Susan and I considered selling our Class C RV and living full-time in a travel trailer. Our plan was to buy a trailer we could tow with my 2015 Toyota Tacoma. We ended up purchasing a Class A motorhome, but we were close to pulling the trigger on a new travel trailer.
Susan owned a Trail Lite travel trailer for about ten years, so she had some great insights that helped us decide. We will share her experience throughout the article.
Living in a travel trailer full-time probably seems like an interesting and attractive concept for those new to the RV lifestyle. However, it does come with some caveats and unique advantages that are often overlooked.
One thing is for sure: a full-time lifestyle on the road is more difficult than it looks on paper. It seems like the least expensive option compared to living at a traditional, residential address. It also looks so simple. After all, how hard is it to haul up stakes and move around the country any time you wish?
For those who lack the experience, it’s easy to overlook the advantages of portable power, and the disadvantages of fuel consumption or campground costs. In short, much more goes into living in a travel trailer full-time, and your best ally will always be knowledge and the wisdom that comes with hitting the road.
Can You Live Full-Time In a Travel Trailer?
You can live in a travel trailer full-time. After all, people do it in campervans, often turning their entire experience into a video content creation gig. If you ever sit down and watch some of these life-on-the-road stories, there are some concessions that these RVers have to make.
There is also a degree of freedom you simply can’t find anywhere else. If people can make it work in campervans, surely they can do the same in travel trailers. Right? Well, there are some parallels and differences worth noting, but the point remains the same: you can live full-time in a travel trailer as long as you’re ready for a more significant lifestyle change than you might imagine.
Unlike a traditional home, a travel trailer generally requires more routine maintenance, a break-in period, and the occasional major repair. Individually, these issues are not as expensive as a major A/C repair at a residential home.
However, they add up. In a nutshell, there are hundreds of small gains and losses that come with living in a travel trailer full-time. The good news is, that there are several travel trailers out there that are exceptional and tailor-made for life on the road, mitigating those disadvantages while bolstering the advantages.
If you’re planning on extensive boondocking or living off-grid, the dynamics change to a large degree. You’ll be far more dependent on the portable power capabilities of your RV, such as solar panels, propane, generators, inverters, etc. But it can be done, with the proper setup and some trial and error.
8 Best Travel Trailers For Full-Time Living
Some are large and some are smaller, but these travel trailer floorplans are designed to maximize comfort and accommodate a mobile, traveling lifestyle for families large and small.
1. Jayco Eagle 312BHOK
Our Pros and Cons
✅ Perfect for kids or guests because of its private, secondary (guest) room
â›” Entertainment center is located where the open door or kitchen activity will block
- Length: 38′ 9″
- UVW: 9,870 lbs
- GVWR: 11,400 lbs
- CCC: 1,630 lbs
- Hitch Weight: 1,350 lbs
- Sleeps: 10
Living in this travel trailer full-time would be a breeze. The Jayco Eagle 312BHOK is known for being an incredibly spacious option. It has more of a 5th-wheel feel to it than some 5th-wheels. One of the best parts is the private bedroom in the back, which includes a bunk bed and another bunk over a tri-fold sofa.
The kitchen is enormous, though the only true counter space is on the island. A second tri-fold sofa sits across from a sizeable entertainment center and fireplace. The bathroom is large enough to accommodate most and the queen bed leaves plenty of walk-around space, along with dual wardrobes and a washer/dryer prep area.
2. Heartland Mallard 335
Our Pros and Cons
✅ Very large hidden storage area behind the TV, plus extra storage everywhere
â›” Carpeted slides
- Length: 39.7′
- UVW: 8,840 lbs
- GVWR: 9,900 lbs
- CCC: 1,028 lbs
- Hitch Weight: 780 lbs
- Sleeps: 4
The Heartland Mallard 335 is a mid-tier travel trailer that is more than capable of being a full-time RV, depending on where you are. As a three-season RV, you don’t want to winter in north Minnesota. The glass-top, three-burner stove is surrounded by a sizeable kitchen and an island with a large sink.
If you happen to be in a cold area, the 5200 BTU fireplace will help knock the chill out of the room. There aren’t many sleeping options here, but the sofa is a sleeper option for guests. The free-standing dinette with a fold-up leaf option helps with that as well.
3. Airstream Flying Cloud 30FB Office
Our Pros and Cons
✅ The star of the show: large corner office area with all the amenities needed for remote work
â›” TV is in an awkward position
- Length: 31′ 2″
- UVW: 6,804 lbs
- GVWR: 8,800 lbs
- CCC: 1,996 lbs
- Hitch Weight: 814 lbs
- Sleeps: 6
Out of all the travel trailers for full-time living on our list, the Airstream Flying Cloud 30FB Office is the purest. Thanks to a full-fledged office in the back, this travel trailer offers life and work on the road, simplifying an aspect we all have to deal with—making a paycheck. The office isn’t just an afterthought add-on either. It’s well-made, spacious, and comfy.
As an added bonus, it’s a classic Airstream, with all of the gleaming, interior brilliance you expect from an all-aluminum travel trailer. The large interior has enough sleeping real estate to accommodate 6 people, so it’s more than enough for a mid-size family or hosting family members and guests.
4. Grand Design Reflection 312BHTS
Our Pros and Cons
✅ Large, private room with TV prep, wardrobe, bunks, and a tri-fold sofa
â›” Leaf spring suspension system
- Length: 37′ 4″
- UVW: 9,291 lbs
- GVWR: 11,295 lbs
- CCC: 2,004 lbs
- Hitch Weight: 995 lbs
- Sleeps: 10
The second travel trailer on the list that has a massive sleep capacity is the Grand Design Reflection 312BHTS. With enough room to sleep 10, this travel trailer is perfect for a full-time, on-the-go lifestyle with family members, guests, or friends in tow. The theater seating is an optional toss-up between it and a tri-fold sofa, depending on your personal preference.
The private rear bedroom has opposing bunks with TV prep. It’s also easy enough to convert into a remote working space. If you decide to do that, you’ll have an enormous workspace for a travel trailer. For pet lovers, the 312BHTS is ideal, as it includes an exterior leash hitch for the times you need to stay in a campground.
5. Living Vehicle HD30
Our Pros and Cons
✅ Massive off-grid setup that heavily caters to luxury off-grid or boondocking lifestyles
â›” You get a full-fledged, residential-style home…for a price
- Length: 30′
- UVW: 14,000 to 16,000 lbs
- GVWR: 18,000 to 20,000 lbs
- CCC: 4,000 lbs
- Hitch Weight: 1,400 to 1,600 lbs
- Sleeps: 4 to 8
The Living Vehicle HD30 welds together the RV, on-the-road lifestyle with residential home living, while also offering one of the most robust power packages on the planet. This is a travel trailer for full-time living at a steep price. It makes sense when you see what this beast has to offer, which is just about everything you can imagine in a traditional home.
You get enough solar to produce 6kW of power, along with a 72kWh lithium battery and a backup generator. There’s enough portable, green energy flowing into the Living Vehicle to charge every device you’ve ever owned in your life, including an EV. That’s a lot of juice, so boondocking and extensive off-grid living are in the cards for anyone willing to pick one of these up.
6. Forest River Alpha Wolf 23LDE-L
Our Pros and Cons
✅ Massive awning over a dual-entry setup offers a ton of shade for outdoor activities
â›” Toilet is at an awkward angle, leaving little in the way of leg space (watch your knees!)
- Length: 28.8′
- UVW: 5,608 lbs
- GVWR: 7,770 lbs
- CCC: 2,162 lbs
- Hitch Weight: 770 lbs
- Sleeps: 4
To flip the script a little bit, it’s important to include some of the smaller travel trailers too. Remember, people live on the road in campervans, so even a smaller travel trailer, like the Forest River Alpha Wolf 23LDE-L, has a surprising amount of potential. With over a ton of CCC, this travel trailer offers a lot of storage in the form of drawers, cabinets, and hidden storage.
The rear kitchen is an excellent design decision since it removes obstacles in the center of the RV and allows for more counter space in the back. The pass-through bathroom may be split, but it expands the spacious feel even more. You can also take advantage of a large pantry, theater seating, and a huge dinette with its own set of extra drawers.
7. Black Series HQ21 Balcony
Our Pros and Cons
✅ x4 AGM 100Ah batteries, x2 flexible solar panels, and a 2k-watt pure sine wave inverter are standard
⛔ The Black Series HQ21 has a low sleeping capacity—best for couples, rather than families
- Length: 27′
- UVW: 6,733 lbs
- GVWR: 10,000 lbs
- CCC: 3,277 lbs
- Hitch Weight: 1,000 lbs
- Sleeps: 3
Comparable to the Living House, in terms of raw, green energy potential, the Black Series HQ21 Balcony is more than capable of taking you off the grid when and where you want. You can also stay off-grid. The HQ21 is the kind of travel trailer that makes full-time living so much easier, thanks to its robust power infrastructure and design features.
It’s built tough, with diamond plating, a premium suspension system, 16″ off-road wheels, and a 360° jockey wheel hitch. You also get four 100Ah AGMs, a 2k-watt pure sine inverter, an Anderson plug, and two large, flexible solar panels. The HQ21, along with the other Black Series options, are state-of-the-art, and tailor-made for disappearing into the wild unknown.
8. Keystone Bullet 330BHS
Our Pros and Cons
✅ Includes a bath and a half with one being a part of the private bedroom in the back
â›” Carpeted slides
- Length: 37′ 7″
- UVW: 7,278 lbs
- GVWR: 8,600 lbs
- CCC: 1,322 lbs
- Hitch Weight: 800 lbs
- Sleeps: 10
Yet another 10-sleeper, the Keystone Bullet 330BHS travel trailer is a full-time champion for life on the road. It includes a very large, private bunkhouse with double-over-double bunks, TV prep, and multiple wardrobes. On the other side of the wall is an exterior kitchen with a two-burner stove, fridge, cabinets, and drawers.
The base model comes with a tri-fold sofa, but if you enjoy family movie nights, you can opt for the luxury cinema recliners, which are fantastic and comfortable to boot. Another major and very welcome feature is the bath and a half. The kids or guests have their own bathroom while you have yours.
9. East to West Alta 3100KXT
Our Pros and Cons
✅ Nifty washer/dryer prep behind TV and next to double-over-double bunks
â›” Lone bathroom is in the back
- Length: 35′ 6″
- UVW: 8,830 lbs
- GVWR: 11,605 lbs
- CCC: 2,775 lbs
- Hitch Weight: 1,205 lbs
- Sleeps: 8
The last travel trailer for full-time living is the East to West Alta 3100KXT. The interior aesthetic on this one is maybe one of the best of the bunch, with the possible exception of the Living Vehicle. The long cabinets with dark glass contrast well with the cream and tan interior.
Capable of sleeping 8, there’s plenty of room for families or guests throughout, with double-over-double bunks in the back and a somewhat sizeable corner bathroom. With plenty of space and a king bed up front, it’s hard to argue with the seriously attractive qualities of this large travel trailer.
Is Full-Time RV Living Doable in 2024?
The answer to living in a travel trailer, full-time, in 2024, is mostly a matter of personal wants and preferences. Just like anything else in life, there are ways to save or blow money while living in an RV. There are a lot of things you have to consider.
- Where do you plan on going and staying?
- Accumulation of costs, such as campgrounds, fuel, food, accommodations, and activities
- Maintenance and potential repair costs
- You’re remote working status and capability
- General living expenses
- The unknowns
The unknowns are general things that people rarely account for—the sudden, surprise expenses that almost always seem to catch us off-guard. While full-time RV living is certainly doable in 2024, you should make out a list, carefully tailor it to your needs and potential setbacks, and match it with your income.
Are Travel Trailers Easier To Tow Than 5th-Wheels?
Travel trailers are mostly more difficult to tow than 5th wheels. For the most part, 5th-wheels are larger and heavier. However, due to the hitch connecting in the bed of your truck, maneuverability and turn radius are much improved over the travel trailer.
Travel trailers also experience more sway again, thanks to the hitch style. This is especially true when handling some of the larger travel trailers, some of which are on this list. Smaller travel trailers, like the Black Series HQ21, are easier to handle but still won’t trump a 5th-wheel of similar size or larger.
The only area where a travel trailer might have an edge on a 5th-wheel, in terms of driveability or maneuverability, is when you’re reversing. Otherwise, the center of mass when towing a 5th wheel, is closer to the driver, making a 5th-wheel the easier towing option in most scenarios.
The only thing you might miss out on is less space in your truck bed. However, most 5th wheels have a very solid cargo-carrying capacity, so you can make up for it that way.
Are Travel Trailers 4-Season?
Some travel trailers are four season, and if you want one with full-time living capability in a northern climate, you’ll be glad of it. For instance, the Oliver is a smaller travel trailer built for all climates, with plumbing lines between the inner and outer shells, double-hull fiberglass insulation, ducted furnaces, and dual-propane tanks.
If you’re looking for a larger option, the massive, unique-looking KZ Sportsmen Destination is an option. Ice Castle Fish Houses are wholly unique and easily four-season capable. In the meantime, Heartland, Lance, Jayco, and Keystone all make four-season travel trailers.
If you’re on the lookout for a four-season travel trailer, you should keep a keen eye out for the above-mentioned features, as well as enclosed and heated underbellies, premium insulation infrastructure, room for extra propane, and heated, enclosed tanks.
Final Thoughts About Travel Trailers For Full-Time Living
Living in a travel trailer full-time is its own kind of sacrifice. However, that just makes it identical to everything else in life. The difference is, if it’s the lifestyle you want, it’s certainly doable, making the sacrifices worth it, while the gains are exceptional.
The travel trailers on our list are more than capable of accommodating your or your family’s desire to hit the road and see the country, with little regard towards setting down roots and remaining stationary. If you want to live the experience of a lifetime, make one of these travel trailers your own, and ride out into the sunset.
Related Reading:
– 10 Largest and Longest Travel Trailers for 2024
– 14 Best Travel Trailers With Murphy Beds
– Are Fiberglass Campers Better Than Aluminum?
– 12 Best Camper Trailers Under 25 Feet: 2024 Models
About the Author:
Thomas Godwin is a full-time freelance writer with a BFA in Creative Writing, a U.S. Marine, and an avid outdoorsman.
When he’s not writing, he’s raising chickens and Appleyard ducks. Thomas also constructs teardrop campers (attempting to anyway) and kayaks the Blackwater River with his wife, two daughters, and his Dobermans.
