It’s a common misconception that RVing is only for the rich and well-off. While it’s true that RVs, in general, cost more than what they used to, there are plenty of affordable options out there–and not just budget-friendly motorhomes, but trailers, too.
If you’re looking to buy an RV on a budget, your best bet is to buy a new or used travel trailer (rather than a motorhome). Travel trailers are typically the most affordable types of RVs on the market, and they’re also one of the most readily available.
What Makes a Travel Trailer Affordable?
There are several reasons why travel trailers are typically the most affordable type of RV on the market, including the following:
Its Smaller Size
One of the biggest reasons travel trailers are more affordable than other RVs is their size. On average, travel trailers are 15 to 36 feet long, whereas motorhomes, fifth-wheels, and toy haulers can be up to 50+ feet long. In the same way that a house with 2,000 square feet costs more than a house with 1,000 square feet, their smaller size makes travel trailers cheaper.
Travel trailers have less living and sleeping space because they are shorter in length and height. Therefore, you can’t pack as many belongings, and making a travel trailer feel like a home is harder. They also have less storage space than larger RVs, which is another reason for their more affordable price. But that doesn’t mean the travel trailer is without its pros (keep reading for the perks of travel trailer ownership).
Affordable Materials
Next, travel trailers are often made with more affordable materials than other types of RVs. Because they’re smaller, RV makers also require fewer of these materials, resulting in a lower price.
Luxuries and Amenities
In addition to being constructed from more affordable materials, travel trailers also have fewer luxuries and amenities than other types of RVs. For instance, most luxury fifth-wheels and motorhomes come with granite countertops, residential refrigerators, multiple ACs, and more.
On the other hand, travel trailers typically have faux granite countertops, smaller refrigerators, one AC, and so on. They also have smaller and less elaborate bathrooms and kitchens, along with smaller showers, stoves, microwaves, and more. In other words, nearly everything in travel trailers is smaller and less fancy than their counterparts in luxury motorhomes and fifth-wheels.
Their Intended Buyers
Lastly, travel trailers also have a different market than luxury RVs and larger rigs. Where most fifth-wheels and Class-A motorhomes are built with retirees and wealthy families in mind, travel trailers are built with hard-working families in mind.
This is the main reason why travel trailer builders can get away with fewer amenities, smaller spaces, and more affordable materials. It’s because the people who typically buy travel trailers are looking for an affordable RV in which they can have camping adventures and make memories.
That isn’t to say that travel trailers are cheaply built and poorly designed RVs. Instead, they are designed quite ingeniously and maximize every inch of available space. Therefore, travel trailers are the way to go if you need a high-quality and reliable RV on a budget.
Top Affordable Travel Trailers on the Market
Now that you know why travel trailers are the most affordable type of RV, let’s look at some of the best overall budget options.
Jayco Jay Flight SLX
- Starting price – $24,309
- Length – 18′ – 31’1″
- Width – 84″
- Top features – Bright interior, multiple floor plan options, full bath and kitchen, power awning
Jayco is one of the top RV brands in the industry, and their Jay Flight SLX is one of the top budget RVs on the market. Despite its small interior and exterior space, the Jay Flight SLX has a surprising amount of storage, sleeping, and living space. Its smallest model also has a dry weight of just over 2,000 pounds, which means you can tow it with most cars and small SUVs.
The Jay Flight SLX makes up for its small size with innovative sleeping accommodations, such as bunk beds, a convertible dinette, and a pull-out sofa. Depending on your floor plan, this rig can sleep up to 10 people, which means it has plenty of room for the whole family. The well-lit interior and bright fixtures also create the perfect balance of natural light and a modern feel.
Forest River Flagstaff E-Pro
- Starting price – $17,000
- Length – 12’3″ – 21’2″
- Width – 84″
- Top features – Outdoor kitchen, bike rack attachment, solar ready, private bedroom, full bath and kitchen
The Forest River Flagstaff E-Pro is one of the most popular RV models on the market. Speaking from experience, I’ve seen more of these on the highway and at campgrounds than most other models.
The main reason the Flagstaff E-Pro series is so popular is because of how lightweight and compact they are. Combine that with a clean, modern, and minimalistic interior design, and you have one heck of a travel trailer on your hands.
Additionally, the Flagstaff E-Pro has ample storage space despite its small size. It’s built with outdoor enthusiasts in mind and offers add-ons like bike rack attachments, solar panels, outdoor kitchens, and more.
Best of all, the Flagstaff E-Pro’s are surprisingly affordable, despite their popularity and innovative design. Plus, most of their models are also lightweight enough to get towed with any SUV or crossover vehicle.
Coachmen Clipper Ultra-Lite
- Starting price – $16,000
- Length – 16′ 6″ – 32′
- Width – 84″
- Top features – Multiple floor plans, dry bath, full kitchen, master bedroom option
Coachmen is a Forest River brand and they make some of the finest travel trailers in the industry. The Clipper Ultra-Lite is one of their smaller and more affordable models, and it comes with more than a dozen floorplan options.
The Clipper Ultra-Lites range in size from 16′ to 32′, which means there’s an option for families of all sizes. They feature a minimalistic design while still providing everything you need to have a good time at your local RV park or on a road trip.
Additionally, the Coachmen Clipper RVs that are on the smaller side have a very low hitch weight, which means most vehicles can tow them.
Coleman Lantern LT 17R
- Starting price – $30,000
- Length – 22′ to 32′
- Width – 84″
- Top features – Shower with skylight, full kitchen and pantry, oversized fridge, power awning
The Coleman Lantern is one of the most affordable travel trailers on the market. While the starting price for the LT series is $30,000, they have other smaller models with a starting price of $15,000.
Coleman Lantern Campers are one of the few travel trailers with oversized refrigerators rather than slightly larger versions of mini-fridges. They’re one of the top outdoor brands in the business, and their campers live up to the Coleman name.
With more than a dozen floor plans to choose from, you can get features such as a queen-sized bed in the master bedroom, rear bunks, convertible dinettes, and more. You can also opt for an open or closed layout, depending on your preferences.
Wildwood Heritage Glen 22RBHL
- Starting price – $35,845
- Length – 27’11”
- Width – 96″
- Top features – Large power awning, massive bathroom, master bedroom, electric fireplace, theater seating
As with Coachmen, Wildwood is a brand of Forest River, which means durability, affordability, and reliability are the three points of focus. In addition to each of these traits, the Wildwood Heritage Glen series is one of the more luxurious, budget-friendly travel trailers on the market.
The 22RBHL, for example, features theater seating and a massive entertainment center in the living area. The space is shared with a surprisingly large and open kitchen as well as an electric fireplace with a hidden storage compartment in the rear.
And let’s not forget about the full-size rear bathroom and refreshingly large master bedroom at the front, complete with a queen-sized bed. This rig is perfect for couples or small families who want to enjoy their camping experience with a few luxurious touches to go along with an efficient and high-quality RV.
Keystone Springdale 220ML
- Starting price – $31,463
- Length – 22’6″
- Width – 96″
- Top features – Fully customizable, sleeps up to 6, efficient kitchen and bathroom, master bedroom, washer and dryer hookups
Last, but not least, there’s also the Keystone Springdale series, namely the 220ML. The Springdale series has several travel trailer options, but the 220ML is the most affordable and one of their newest models.
A unique feature of the Keystone Springdale 220ML is that it’s fully customizable. They give you the general layout, and then you can choose from a menu of add-ons and unique features.
In a baseline model, you’ll get a small but efficient bathroom and kitchen to go along with a standard-sized master bedroom. From there, you can then decide how many additional sleeping accommodations you’d like to add or if you’d prefer a larger entertainment and living area.
Final Thoughts
Once you decide which budget-friendly travel trailer is right for you, protecting your investment is important. In addition to performing regular RV maintenance tasks, you should store your RV in a safe and secure location.
If you don’t have a good place to store your RV on your property, consider turning to Neighbor, a peer-to-peer storage marketplace. Neighbor offers safe and affordable RV storage across the country so that your RV is ready to go the next time you want to hit up the great outdoors.
