Buying a travel trailer for your family involves more than finding one with enough beds. While sleeping capacity is an important place to start, you also want to think about how your family will actually use the space, both while camping and when you’re on the road.
A trailer might technically sleep everyone in your family but still fall short when it comes to seating, storage, or everyday functionality. Before you make a purchase, here are seven things to consider to help you find a travel trailer that works for your family.
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1. Sleeping Arrangements
Of course, you want to make sure the trailer has enough beds for everyone in your family, but there’s more to consider than just the number of sleeping spaces.
Think about how your family will actually sleep and use the trailer. If your kids go to bed before you do, are there curtains or other ways to give them some privacy? In a small space, having a little separation can make a big difference in how comfortable everyone feels.
You’ll also want to look at the bed sizes. Will they work for your family now and in the near future? Are the beds safe and comfortable for your kids, or is someone likely to outgrow their bed before long? Consider whether younger children might need additional safety measures to keep them from falling out.
Another detail that’s easy to overlook is outlet placement. If someone in your family uses a CPAP machine, make sure there’s a convenient outlet near the bed. For kids who sleep with a white noise machine or nightlight, check that there are outlets in convenient locations to accommodate those needs.
When looking at sleeping arrangements, think beyond whether everyone technically has a place to sleep. Consider privacy, comfort, safety, and how those sleeping spaces will work for your family over time.
2. Seating
Next, consider whether there’s a comfortable place for everyone to sit. This is important not only for meals and cold mornings but also for those rainy camping days when everyone needs to spend more time inside.
Is there enough seating to play games together? Is there somewhere comfortable to sit and watch a movie? Think about how your family will spend time inside the trailer when the weather doesn’t cooperate.
In our trailer, we like to sit around the table and play card games when it rains. However, it’s hard to sit at the dinette for too long, so we’ll often change things up. Sometimes the kids sit on our bed to watch a movie while we continue playing a game. Other times, we’ll convert the dinette into more of a couch by lowering the table and adding pillows or cushions so we can lounge comfortably.
Think about the activities your family enjoys and whether the seating arrangements will accommodate them. A little flexibility can go a long way in making a small trailer feel more comfortable.
3. Living Space
Beyond having enough seats, consider how comfortable it is to move around when everyone is inside the trailer.
Try to visualize what it will look like with your entire family in the space. Can someone sit down while another person walks through? Is there enough room for everyone to move around comfortably, or will you need to take turns getting from one end of the trailer to the other?
Our trailer is small and compact, which is exactly what we wanted. When we’re all inside, someone is usually sitting on a bed or at the dinette to make room for others to walk through. We’re not all moving around at the same time, but that works for us.
The important thing is knowing what to expect before you buy. A smaller trailer can be a great fit for a family, as long as you understand how the available space will function in everyday use.
4. Storage
A trailer might have enough beds for your family, but can it store everything your family needs to bring along?
Start by thinking about clothing. Is there a convenient place for everyone to keep their clothes? In our trailer, we used to put the kids’ backpacks in their bunks, but that became inconvenient at night. They would either kick the backpacks out or we’d have to find somewhere else to put them.
We eventually started using our shower as a closet, where the kids keep their clothes. It’s worked out really well for us.
You’ll also want to consider food storage. We don’t have a full pantry in our trailer, so we’ve dedicated a few kitchen cabinets to pantry storage. Think about how much food your family typically brings and whether there’s enough room for it.
Finally, don’t forget about your outdoor gear. Camping often involves bringing chairs, a Blackstone, a fire pit, and other equipment. Consider where all of those items will go. We keep some things in the truck and store others underneath the bunks rather than relying entirely on the pass-through storage in our trailer.
Before buying, make a mental list of everything you typically bring camping and think about where it will fit. Storage can be easy to overlook when you’re touring a trailer, but you’ll appreciate having a place for everything once you start using it.
5. Bathroom Functionality
When looking at the bathroom, consider whether the size, layout, and features will work for your family’s routines.
For us, having a sink inside the bathroom was important. We also wanted some counter space so the kids could easily brush their teeth without having to come out and use the kitchen sink. We wanted to make it simple for them to stick with their regular routines while camping.
Our bathroom is large enough to accommodate everything we need, but it doesn’t work well for two people at once. So we have one kid brush their teeth at a time, which works just fine for us.
Think about what your family needs from a bathroom. Do you want a sink and counter space? Will multiple people need to get ready at the same time? Does the layout make it easy for your kids to use independently?
A bathroom doesn’t have to be large to be functional, but it should accommodate the routines that are important to your family.
6. Accessibility While Traveling
One thing you might not think about when shopping for a travel trailer is how accessible everything will be while you’re traveling to your destination.
Can you get into the bathroom? Can you access the refrigerator? Can you grab snacks from the cabinets without having to set everything up?
This often comes down to whether or not the trailer has a slide. If it doesn’t have a slide, everything should generally be accessible. If it does have a slide, some areas may be blocked when the slide is closed. It’s worth checking this before you buy.
For our family, being able to use the trailer while traveling is important. Getting to the campground is part of the fun, and we often stop along the way to have a meal inside the trailer. If the kids need a break, we can pull over and let them use the bathroom or grab a snack.
We don’t have to worry about pulling out a slide to access what we need.
This might not be a priority for every family, but if you enjoy using your trailer during travel days, it’s something you’ll want to consider. Make sure you understand what will and won’t be accessible when the trailer is closed up for travel.
7. Non-Camping Uses
Finally, think about what you’ll use the trailer for when you’re not camping.
First, consider where you’ll store it. Can it fit in your driveway? Will it be accessible when you need it? If you plan to store it somewhere else, think about how convenient that location will be.
But beyond storage, consider whether you’ll want to use the trailer for other purposes when you’re at home.
Could it serve as an extra guest room when family or friends visit? Would the additional beds come in handy when you have overnight guests? Maybe you’d like to use the refrigerator or freezer for extra food storage when you’re hosting a party or having a family gathering.
If you’re able to keep your trailer in your driveway, it can be nice to get some extra use out of it even when you’re not camping. Thinking about these possibilities ahead of time might influence which floor plan or features make the most sense for your family.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a travel trailer for your family is about more than finding one that sleeps everyone. You want to find a layout that works for your family’s sleeping arrangements, daily routines, storage needs, and the way you enjoy spending time together.
Think about how you’ll use the trailer while camping, during travel days, and even when you’re at home. Knowing what matters most to your family will help you find a trailer that fits your needs and avoid surprises after you bring it home.
Is there anything else you think families should consider before buying a travel trailer? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Camping!
