Towable Travel Trailers vs Motorhomes

There are several different kinds of RVs on the market and each style has been designed to cater to a different kind of need. As your local RV dealer, we at Herold Trailer Sales regularly come across clients who aren’t sure of what type of RV to get. If you’re wondering whether you should get a towable RV or a motorhome, read on to get some clarity. For any additional help, come to our location in Indianola, IA and have a chat with our helpful staff. We also welcome all the good people of Des Moines, IA and Omaha, NE.

About Towables

A big part of the RV market is made up of towable RVs, such as fifth wheels, travel trailers and even toy haulers. All of these RVs need a secondary vehicle that will tow them from one place to the next.

Cost

In general towable travel trailers are much cheaper than motorhomes. The most expensive towable models are fifth wheels, but even these are cheaper than motorhomes. Of course, there’ll be a range of prices so you need to budget accordingly but if you want a pocket-friendly price, then travel trailer is the way to go.

Maintenance

With these towable trailers, you don’t have to worry about heavy maintenance work or costly repairs. They don’t have an engine so that removes the more complex maintenance issues. This doesn’t mean you don’t have to take care of your travel trailer, just that it’ll need less attention than a motorhome.

Choices

The towable RV market has more options than the motorhomes one. You’ll have many more models to choose from. You can get models that accommodate just two people and have only the basic features or you can opt for a model that can accommodate camping parties in double digits and have the latest accessories and features. There’s a better chance of you finding a model that has exactly what you want.

Secondary Vehicle

While motorhomes are bulky and difficult to get around, travel trailers give you the option of making your daily runs in your tow vehicle. You can’t take your motorhome or trailer out for errands, which puts motorhome owners at a disadvantage as they don’t have a secondary vehicle with them. With a travel trailer, you simply unhitch the vehicles and be on your merry way.

About Motorhomes

The plus point of motorhomes is that, unlike towable RVs, they have their own drivetrain and fuel source. This means you don’t have to hitch two vehicles together, you can simply get into your motorhome and be on your way to your destination.

Durability

Motorhomes have the advantage over towable RVs when it comes to long-term performance. They’re built to accommodate the engine, which makes them hardier. Even the features inside motorhomes are often sturdier than the ones in their towable counterparts. This can make motorhomes more comfortable than towable trailers. 

Easy to Use

Because your motorhome has fewer moving parts, traveling becomes easier. When you arrive at a campsite, you’ll have less setting up to do. The whole process gets easier with automatic levelers, onboard generators and more. This helps cut down the time you spend setting up and gives you more time to relax or go out exploring.

Comfort

If you talk to a motorhome owner, you’ll probably hear about comfortable a second home it is. That’s not to say towable trailers aren’t comfy; motorhomes just come with some of the best and latest amenities, especially if you choose a large, luxury model. You’ll get a wider range of features, from comfortable furniture to multiple entertainment centers to slide-outs that help maximize space utilization.

Fuel Economy

When it comes to fuel, it can be tough to compare towable travel trailers with motorhomes. There isn’t necessarily a winner between the two because their differences make them hard to compare. You’ll want to consider how much traveling you’ll be doing and how far you’ll go and look into the options that make the most sense for your needs.

Now that you know a bit more about towable travel trailers and motorhomes, come on down to Herold Trailer Sales in Indianola, IA to take a tour of our inventory. We also cover the areas of Des Moines, IA and Omaha, NE.