The most common type of RV is the travel trailer, a hard-sided recreational vehicle that connects to the back of its tow vehicle by way of a ball-type hitch.
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Providing living quarters for recreational travel, travel trailers are available in a wide range of weights and lengths. Innovations in construction materials make possible lightweight trailers that can be towed by smaller tow vehicles.
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Travel trailer models range from compact units that have few amenities through those with basic features – usually, but not always, including bathroom and shower, kitchen, heating, cooling, fresh and waste water tanks, and sleeping areas – up to large trailers with multiple slide-outs, two bedrooms and most of the comforts of home. While most of the travel trailer market is for weekend and vacation use, some models are built for long-term living. Bunkhouse floorplans are popular with families.
There are a lot of travel trailer design variations, including
- Hybrid models are a kind of crossover between hard side travel trailers and tent trailers, having hard walled or fabric extensions that slide or fold out on one or both ends.
- Toy haulers have ramps that lower in the back and interior carrying space to accommodate large “toys” such as motorcycles or ATVs.
- Telescoping trailers, such as TrailManor, that are raise upwards when camping and lowered for travel.
When backing, travel trailers are much more difficult to park than fifth wheel campers and motorhomes.
Because of where the trailer is hitched the tow vehicle, often several feet behind the rear axle, travel trailers and other ball hitch trailers are susceptible to trailer sway. This connection allows side to side motion of the trailer, caused by external forces, to move the rear of the tow vehicle and influence steering. This combination can go into an oscillating back and forth movement known as fishtailing or sway. Sway can result in poor driving experience and, sometimes, accidents. Sway can be reduced and almost eliminated by proper trailer weight distribution, hitch adjustment, use of effective sway control equipment and anticipation of adverse driving conditions.3
Travel Trailer manufacturers
(with listings of current models)
Airstream – models: Classic, Eddie Bauer, Flying Cloud, International Serenity, International Signature, International Sterling
Bigfoot – model: 2500;
Casita – models: 13′, 16′, 17′
Carson Trailer, Inc – models: (toy haulers): Carson Rebel, Fun-Runner, Fun Runner Xtreme, Titan
Chalet RV – model: Takena
Coachmen RVs: – models: Apex Ultra-Lite, Catalina, Catalina Destination Series, Clipper Ultra-Lite, Freedom Express (conventional, hybrid, and toy hauler models), Viking Ultra-Lite
Coleman –models: Expedition, Expedition LT, Explorer
Crossroads – models: Cruiser Aire, Hampton, Rezerve, Sunset Trail, Zinger, Z-1
Cruiser RV LLC. – models: Enterra, Fun Finder, Fun Finder Xtra (toy hauler), Radiance, Shadow Cruiser, Viewfinder Signature
DubBux USA – small travel trailers with the look and feel of a VW camper bus.
Dutchmen – models: Aerolite, Aspen Trail, Coleman, Denali, Dutchmen, Kodiak (incl. toy hauler floorplan), Komfort, Razorback (toy hauler), Rubicon (toy hauler), Voltage (toy hauler)
Eclipse Recreational Vehicles Inc. – models: Attitude, Evolution X, Iconic, Stellar; Milan
EverGreen Recreational Vehicles – models: Amped (toy hauler), Ascend, Element, Ever-Lite, i-Go, Sun Valley
Extreme Warrior – models (all toy haulers): Wide Body, Superlite
Forest River – standard models: Aviator, Cherokee, Flagstaff Classic Super Lite, Grey Wolf, Hemisphere, Heritage Glenn, Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite, Salem, Sandpiper Select, Surveyor, V-Cross Classic, V-Cross Platinum, Vibe, V-Lite, Wildcat Maxx, Wildwood, Windjammer
Lite travel trailer models: Cherokee, Cruise Lite, Evo, Flagstaff Super Lite, Grey Wolf Hemisphere, Heritage Glenn, Micro Lite, Mini Lite, Rockwood Ultra Lite, Roo, r-pod, Salem, Salem Ice Cabin, Shamrock, Surveyor, True North Ice Lodge, V-Cross Classic, V-Cross Platinum, Vibe, V-Lite, Wildcat Maxx, Wildwood, Windjammer, Wolf Pup, X-Lite
Toy hauler models: Grey Wolf, Hyperlite, Nitro, Sandstorm, Shockwave, Stealth, Vengeance, Wolf Pack, Wolf Pup, Work and Play
Global Caravan Technologies – model: CR-1 Carbon
Gulf Stream – models: Amerilite, Conquest, Conquest Lite, Gulf Breeze Champagne, Gulf Breeze Ultra Lite, Ice Haven, Innsbruck, Innsbruck Lite, Kingsport, Matrix, Northern Express, Streamlite, Champagne, Streamlite Ultra Lite, Trailmaster, Vista Cruiser
Heartland – model: North Trail, Prowler, Prowler Lynx, Sundance, Torque (toy hauler), Trailrunner, Wilderness
Holiday Rambler – models: Aluma-Lite TT, Aluma-Lite Ultra
Hy-Line – model: Bridgeview, Harbor View (handicap accessible), Hy-Line (park model), Georgian Bay (Park Model)
Jayco – models: Jay Feather SLX, Jay Feather Ultra Lite, Jay Flight, Jay Flight Bungalow, Jay Fight DST, Jay Flight Swift SLX, Jay Flight Swift, Octane ZX (toy hauler), Octane ZX Superlite (toy hauler), White Hawk
K-Z Recreational Vehicles – models: MXT (toy hauler), Sportsmen, Sportsmen Classic, Sportsmen Classic (toy hauler), Sportsmen Show Stopper, Sportsmen Show Stopper LE, Sportsmen Sportster (toy hauler), Spree, Spree Connect, Spree Escape, Spree Escape (toy hauler)
Keystone RVs – models: Bullet, Carbon, Cougar Half-Ton, Cougar High Country, Cougar XLite, Energy (toy hauler), Fireside, Hideout, Impact, Laredo, Outback (includes toy hauler model), Outback Terrain, Passport, Residence (destination trailer), Retreat (destination trailer), Premier, Springdale, Sprinter, Sprinter Wide Body, Summerland, Vantage
Livin Lite –models: Bearcat (11FK, 13BHP, 16FK [toyhauler]), Camplite (11FDB, 11FK, 13RDB, 13QBB, 13BHB, 14DB, 14DBS, 16DB, 16DBS, 16BHB, 16TBS, 21RBS, 21BHS, 28BHS) Quicksilver (toy hauler; several models)
MVP RV – models: Coast, EnvY (toy hauler), Impact (toy hauler), Sonoma, Summit, Vortex (toy hauler)
Northwood Manufacturing – models: Arctic Fox, Desert Fox (toy hauler), Nash, Snow River
Oliver Travel Trailers – models: Legacy Elite IIS, Legacy Elite IITB
Open Range RV – models: Light, Journeyer, Mesa Ridge, Open Range
Outdoors RV Manufacturing – models: Black Rock, Black Stone, Creek Side, Timber Ridge, Wind River
Pacific Coachworks – models: Econ, Mighty Lite, Panther, Powerlite (toy hauler), Rage’n (toy hauler), Sandsport (toy hauler), Tango
Palomino – models: Canyon Cat, Palomini, Puma, Sabre, Solaire 7, Solaire eXpandables, Solaire Ultra Lite
Play-Mor Trailers, Inc. – models (toy-haulers): Motorsport; Motorsport Deluxe
Prime Time Manufacturing – models: Avenger, LaCrosse, Tracer Ultra Light
R-Vision – models: Silver Creek, Trail-Lite Crossover, Trail-Lite Sport, Trail-Lite Trek
Riverside Travel Trailer, Inc. – custom built travel trailers
Scamp – models: 13′; 16′
Shasta – models: Flyte, Oasis, Revere
Skyline RVs – models: Aljo, Aluma Sky, Ecocamp, Koala, Layton, Nomad, Skycat, Walkabout, Weekender
Space Craft Mfg. (custom built)
Starcraft – models: AR-ONE, Autumn Ridge, Launch, Launch Ulta Lite, Travel Star, Travel Star Galaxy
Sunny Brook – models: Remington, Sunset Creek
TrailManor Travel Trailers – folding hardwall trailers
Winnebago –models: Minnie, One, Ultralite
1Image from RVIA News Room Image Gallery – Conventional Travel Trailer
2 Image License 
Some rights reserved by 1950sUnlimited
3 Roy’s RVing in the USA – Controlling Sway
