A travel trailer is a hard-sided caravan-style camper that a car, SUV or pickup tows and that you unhitch at the campsite. It suits families and groups who want a proper bed, kitchen and bathroom at a fixed base and already own (or can borrow) a suitable tow vehicle. Rental prices commonly run from about $75 to $225 a night depending on size, with delivery and setup extra if you choose it.
| Typical length | Roughly 16 to 35 ft (5 to 11 m) for most rentals; some run to 40 ft or more |
|---|---|
| Typical weight | From under 3,000 lb (about 1,360 kg) for small models to 10,000 lb (4,500 kg) or more for large ones |
| Sleeps | Usually 2 to 8, and up to 10 in some bunkhouse layouts |
| Tow vehicle needed | Yes: its rated towing capacity, hitch and wiring must suit the trailer |
| Typical hire price | About $75 to $225 a night; delivery and setup often $150 to $300 round trip locally |
| Best for | Families, groups and longer stays at one campground |
What a travel trailer is, and how it differs from other towables
A travel trailer is a rigid-bodied camper that couples to a ball hitch on the back of your tow vehicle. Inside you will usually find a double or queen bed, a kitchen with a fridge and hob, a bathroom with a toilet and shower, and a dinette that converts into a bed. Larger models add bunk rooms, slide-outs that widen the living area, and separate bedrooms.
It sits between lighter towables and heavy ones. A teardrop or pop-up is smaller and easier to tow but has fewer home comforts. A fifth wheel is larger still and needs a pickup with a bed-mounted hitch. For the full comparison, see our guide to camper trailers and towable campers.
Sizes, weights and how many people they sleep
Travel trailers cover a wide range. Manufacturer listings from Thor Industries, for example, span from about 16 ft to over 40 ft long and from roughly 2,500 lb to nearly 14,000 lb. Rental fleets tend to sit in the middle of that range.
- Compact trailers (roughly 16 to 22 ft): sleep two to four, often light enough for a mid-size SUV or a half-ton pickup. Fewer features, but easier to park and tow.
- Mid-size trailers (roughly 22 to 30 ft): sleep four to six with a separate bed area and a full bathroom. This is the most common family choice.
- Large trailers (30 ft and over): sleep six to eight or more, sometimes with bunk rooms or two slide-outs. They usually need a heavy-duty pickup.
Two weights matter. The dry weight in the brochure excludes water, gas, bedding and luggage. The loaded weight, what you will actually tow, is higher. Check the listing, then ask the owner for the trailer's gross weight rating.
What you need to tow one
Most of the work in choosing a travel trailer is matching it to your vehicle. In North America, check these before you book:
- Towing capacity: your vehicle's manual gives its rated maximum. Choose a trailer whose loaded weight sits comfortably below it, not at the limit.
- Hitch: a receiver hitch with the right class and a ball of the size the trailer needs. Tongue weight, the downward load on the ball, is commonly around 10 to 15 per cent of trailer weight.
- Wiring and brakes: trailers have lights, and larger ones have their own brakes. Brakes usually need a brake controller in the cab, and many states set a weight above which trailer brakes are required. Rules vary by state and province, so check where you will be driving.
- Weight distribution or sway control: larger trailers may need a weight-distribution hitch. Ask the owner whether one is included.
In North America there is usually no special licence for a typical rental trailer, though rules vary by state. In the UK, a category B car licence allows you to tow a trailer up to 3,500 kg maximum authorised mass, but the combined MAM of car and trailer must not exceed 7,000 kg, and the car's own towing limit (gross train weight) and noseweight limit still apply. A trailer over 750 kg loaded must have working brakes. See the GOV.UK licence categories page. While towing in the UK you are limited to 50 mph on single carriageways and 60 mph on dual carriageways and motorways, according to GOV.UK speed limits, and you must not use the outside lane of a motorway with three or more lanes (Highway Code rule 265). If you are new to towing, our guide to licence rules for campervans is a useful starting point.
Delivery and setup: hire one without towing it
If you do not own a tow vehicle, or do not want to tow, many owners offer delivery and setup. They tow the trailer to your campground, level it, connect water, power and gas where possible, and collect it at the end. For a local trip, delivery and setup often costs around $150 to $300, and more for long distances; owners commonly charge per mile, often with a minimum fee. It can be a good deal for a first trip, a big trailer, or a week in one place.
Check what the listing says about delivery: the distance covered, the price per mile beyond that, whether setup is included, and the campground's rules about owner-delivered trailers.
How much a travel trailer costs to rent
Travel trailers commonly list from about $75 to $225 a night, with small, older models at the low end and large, late-model trailers at the top. Marketplace price guides show a similar spread, with RVshare, for example, giving a range of $50 to $200 for travel trailers. Season, location and trip length all move the price. Longer bookings often get a discount, and late autumn and early spring are usually cheaper.
Budget for more than the nightly rate:
- Delivery and setup, if you choose it.
- Service fees, taxes and any extras such as bedding or a kitchen kit.
- Campground fees, which are separate from the hire. Our RV parks guide explains what to expect.
- Fuel, which rises when towing a heavy trailer.
For a wider look, see how much it costs to rent an RV.
Campgrounds and where to take one
In the US and Canada, travel trailers are the standard guest at most campgrounds. Many have pull-through pitches, which let you drive in without reversing, and back-in pitches with hookups for power, water and sometimes sewer. Check the maximum length a pitch allows, because older state and national park sites can be short. Book popular sites well ahead in summer. See our USA RV rental guide and Canada RV rental guide for regions and seasons, and the Australia guide if you are heading there. Outdoorsy has fewer towables in the UK, so availability there is limited.
Is a travel trailer right for you?
Pros
- More living space and storage per pound than most motorhomes.
- You can unhitch and use your tow vehicle to explore, shop or sightsee.
- Prices are usually lower than a motorhome of similar size.
- Delivery and setup removes the towing for those who prefer not to.
Cons
- You need a suitable tow vehicle, or you need to pay for delivery.
- Towing, reversing and parking take practice.
- Large trailers are restricted at some campgrounds and on some roads.
- You set up and break down at every stop, so they suit longer stays better than one-night stops.
If you would rather not tow, look at Class C and Class B motorhomes, or see how Class A, B and C compare. For smaller towables, see teardrop campers and pop-up campers; for pickup owners there are also truck campers.
How hire works
- Search. Enter your dates and location on our search page to see travel trailers near you.
- Check the listing. Look at the length and weight, whether a hitch is included, what tow vehicle is required, whether delivery is offered, and the owner's rules.
- Book through our partner Outdoorsy. Insurance and payment protection come with every booking. 24/7 roadside assistance is optional. See what insurance you need.
- Collect or have it delivered. The owner shows you how to hitch up and how the systems work, or sets it up at your campground.
We are a comparison site, not a rental company. The trailers are listed by private owners and local hire businesses.
FAQs
Can I rent a travel trailer if I do not have a truck?
Often yes. Smaller trailers can be towed by an SUV or crossover if the vehicle's rated towing capacity is high enough, and many owners offer delivery and setup so you do not need to tow at all.
How do I know if my car can tow a travel trailer?
Check the towing capacity in the vehicle's manual or on the door-jamb label, then compare it with the trailer's loaded weight. Leave a safety margin, and confirm the hitch and wiring match. If unsure, ask the owner before booking.
Do I need a special licence to tow a travel trailer?
In most of North America, not for a typical rental, though rules vary by state or province. In the UK, a car licence allows towing up to 3,500 kg MAM subject to the vehicle's limits.
How much does it cost to rent a travel trailer?
About $75 to $225 a night is common, depending on size and season. Delivery and setup often adds $150 to $300 round trip for a local trip.
Is insurance included?
Insurance and payment protection come with every booking made through Outdoorsy. Check the listing for the cover details.
Can I hire a travel trailer in the UK?
Outdoorsy has towables mainly in North America and Australia, with fewer in the UK, so availability varies. Use search to see what is listed for your dates.
Find one for your dates: search trailers and campers near you.