You’re looking to buy a travel trailer. With so many models and manufacturers out there, how do you choose? And how do you determine what is good and what isn’t so good? How can you rate them? you wonder. Driving on the road, especially now during the holiday season, you’re likely to see a plethora of RVs and travel trailers driving alongside you. Some brands are familiar. Others are not.
So which are the 10 best travel trailer brands? Our goal is to provide you with unbiased information on travel trailers and the companies that make them. Choosing the best travel trailer brands is a tough choice simply because the best one is the one that is right for you. Everyone’s traveling needs are different so there isn’t a one size-fits-all conclusion.
This list is a look at the most popular manufacturers of travel trailers, the models they make, and how well they sold or are still selling. We also took a look at feedback/comments we have found posted online in forums and other places travel trailer owners hang out. (See below for our Note and tips for finding user comments on models they are currently using and experiencing.)
What Are The Best Travel Trailer Brands This Year?
- Airstream
- As a brand, Airstream is all about luxury. Producing some of the most iconic travel trailers ever made you’ll be hard pressed to find a more distinctive style. Priced on the high-end of the travel trailer price range, Airstream does manage to provide a tremendous amount of value, amenities and superior craftsmanship. Older models have withstood the test of time and durability. Styling and customer tastes have Airstream making strong shifts in their design as in the Nest travel trailer.
- – The link to the Airstream Forums
- – Rent an Airstream on Outdoorsy
- Grand Design
- This manufacturer has an interesting story. They are a break-off from Keystone. We’ve come across many reviews where Grand Design owners praise the company for a quality product and great customer service. They have a 3-Year limited structural warranty on all their coaches. They are located in Middlebury, IN.
- – The link to the Grand Design Forums
- – Rent a Grand Design on Outdoorsy
- Oliver Travel Trailers
- Oliver Travel Trailers are manufactured by Oliver Fiberglass Products (OFP) Company in Hohenwald, Tennessee.
- – Talk to Oliver travel trailer owners by linking to Oliver Travel Trailer Forums
- Forest River
- Founded in 1996 by Peter Liegl Forest River operates multiple production plants throughout the midwest and west coast. It produces travel trailer, pop-up campers, fifth wheels, and many more types of recreational vehicles.
- – Check out the Forest River Forums
- Gulfstream
- Around since 1983, this brand of travel trailer is well-known and recognized, and provides outstanding quality and innovation.
- – Speak to existing owners of Gulfstream trailers and RVs by visiting the forums right here.
- – Rent a Gulfstream on Outdoorsy
- Heartland
- Founded in 2003 by Brian Brady and a group of RV industry veterans. Heartland RV is located in Elkhart, Indiana. They make several models of travel trailers that are well-regarded by consumers.
- – The link is Heartland RV Forums
- – Rent a Heartland on Outdoorsy
- Eclipse Recreational Vehicles
- One of the largest producers of toy haulers and travel trailers it was founded in 2003. They make over 50 models of travel trailers.
- – Eclipse has no forums for their owners that we could find, other than their Facebook page Eclipse Recreational Vehicles, Inc
- Jayco
- Jayco RV goes back to 1968 when the company was founded by Lloyd J. Bontrager. Jayco blends Old World Amish craftsmanship and innovative technology and is the nation’s largest family-owned and operated RV manufacturer today.
- – To register for their forum click here
- CruiserRV
- CuiserRV is a subsidiary of Thor Industries, the same corporation that owns AirStream and most recently, Jayco. They are located in Howe, IN and make several models of travel trailers and travel trailer toy haulers.
- – We could not find an CruiserRV owners forum but you can try their Facebook page
- Winnebago
- With a history of well over 50 years this travel trailer brands is actually more well known for its motor homes. But Winnebago makes an excellent line of travel trailers. We could not find a forum dedicated specifically to owners.
- – Click here for their Facebook page
- – Rent a Winnebago on Outdoorsy
In addition to the above travel trailers brand we have included additional travel trailer manufacturers below for reference.When it comes to travel trailer manufacturers you are going to come across quite a few of them in the industry. Many build multiple types and styles of travel trailers. A few of the larger manufactures own or operate other brands. For example Dutchman owns 8 different brands of travel trailers and each brand has its own unique selling point.
Like any other purchase you make, often times you get what you pay for and buying a travel trailer from a manufacturer is no different. The more expensive ones tend to have higher quality materials and features, and the less expensive ones may use lower quality material in order to keep costs down. Do your research prior to choosing a brand and model and you should be just fine.Below you will find a list of travel trailer manufacturers. They are listed in no particular order:
Travel Trailer Manufacturers
- Coachmen RV
- This is a division of Forest River that builds travel trailers, fifth wheels, toy haulers and motorhomes
- Dutchmen RV
- Dutchmen produces several brands of recreational vehicles, including Aerolite, Aspen Trail, Coleman, Denali, Kodiak, Razorback, Rubicon and Voltage
- Forest River
- Forest River manufactures travel trailers, fifth wheels and toy haulers
- Trillium Travel Trailers
- Fiberglass travel trailers that has a model with only standard equipment and you add on options and features you want; ultralite category means lightweight tow
- Scamp Travel Trailers
- Fiberglass travel trailers, models are mostly ultralite category
- Keystone RV
- Keystone RV is the #1 manufacturer of fifth wheel recreational vehicles in North America. You’ll find Keystone RVs available in all types and sizes of towables. From ultra light weight travel trailers that can be towed by the new fuel-efficient crossover vehicles and smaller pickup trucks, to luxury fifth wheels
- Palomino RV
- Palomino RV is another division of Forest River, Inc., and has grown from humble beginnings in Minnesota to one of the top 5 RV manufacturers in North America
- Shasta RV
- An American icon in Indiana since 1941, with makers of travel trailers and fifth wheels
- Starcraft
- Makers of the AR-One and other travel trailers, toy haulers and fifth wheels
- T@B
- Maker of very popular style: teardrop travel trailers
- Little Guy
- Maker of T@B, My Pod M@X, T@G and more ultralite travel trailers, also teardrop styles
- Land & Sea Amphibious RV
- Maker of an usual and highly popular ultralite travel trailer made for road and sea travel. This model is based off the unique and very popular German model Sealander that isn’t made state-side. The Land & Sea Amphibious RV is a US manufacturer and distributor of a knock-off with upgrades, due to start distribution in 2017 with a long and anxious waitlist already in place
- Lance Camper
- Manufacturer of travel trailers, campers and toy haulers, has one of the few dry-baths available in an ultralite travel trailer. Their models range from ultralight to medium weights
RT’s Note: It’s important to note that with ALL brands you are going to find loyal fans of the brand and detractors of the brand as well. No one brand is perfect nor without problems. Just like cars. Where one brand excels another brand may not. We can’t stress enough the need for you to research the brands you might be interested in. Talk to other owners, visit the models you might be interested in and ask lots of questions. While not an endorsement of Facebook, there are hundreds if not thousands of user groups of every kind of travel trailer made on Facebook pages. Start with a brand you like or style, like Ultralite. Then search on Facebook for listed Ultralites. These are great resources for your concerns, questions, comments, and feedback. We highly recommend joining any groups you are interested in to get the real picture of how any model has performed with its customers in real-time use.
