Different Types Of Camper Trailers

If you are looking for a camper trailer, you have numerous options to explore. In this guide, we will walk you through the different types of camper trailers.

What are the different types of camper trailers? What are the differences between camper trailers?

The most popular camper trailers are:

• Classic Travel Trailers
• Toy Haulers
• Fifth Wheels
• Expandable Trailer
• Teardrop Trailer
• Pop-up Trailer
• Truck Camper

In this guide, we will take you through the different types of camper trailers on the market. So, if you are planning to purchase one but don’t know which one you should choose, the information we’ve shared in this article should help to guide you, so that you can choose the one that aligns best with your needs.

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‍About Camper Trailers

If you love spending time outdoors, you should consider buying a camper trailer. Camper trailers provide an affordable and comfortable means of enjoying the great outdoors.

Also, owning a camper trailer can help to reduce your vacation costs considerably, since you won’t have to be sleeping or eating in a hotel. With a camper trailer, you have the facilities needed to prepare your own meals as well as the convenience of sleeping at your own place. Furthermore, they are not expensive to maintain.

But, with so many types of camper trailers out there, choosing the right one for your needs can prove to be a challenge. And, this is where this guide comes in. It will break down the different types of camper trailers on the market, to help you choose one that aligns with your needs and budget.

Different Types of Camper Trailers

Classic Travel Trailers

A travel trailer can refer to any camper that’s pulled behind a vehicle. So, what exactly is a classic trailer? A classic travel trailer is a type of travel trailer whose ceiling is high enough, to allow a normal-sized adult to stand up fully.

Classic trailers usually feature a mobile living space inside. Also, they come with rigid exterior shells. Since they spend most of their time parked outdoors, the sturdy exterior shell helps the classic travel trailer to withstand the elements. On average, they measure approximately 10 feet to 35 feet or 3 meters to 10 meters long.

The floor plan and available features will vary from one trailer to the other. However, most come with a dining and kitchen area, a bathroom, bedroom, entertainment center as well as storage spaces spread across the trailer.

You don’t need to buy a particular vehicle for pulling a classic trailer. You can use a truck, van or SUV. As long as your vehicle has adequate towing capacity and it can be outfitted with a ball hitch, then you can use it to pull a classic trailer. And this makes them a great option for someone looking for a budget-friendly camper trailer.

Toy Haulers

A toy hauler is a type of camper trailer, specifically built to haul large quantities of cargo. They can also be used to haul camping equipment as well as small recreational vehicles. So, if you intend to be moving around with your jet ski, golf cart, dirt bike, motorbike, UTV, or 4-wheeler, then a toy hauler is the perfect vehicle for this type of work.

Since they are designed to haul large or heavy cargo, toy haulers are almost the same size as a standard travel trailer. Most toy haulers come with a garage, designed for storing larger items. You can also convert this garage area to form additional office space, living space or sleeping space.

Almost all toy haulers come with a lift or ramp, leading to the garage. This lift or ramp is designed to make it easier for the user to load heavy gear or equipment into the trailer’s back. As for the design, it can either fold back against the trailer or retract inward.

Toy haulers come with almost all the amenities that you would find in a fifth wheel or travel trailer. The main drawback of this type of camper trailer is that it’s quite heavy, compared to most of the other camper trailers out there. So, you will need a properly provisioned vehicle to pull it.

Therefore, if you shopping for a camper trailer and you are on a tight budget, a toy trailer may be outside your range. And, it would be advisable to explore other camper options.

Fifth Wheels

Fifth wheels are among the most popular types of camper trailers out there. Most outdoor enthusiasts prefer fifth wheels instead of other trailers due to the vast amount of interior space they come with. So, if you have a large family or you intend to be living in a camper full time, then a fifth wheel will be a great choice.

Fifth wheels come in a wide range of floor plans and sizes. The main amenities that you will find in a fifth wheel include a bedroom, multi-purpose area, and living area.

Some fifth wheels may also feature outdoor TVs, reclining chairs, an extendable patio, several slide-outs and office space. You may also come across some that have kitchen islands, making them some of the most luxurious and comfortable camper trailers out there.

Unlike other types of camper trailers, fifth wheels use a gooseneck connector, which comes with its benefits and drawbacks. The main benefit of having a gooseneck connector is that towing your trailer will be easier. Also, the ride will be more stable and smoother.

The main drawback you may encounter with a fifth wheel is that you will need to have a heavy-duty vehicle to tow it. Also, your vehicle will need to have an open bed or flatbed if you want to tow a fifth wheel. But overall, a fifth wheel remains one of the best camper trailers that you can own.

Expandable Trailer

Also known as a hybrid trailer, an expandable trailer is a blend between a classic travel trailer and a pop-up trailer. It looks like a classic travel trailer when it’s on the move. But once you reach your campsite, it provides you with numerous options for expanding its usable space.

The expandable space is usually the sleeping quarters, which can be found at the back and rear sections of this trailer. Some customized expandable trailers may also provide additional space in the dining room and living room. The expandable space that you will find in this trailer is more like the slide-outs that you will find in some coaches and motorhomes.

On the road, an expandable trailer will remain compact, making it easy to tow and maneuver. But on the site, you can expand it, thus providing you with more usable space. As for the facilities and amenities, you will get almost everything that you will find in a classic travel trailer.

The main issue that you may encounter with this type of camper trailer is that its set-up requires more time, compared to a standard travel trailer. Also, it may require more maintenance, compared to a standard travel trailer, since it comes with more moving parts.

But when you consider its compactness, extra usable space, unmatched customization as well as numerous features and amenities, you can see that its benefits outweigh the drawbacks by far.

Teardrop Trailer

A teardrop trailer is a lightweight camper trailer, which you can tow with almost any type of vehicle. Whether you own a sedan, an SUV, a pick-up truck or a van, you shouldn’t have any issues moving around with a teardrop trailer. They are designed to be ultra-compact and lightweight.

But, as much as teardrop trailers may be compact, they are packed with numerous amenities and features. And thanks to their compact design, teardrop trailers are easy to park and store in a garage. You don’t need any special garage to store a teardrop trailer.

Also, teardrop trailers can comfortably fit into any campground, thanks to their compact design. Also, you can easily move them or reposition them, to make the best use of available campsite features.

Almost all teardrop trailers come with a meal preparation station. So, you can cook almost any type of food and enjoy fresh, hot meals during your camping trip. They may also come with storage drawers, coolers and refrigerators, outdoor stoves and several kitchen appliances.

They are the ideal choice for someone heading out on a solo camping trip or a short-term road trip. However, they are not designed for extended camping expeditions or long treks. After all, they can only hold a limited amount of cargo.

The only major drawback with this camper trailer is that it lacks a bathroom, hence you will need to make arrangements for such. Most of its interior space is consumed by a sofa bed or mattress.

But with all factors considered, teardrop trailers remain a great choice for short camping trips. They offer a decent level of comfort. Furthermore, they are among the most affordable camper trailers currently on the market.

Pop-up Trailer

Pop-up trailers are designed to bridge the gap between a recreational vehicle (RV) and a tent. When on the move, a pop-up trailer will resemble a traditional travel trailer. But once it has been parked, it will have some sections that you can extend outwards. These sections are usually enclosed inside weatherproofed fabric.

The sections that extend outwards are mainly the trailer’s sleeping areas. Since these sections usually extend outwards, they tend to free up more interior living space once the trailer is parked.

When you are shopping for pop-up trailers, you will come across two main types. These are hard-sided pop-up trailers and soft-sided pop-up trailers. Hard-sided pop-up trailers come with stiff and sturdy sections. Also, the foldable sections have been insulated against the elements.

Soft-sided pop-ups, on the other hand, come with canvas sides. They tend to have a better airflow, compared to their hard-sided counterparts. Soft-sided pop-up trailers will be the ideal choice for campers who enjoy that open-air feeling.

Pop-up trailers don’t come with lots of features and amenities. They are designed for easy and fast setup. They are also built for access. As for the available features, most come with cooking facilities, dining space and bathrooms.

If you looking for a camper that will provide that feeling of home away from home, then a pop-up trailer might be the perfect choice for you.

Truck Camper

A truck camper is more of a self-contained camper trailer. It’s built to fit into the bed of a truck. And thanks to this design, driving, maneuvering, parking and backing up this camper trailer is easy.

Truck campers can fit into the bed of almost any type of pickup truck. And, the majority of modern pickups are now built in such a way that they can comfortably withstand the additional weight of a truck camper, without compromising on how the vehicle drives or operates.

Since this camper trailer fits in the pickup bed, you have the option of pulling or towing an extra camper trailer, in case you want to bring more gear or supplies. In short, you can carry almost everything that you would need with this setup.

Truck campers come with several amenities. But, considering their compact design, you may only get the key amenities such as a bed, kitchen and bathroom. You shouldn’t expect one to come with the luxuries or comforts that you will find in a classic travel trailer.

Also, since the available interior space is quite limited, they may not be the ideal choice for someone who wants to camp with their entire family. Also, this trailer may not be the best option for extended vacations, unless you intend to tow an extra trailer.

But, if you will be camping alone for a short period and you are looking for a budget-friendly camper trailer, then a truck camper should be among the options to consider.  It provides a cost-effective option for someone who wants to enjoy the great outdoors.