Large families looking for a travel trailer that sleeps 8 people are in luck because there are more than a few out there. Despite the perception of travel trailers being smaller than 5th wheels, the levels of innovation that go into these floor plans make travel trailers more than reasonable accommodations.
The last thing you want to do is make a big purchase and end up feeling cramped inside your RV with 5 or 6 kids that got into the hot chocolate packs and your hidden stash of energy drinks. While an air mattress is always an option, it’s not a permanent solution.
Larger travel trailers often utilize bunkhouse floorplans, simply because bunkhouses are fantastic options for maximizing sleep capacity without sucking all the elbow room out. Many of the options on this list feature bunkhouse or bunk bed options, even if they aren’t necessarily located in a private, separate room.
How Many People Can A Travel Trailer Sleep?
Technically, even the smallest bunkhouse can sleep a lot of people if you choose to pack it in. Believe it or not, there are RVers out there who make use of every single space within their travel trailer, sleeping more than 10 at a time.
In reality, some of the biggest travel trailers are capable of comfortably sleeping up to 10 or even 12 people. Somewhere between 6 and 8 is more reasonable and more common, while 4 to 6 is even more so.
For our purposes, a travel trailer that sleeps 8 fits a semi-specific family size that may have trouble finding the perfect option, especially in the crowded RV market. It may surprise you to know that some of the biggest and longest trailers on the planet aren’t suitable for sleeping more than 6 people.
It’s all about the interior design and floor plan, regardless of size. The level of innovation, convertible furniture, slides, foldout beds, Murphy beds, and features of that nature dictates not only the number of sleepers but also how much room you have to move around and live comfortably.
8 Best Travel Trailers That Sleep 8 People
The primary focus here is to find a travel trailer that sleeps 8 while offering the maximum level of style, comfort, and interior space. It’s not enough to sleep 8 if you’re developing claustrophobia! With that being said, here are some of the best for large families. Enjoy!
1. Starcraft Super Lite 261BH
Our Pros and Cons
✅ Fantastic use of storage, especially with the double bunks
⛔ Toilet angle makes for some tight knee room
- Length: 30.8′
- UVW: 5,925 lbs
- GVWR: 7,500 lbs
- CCC: 1,575 lbs
- Hitch Weight: 790 lbs
- Sleeps: 10
The term “super lite” isn’t usually associated with maximum sleeping capacity. However, as mentioned above, bunks make all the difference in the world. It’s certainly not the largest travel trailer that sleeps 8 on the list, but Starlight 261BH is more than a capable RV, with an innovative floorplan designed to accommodate large families.
The double-size bunks in the back do more than just sleep extra bodies. There are also hidden storage compartments, which efficiently ups the ante in terms of available living space throughout. The outside kitchen certainly helps as well, especially if you’re used to a crowded kitchen in the mornings.
There’s even enough room for a pantry, a virtual necessity for stocking up enough food for a large crowd. The tri-fold sofa folds out into a comfy bed as well, and the queen bed up front completes the sleeping arrangements. There’s only one bathroom, but it’s sufficient in size, with a decent-sized shower to boot.
2. Heartland Prowler 335SBH
Our Pros and Cons
✅ Bunkhouse in the rear is its own, private room
⛔ Windws are smallish
- Length: 37′ 8″
- UVW: 8,830 lbs
- GVWR: 11,380 lbs
- CCC: 2,518 lbs
- Hitch Weight: 1,180 lbs
- Sleeps: 11
A larger travel trailer that sleeps 8 should do multiple things at once: offer enough sleeping space for several people, allow for living space in a crowded scenario, and offer up reasons to get outside, where you literally have all the room in the world. The Heartland Prowler 335SBH does plenty of the latter.
Featuring a power awning with LED lighting, an exterior shower, a fantastic exterior, pass-thru storage, and an outdoor kitchen that comes with a fridge, a sink, and a stovetop. Heartland didn’t skimp on the interior living space either. The inside is designed to maximize living space for large families.
Despite the extra space, a sizeable entertainment system is included, an H-blast A/C to keep everyone cool and comfy, plenty of lounging furniture, built-in wireless internet access, a full-size fridge, and even an air fryer oven.
3. Jayco White Hawk 29BH
Our Pros and Cons
✅ Jayco COMMAND, SMART, and CONTROL turns this RV into the ultimate smart travel trailer
⛔ Oven is on the small side for a travel trailer that can accommodate 8
- Length: 34.7′
- UVW: 7,025 lbs
- GVWR: 8,500 lbs
- CCC: 1,475 lbs
- Hitch Weight: 795 lbs
- Sleeps: 10
As the third bunkhouse travel trailer that sleeps 8 on the list, the Jayco White Hawk 29BH offers things that are probably becoming familiar to you right now. The single slide pushes the u-dinette and tri-fold sofa out of the way, doing an impressive job of expanding the interior living space.
The double bunks in the back are familiar as well, with a queen bed up front and a sufficient bathroom sharing the east-to-west space with the bunks. If you have young kids who simply don’t understand the concept of being quiet in the middle of the night, when they have to go to the bathroom, you’ll appreciate the bathroom’s distance from the queen bed.
Jayco also included the JaySMART, JayCONTROL, and JayCOMMAND systems, which essentially convert the entire travel trailer into a mobile smart home, both when you’re hauling it and at rest.
4. CrossRoads Sunset Trail SS299QB
Our Pros and Cons
✅ Large sink with decent counter space and a lot of storage, just in the kitchen area
⛔ Bathroom requires a little sideways shuffling unless you’re a small kid
- Length: 33.9′
- UVW: 6,230 lbs
- GVWR: 9,630 lbs
- CCC: 3,400 lbs
- Hitch Weight: 838 lbs
- Sleeps: 9
You may have noticed by now that sticking with a single slide that contains the dinette and sofa is a tried and true feature. The CrossRoads Sunset Trail SS299QB doesn’t attempt to break the mold here, but this floorplan offers a bit of a different layout compared to the previous options.
For one, the bathroom doesn’t share half of the east-to-west space in the back. The flip-up bunks in the back are in their own, private room, with the bathroom located directly forward. While this reduces some of the living space, the SS299QB went with the idea of placing the bathroom directly across from the slide-out, reducing the space intrusion.
In the front, you get a king bed with plenty of walk-around space still available. There’s even enough room for overhead storage and dual-opposing wardrobes on either side of the headboard. This leaves the kitchen, dining, and entertainment area with a lot of space, an ideal layout since people spend most of their daylight hours in these rooms.
5. Forest River Campsite Reserve 23LM
Our Pros and Cons
✅ This RV includes a ton of storage options, especially hidden storage throughout the interior
⛔ No sofa, unfortunately
- Length: 30′ 1″
- UVW: 6,073 lbs
- GVWR: 7,760 lbs
- CCC: 1,687 lbs
- Hitch Weight: 760 lbs
- Sleeps: 8
The Campsite Reserve 23LM travel trailer sleeps 8 but goes about it in a slightly different way. For one, the slide includes the dinette and fridge, rather than the dinette and sofa. In fact, this floorplan doesn’t include a sofa at all, with the dinette being the primary sitting place for entertainment.
The split double bunks and bathroom return, after a break with the Sunset Trail SS299QB. There are a few interesting additions, however, such as the 45° angle entertainment center that opens to reveal an additional, hidden storage compartment. It’s similar to something you see more often in a fifth-wheel configuration.
The exterior kitchen is here, with all the bells and whistles, along with a lengthy awning and sizeable pass-thru storage in the front. The L-kitchen design opens up the interior living space and though this one is a little more cramped than the others, it’s still a very sizeable and comfortable option.
6. Gulf Stream Trailmaster 285DBS
Our Pros and Cons
✅ Neat hidden pantry trick behind a swivel-open entertainment center
⛔ L-shaped sink cuts back on the accessible counter space a little bit
- Length: 41.1′
- UVW: 7,350 lbs
- GVWR: 9,810 lbs
- CCC: 2,460 lbs
- Hitch Weight: 1,010 lbs
- Sleeps: 10
The Gulf Stream Trailmaster 285DBS went with an interesting feature that improves interior living space and storage. The fairly sizeable pantry is hidden behind the entertainment center, providing families with plenty of kitchen storage without taking up extra space in addition to the TV.
The split, east-to-west bathroom, and double bunks show up here as well. Unfortunately, the exterior kitchen is an option only and doesn’t come standard with this travel trailer. The biggest change here is the double bathrooms. For a travel trailer that sleeps 8, including a double bathroom is a surprising and welcome feature.
The fact that Gulf Stream pulls it off without reducing living space and maintaining a king-size bed is exceptional. The slide contains the sofa and the U-shaped dinette, with an L-shaped kitchen design that doesn’t eat into the floor space.
7. East To West Longitude 319BH
Our Pros and Cons
✅ The folding bed/convertible office space is truly a stand-out feature
⛔ Bathroom right next to the master bathroom could be problematic with boisterous children
- Length: 38.1′
- UVW: 7,788 lbs
- GVWR: 11,335 lbs
- CCC: 3,547 lbs
- Hitch Weight: 935 lbs
- Sleeps: 10
The East to West Longitude 319BH is aptly named as it’s long enough to accommodate just about everything East to West could think of. For instance, this is the first travel trailer that sleeps 8 and includes a convertible rear bunk room. That’s right, it doesn’t have to be a bunk room. It’s designed to play a dual role as a room for the kids or a major office room.
The entire bunk system in the rear is stowable, with everything flipping up and out of the way when you don’t need it. The room also includes an additional end table and a wardrobe. Instead of the bathroom sharing space with the bunks in the rear, it’s just behind the king bed in the front, a convenience in a lot of ways.
The sofa and u-dinette slide-out remain the same because it simply works. Why not? The exterior lacks a kitchen but you still have your LP quick-connect, spray port, a 21′ awning, and pass-thru storage.
8. Grand Design Trancend Xplor 265BH
Our Pros and Cons
✅ An excellent choice for boondocking long-term, with 62 gallons of fresh water and a 78-gallon grey tank
⛔ Carpeted slide under the dinette
- Length: 32′ 9″
- UVW: 6,327 lbs
- GVWR: 7,995 lbs
- CCC: 1,668 lbs
- Hitch Weight: 658 lbs
- Sleeps: 8
Last but not least on our travel trailer that sleeps 8 list is the Grand Design Transcend Xplor 265BH. One of the best features of the 265BH doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that it’s capable of sleeping a lot of people. It comes with 165 watts of rooftop solar power, thanks to Grand Design’s SolarFlex package, which is becoming the new standard.
it also includes a series of quick-connects so you can add more solar panels if you need them. Not a bad deal for those who want to take their families on boondocking adventures. Another fantastic feature is the lack of vents on the floor. No stubbing your bare toes early in the morning, usually right in the middle of a yawn.
The bunks in the rear are sitting over a large storage area as well, so you can pack in the extra gear without reducing your living space. Lastly, this travel trailer features dual entry, a surprisingly convenient feature for RVers new to the lifestyle.
Does Airstream Make A Bunkhouse Model?
Airstream does indeed make bunkhouse models, though the classic brand is certainly not known for them. The Airstream Flying Cloud 25FB, 27FB, and 30FB (up to eight options), along with international versions, are all bunk bed models.
There was a Flying Cloud 23CB bunk option but, according to Airstream, that floorplan is now retired. If you happen to find a 23CB used model, however, so much the better. It’s a good thing Airstream manufactured these models too, as bunk bed options are among the highest-demanded features in Airstream models. With the Flying Cloud floorplans flying off of dealer lots, it’s no wonder.
For the most part, these bunk beds are not designed for adults, since Airstream designed them in the rear of the Airstream where the walls curve in, limiting the length of the fold-down bunks. This is one of those features where Airstream simply compromised with available space by placing a bunk in place of what used to be storage on past models.
Are Long Travel Trailers Safe To Tow With A Half Ton?
It’s not so much that a half-ton can’t safely tow a long travel trailer as it is a matter of weight. In general, a half-ton is capable of towing anywhere between 6,000 lbs and 10,000 lbs. Since the vast majority of travel trailers fall within that window, some of the longer ones are something a half-ton can handle.
There are exceptions. You should consider your cargo weight and where you are taking it. If you are closing in on the truck’s limitations, it may not be a good idea to visit the Rocky Mountains, or the Smokies, for that matter. It’s best not to press the weight issue, however, for your safety, if nothing else.
However, there are lengthy travel trailers out there that are extremely lightweight, and purposefully manufactured that way. Your truck’s payload capacity is an important factor and you also have to be careful about what dealerships claim can tow the RVs they sell. Sometimes, they are correct, but only barely—with specific weight numbers you need to know and understand.
Can Adults Use RV Bunk Beds?
Whether or not adults can use bunk beds depends on the adult. For the most part, sure. Bunk beds are generally long enough to accommodate a 6′ adult. However, sometimes they are not, such as the aforementioned Airstream.
By the nature of their design, most RV bunk beds will be less comfortable for an adult than they will for a child, thanks to thinner mattresses. Most kids can pass out on a linoleum or hardwood floor. Adults, on the other hand, may fall asleep in a bunk and wake up with the world’s worst backache.
Then again, maybe such things don’t bother you. The point is that most RV bunk beds don’t come with labels that read, “No adults allowed.” Some might have weight limitations, depending on how it’s designed. Typically, these bunks are the fold-down kind, with lighter weight tolerances.
Final Thoughts About Travel Trailers For 8 People
A good travel trailer that sleeps 8 people is an absolute luxury for large families. Not necessarily because they are difficult to find, but because they are often designed with more than just sleeping capacity in mind. When you have that many people on board, space is at a premium.
Innovative design features that go into these floorplans cater to that need for extra space, along with the features and amenities necessary to support extensive families. They also have the all-important cargo-carrying capacity to support the weight of eight or more people and all of the gear and luggage each person has.
Ultimately, these larger travel trailers are the perfect choice for families that need the space, without sacrificing comfort and luxury-living on the road.
Related Reading:
–10 Largest and Longest Travel Trailers for 2024
–How Are Airstreams Made?
–10 Travel Trailers With High Ceilings For Tall People: 2024 Models
–How Much Weight Do RV Bunks Hold?
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.
