You’re ready to hit the road and start to explore…. You just have to decide which travel trailer checks all the boxes for you. If you’ll be living in your rig for weeks or months on end, you may want a larger RV that feels almost like home. But if you like to get off the main highways or just want to save on gas and tow with your current vehicle for a short getaway, you will probably want to choose something much smaller and lighter. Travel trailers under 2,000 lbs fit the bill perfectly and can still get you where you’re going, comfortably, and often for much less.
Small and lightweight, travel trailers under 2,000 lbs offer several benefits. For instance:
It’s imperative to decide what’s most important to you before choosing which travel trailers under 2,000 lbs might best suit you and your lifestyle. Even lighter travel trailers can still be a big-ticket item, so before you commit, consider the following:
Trailer Weight: You already know you want to keep it under 2,000 lbs. In this category, there are several choices, and some can come in as low as 1,000 pounds. Start by looking at your current vehicle to see how much you can tow. (The info should be in the owner’s manual.) Then, give yourself extra room as most trailers show their dry or unloaded weight.
When hitting the road, you’ll want to ensure you have additional towing capability for your gear, clothing, food, water, and other necessities. The general recommendation is to keep the trailer’s dry weight below 75% of your total towing capacity to ensure your vehicle can handle the weight. For instance, if your vehicle has a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds, the dry weight of your chosen trailer should be only ~1,500 pounds. Otherwise, you may need to look at a larger (potentially less gas-mileage-friendly) towing vehicle.
Facilities: If you know you’ll be camping near restroom facilities (such as at campgrounds), one thing you can leave off the list is a bathroom. On the other hand, if you’ll be spending most of your time boondocking or prefer more privacy, the lack of a toilet may be a dealbreaker.
Several of the smaller travel trailers don’t include a bathroom. Others have just enough space for a toilet. This is because facilities take up space and add a lot of weight. You can, however, still find travel trailers under 2,000 lbs with cassette toilets and exterior showers that will serve your needs when on the road, especially if you tend to travel mostly when the weather is warmer.
Terrain: Do you want to take your camper off the beaten path? Of course, your trailer probably won’t be tackling the 4×4 trails, but there are options that provide greater durability with good all-terrain tires to take you away from it all via dirt or gravel or less maintained roads to your ultimate destination.
Quality: Newer companies are bringing innovative designs and exciting options to the market. Do, however, beware before buying. Some of the new companies have stellar reputations. Others may be more fly-by-night operations that are here today and gone tomorrow. Before you put down a big chunk of change, do your homework to ensure it’s a reputable company with positive reviews. Some places to look for information on a new (or old) trailer brand include:
Often referred to as lightweight, lite, or ultralight, these types of trailers are designed to be pulled behind your vehicle and can range from traditional campers to popups to teardrops and more. Keeping the above considerations in mind, some of the travel trailers under 2,000 lbs that are worth checking out more closely include:
Depending on your needs, your wants, and even your preferred destinations, there are several options for travel trailers under 2,000 lbs to suit your needs. The next big question: where do you want to explore first?
