Lightweight travel trailers are great for families who want an outdoor vacation. Unlike their heavier counterparts, they’re good RVs for your SUVs, weigh under 6,000 pounds, and come in floorplans that cater to families.
Finding the perfect family-friendly travel trailer can be a balancing act. You want an RV that gives everyone enough personal space. Yet, having a tow vehicle that has a gas budget that’s bigger than the trip itself can ruin your travel plans.
In this article, we’re going to look into the biggest travel trailers that are on the 2020 RV market, that have an Unloaded Vehicle Weight (UVW, also known as “dry weight”) below 6,000 pounds. We’ll see what their advantages are. The examples examined will show you a broad range of floorplans that appeal to different camping lifestyles.
What Makes an RV Under 6,000 Pounds so Great
Many families in the United States own SUVs that balance maximum seating with fuel efficiency. The SUV is the modern family vehicle. For those that enjoy the RV lifestyle, they buy their SUV to use as their travel trailer’s tow vehicle.
Many of these SUVs have a towing capacity of 7,000- 8,000 pounds. Having a coach under 6,000 pounds UVW gives them enough extra weight to load up the trailer with their belongings without having to buy a larger tow vehicle.
For those that are new to the RV life, these SUV friendly RVs are just as sturdy as any other coach. The development of lightweight building materials allows these products to have durability, but not the weight that comes with it. The engineers that design these units use them with their own families.
The 5 Biggest Travel Trailers Under 6,000 Pounds
The travel trailers we’re going to discuss are at or above 30 feet in length and under 6,000 pounds in dry weight. When you shop around, you’ll find that most lightweight travel trailers range from 25-29 feet. These units push the boundaries to give maximum space for families.
1. Grand Design Imagine 2450RL
- 29.11 feet long
- 5,834 pounds Unloaded Vehicle Weight (UVW)
- Sleeps up to 4
- $32,692- $46,085
Grand Design has always been on the top end of the towable market. Their designs are so customer-centric, you’ll find direct links in their designs from consumer feedback through fine details. It can be as small as a shoe rack at the front entrance or as significant as having the largest bathroom in the industry.
The Imagine 2450RL is virtually 30 feet in length. The living area is perfectly designed, so no one has to sit uncomfortably to view the 40-inch TV. This length gives a lot of room in the master bedroom to comfortably walk around the residential queen-size bed.
A 21-foot awning shades the outdoor living space. There is a 1.6 cubic foot refrigerator, propane hookup for a grill, and cable connection for a TV. For those that have to watch your favorite sports game, you have the perfect outdoor gameday setup.
2. Highland Ridge RV Open Range Ultra Lite UT2602RL
- 31.3 feet long
- 5,990 pounds UVW
- Sleeps up to 6
- $24,970- $31,924
The Open Range Ultra Lite by Highland Ridge gives plenty of space in the living area and master bedroom with its over 31 feet. It allows for a U-shaped dinette and a tri-fold sofa that both transform for additional sleeping space. A trailer this long has room enough for an 8 cubic foot refrigerator as well.
For pet lovers, there’s a built-in pet kennel under the queen-sized bed. A pull out pet dish keeps feeding time clean and easy underneath the microwave. An added convenience is a laundry chute in the master bedroom that goes into the exterior storage bay for easy retrieval.
If your dog has had too much fun in the mud, there’s a sprayer hose that comes connected to the back of the trailer. Cleaning them off is easy with the added docking station where you can connect their leash. Once your pup is towel dry, they can lay next to the LED fireplace that puts off real heat to finish drying.
3. Puma XLE Lite 27RBQC
- 33 feet long
- 5,933 pounds UVW
- Sleeps up to 10
- $18,588- $32,980
The Puma XLE Lite 27RBQC gives your kids their own private space without having to fold anything up during the day. It has two full-size bunk beds with privacy curtains. Whether they need to cool down or need a time out, they have their space while everyone else has access to the rest of the RV.
This trailer also makes excellent use of the outdoor area with its outdoor kitchen. It comes complete with a mini-fridge, sink, and optional griddle that’ll allow you to make a complete meal. To help you from continuously going in and out, the mini kitchen also has a storage drawer where you can keep cooking utensils and other things.
To feed your family, the coach comes with an extra-large pantry and 11 cubic foot residential refrigerator. The large U-shaped dinette has plenty of space for everyone to dine as a family. There’s also plenty of counter space to get everything prepared.
4. Shasta 29RK
- 33.11 feet long
- 33.11 pounds UVW
- Sleeps up to
- $21,742
At 33.11 feet, The Shasta 29RK is the longest travel trailer under 6,000 pounds we’ve found on the market for 2020. Since 1941, Shasta has been an icon in the RV world. The clean design of their current model appeals too many audiences.
There is plenty of seating in the living room area. The sofa, two reclining chairs, and a large U-shaped dinette allow everyone to sit comfortably. Shasta also sets the mood with their LED lighting and faux fireplace.
If you are entertaining, there’s a lot of space in the kitchen to prepare a meal for everyone. When it’s time to eat, the dinette will accommodate all. Once everyone leaves, the laminate flooring is easy to clean.
5. Coleman Lantern 263BHWE
- 30.7 feet long
- 5,971 pounds UVW
- Sleeps up to 8
- $19,995- $29,995
The Coleman Lantern 263BHWE is another bunk bed trailer that allows a family-friendly SUV to tow it. At almost 31 feet, it can sleep up to eight people comfortably. Coleman RVs have a good history of being a solid product that is built well.
One feature people enjoy is having the second rear door enter directly into the bathroom. They use this as a mudroom to prevent tracking dirt into the RV. Parents also like having the rotating main TV that changes position from the living room to the bedroom.
Another advantage that parents enjoy is the closed-in walls of the bunks. For smaller children, parents don’t have to worry about them rolling out of bed as walls are on all sides. Children that need to feel secure will enjoy this as well.
Can’t Decide? Trying Renting One With Outdoorsy
If you’re curious about any of these travel trailers, why not give one a try. You can rent them through the peer-to-peer RV rental site Outdoorsy. This company allows you to rent travel trailers and other types of RVs from real owners.
When you meet up with the owner, they’ll tell you everything you need to know and answer all of your questions. If that particular unit isn’t to your liking, there are thousands of others you can select from on their website. You can rent as many times as you want.
When you are ready to buy your own RV, you and your family will have first-hand knowledge of what RV will be the perfect fit for everyone. We’ll see you down the road.
