Things I Wish I Had Known About Owning a Travel Trailer Before Buying One
Owning a travel trailer can be a great way to explore the open road and see new places, but it also comes with its own set of unique challenges. Before you make the decision to buy a travel trailer, it's important to be aware of the potential pitfalls and be prepared for the responsibilities that come with owning one. We'll explore some of the things we wish we had known before buying a travel trailer, including the costs associated with owning one, the importance of regular maintenance, and the potential issues that can arise while on the road. Whether you're a seasoned RVer or a first-time buyer, this information could help you make an informed decision about whether a travel trailer is the right choice for you.
First, some background on how we have camped as a family over the past 16 years.
We have been tent camping long before our kids came along and we continued in a tent as our family expanded to five. We had so much fun with tent camping, however, the setup became cumbersome with three active toddlers and began to prevent us from traveling as much as we desired.
In 2015, we purchased a 1999 Palomino Stallion pop-up camper. We thoroughly enjoyed our pop-up but desired to have a longer camping season in chilly Colorado.
In 2019, we purchased a 2017 NorthTrail Caliber 22FBS travel trailer. This couple’s camper was a great starter travel trailer and worked perfectly for us until our boys became too tall to fit in the convertible beds.
In 2022, we purchased our current travel trailer a 2022 Grand Design Imagine 3100RD.
Needless to say, we have had our fair share of learning experiences with the variety of ways we have camped. We love the freedom of having a travel trailer vs. a driveable RV. And though we still miss tent camping every so often, this is the best way for our family to explore the US. However, it’s not always sunshine and rainbows, because the learning curve has been sharp, but not unexpected.
Here are a few things that you might wish you had known before owning a travel trailer:
Weight and towing capacity - It's important to understand the weight and towing capacity of your vehicle, as well as the weight of the travel trailer, and the amount of things you will travel with to ensure that you are not overloading your vehicle and causing safety issues.
There’s lots of talk in the RV community about acceptable vs. “correct” towing - we’re not here to lecture anyone - only to talk about our own knowledge. We live at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, which means we are often towing steep grades and mountain curves. For us, maintaining the safe limits of our tow vehicle is essential because a truck loses 20% of its towing capacity at high altitudes. We learned this quickly with our first travel trailer and made necessary adjustments to decrease unnecessary risk to our family’s safety.
Who is going to tow? And other questions - For every couple/family that owns a travel trailer there is an expectation of who tows, when, and for how long. This is important to talk about before purchasing an RV. This is also a good time to talk about comfort level as far as backing up into campsites, interstate vs. backroads, how far you’re willing to drive each day/trip, boondocking vs. campground, and many other topics that relate to the unlimited amount of questions each trip could bring up.
Both Jason and I tow our camper. It’s an expectation that we each share 50/50 in the responsibility of driving. And luckily, most other questions that come up with our travel trailer we agree on. EXCEPT for the TV - I could throw it away and be thrilled and he could have a movie night every night and be thrilled. So compromise makes everything easier.
Maintenance - Owning a travel trailer requires regular maintenance, such as checking and replacing tires, checking the brakes, and maintaining the electrical and plumbing systems. It's important to be prepared for these tasks and budget for any necessary repairs. Here are the six most important items to remember with your RV maintenance.
Storage - Travel trailers can be large and take up a lot of space, so it's important to consider where you will store your RV when it's not in use. For our neighborhood, we have an HOA that does not allow RV storage under any circumstances. So we keep our trailer off-site at a storage facility about 15 minutes away. In the Denver metro area, we pay $110 per month to store it - uncovered and on gravel. However, most facilities in the area are around $150-180/month.
Setting up and breaking down - Setting up and breaking down a travel trailer can be time-consuming, frustrating, and require some physical effort. It's crucial to be prepared for this and to allocate enough time for it. A good rule of thumb is to anticipate at least one hour for setup and another for the takedown as you start getting accustomed to your rig. Do not try to rush this! You will naturally get faster as time goes on.
In fact, we highly recommend your first trip with a new RV is always a shake-down trip. This weekend away is purely to learn about your new rig and everything that goes along with it. Bring your owner’s manuals and your patience!
Weather - Travel trailers are vulnerable to damage from extreme weather conditions, such as high winds or heavy rain. It's important to be prepared for these conditions and to take precautions to protect your trailer while towing and while parked at the campground. Keep an eye on the sky and always have a good weather radio on nearby.
Campground reservations - Popular campgrounds and RV parks can fill up quickly, especially during peak seasons! It is essential to plan ahead and make reservations in advance to ensure that you have a place to stay. Most state parks open reservations 6 months ahead of time. Private campgrounds in popular areas usually open reservations 12-24 months ahead of time!
Comfort - Some travel trailers can be cramped and may not be as comfortable as a traditional home. Especially for kids that aren’t used to sharing their space with siblings. Understanding what your family needs ahead of time to prioritize the features and amenities that are most important to you when choosing a travel trailer. Don’t worry if the travel trailer you love isn’t perfect - with a few resources you can adapt many spaces to fit your needs.
Limited privacy - Travel trailers often have thin walls and may not offer as much privacy as a traditional home. We’ve had to learn to be prepared for this and to find ways to create privacy if needed.
Noise - Travel trailers can be noisy, especially when parked in close proximity to other trailers. It's important to be prepared for this and to find ways to minimize noise if necessary. We usually use music or our air conditioner to drown out the noise.
Budget - Owning a travel trailer can be expensive, with costs including the initial purchase price, maintenance, and campground fees. It's essential to be prepared for these costs and to budget accordingly. We share a few of our budget-friendly tips HERE and HERE.
Fuel efficiency - Travel trailers can be heavy and may not be as fuel efficient as a traditional car. It's important to be prepared for this and to budget for higher fuel costs. We tow our 2022 Grand Design Imagine 3100RD with a 2020 Ram 2500 long bed and average about 9-10 mpg when towing on flat roads. While traveling through the Rockies we often average 5 mpg. These are the times we are thankful for our 50-gallon gas tank!
Insurance - It's important to research and compare different insurance options for your travel trailer to ensure that you have the coverage you need. Our RV insurance is well over $100 a month for the level of coverage we feel comfortable with. We didn’t anticipate this surprisingly high amount until it was too late. Lesson learned.
Overall, owning a travel trailer can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it's important to be prepared for the responsibilities and challenges that come with it. Regular maintenance is crucial for keeping your trailer in good working order and you'll need to be prepared for the unexpected issues that can arise while on the road. By keeping these things in mind and being prepared, you can enjoy the freedom and adventure that comes with owning a travel trailer. All seasoned RVers know owning a travel trailer can be a great way to explore the open road and create lasting memories with your loved ones.
If you have any questions about travel trailers, please don’t hesitate to ask. We love helping new RV families enjoy life outdoors.