is, your vehicle will not slow down because of it at all.
Pros:
- Compact design
- Highly aerodynamic
- Comfortable sleeping area
Cons:
- Can hold only 2 people
- The smallest model does not have a bathroom
This is a solid option if you are looking for a highly customizable option then this is the trailer for you. Not only does it have 9 different floor plans available, but these floor plans also differ a lot from each other. You can have something very basic or you can even have something very premium that falls under luxury.
With a lightweight design and a capacity of up to four people it is a great premium option for couples, small families, or other small groups of people for shorter camping trips. You can have dry baths or wet baths, and some models even have outdoor showers.
Specifications:
- Dry Weight: 2497-3654 lbs
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 3250-4835 lbs
- Height: 8’
- Length: 18’-20’
- Beds: 2-4
- Slide out Sections: On select models
Features:
Highly Customizable: All the floorplans available here are very different from one another. And you can go super affordable with the interior, or very premium, or anywhere in between. However, you want to make your travel trailer feel like you can make it happen on this unit.
Super Lightweight Design: If you want a lightweight trailer that is also capable of high weight loads then this is the one. It’s GVWR can be as low as 3250lbs, which is super low for a trailer that can handle up to 5000lbs. This is a very lightweight travel trailer that still packs a heavy punch.
Very Well Organized: As I have already mentioned, this trailer is highly customizable. This customizability is not at the expense of organization. All the different layouts and features in this trailer are highly organized and nothing ever feels that it is out of place or not where it needs to be.
Pros:
- Very customizable
- Premium Design
- Flexible in terms of weight capacity
Cons:
- Only up to 4 people
- Not the best for off-road
This is hands down the best minimalist option among all the other travel trailers on this list. A fully packed trailer might not be everyone’s cup of tea. A lot of people look for something more minimalistic yet functional. And the Starcraft Satellite 18MK is the perfect travel trailer to fulfil the needs of the minimalist campers among us.
Every bit of space used in the interior is used very smartly. While the trailer is a bit on the smaller side, it does not feel so because of how neatly everything is kept. You can also find good use of slide-out sections that make the trailer even more clutter-free.
Specifications:
- Dry Weight: 3,315 lbs
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 3,950 lbs
- Height: 6’ 4.5”
- Length: 22’ 2”
- Beds: Up to 4
- Slideout Sections: Dining area
Features:
Minimalist Interior: This is the biggest selling point of this travel trailer. You can expect to find every single functionality you want in a trailer, but all of that is packed into a very minimalist formation that never feels too tightly packed or cluttered. Every bit of space is used very consciously.
Lightweight Chassis: The chassis is lightweight and the GVWR can be quite low on this trailer, less than 4000lbs even. It is still quite sturdy and strong. The strong and yet lightweight chassis makes for a more speedy and aerodynamic riding experience.
Full Kitchen Setup: While it is a minimalist setup, it does not skimp out on the kitchen. The kitchen and dining area in this trailer are absolutely amazing. You can be very comfortable cooking and eating in here, so no more missing home cooking while you are out there camping.
Pros:
- Simple and minimalist design
- Great kitchen and dining area
- Aerodynamic chassis
Cons:
- The roof is quite low
- Not ideal for families or large groups
- Only one floor plan
A standard Winnebago HIKE has an outer exoskeleton that is there to help you attach extra adventure gear. It also has a rugged chassis and a very aerodynamic design. And you know what else? The standard HIKE is already ready for off-road and off-grid traveling. All of that makes this the perfect travel trailer for adventurers.
Any other trailer needs a fair bit of upgrades before it can measure up to the standards of adventurers, but this trailer is ready for all of that from the get go. All while the interiors are also absolutely amazing and comfortable. This trailer really is built to fill all needs.
Specifications:
- Dry Weight: 3400lbs
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 4000lbs
- Height: 7’ 9”
- Length: 20’ 7.5”
- Beds: Up to 4
- Slideout Sections: None
Features:
Ready For Off-Road And Off-Grid: The HIKE is ready for off-road and off-grid travels without any kinds of upgrades. It has a rugged chassis, off-road-ready tires, and enough ground clearance. It also comes packed with enough power supply and solar panels to keep you powered when you are off-grid.
Special Exoskeleton: The exterior of this trailer is its main selling point. It has a special kind of exoskeleton that makes attaching and carrying special adventure gear much easier. You don’t need to worry about storing your special gear properly anymore.
Weather Protection: This trailer comes with a weather-protective foil cover that protects it from heavy rain, snow, and harsh sunlight. When you are on a trip you don’t have to worry about your travel trailer taking any kind of weather damage at all.
Pros:
- Off-road and off-grid ready
- Rugged exterior
- Storage for specialty gear
Cons:
- Only supports up to 4 people
The rest in alphabetical order:
Airstream Sport
Airstream Basecamp
Airstream Caravel
Braxton Creek BX-22QB
Coleman Lantern
Coachmen Freedom Express Ultra Lite
Coachmen Clipper Ultra-Lite
Cricket Camper
Dutchmen Kodiak Ultra-Lite
Escape 17A ultra-lightweight camper
Forest River R-Pod
Forest River Wolf Pup
Gulf Stream Enlighten
Grand Design Transcend Xplor
Grand Design Imagine XLS
Heartland Mallard
Jayco Jay Flight SLX
Keystone Bullet Crossfire
Keystone Hideout
Oliver Legacy Elite
KZ Sportsmen Classic
Venture SONIC
Vintage Cruiser
Winnebago Micro Minnie
Note the towing capacity for campers with weight by type: travel trailers 7300 lbs, popups 2500 lbs, teardrops 1200 lbs.
Guide For Picking The Right Trailer For You
There are a few things you need to keep in mind when picking out the right travel trailer for your journeys. Let me discuss those things with you. You first need to consider the vehicle that will be doing all the heavy lifting. You cannot just attach a huge travel trailer to a small car and expect it to run smoothly.
You can consult an expert or look at the manuals of your truck or SUV about what its pulling limits are. The modern SUV generally has no problem pulling trailers under the weight of 5000lbs so that is considered a standard.
Buying is a personal decision so rent one or check them out at local dealer.
Another thing you need to know about weights is the difference between the dry weight of a trailer and its “Gross Vehicle Weight Rating”, or GVWR. The dry weight is the weight of the barebones unit without any of the interiors installed.
The GVWR is the estimated weight rating that it will reach after interior installations, passengers, and their stuff is all inside. So, you cannot rely on the dry weight, you need to check the GVWR and see if your vehicle can support that.
Next are some more general things you need to consider. What kind of camping trip you are going on, how many people will be there, how long will your trip be, will you need to go off-road and off-grid or not; all the little things which you probably already know.
After you have considered all that you need in a travel trailer you can then go out and look at the available models to see which one fits your needs and budget perfectly.
Conclusion
If you are still on the fence, you can always go with the top pick KZ Sportsmen Classic Ultra Lightweight Travel Trailer.
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