If you are looking for a detailed list of the best quality travel trailers in this article, you are going to be sorely disappointed. Let me tell you right now, just read any of the dozens of “best travel trailer” lists, or go on YouTube and watch any of the countless videos by “experts” who will tell you which is the best travel trailer to buy for RVing.
I’m going to take a different approach to this search, because it is my opinion that what is “the best” for one person is not necessarily, and most likely will not be, the best for thousands of other people seeking a great adventure in the RV lifestyle.
With that in mind, I am going to give you some criteria to use when looking to purchase a travel trailer, and you can then apply those criteria as you begin your RV life with your new purchase.
No worries, there are countless options for you
Honest to God, there are literally hundreds of RVs and travel trailers to choose from for anyone thinking of RVing. The general categories are as follows:
- Toy haulers
- Travel trailer
- Converted bus
- Converted van
- Truck camper
- Class A motorhomes
- Class B motorhomes
- Class C motorhomes
- Pop-up trailers
- Tent trailers
- 5th-wheelers
And I probably missed some! And, to add to the confusion (or elation if you love choices) there are various styles and lengths under each of those categories, and practically every major manufacturer makes some of the above, if not all of the above, on that list.
Besides major manufacturers, there are also the smaller, local manufacturers, and prices range from $1,000-over $1,000,000.
Something for everybody is a safe statement, but it is also a statement which points out why so many first-time buyers suffer through what I like to call paralysis by analysis, and at some point in the process, they experience paralysis by fear of making the wrong choice.
But never fear!
Want vs afford and need
The decision-making process really begins with what you can afford. It is my belief that people really shouldn’t go into debt when buying a travel trailer, especially if they are first-time buyers who really don’t know what RVing is all about, and who don’t even know if they will enjoy it. Decide what you can afford and that will narrow down your options quickly.
Once you have done that, you can start discussing your wants and needs. Do you really need a toilet and shower? Do you really need solar? Do you really need a sleeping capacity of six when three will do nicely?
I strongly suggest that you are realistic in this process. For first-time buyers, this should be an enjoyable decision, and you don’t want to suffer from buyer’s-remorse because you spent too much or you purchased too much that wasn’t needed.
Also, what are you going to tow that travel trailer with? If you have a small pickup with a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, your options drop greatly, so keep that in mind. You do not want to fall in love with a thirty-foot travel trailer and then have to spend $30,000 on a truck to pull it with. Again, buyer’s remorse will come into play if you do that.
The best of what you can afford
By this time in the process, your options have been winnowed down nicely. You know what you can afford to travel in, you know what you can comfortably and safely tow, and all you have to do at this point is make a decision.
Grow into RVing
In a perfect world of RVing, you will enjoy what you purchased for months or a couple years, and then you will decide you want something larger. It happens to almost everyone, and if not larger then definitely different, like switching from a travel trailer to a truck camper or a Class B.
And, when that happens, you can officially call yourself an RVer!
Congratulations! You are about to improve your quality of life.
