Are you wondering exactly how tall a travel trailer is?
You’ve come to the right spot!
In this LearningRV.com guide, you will learn:
- How tall the average travel trailer is
- Why you need to know information like the height of your travel trailer
- And much more!
Table of Contents
How Tall is a Travel Trailer?
A travel trailer is a great way to camp and see the nation while you are on a budget too limited for the purchase of a full RV. Of course, you’ll need a vehicle capable of towing a travel trailer, but overall it is quite easy to find a travel trailer that works for your family.
Travel trailers come in many different sizes, from small ones known as ham cans to ones that are as large as an RV. The average height of a travel trailer varies from 9 to 11 feet, and per the law, you will never find a travel trailer with a height above 12 feet.
As you can see, that is a wide average, and chances are you can find travel trailers far outside of the average when it comes to height. Read on to learn more about the average height of travel trailers and why you need to know the height of your travel trailer before you buy.
Why Do You Need to Know the Height of Your Travel Trailer?
Why it may seem strange to need to know the exact dimensions of your travel trailer, it is actually important for several different reasons.
Government Restrictions
Believe it or not, the government has restrictions on travel trailer height. These vary from state to state. Before you purchase a travel trailer, you should always check the restrictions in your state to ensure the trailer you plan to purchase isn’t too tall. These restrictions can be found on the DOT website.
Parking
Where do you plan to keep your travel trailer when you aren’t using it? If you are planning to keep it somewhere covered like a garage or covered bay, a travel trailer that is too tall will make this problematic.
Sometimes even campsites can restrict the heights of trailers due to wildlife or nature (like trees) that cover the campsite area. For most locations, you will be required to list your trailer dimensions when you book your campsite.
Safety
The number one reason you need to know the height of your travel trailer is for safety. The last thing you want to do is attempt to tow your travel trailer through an overpass that is too small. This could damage your trailer and cause injury to you or your family.
Once you know the height of your travel trailer, it is critical that you memorize it. Then, as you tow, you need to be on the lookout for signs where trucks may be unable to pass because of height. This happens frequently in mountainous areas where you need to pass through a tunnel.
Comfort
The final reason you need to know the height of your travel trailer is for your own comfort. If you are an exceptionally tall person, a trailer with only 6 feet of clearance will likely be too small for you to be able to walk comfortably. Plus, you risk hitting your head as you move about the trailer.
For those lucky enough to be small, this likely doesn’t matter as much unless you have certain furnishings you want to install in your travel trailer. In this case, ensure you purchase one that is tall enough to fit all of your amenities.
Related >> How to Level a Travel Trailer
When You Should Measure Your Travel Trailer
Measuring a 12ft tall trailer is no easy feat, which may leave you wondering just when you should measure yours. The truth is, you should measure your travel trailer before you buy it.
If you are buying your trailer firsthand from a store or dealer, then, as long as you are shopping in your state, you don’t need to measure on your own. These measurements at the store are trustworthy, and an agent can help advise what size is best and legal in the state you live in.
If you are buying a travel trailer secondhand, however, you should measure the height yourself, even if you are buying from someone you trust before you buy. This is because you never know where that person bought the trailer, and while it may have been legal in another state, it might be just one inch too tall to be legal in your state. You also never know when the person last measured or if they did so accurately.
Is a Tall Travel Trailer Better?
For those who are tall people, a tall travel trailer might seem like a no-brainer because more room is better. But, be aware that tall travel trailers can often bring more stress as well.
Many bridges and tunnels are built to a minimum of ten feet in height. This means that if you get a travel trailer any taller, there is a chance that, at some point, your trailer will be too large to pass through a certain area.
So, unless you absolutely need the extra height to be physically comfortable, you’re probably better off buying a travel trailer 10’ in height or shorter.
Final Thoughts on Travel Trailer Height
No matter what type of travel trailer you are purchasing, it is absolutely essential to know its height.
So take a few minutes before you buy and check to make sure that your travel trailer is at a height that will let you experience all of the camping spots you wish to visit–and that it is legal in your state.
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