What’s the difference between a camper RV and a trailer?
This is one of the more frequently asked questions we hear here at Travel-Mor Trailer Sales, the leading & friendliest source for RVs & trailers in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario and the Outaouais.
If you’re considering purchasing a recreational vehicle, one good place to start is by defining the different products on the market today.
So let’s do just that – focusing on camper vs. trailers – in this edition of the Travel-Mor Ottawa RV & Trailer Blog.
When we’re talking about campers versus trailers, we are of course discussing the larger category of recreational vehicles.
That means there’s one RV/trailer category we should mention right off the bat.
The first RV that comes to mind for a lot of folks is, in fact, a motor home.
That’s the classic “Winnebago” for a lot of people – although there are many other RV brands out there.
Motor homes are self-contained vehicles. It’s all one big unit.
In a motor home, you have the cockpit up front, immediately connected in the same cabin to the living room, dining room, kitchen – and then to the sleeping quarters aft.
Motor home RV’s are great. They can take you to lots of places, and in many ways it’s like riding down the road in a small home – with many if not most of the comforts right there.
If you’re a couple or a family, for example, one of you can do the driving while the others stretch out and relax in the RV interior.
There are a couple of downsides to motor home RVs, both relating to cost. The first is the price of the RV: It will cost you more up front to buy a motor home. The other is gas: You’ll usually spend more on gas for the RV / motor home than for a trailer or camper RV.
If you’ve got the budget for a traditional RV / motor home – awesome! We’ve got RV’s in stock and can source practically any motor home you may have in mind.
But what if you’re looking for something a little smaller, a bit more manageable, and something friendlier on the bank?
Then we’re talking about campers and trailers.
Campers and trailers are a broad category, and represent a whole world of road travel that is fun, safe, accessible and affordable.
Let’s examine some of the similarities among campers and trailers, as well as some key differentiating factors.
The biggest similarity between a camper and a trailer is that you haul or tow these behind your own vehicle.
That means that, in most cases, all passengers who are along for the journey must ride inside your car or truck while in motion on the road. (the exception is made in some locales for some campers that sit on the bed of a pickup truck)
So right off the bat, you’re talking about limiting the number of passengers. It’s great for a couple, or for parents travelling with 1, 2 or maybe 3 children – although in the case of campers, some can be towed by minivans, giving you more passenger options.
Campers and Trailers are thus both separate vehicles, without an engine that propels its motion.
Campers & Trailers need a hitch and a towing package on your vehicle.
Campers and Trailers both have sleeping accommodations, meaning you don’t need a tent for the night, and they protect you nicely from the elements.
Campers and trailers also give you added storage and luggage capacity, as opposed to the trunk or cargo area of your own vehicle.
With the similarities in mind, let’s explore some of the many distinctions between campers and trailers.
Campers (aka “pull campers”) tend to be smaller than trailers.
Campers also generally are less expensive than trailers.
Some campers are tiny, with a pop-up top and sleeping accommodation but not much more than that.
Other campers are bigger, have a permanent roof, and might even have additional storage and/or other facilities.
Being smaller comes with pros and cons for the camper:
Some campers are bigger than others, and a few even have basic cooking facilities.
There are also campers that fit right onto the bed of a pickup truck. This means they are easier to handle on the road, and take up less space when parking.
Trailers, meanwhile, are generally a larger breed.
Some trailers are just a bit bigger than the largest camper. Other trailers are practically the size of a motor home. So you can tell that we’re talking about a pretty broad category here.
Trailers have pros and cons including:
The best way to see which is right for you – camper or trailer – is … to see for yourself!
If you have a bigger budget and want more of the luxuries that a motor home RV would otherwise offer but don’t want to break the bank, trailers are a great option.
If your budget is a bit smaller – and/or smaller is the way you’d prefer to travel – then a camper could be an excellent option.
To find out more about campers and trailers in Ottawa, why not pay a visit to Travel-Mor Trailer Sales?
We’re a friendly RV & trailer (and camper!) dealer located just minutes from central Ottawa. We’d be glad to answer any and all of your questions about campers vs. trailers, and it would be our pleasure to show you hands-on what campers and trailers are all about!
Contact us today to get started on your camper or trailer journey.
While some might call this a game of semantics, comparing the camping trailer and travel trailer categories might provide clarity when selecting a vehicle for your next adventure. The differences are subtle — but they do exist.
Before we look at the more specific differences between different types of trailers, what actually defines a trailer? The generally-accepted criteria for this is that they aren’t powered by an engine and aren’t self-propelled (and therefore “trail” a tow vehicle). This is different from motorhomes and RVs, which do have engines and can be driven on their own. However, trailers often have much more flexibility and can be more cost-efficient, which has resulted in a boom in popularity.
When we look at the trailer category, there are two primary terms you’ll see: Camping trailers (campers) and travel trailers. Engineers craft camping trailers specifically for the camping experience. Many trailers, regardless of naming specifics, possess the capability to drive on rough terrain, withstand harsh elements, and store belongings in tight spaces. However, camping trailers are uniquely crafted to excel at these tasks and are kings of efficiency and practicality. Many call camping trailers “adventure vehicles,” or as we at TAXA like to say, mobile human habitats purposefully designed to inspire the journey towards and into nature. These trailers engage with the natural world instead of running from it.
On the other hand, travel trailers are built with comfort and often luxury in mind. However, many require external hookups for things like water and electricity, as they’re expected to be used at established campsites with these in place. They are typically larger, with more amenities that lend themselves to someone living within the trailer for extended periods. This is in contrast to campers, where lots of time is spent outside and the trailer is primarily used for sleeping and eating, rather than the majority of your time.
Some would say there is some crossover territory between camping and travel trailers. However, in general, the intention of a travel trailer is to provide a living space that more closely resembles what you probably have back home. Rather than being immersed in the wild, the travel trailer serves up modern living in a mobile environment.
Camping Trailers: Typically smaller and lighter than travel trailers, campers also usually possess a more rugged build for camping terrain and adventures (such as overlanding). These trailers embrace the fact that many people camping may not have access to civilization (at least as they know it) while using them. Consequently, engineers design most camping trailers with solutions for electricity, water, and storage for days on end. In essence, camping trailers provide the necessities, oftentimes elegantly, but do not burden campers with luxury.
Travel Trailers: Rather than durability or efficiency, travel trailers pride themselves on convenience. Most require an RV hookup and take up more space than a camping trailer. Of course, these differences usually mean a more robust power system, more storage, and larger bedrooms. Many also possess well-equipped kitchens, living areas, and bathrooms. All of this extra space and comfort does come with an increased price tag, however.
Travel trailers and campers aren’t the only types of similar vehicles that get confused. With all the slight variations and different names, it can be difficult to keep everything straight, so we’ve summarized a few more common comparisons below:
5th wheels are often a similar size to travel trailers (larger than campers and other smaller trailers), but the primary difference between these is in how they connect to the tow vehicle. Travel trailers connect via a bumper-level hitch, while 5th wheels connect to a hitch that is inside the bed of a truck. This means that 5th wheels can also only be towed by a pickup truck, not other vehicles that most other trailer categories can use.
On the other side of the spectrum from these larger trailers and RVs, pop-up campers are typically the smallest category of trailers. They have designs that collapse and “pop up” for storage and use. This means they can be towed by a wider variety of vehicles, but also have less storage and living space (unless you have a hybrid pop-up camper like our Mantis and Cricket habitats).
As the name implies, a toy hauler’s primary purpose is to store and transport things like motorcycles, ATVs, jet skis, and more. While some have living space and amenities like a small kitchen, this is secondary to the function of storage. Because they can come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, this purpose is what sets them apart from travel trailers and campers.
To summarize, travel trailers insulate campers from the wild while camping trailers immerse them in it. Neither choice is right or wrong — however, comparing these two might shed some light on how each category fits what you’re looking for in your next vehicle.
At TAXA Outdoors, we provide adventure vehicles specifically for those wanting to journey into the outdoors. Our trailers can be important tools that enable survival and enjoyment while keeping the focus of your journey outwards.
Whether you’re looking to rent for a week or purchase for the long haul, TAXA Outdoors partners with an extensive network of high-quality dealers across the country. To connect with a dealer that can help find the perfect vehicle for you, use our Find a Dealer tool. Or, to find the right TAXA habitat for your journey, talk to one of our specialists who can point you in the right direction.
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