Towable RVs like 5th wheels and travel trailers can weigh up to 10,000 pounds or more. In cases like this, you will need a heavy-duty truck to haul them around, and these trucks can be very expensive. If you already own a half-ton truck, then towing a 10,000-pound plus travel trailer will not be an issue for you. However, towing a lightweight trailer can make things much more manageable. Lightweight travel trailers can be towed by weaker vehicles like an SUV without any issue and allow more people to enjoy RV-ing without committing to an expensive pick-up truck.
When people talk about lightweight RVs, they are referring to RVs that are a fraction of the average weight for their class. For example, the average weight of a 5th wheel RV is around 12,500 lbs, but lightweight 5th wheels weigh around 8,000 to 9,000 lbs. It’s a little different for travel trailers due to the sheer number of travel trailer models. Some travel trailers can weigh 9,000 to 10,000 pounds–however, the average travel trailer weighs around 6,000 to 7,000 lbs, and anything under 6,000 lbs is considered a lightweight trailer.
If you are interested in lightweight travel trailers, you might be asking what some good examples are. Luckily, we have done a ton of research into the topic and have come up with a list of 10 amazing lightweight travel trailers.
We believe these eight trailers stand above the rest for lightweight travel trailers.
- Forest River Wolf Pup 16 HE
- Heartland North Trail 22 FBS
- Keystone Passport SL Series 189 RBWE
- Lance 2285
- Coachmen Freedom Express 192 RBS
- Crossroad Zinger Lite 18 DS
- Jayco Jay Feather 22 RB
- Winnebago Micro Minnie 1800 BH
These travel trailers all have a dry weight of lower than 6,000 lbs and can be comfortably towed by pick-up trucks or SUVs. These travel trailers are not in any particular order, and they are all fantastic examples of what you should be looking for in a lightweight travel trailer.
As you continue to read this article, we will discuss some of the pros and cons associated with lightweight travel trailers. We will also provide insight into some of the trailers’ essential features on our list and links to each trailer if you want to have a 3D view of their interior.
Are Lightweight Travel Trailers Worth It?
When it comes to lightweight travel trailers, there are some upsides and downsides that you should know about. First off, we should discuss the benefits you should expect with lightweight travel trailers.
One of the most important benefits you will gain from owning a lightweight travel trailer is the wider variety of towing vehicles you can use. You can use anything from a four-foor sedan upward.
Another benefit you gain from lightweight travel trailers is the more effortless towing experience. Especially because towing can still be a daunting task even for the most experienced towers. The heavier the trailer, the more difficult it is to maneuver and control on the road.
The last benefit we want to mention is the price to use and purchase. Lightweight travel trailers have an improved fuel economy over their heavier counterparts. In general, towing anything will make your tow vehicle consume more gas due to the increased weight. However, the less weight they are pulling, the less gas your vehicle will use. Lightweight travel trailers are always a less expensive option for RV-ing.
There are a few things you need to keep in mind when it comes to downsides, with the most essential being trailer sway. Trailer sway happens when a side force like wind causes the trailer to move side to side. This can be exceptionally dangerous if you do not take control of your RV quickly. All towable RVs are susceptible to trailer sway–however, lightweight trailers are more susceptible to trailer sway from high wind speeds and blow wind than heavier options.
Another downside to lightweight trailers is their decreased carrying capacity. They are smaller and thus have less space for amenities, storage, and living space.
Finally, lightweight travel trailers are a pretty popular option for towable RVs. Unfortunately, some companies will take shortcuts to make their trailers lightweight models. These companies will often produce lightweight trailers with poor designs or use less than desirable materials to cut down on weight.
8 Fantastic Travel Trailers Under 6,000 Pounds
Now that you know the benefits and the downsides of lightweight travel trailers, it’s time to discuss some of the best options on the market.
You should know that each of the travel trailers on our list is under 6,000 lbs, but that only counts for the dry weight.
Forest River Wolf Pup 16 HE
The Wolf Pup is one of Forest River’s more popular lightweight trailers. This model features nine different floor plans that are all under 6,000 lbs. However, if we were to pick a favorite, it would be the 16 HE because of its excellent use of space.
One of the best features of this floor plan is the sheer amount of interior storage space. Nearly all of the trailer’s interior is lined with overhead cabinets, which provides versatility and function.
The kitchen is also a great selling point for this floor plan. It comes with a microwave, deep-basin sink, two-burner stove, and a 15 cubic foot refrigerator, which is enormous for a trailer this size. This floor plan comes with a jack-knife sofa and dinette, which can transform into two additional beds if you have company. Including the queen-sized bed, this trailer can sleep up to four people.
- Exterior Length: 22′ 6″
- Exterior Height: 10′ 6″
- Unloaded Vehicle Weight: 3,309 lbs
- Cargo Carrying Capacity: 611 lbs
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 3,920 lbs
- Hitch Weight: 420 lbs
- Fresh Water Storage: 26 Gallons
- Gray Water Storage: 23 Gallons
- Black Water Storage: 23 Gallons
- Sleeping Capacity: Up to 4
Heartland North Trail 22 FBS
The North Trail is Heartland’s ultra-lite model, and like the Wolf Pup, it offers a lot of floor plans, but our favorite is the 22 FBS. This lightweight trailer features numerous large windows, which lets in a ton of natural light. With the excellent placement of the u-shaped dinette and sleeper sofa, you can see amazing views while experiencing great comfort.
This trailer also has a fantastic amount of walking space, which makes this trailer feel less cramped. This trailer features a kitchen with increased counter space, a two-basin sink, a three-burner stove, a microwave, an oven, and a 12 cubic foot refrigerator. Finally, the 22 FBS comes with a full bath, which features a massive walk-in shower for a trailer this size.
- Exterior Length: 29′ 5″
- Exterior Height: 11′ 4″
- Unloaded Vehicle Weight: 5,954 lbs
- Cargo Carrying Capacity: 1,646 lbs
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 7,632 lbs
- Hitch Weight: 632 lbs
- Fresh Water Storage: 45 Gallons
- Gray Water Storage: 40 Gallons
- Black Water Storage: 40 Gallons
- Sleeping Capacity: Up to 6
Keystone Passport SL Series 189 RBWE
The Passport SL Series is Keystone’s lightest travel trailer model, and the 189 RBWE is the lightest. This travel trailer is exceptional thanks to its murphy bed, which hides behind the sofa. The murphy bed allows this small trailer to come with some improved amenities like a larger kitchen and bathroom. Without the murphy bed, this trailer would not have room for a sofa, which provides additional seating options.
The kitchen is the largest yet and comes with more counter space than the North Trail. The refrigerator is also the largest one yet and has 18 cubic feet of storage space. With the addition of pass-through storage, an outdoor kitchen, and a large full bathroom, this trailer comes with everything you need in a small package.
- Exterior Length: 23′ 1″
- Exterior Height: 10′ 2″
- Unloaded Vehicle Weight: 4,660 lbs
- Cargo Carrying Capacity: 1,770 lbs
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 6,430 lbs
- Hitch Weight: 490 lbs
- Fresh Water Storage: 60 Gallons
- Gray Water Storage: 38 Gallons
- Black Water Storage: 38 Gallons
- Sleeping Capacity: Up to 4
Lance 2285
Lance is an RV company famous for its high-quality lightweight travel trailers. Thanks to the rear kitchen layout, the 2285 model is our favorite, which provides more space for the living room and other amenities. This kitchen comes with ample counter space that rivals the previous trailer on our list and also includes a three-burner stove, an oven, a microwave, a deep-basin sink, and tons of storage.
Some of the other things we like about this trailer are the u-shaped dinette and the massive walk-in shower. The U-shaped dinette is surrounded by three large windows, which can provide tons of natural light and great scenery while enjoying a meal. Furthermore, the dinette can turn into an additional bed if you need it.
- Exterior Length: 27′ 5″
- Exterior Height: 10′ 5″
- Unloaded Vehicle Weight: 5,775 lbs
- Cargo Carrying Capacity: 2,225 lbs
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 8,000 lbs
- Hitch Weight: 785 lbs
- Fresh Water Storage: 45 Gallons
- Gray Water Storage: 80 Gallons
- Black Water Storage: 40 Gallons
- Sleeping Capacity: Up to 6
Coachmen Freedom Express 192 RBS
The Freedom Express line of travel trailers is Coachmen’s take on the lightweight travel trailer game, and the 192 RBS is a fantastic example of what you can find. The best feature of this travel trailer is its excellent use of space. While we think this layout could be better with a murphy bed, this floor plan is still a great choice.
The queen-sized bed takes up a majority of the interior space, but it is extremely comfortable and is lined with storage options, including two wardrobes, under-bed storage cabinets, and numerous overhead cabinets. A freestanding table that you can position in front of the sofa makes for an excellent makeshift dinette.
- Exterior Length: 22′ 5″
- Exterior Height: 10′ 7″
- Unloaded Vehicle Weight: 4,418 lbs
- Cargo Carrying Capacity: 1,582 lbs
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 6,000 lbs
- Hitch Weight: 490 lbs
- Fresh Water Storage: 50 Gallons
- Gray Water Storage: 35 Gallons
- Black Water Storage: 35 Gallons
- Sleeping Capacity: Up to 4
Crossroad Zinger Lite 18 DS
The Zinger Lite is the go-to lightweight travel trailer option from Crossroads. The best feature of this model is the incredible amount of walking space thanks to this trailer’s large slide-out, which houses the sofa and dinette. The U-shaped dinette and the jack-knife sofa can both change into two additional beds for extra sleeping space, which is always a plus.
The Zinger Lite also comes with a small but well-equipped kitchen. In the kitchen, you will find a large sink that comes with a cover to increase counter space. There is also a two-burner stove, an oven, and a 12 cubic foot refrigerator. Finally, this trailer sports a half-bath, which boasts a large tub and shower combo.
- Exterior Length: 22′ 6″
- Exterior Height: 10′ 3″
- Unloaded Vehicle Weight: 4,442 lbs
- Cargo Carrying Capacity: 1,258 lbs
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 5,700 lbs
- Hitch Weight: 606 lbs
- Fresh Water Storage: 43 Gallons
- Gray Water Storage: 30 Gallons
- Black Water Storage: 30 Gallons
- Sleeping Capacity: Up to 6
Jayco Jay Feather 22 RB
Jayco is a fantastic RV brand that boasts high-quality and low-priced RVs, and the Jay Feather is one of their top-selling models. However, the most impressive feature of the 22 RB is the massive walk-in pantry and the ample storage space in the kitchen. The pantry is large enough to store all of your dry foods, and the numerous overhead cabinets and drawers are perfect for storing your dishes and utensils. The kitchen has a decent amount of counter space, a large 14 cubic foot refrigerator, and all of the essential appliances you need to cook a delicious meal.
This floor plan also comes with a spacious bathroom which has tons of storage space and a walk-in shower. With the inclusion of a 19-foot awning, outdoor TV hookups, and an outside kitchen, this RV allows you to prepare meals and enjoy them outside when the weather is nice.
- Exterior Length: 27′ 9″
- Exterior Height: 10′ 1″
- Unloaded Vehicle Weight: 5,530 Lbs
- Cargo Carrying Capacity: 1,220 lbs
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 6,750 lbs
- Hitch Weight: 695 lbs
- Fresh Water Storage: 55 Gallons
- Gray Water Storage: 30.5 Gallons
- Black Water Storage: 30.5 Gallons
- Sleeping Capacity: Up to 3
Winnebago Micro Minnie 1800 BH
Winnebago is a reputable RV brand that has been around since the beginning, and the Micro Minnie is their latest lightweight travel trailer option. This model features ten different floor plans, all under 6,000 lbs, but we decided to include the 1800 BH floor plan on our list to show you that you can find some lightweight travel trailers with a bunkhouse.
This RV is very cramped and is best used to retreat from bad weather or to sleep for the night. However, the best feature is the addition of a bunkhouse for your kids to sleep in. On the opposite end of the queen-sized bed is a bunk bed, which has two single-sized beds perfect for children. Furthermore, if you need an extra bed, you can lower the dinette table to allow for one more person to sleep in.
- Exterior Length: 21′ 11″
- Exterior Height: 10′ 5″
- Unloaded Vehicle Weight: 3,788 lbs
- Cargo Carrying Capacity: 1,212 lbs
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 5,000 lbs
- Hitch Weight: 400 lbs
- Fresh Water Storage: 31 Gallons
- Gray Water Storage: 25 Gallons
- Black Water Storage: 25 Gallons
- Sleeping Capacity: Up to 5
Final Thoughts
Lightweight travel trailers are a great way to get into the RV hobby. They are less expensive and more fuel-efficient than larger and heavier models. Lightweight trailers are easier to tow, making them a good option for those new to towing. While there are some downsides, we believe they are not significant enough to turn people away from lightweight trailers. As this article ends, we hope that our list of lightweight travel trailers has given you some insight into what you should look for in these types of travel trailers.
