8 Best Ultra Lightweight Travel Trailers for 2019

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When it comes to travel trailers, there are so many different options it can be incredibly overwhelming. Even if you know you want a lightweight travel trailer, so you don’t have to have a heavy duty truck to tow it, there are still so many options out there it can be hard to find the really quality choices.

Fortunately, that’s what we’re here for: To help you understand how to look through the many lightweight travel trailers out there and determine what options you need and what travel trailer might be the best fit for you.

In particular, we’re going to today look at ultra lightweight travel trailers. Once upon a time, if you wanted a ultra lightweight travel trailer, you had one option: Airstream. No longer is that the case, as options now abound for such niche markets and types of travelers as roadtrippers, gear haulers, hardcore explorers, or just general weekenders.

When we say ultra lightweight travel trailer, what we means is this: Incredibly lightweight travel trailers, designed to be towed by smaller vehicles, weighing less than most travel trailers (by some definitions less than 2,000 pounds; by others, less than 3,500 pounds), and offering fewer amenities because of the smaller space.

Their compact designs, however, often offer the most bang for the buck, and depending on what you’re looking for in a travel trailer, they may be exactly what you need. Let’s start with some of the lightest and work our way up to those lightweight travel trailers that barely qualify as ultra lightweight.

Ultra Lightweight Travel Trailers That Weigh Less Than 2,000 Pounds

Hiker Trailer: as few as 640 pounds dry weight

Hiker Trailers are aptly named, as they’re designed to go anywhere you might want to camp, and at much more affordable prices than many other teardrop trailers. Like other teardrop trailers, every aspect of the Hiker Trailer is utilitarian. Even essential amenities are packed Tetris-style. Basic models are basically shells, but may run as little as just less than $3,000; more deluxe models are designed with off-road travel in mind, offering features such as 3,500 pound axles, 2- or even 3-inch steel off-road frames, and even beastly 33-inch tires. But their lightest model weighs only 640 pounds, and even their heavier models are still well under 2,000 pounds.

Happier Camper HC1: 1,100 pounds dry weight

Like other ultra-mini travel trailers, the HC1 doesn’t come with much. In fact, in order to get a bathroom, you need to order it with a couple of add-ons: the dry flush toilet and road shower, to be precise. But, and this is a big but: For travelers looking for something incredibly portable that can go nearly anywhere and who don’t need a ton of space because they’re minimalists to begin with? The Happier Camper HC1 is pretty much perfect.

Officially, it sleeps up to 5. Unofficially, you’d have to really, really, really like each other in order to sleep 5 in it; we think it’s best for a couple or a small family. Additionally, because it is only 11 feet long and only 1100 pounds dry weight, and comes with off-road friendly tires, it’s great for beach camping, dirt roads, and other backcountry expeditions, which is not something that can be said of very many travel trailers.

So is it ideal that you have to order the bathroom as an add-on? No. But if portability and minimalism are your goals, the HC1 is one of the best bets available. Simply order a dry flush toilet and road shower (and you’ll probably want a privacy/bathroom tent, too) and add on to what the HC1 already offers, which is substantial.

Among those features:

  • At only 1100 lbs dry weight, even many small cars can easily tow it;
  • The 100% double-hull insulated fiberglass shell is incredibly sturdy and, well, insulated;
  • The large rear hatch door makes it easy to load and unload supplies, as do the ample storage spaces scattered throughout the trailer;
  • Panoramic Jalousie windows are great for night skies and views;
  • Solar power is readily available, courtesy the contoured roof panel; and
  • It fits in a single parking space and in most garages.

A few more details:

Scamp 13’ Standard Trailer: 1,200 pounds dry weight

Like the HC1, Scamp’s 13’ Standard Trailer is a brilliant little travel trailer, making the most of the space available. Coming in two layouts, only one of which includes a bathroom, the 13-foot travel trailer shows some real Minnesotan ingenuity, as the 13-foot bathroom-included version also includes a shower, beds that convert into tables, storage space in the seats, a gas stove with sink, multiple closets, and all sorts of proof that it uses space incredibly well. For instance, the 12-gallon water tank is designed for use with the bathroom (including the shower) and kitchen. Similarly, the Sani Potti toilet can be hooked up to gray water so there’s no risk of contaminating your other water. And other perks of the 13-foot Scamp Trailer include a stove cover, a microwave oven, a front porch light, vinyl flooring and fiberglass cabinets for easy cleaning, a substantially higher number of outlets and lights than many comparably-sized trailers, as well as roof-mounted air conditioning and heating.

Taxa Cricket Camper: 1,500 pounds dry weight

We love this ultra-mini travel trailer. Only 15 feet and with a width of 6’11” it’s about the size of a full-size truck, and it’s dry weight of 1500 pounds means it’s easily towed. Like a few of the other smallest travel trailers on this list, it doesn’t come with a bathroom, but you can add-on an external shower and portable toilet. (If you choose to do so, we recommend this toilet and this bathroom tent.)

Unlike some of the other ultra-mini travel trailers we love, though, the Cricket Camper is expandable, with a pop-up tent that makes it much roomier when you set up camp. Additionally, it might be the most rugged and badass of all the ultra-mini travel trailers we’ve looked, designed to literally go anywhere you can pull it. And there is an add-on option for an external shower that can come with the camper if you opt to go that route.

Other fantastic features include the exterior storage. Not only are their bumper steps to which you can strap gear externally, there’s also a roof rack system and tongue mounted toolbox so you can take your outdoor playthings with you and make any necessary repairs easily and quickly. As durable as the Cricket Camper is, however, odds are you won’t need that toolbox. Still, having it so easily accessible is plenty nice. Like the Happy Camper HC1, the rear hatch makes loading easy, too.

A 32-inch by 20-inch picture window gives great panoramic views directly from the lounge. Additional storage under the bed is a nice plus, and a pop-up table provides easy lounging space while keeping the cabin from feeling cluttered. The kitchen offers a large counter with a covered sink and 6 large cubbies for prepping, cooking, and storage. The electrical system is top notch, too, with interior LED lighting throughout (including task lighting over the kitchen), Zamp solar inlets (which are pre-wired), and 120V inlets for shore power connection, enough for 3+ days off-grid. Additionally, a tow vehicle connection allows you to recharge the battery while you haul the trailer to your next campsite.

More details:

Light Travel Trailers That Weigh Less Than 3,500 Pounds

Jayco Jay Sport Trailer: 2,270 pounds dry weight

Jayco is a great brand, and this Jay Sport Trailer is everything you could hope for from a small travel trailer. Updated in 2017, this camper trailer has all the amenities you could hope for in a larger camper, but without taking up so much space.

Compact and straightforward, with clean, simple lines, you’ll find it has everything you need, including:

  • 15-inch mud tires for if you desire off-roading
  • Stabilizer jacks, which especially come in handy when parking in soft or uneven areas
  • Double entry steps, which are also retractable should you so desire
  • Clean cabinets designed to maximize storage
  • Stainless steel stove which can be used indoors or out
  • An acrylic sink
  • Vinyl flooring
  • A vented roof (with mesh screening) for those hot summer nights or beautiful summer days
  • Bed mats that come with heating
  • Reversible cushions
  • Plush dinette
  • Propane lines
  • Stereo and TV capacity

And then there’s the bathroom itself, with a great six gallon water heater so you can even take hot showers. That’s definitely an exceptional feature for a trailer of this size!

Additionally, it’s set up so you can shower either inside or out (should you so choose) and includes a toilet and sink in the bathroom along with running water.

United Recreational Vehicles iCamp Elite: 2,366 pounds dry weight

The iCamp Elite is one of the smallest travel trailers on this list, and while it’s short on space, its diminutive size is not short on features. Heavy-duty aluminum tubing, industrial strength styrofoam, and high-gloss fiberglass construction makes this trailer incredibly hardy, and it is one of the few that handles just as well in terrible conditions. It’s also incredibly stylish and sporty.

About that size: If you’re a big person, or need a lot of space, this probably isn’t the travel trailer for you. Ceilings, for instance, top out at five feet eleven inches, and furniture is rounded to fit in tight spaces. If you’re claustrophobic, this isn’t the camper for you.

That lack of space, however, is accounted for by a feature-laden design, in addition to the obvious pluses of reducing your drag (and correspondingly, your fuel usage) compared to more traditionally-sized travel trailers.

Other features include the simple easy of towing such a small trailer, the glossy painted furniture, sweet wallpaper, and an iPod connection for better tunes. And the bathroom itself is one of the larger parts of the trailer, replete with toilet and shower. So if you aren’t claustrophobic, and are looking for easy towing options, look no further. The iCamp Elite is one of the best truly small travel trailers we’ve seen that also includes a bathroom.

Lance 1575 Travel Trailer: 2,680 pounds dry weight

Lance brand campers have a reputation befitting the fact that they’ve been building truck campers and travel trailers for more than 50 years now, and the 1575 more than lives up to that reputation. At less than 2,700 pounds, it’s hardly large, and yet it comes chock full of brilliant touches and features.

About those features? The 1575 includes all of the following and more:

  • An interior key hanger
  • Wall clock
  • Radius entry door
  • Wall backsplash accompanying the dinette
  • Roof vents
  • Spacious three-way double door refrigerator with space for up to 5 cubic feet of food
  • Wall thermostat temperature regulation
  • Shades and screens with all windows, which are Thermopane Euro with laminated fiberglass construction
  • Spare tire carrier
  • Three-burner range stainless steel stove
  • Lots of extra storage in compartment doors
  • Separate wastewater and freshwater systems

All those little touches add up to a trailer that feels homey, cozy, and comfortable from the very first moment you step inside. And that’s even before you get to the bathroom, which is one of the best for a trailer this size.

Not only does the bathroom have gorgeous dual pane skylights, making it a wonderful place to visit on a starry night, but the foot pedal-operated toilet’s heavy duty plastic construction makes it both easy to use and easy to clean, and the mirrored medicine cabinet makes it easy to store your toiletries as well.

KZ Spree Escape Mini: 2,850 pounds dry weight

An ultra lightweight travel trailer, the KZ Spree Escape Mini is highly customizable. For instance, it can be ordered in five different color schemes. (Check out their website for more details on each option.)

With that customization comes a range of bathroom options, from a very tight bathroom (in which the toilet and shower are pretty much right on top of each other) all the way up to a full bathroom in which the shower and toilet are much more partitioned.

Additionally, that range of custom options means you can find what works best for you. Some things are pretty consistent regardless of which option you go with, though: Upscale fiberglass exteriors, off-road package options, KZ’s exclusive Aqualon for EXP tent ends. You can expect power awnings, quality queen-sized beds, and a flip up entry step. Additionally, bunk ends are rated for up to 1,100 pounds, and the self-supporting cable system means no support poles with which to mess.

Other features worth considering:

  • Amish-crafted rustic maple cabinets
  • Cable hookup
  • Diamond plate rock guard
  • Digital TV antenna
  • LED interior lighting
  • Linoleum throughout
  • Microwave
  • Overhead cabinets for extra storage
  • Rear bumper w/sewer hose storage
  • R-7 insulation
  • Self-adjusting electric brakes
  • Tinted windows
  • 12V converter w/charger
  • 6-gallon water heater
  • 2-Burner cooktop
  • 4 or 7 cubic foot refrigerator (depending on the options)

Quick Stats for an example model:

  • ​Weight: ~2,850 lbs
  • Length: 20’9
  • Width: 96″
  • Slide outs: 1 (3 With tent bed models)

Click here for the full specs.

Airstream Sport: 2,860 pounds dry weight

Airstream is one of the oldest and most trusted recreational vehicle and camper brands with good reason, and the most recent versions of the Sport travel trailer demonstrate just why that is. Loaded with great features and name brand elegance, the Sport is one of our favorite small travel trailers.

Let’s start with the bathroom, which might be our favorite of all the bathrooms highlighted here. Not only does it have separate roof fan and venting, but the toilet is porcelain (unlike the heavy plastics more common in small travel trailers), the bathroom faucet genuine Moen, and the sink Lavy. The shower comes with a great showerhead, a retractable clothesline (so you can dry wet clothes items in the shower when you aren’t using it), and a towel bar. The blackwater tank is external to the trailer, too, so should your toilet water get smelly, it won’t be a problem inside the travel trailer.

And the rest of the travel trailer is loaded with similarly classy, high-end features, including great appliances (a convection oven or more standard microwave, refrigerator, and foldable two-burner cooktop), a cutting board sink cover, an Ultraleather dinette set, Moen faucet, LED HD TV and JVC stereo, blackout shades for the panoramic front windows, auxiliary heating and air conditioning, and a great fan for when you simply need air rotation. Additionally, those windows are tempered and tinted, the TV comes with cable hookups, the roof is a white aluminum that helps keep temperatures moderate, and a ZipDee patio awning gives extra outdoor shade when you want it. Similarly, there’s an exterior shower option with both cold and hot water. Loaded with such features, it’s no wonder this is one of our favorite small travel trailers!

Taxa Mantis Trek Camper: 2,980 pounds dry weight

The Cricket’s larger brother, we love the Mantis Trek for its backcountry and off-grid capabilities. At 19 feet, it’s a bit larger than the Cricket, but still fits in a standard length and height garage, as it folds down to a height of only 6 feet 10 inches. At that size and weight (just under 3,000 pounds), it’s still quite easy to tow and store, and the NASA-inspired design, integrated electronics and plumbing, and off-grid capacities mean it’s ready for nearly any adventure you can dream up. Like the Cricket, it pops up when set up as your base camp, meaning you have far more room available to you than you might imagine.

The Mantis Trek is designed specifically with off-the-grid use in mind, and as such, is powered by 12-volt batteries and plumbed for propane. That propane allows for a two-burner stove and water heater, with an included Truma Combi furnace for year-round use. Freshwater tank capacity of 20 gallons and a graywater tank capacity of 22 gallons are both great for a travel trailer of this size, and a wet bath is included as a cassette toilet (4 gallon fresh water, 5 gallon waste).

The pop-up roof gives you both more room and increased ventilation, and the queen-sized bed comes with under bed storage. USB charging ports help you keep your gear charged, and the two 20-pound liquid propane tanks mean you can stay fueled up for cooking and hot water. Exterior features are designed with a rugged lifestyle in mind, including a powder-coated steel frame, front stabilizer jacks, powder-coated gravel guards, a spare wheel replete with all-terrain tire, 16 inches of clearance, torsion axle suspension, a solar pre-wired system, a crossbar-included roof rack system for strapping down your outdoor gear and toys, and a large 8 foot patio awning.

Inside the camper shell, nice touches include the birch wood kitchen, replete with plenty of extra storage, LED interior lights (including a reading light), a Dometic 12V 65-liter fridge and freezer combo, a mesh side screen door for increased ventilation, room divider curtains, and more—including the option to switch up your power sources.

The Mantis Trek is designed to run on multiple power schemes. Not only can it run off of two 12-volt deep cycle batteries, it can also run off shore power with a 110-volt converter or a solar system if set up in that way, and the additional propane plumbing is a nice touch, too, as are the electric brakes, single axle, and independent suspension system.

Fresh water capacity is 20 gallons, with a 22-gallon gray water tank and wet bath inside. Also included is a cassette toilet.

More details:

Don’t you just love the options above? Because we sure do, and we’re pretty sure at least one of them has the amenities you need!