What Features to Look for in a Travel Trailer

RVing is becoming increasingly popular, with more RVs being sold every year.

The majority of RVs being sold, and the most popular RV class overall, are Travel Trailers.

With several hundred models to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect floorplan and feature set to meet your needs.

Here are some features to look for in your next travel trailer.

A Backup Camera (or Backup Camera Prep)

Maneuvering your Travel Trailer can be one of the more challenging skills to learn as you start to RV. One of the trickiest situations you’ll run into is backing your camper into your campsite.

A backup camera is invaluable when it comes to perfectly positioning your rig. You’ll be able to see any obstacles in your way and make sure your Travel Trailer is in the ideal position. (That said, whenever possible, use a spotter to help as you’re backing up. The spotter will be able to see not only behind the trailer, but can also check each side.)

Backup camera prep usually means there’s a plate to mount the camera and lines run for power and video, making camera installation a much easier process.

Some systems will let you run the camera even while traveling forward. This lets you keep an eye on traffic and can make changing lanes easier as you travel.

A Power Tongue Jack

A tongue jack is a key feature when hitching and unhitching your trailer from your truck.

It’s also one of the most important pieces when you’re leveling your trailer front to back at your campsite.

For decades, this was done with a hand crank. Not exactly what you want to be doing after hours on the road.

A power tongue jack turns this into a push button process, making campsite setup happen much more quickly.

But why stop at a power tongue jack, when you can also get…

Power Stabilizing Jacks

Another campsite setup process that is still often done with a hand crank, or at times a power drill.

Stabilizing jacks keep a Travel Trailer from rocking back and forth when at the campsite.

Instead of relying on the wheels and suspension, along with the tongue jack, to keep the trailer from rocking, stabilizing jacks give another four points of contact with the ground.

Power stabilizing jacks deploy at the push of a button, again, making your campsite setup easier. Exactly what you need after a few hours on the road.

Smartphone/Tablet Control

Tired of walking over to various panels to control the various systems in your RV?

A central control system via Smartphone or Tablet is increasingly common in newer travel trailers.

These let you adjust everything from the HVAC systems to the power stabilizing jacks above to your slideouts.

Imagine extending your slides while actually watching them move, instead of relying on a spotter to make sure you don’t hit the picnic table at your campsite.

WiFi Range Extender

If you camp often enough, you’re going to eventually end up experiencing some inclement weather.

When the whole family is cooped up in a Travel Trailer at the campground for an extended period of time—pool closed, no jumping pillow, trails too muddy to hike—nothing calms the family down like a little old-fashioned WiFi.

Unfortunately, most campgrounds don’t have great WiFi coverage. A WiFi range extender can help you reach those access points when you’re a little farther away than you might hope.

The feature set in new RVs is getting better and better. Look for some of these options in your next Travel Trailer and your camping experience will be even more relaxing.

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