Are you wondering exactly how wide a travel trailer is?
You’ve come to the right spot!
In this LearningRV.com guide, you will learn:
- How with a travel trailer is
- Why you need to know information like the width of your travel trailer
- And much more!
Table of Contents
How Wide is a Travel Trailer?
Travel trailers are one of the best ways to see the world because they are easy to tow, simple to set up, and come in a variety that can suit any family or household. But before you can go out and buy one, it’s important to know how large you can expect your travel trailer to be.
Most travel trailers are about 8 feet or 96 inches wide. Some travel trailers have slide-outs that can make them even wider than 8 feet, but you will not find travel trailers with a width of more than 8.5 feet. You can, however, find more compact versions that are 6 or 7 feet wide.
Of course, the exact measurements of the travel trailer you purchase will vary, and be sure to ask before you buy if you are looking for a certain width.
Why Do You Need to Know the Width of Your Travel Trailer?
Government Restrictions
There are several reasons you need to know the width of your travel trailer, the most important is because each state has its own restrictions as to how wide trailers are allowed to be. Before you even consider purchasing one, take the time to check the DOT website for your state to ensure the size you want to purchase is legal.
Parking
The second reason you need to know is because you’ll need to park your travel trailer somewhere when it isn’t in use. Whether you plan to use your driveway, a friend’s driveway, or a garage, you need to make sure your travel trailer will fit.
Additionally, some campsites restrict the size of travel trailers that are allowed to park at their facility. You’ll need to ensure yours fits before you show up and attempt to park. This is especially true when you and your family are headed to an older trailer park that was built when trailers were much smaller.
Towing Safety
Then, you will likely want to tow your travel trailer places, correct? After all, that’s why you bought it! But to be able to tow it, you need to know how wide it is compared to your vehicle doing the towing.
While most trucks fit most places on the road these days, there is a chance you will come to a tunnel too small for a wide travel trailer. The most famous place where this occurs is in Mt. Zion, Utah, where trailers and RVs have to wait in a line and take turns to go through tunnels.
Furnishings
The least important, but still a reason, is you need to know the width of your travel trailer in order to furnish it. The last thing you want to do is buy an RV recliner or table that doesn’t fit in your trailer!
It’s best to purchase the trailer first before you begin amassing furnishings, as you never know what size trailer you may end up falling in love with.
Related >> How to Level a Travel Trailer
When You Should Measure Your Travel Trailer
Buying a travel trailer from a dealer or store in your state won’t require you to measure it yourself because, in this case, the measurements of the travel trailer will be posted and are trustworthy. Plus, most trailer sales stores only sell trailers that are legal in their state.
Are you buying a travel trailer second-hand? Then you should definitely want to measure it yourself before you buy. Not because you don’t trust the person selling it to you, but because they may not know, or they may have purchased it in another state where that width is legal.
Once you measure your travel trailer, feel free to write down the dimensions and keep them with your paperwork for the trailer in case you need to know its dimensions sometime.
Is a Smaller Width Travel Trailer Better?
Thinking about all the regulations and campsite restrictions, you may need to be aware of might have you asking if having a smaller travel trailer is better. The truth is, it depends on your family and lifestyle.
While a smaller travel trailer might be easier to tow, it does have less space, which can leave a larger family feeling a bit cramped. But if you don’t have an extra spot near your garage for an 8′ travel trailer, then one of the 6′ wide teardrop travel trailers might be your only option.
Either way, we can’t say for sure which is better for you, just that you should shop around a bit and check out travel trailers of different widths!
Final Thoughts on Travel Trailer Width
Overall, it is important to know how wide a travel trailer is before you buy it to ensure you can legally drive it in your state and visit the favorite campsites of your childhood. While travel trailers can be anywhere from 6’-8’6” in width, remember that the larger ones may be more difficult to store, while smaller ones may not fit our whole family.
Take the time to explore different travel trailer widths to find the one that is perfect for you!
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