Ultra-light travel trailers include models that pair with today’s smaller towing vehicles and active family lifestyles.
By Bruce W. Smith
March-April 2026
Not every RVer has a full-size pickup or SUV to tow a travel trailer. In fact, a growing trend suggests that those trying out the wonderful world of RVing want to use their current mid-size pickup, car, van, crossover, or small SUV as their primary towing vehicle. That’s a smart financial move, in my opinion.
When moving from camping in a tent or small teardrop trailer to the next level, it’s possible to find an RV with more conveniences — indoor bathroom, galley, bedroom, etc. — whose weight remains under the maximum towing capacities of smaller vehicles.
A weight-carrying hitch is typically used with lightweight trailers.
More often than not, the towing capacity of those smaller vehicles is limited to a maximum gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of less than 5,000 pounds. In addition, even smaller vehicles are limited to towing trailers with a GVWR under 3,500 pounds. Finding a travel trailer with a GVWR less than 3,500 pounds can be tough.
Travel trailers in this RV segment are considered “ultra-lights,” and they are easily recognized by their use of single axles and an overall length usually less than 23 feet. The small footprint of these trailers limits the basic layout to a Murphy bed or queen bed up front with the bathroom and/or bunk bed arrangement in the rear, or some combination thereof.
Literally dozens of RV manufacturers build ultra-light travel trailers, and every year they keep expanding those offerings with new brands and models. In this article we’ll take a look at some of the new ultra-lights that have rolled onto RV dealer lots for 2026.
(Editor’s Note: The prices shown are MSRP at the time of this writing. Actual prices at dealers are usually considerably lower.)
Keystone Reign 18RB
Keystone Reign
MSRP: $33,765
The 22-foot-8-inch 18RB is one of four new floor plans in the Reign line of ultra-light travel trailers. This brand-new offering weighs 3,960 pounds and sleeps four. It features a midship slideout with theater seating and a front Murphy bed. The unit has a 37-gallon freshwater tank and 27-gallon gray and black water tanks, and a galley equipped with a 10-cubic-foot fridge. Its light weight comes from the use of a seamless laminated aluminum exterior, along with composite countertops, flooring, and walls (no wood/lauan).
Keystone Reign 18RB
Keystone Reign 18RB
Airstream Basecamp
Airstream Basecamp 16X
MSRP: $54,900
When it comes to luxury-level ultra-light travel trailers, Airstream’s 16-foot-2-inch-long Basecamp 16X parks at the top of the mountain. Its 3,500-pound GVWR makes it a good choice for those who will be towing with a smaller SUV or a number of the
Airstream Basecamp 16X
popular AWD crossovers. This trailer’s futuristic aluminum look and aerodynamic shape are instantly recognizable, and the floor plan gives two campers everything from a bathroom and a kitchen to a front lounge that converts into a bed — lots of function and nice form. We love the optional X-Tension Tent, an inflatable air tube tent that doubles the living space when camping.
Crossroads RV Sunset Trail 17BHS
Crossroads RV Sunset Trail 17BHS
MSRP: $22,184
The versatile 21-foot-7-inch-long, 3,288-pound GVWR Sunset Trail 17BHS is the second smallest of the 13 Sunset Trail floor plans. This tow-behind is attractive for families, because it can sleep up to six, utilizing bunk beds for older kids, a spacious queen bed for mom and dad, and a flexible booth dinette for smaller fry. The efficient layout of this single-axle trailer, complete with a shower and compact kitchen, makes it a strong contender for RV enthusiasts seeking adventure without breaking the proverbial bank.
Crossroads RV Sunset Trail 17BHS
Crossroads RV Sunset Trail 17BHS
Escape Trailer 17A
Escape Trailer 17A
MSRP: $38,000
The easiest way to keep GVWR at a minimum is to build a trailer
Escape Trailer 17A
from a one-piece solid fiberglass shell, which Escape Trailer does with their ultra-lights. The 17-foot-8-inch-long Escape 17 has a GVWR of 3,500 pounds, light enough to be towed by a van, crossover, SUV, or small pickup or for those who travel to harder-to-reach locations. This model is offered in four floor plans depending on what size refrigerator and sleeping accommodations are needed. Options are in the dozens for owners to personalize the unit as they wish. And unlike conventional stick-built trailers, the fiberglass Escape 17 doesn’t have the typical long-term structural or maintenance concerns RV owners often contend with.
Escape Trailer 17A
Dutchmen Kodiak 179RBS
Dutchmen Kodiak 179RBS
MSRP: $22,184
Dutchmen offers more than a dozen floor plans in their Kodiak travel trailer line, including a couple that fit into our ultra-light category. I like the 21-foot-5-inch-long Kodiak 179RBS, which has a walk-around north/south queen bed up front and a large rear bathroom with a skylight above the shower. This single-axle,
Dutchmen Kodiak 179RBS
Dutchmen Kodiak 179RBS
entry-level 3,190-pound-GVWR travel trailer provides the basic amenities for a couple while keeping the monetary investment reasonable. A high-output furnace and 13,500-Btu A/C should make the interior comfy during the spring-through-fall camping season across the country.
Forest River Cherokee Wolf Pup
Forest River Cherokee Wolf Pup 14RKLP
MSRP: $29,471
One of the lightest ultra-light travel trailers offered in 2026 is the Wolf Pup 14RKW from Cherokee RV. With a GVWR of just 3,850 pounds, this little guy would tow nicely behind a wide variety of smaller pickups and SUVs. It includes an east-to-west-oriented queen bed up front and a nice bathroom in the rear adjacent to the galley. The 14RKLP offers everything a couple or solo camper needs in a lightweight package, noted Corian Correll, marketing manager for Forest River, including “a sofa that converts into a bed if you bring a guest along.”
Forest River Cherokee Wolf Pup 14RKLP
Forest River Cherokee Wolf Pup 14RKLP
Prime Time Avenger 16BHX
Prime Time Avenger 16BHX
MSRP: $15,217
When it comes to entry-level ultra-light travel trailers that are easy on the wallet, the new 16BHX is a contender. Its GVWR is 4,835 pounds. And according to Forest River’s Corian Correll, this 20-foot-4-inch-long bunkhouse-style RV boasts a distinctly modern exterior that appeals to younger buyers. Its gold solar reflective windows not only give it a sharp look but also combat heat and UV rays entering the camper. “You also get standard features like a power tongue jack, front rail LED light strips, fully walkable roof, enclosed underbelly, and a tankless water heater that aren’t always seen on entry-level travel trailers,” Correll added.
Coachmen Apex Nano 183BH
Coachmen Apex Nano 183BH
Coachmen Apex Nano
MSRP: $38,000
Coachmen Apex Nano 183BH
All Coachmen Apex Nano floor plans have a GVWR less than 5,000 pounds. The 22-foot-11-inch-long 183BH, a single-axle travel trailer with a GVWR of 4,700 pounds, is the newest floor plan in the line. It features a rear bath, rear bunkroom, Murphy bed up front, and a midship bar-style counter opposite the galley. This layout provides a spacious, airy ambiance for young families spending time together. Like the rest of the Nano line, the RV’s walls are made from vacuum-bonded Azdel and fiberglass over an aluminum architecture for a long service life. This floor plan comes with a 400-watt solar system with a 30-amp control charger, a 15,000-Btu air conditioner, and an exterior camp kitchen. Other nice touches are the skylight and the big front window that produces cross-ventilation without needing to use the roof A/C on hotter days.
Casita Patriot Deluxe
Casita Patriot Deluxe
MSRP: $25,996
Tiny. Efficient. The all-fiberglass 15-foot-long Patriot Deluxe is one of the few ultra-light RVs with a GVWR under 3,500 pounds. The Deluxe model features a front bath/shower, a rear twin bed, and a two-person dinette that folds down to expand the bed into a
Casita Patriot Deluxe
queen size. The 2026 model includes bonded windows, which are designed to eliminate water intrusion. Water tank capacities are 16 gallons fresh, 15 gallons black, and 13 gallons gray. The unit also includes a
two-burner electric induction cooktop, with propane available as an option. A 12-volt refrigerator, furnace, and A/C are on the 15-footer’s add-on list.
Casita Patriot Deluxe
Forest River R-Pod RP-171
Forest River R-Pod RP-171
MSRP: $25,933
The R-Pod brand has set a high bar in small travel trailers for years. And with a GVWR of just 4,029 pounds, the 19-foot-long 2026 R-Pod RP-171 should make a nice weekend getaway. The interior offers a well-appointed wet bath, an efficient kitchen, a rear queen bed, and a hitch weight of just 360 pounds. The 30-gallon fresh/black/gray water tanks, tankless water heater, 15,000-Btu A/C, and central vacuum system make this a good choice for both younger families and older couples who appreciate comfort and convenience in a small footprint.
Forest River R-Pod RP-171
Forest River R-Pod RP-171
Keystone Sprout 13RKS
Keystone Sprout 13RKS
MSRP: $29,093
As the name suggests, Keystone’s new Sprout is a line of ultra-light travel trailers. The smallest one, the single-axle 13RKS, weighs in with a 4,200-pound GVWR. This 17-foot-4-inch-long model has all the basics to accommodate a couple for several days of camping, with a rear kitchen and dry bath. Its European design maximizes storage and space. The refrigerator is tiny (just 4 cubic feet), but the trailer comes with an air fryer/convection/microwave oven and a two-burner gas stove to handle most camp cooking needs. A 6-foot-6-inch ceiling height provides a roomy feel, and its 345-pound hitch weight works well with smaller towing vehicles.
Keystone Sprout 13RKS
What Determines Max Tow Capacity?
Look on the driver’s door jamb, under the hood, or in the glovebox and you’ll find a tag/sticker that lists crucial weight ratings, including a vehicle’s maximum towing capacity as set by its manufacturer. That latter number is the result of extensive testing to meet the standards set by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) under what is called “J2807” guidelines. The J2807 testing criteria covers a wide range of targets, including the vehicle’s’ drivetrain capability, cooling on hot days, acceleration requirements, and steering and braking under emergency conditions. It even considers body/chassis flex and deformation at the trailer hitch when hitch weight comes into play with smaller cars and SUVs. Towing a trailer greater than the maximum gross combination weight rating (GCWR — weight of the vehicle, occupants, cargo, and trailer) is considered “abnormal use” and places those in the towing vehicle at risk. It can also void the towing vehicle’s warranty. Ideally, you want to look for a trailer with a GVWR no more than 80 percent of your towing vehicle’s maximum tow rating.
— BWS
Vehicles For Ultra-Light Towing
These popular 2026 vehicles are rated to tow trailers with GVWRs between 3,500 and 5,000 pounds (and more). Note that the ratings apply to specific trim lines, engine configurations, factory towing packages, etc. Always check a vehicle’s owner’s manual for guidelines.
Vehicle | Towing Capacity
Chevrolet Blazer | 4,500 lbs.
Chevrolet Colorado | 7,700 lbs.
Chevrolet Traverse | 5,000 lbs.
Ford Bronco | 3,500 lbs.
Ford Escape 2.0L | 3,500 lbs.
Ford Explorer | 5,000 lbs.
Honda Passport | 5,000 lbs.
Honda Ridgeline | 5,000 lbs.
Hyundai Santa Fe XRT | 4,500 lbs.
Jeep Wrangler Sport | 3,500 lbs.
Lexus RX 350 | 3,500 lbs.
Mazda CX-50 | 3,500 lbs.
Mazda CX-90 | 5,000 lbs.
Subaru Ascent Premium | 5,000 lbs.
Subaru Outback | 3,500 lbs.
Toyota 4Runner | 6,000 lbs.
Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road | 3,500 lbs.
Toyota Tacoma | 6,500 lbs.