Can You Ride In A Trailer While It's Being Towed?

Hitching a new travel trailer to your vehicle can open up a whole lot of possibilities as far as traversing the world is concerned. But before you even cross state lines, there are some things to consider first.

For starters, you might want to make sure that you can legally ride in your travel trailer while it's in motion and whether it's safe to do so. Here's our guide on riding in a travel trailer while it's being towed.

Why you shouldn't ride in a travel trailer

Because many travel trailers aren't equipped with seat belts and have a general lack of safety features, riding in one can be incredibly risky. Travel trailer accidents are quite devasting as unfastened passengers riding in the trailer are easily jolted around and hit the walls.

If no impact occurs and the driver swerves to avoid a dangerous situation, unsecured items in the trailer also have the potential to hurt a passenger. A person who has years of driving experience may think that it's merely a matter of using your common sense while driving but one thing drivers often neglect to factor in is the unpredictability of other drivers.

Another factor is human error or a fault related to the travel trailer being hitched. It is somewhat unlikely to occur, but sometimes the hitch can disconnect and leave the travel trailer in the middle of the road; this can be particularly dangerous if it happens at high speed.

If these risks don't bother you, then your next step should be assessing whether you can legally ride in a travel trailer while it's in motion.

So can you ride in a trailer being towed?

Surprisingly, most states do not object to the idea of passengers riding in a travel trailer. In fact, only 10 states completely ban riding in a towed trailer. But because states will inevitably have their own laws, it's important to know those laws beforehand.

An important component before assessing the legality of riding in a travel trailer is defining what you are actually driving. In the event of being pulled over, you need to be able to tell the patrol officer what type of trailer you are in so that they may accurately assess the situation and take appropriate action.

The different types of trailers

We're focusing on travel trailers, but just to be safe, here are the differences between the three types of trailers.

Travel Trailer

These types of trailers can be attached to the back of standard vehicles.

Fifth-wheel travel trailer

Fifth wheels tend to be the same as travel trailers in terms of amenities but are built with a raised front section and have a fifth-wheel hitch. These trailers are designed to be towed by a pickup truck.

Truck Camper

A truck camper is a recreational vehicle that sits inside the bed of a pickup truck.

What the different states say about riding travel trailers

We've provided a list of some of the states and their respective rules on passengers traveling in trailers:

Alabama

In Alabama, you can't ride in a fifth-wheel or travel trailer but can ride in a camper trailer.

Alaska

Alaska allows passengers to ride in a truck camper but not in a travel trailer or fifth-wheel trailer.

Arkansas

Arkansas state law forbids passengers from riding in travel trailers, fifth wheelers, and truck campers.

California

The Golden State allows passengers to ride in a fifth-wheel trailer and truck camper on the condition that the trailer has a door that opens from the inside. Additionally, both fifth wheeler and truck campers should have communication links between the driver and passenger. Riding in a travel trailer is forbidden in this state.

Colorado

Here you can ride in a truck camper but cannot do the same in a fifth-wheeler or travel trailer.

Connecticut

Like a lot of other states, Connecticut law allows passengers to ride in a truck camper but not in a travel trailer or fifth-wheeler.

Hawaii

In Hawaii, passengers are not allowed to ride in both fifth-wheel and travel trailers but can ride in a truck camper as long as they are 13 years of age or older.

Kansas

The state of Kansas permits passengers to ride in a travel trailer, pickup camper, and fifth wheel on the condition that they are 14 years old or above.

Michigan

In Michigan, you can freely ride in a travel trailer, a fifth-wheel trailer, and a truck camper.

Missouri

Under Missouri state law, you can ride in a travel trailer, fifth wheeler, and truck camper without issue.

Nebraska

Passengers are allowed to ride in travel trailers, fifth-wheel trailers, and truck campers in the state of Nebraska.

New Hampshire

Regardless of whether you have a fifth-wheeler, travel trailer, or truck camper that you are looking to make use of, the state of New Hampshire forbids passengers from riding in any of these tow vehicles.

North Carolina

North Carolina allows you to ride in a travel trailer, fifth wheeler, and truck camper and is part of the group of states that lets you ride in all three.

North Dakota

Much like South Dakota, North Dakota allows passengers to ride in both a fifth wheel and truck camper but not a travel trailer; the difference, in this case, is that North Dakota does not require fifth wheels to have a communication link in order for passengers to be allowed to ride in them.

Oregon

The state of Oregon allows passengers to ride in fifth-wheel type trailers so long as they have an auditory or visual signaling device, one or more unobstructed exits, and safety glass windows where appropriate. The law in this state also forbids passengers from riding in non-fifth-wheel-type trailers.

Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, if the towed trailer is a fifth wheel with a communication link, then passengers are permitted to ride in it. A communication link is effectively a means through which a driver can contact the passenger in the trailer and relay any issues or important information.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island law does not permit passengers to ride in a travel trailer or fifth wheeler but greenlights them riding in a truck camper.

South Carolina

In South Carolina, you can ride in a fifth-wheeler so long as it has a communication link. However, riding in a travel trailer or truck camper is considered illegal.

South Dakota

South Dakota allows you to ride in a fifth-wheeler and a truck camper but not a travel trailer. If you want to ride in a fifth-wheeler in this state, then you have to ensure that there is a communication link between the driver and the passengers in the towed vehicle.

Texas

Texas state forbids people from riding in a travel trailer and fifth-wheel trailer but allows passengers to ride in a truck camper.

West Virginia

West Virginia law does not allow passengers to ride in a travel trailer but permits them to ride in a truck camper and fifth-wheel trailer.

Wyoming

Wyoming is another example of a state that outright disallows passengers to ride in a travel trailer.

These are just a few examples, and since you might primarily be interested in travel trailers, this can make your life easier:

States that allow passengers to ride in travel trailers include Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, and North Carolina.

Don't forget that despite the fact that these states allow passengers to ride in travel trailers, they may still have some rules regarding aspects such as the nature of the vehicle and what safety features it comes with.

How to safely transport passengers in a travel trailer

If you or your passengers have made up your minds about riding in a travel trailer during your journey, then there are some precautions that can be taken to make the trip safer. These tips are also general rules to take note of regardless of whether or not you intend on having passengers inside your tow vehicle while traveling.

Drive safely

Tow vehicle or no tow vehicle, you should always drive as carefully as possible. The easiest way to do this is by staying under the speed limit and maintaining safe cruising speeds. This will help to maximize your miles per gallon, give passengers a more comfortable ride, and better your chances of being able to safely bring both vehicles to a stop.

Do your research

Conduct extensive research before setting off to find the optimal route. There will be situations that will be out of your control but doing this could help you find routes that are both scenic and trailer-friendly routes.

Another thing you should do is check weather forecasts and avoid driving on days with extreme conditions. Windy days, for example, are not ideal for traveling with a trailer as gusts of wind can easily overturn a tow vehicle that has been improperly loaded.

Plot your journey

If you're going on a particularly long journey, you should always plan stops along the way. This will reduce how tired the driver gets behind the wheel, as hauling a tow vehicle is quite the task. Additionally, stops can prevent passengers from being tempted to move around the vehicle and or use the toilet or shower while the vehicle is in motion.

Install seat belts

In many states, RVs have to come with seat belts if you want to ride in them, but because travel trailers rarely do, installing seat belts can be a good step towards furthering the safety of passengers riding in one.

Watch how you hitch

Ensure that you have properly hitched the travel trailer to the towing vehicle. Avoid distractions while doing this, as one missed step could have devastating consequences.

For travel trailers, class 3, class 4, and class 5 hitches work best. You'll also need to find the proper hitch height for your travel trailer. You'll probably easily be able to find some guides on how to do this, but if you can't, here are some steps you can follow:

1. Take a measurement from the ground to the top of the hitch receiver.
2. Measure from the ground to the bottom of the coupler.
3. Via subtraction, Find the difference between the height of the receiver and the height of the coupler.

If the result from step 3 is negative, then you'll need o to reduce the height of the hitch. If it is positive, then you'll need to increase the height of the hitch.

Ensuring your travel trailer is properly hitched, and level can improve overall stability, braking, and ground clearance which can, in turn, prevent sway and excessive tire wear.

Know your vehicle's tow limit

This and the gross vehicle weight rating should be something to take note of before you even buy a recreational vehicle, as the two vehicles need to be compatible in this regard. Exerting too much force on the towing vehicle can damage key components such as its transmission, brake system, and tires.

Distribution of weight

In addition to knowing your vehicle's tow limit, you should also know how to distribute weight across the towing vehicle and tow vehicle. In this case, following the 80/20 towing rule is the best way to account for human error when calculating load capacity. The 80/20 rule states that you should only tow up to 80% capacity.

You could also consider investing in a weight distributing hitch or simply ensure that your passengers only pack necessities. If you add too much weight, the trailer can become significantly harder to control, and even a small gust of wind could disrupt the motion of the car or trailer.

Maintenance

Like cars, travel trailers should be serviced. Take both vehicles for regular maintenance to mitigate the possibility of any mechanical failures. This could involve checking tire pressure, lubricating slide-outs, and checking seals,

Can you ride inside other towables?

If the state you're in doesn't allow you to ride in a travel trailer, it is highly likely that the same will apply to most other towables. Passengers riding in fifth-wheel trailers and motor homes are generally most permissible but may require that the RV has seatbelts.

Washington state, for example, allows passengers to ride in a car that is being safely towed by a flatbed truck. So, much like with travel trailers, one should always conduct research beforehand to ensure the legality and safety of their towing-related escapades.

FAQs

What are the most common problems with travel trailers?

Rubber roof damage, tire blowouts, and plumbing issues such as burst water lines, are all common problems that travel trailer owners may experience at some point. Luckily, most of these issues can either be prevented or undergo relatively painless repairs.

These sorts of issues are why inspecting your travel trailer before disembarking is extremely important, particularly if you want to ensure the comfort and safety of any passengers in the vehicle.

What is the best vehicle for towing a travel trailer?

If you're looking for a new vehicle tow or travel trailer or wondering whether your current vehicle would be capable of doing so, then you should always consider the gross vehicle weight rating.

The gross vehicle weight rating or GVWR is the maximum total safe weight that your vehicle can carry. This rating includes the curb weight in addition to the weight of your passengers, fuel, added accessories, cargo, and the amount of loaded trailer weight that sits behind the vehicle's axel.

Full-size and half-ton trucks generally make light work of hauling a travel trailer as they are specifically designed to have lots of pulling power. Vehicles in this range typically have a maximum towing capacity of between 9700 to 13,200 pounds. Popular options include the Nissan Titan, Chevrolet Silverado, and Ford F-150.

Is it legal to install seat belts in an RV?

This is fully legal and highly recommended, especially if you are planning on having passengers ride in a tow vehicle, but state laws require the vehicle to have seat belts. When doing this, you need to ensure that the seat belts you have purchased fully align with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

Three-point retractable seat belts are typically the best option as they are relatively easy to install and are known to work well in terms of safely restraining adult passengers while the vehicle is moving.

Can you walk around an RV while it's in motion?

Even if a state doesn't have laws prohibiting it, you should always avoid walking around a recreational vehicle. Doing so can put you and other passengers at serious risk of injury or fatality. Additionally, people walking around an RV could potentially distract a driver, but this primarily depends on the type of RV.

If the state you are in allows passengers to ride in a tow vehicle, then passengers should always remain seated and, if possible, fastened by a seat belt.

Are travel trailers safer than fifth-wheelers?

Despite travel trailers being the more popular option, primarily due to their affordability, the general consensus is that fifth-wheelers are safer.

Travel trailers tend not to last long as they are mass-produced and subsequently lack overall quality. Additionally, travel trailers generally have fewer safety features, are dangerous with the wrong tow vehicle, have less stability with bumper towing, and require a lot more learning in terms of the hitching process and handling the tow vehicle with the trailer attached.

Fifth-wheelers are significantly more stable on the road and are thus less likely to overturn. However, if the necessary precautions are taken, a travel trailer can handle just as well as a fifth-wheeler.

Can dogs ride in a travel trailer?

Whether you're towing a travel trailer or fifth wheeler, pets can be incredibly unpredictable, particularly if they are traveling in a locomotive for the first time. Pets should always ride in the towing vehicle with you where they can be monitored. If you have a dog, you should consider putting it in a crate, as many canines suffer from travel anxiety.

Final thoughts

Ultimately, if you do want to ride in a travel trailer while it is in motion, then do your best to ensure that doing so is compliant with the relevant state regulations and that it is equipped with seat belts and other safety features.

Travel trailers provide an ideal way for people to bond while traveling; however, they do come with their own set of issues, especially if you want to transport people in them. Owners should be prepared to regularly maintain their travel trailers. If you're no longer interested in having a trailer and if your budget allows, consider investing in a fifth wheel instead.

Don't forget that your trip's safety is largely down to how you prepare yourself and your vehicles. Lastly, always bear in mind that state laws are subject to change every now and again, so make sure you consistently check with state authorities to clarify the laws.

Sources:

https://www.getawaycouple.com/5th-wheel-vs-travel-trailer/

https://www.tripsavvy.com/passengers-in-campers-504228

https://harvesthosts.com/rv-camping/7-tips-rving-dogs/

https://rvblogger.com/blog/can-you-walk-around-in-an-rv-while-driving/.:~:text=Even%20if%20there%20are%20no,even%20result%20in%20a%20fatality.

https://drivinvibin.com/2021/12/08/are-travel-trailers-less-safe/

https://www.motorbiscuit.com/can-ride-travel-trailer-towed/

https://www.allthingswithpurpose.com/trailer-towing-basics-weight-distribution-and-sway-bars/

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