Consider the GVWR (not the UVW)
Many RV manufacturers tout the UVW (unloaded vehicle weight) of their trailers. But adding cargo like fresh water, propane tank(s), food, clothing, bicycles, and other camping equipment to the trailer can add hundreds of pounds to that UVW number.
GVWR is the weight to know when buying a trailer for a lightweight truck or passenger car tow vehicle.
Knowing the GVWR of small campers is the key to safe towing on road or while off-the-grid camping. Now, let’s dive into our list of the best lightweight travel trailers for 2023.
The 10 Best Lightweight Travel Trailers (Under 6,000 Pounds GVWR)
Our top small travel trailers for 2023 are listed in order by cost in US dollars, from least expensive to most expensive.
1. Vintage Trailer Works XTR: An Off-Road Lightweight, Customizable Camper
The Vintage Trailer Works team builds custom teardrops, retro campers, and toy haulers in Dothan, Alabama. The 5’x8′ model XTR is one of VTW’s four off-road, customizable lightweight teardrop trailers.
This mini travel trailer features dual doors with sliding windows, a tri-fold queen bed mattress and couch, 30″ A/T tires, and a beautifully designed galley under the rear hatch that’s ready for the best camping coolers and grills and outdoor cooktops of your choice.
All XTRs are custom built per buyer’s choices, starting with 4’x8′ to 5’x10′ floorplans, tailored kitchen layouts, an optional roof rack, awnings, cargo storage system choices, electronics, and more.
Vintage Trailer Works XTR Features
- Hitch weight: 275 lbs.
- Gross vehicle weight rating: 2,990 lbs.
- Unloaded vehicle weight: 1,600 lbs.
- Exterior length: 14′
- Full exterior height: 5′ 8″
- Exterior width: 7′ 5″
- Freshwater capacity: 10 gallons
- Optional roof rack and awning
- Base MSRP: $11,695
2. Riverside RV Retro 135: Vintage Style Small Trailer with Full Bath
There aren’t many small travel trailers with a full bath on the market today. But one trailer stands out from the rest: the Retro 135 from Riverside RV.
The retro vibe starts on the outside with a colorful fiberglass exterior and continues inside with an eye-catching 1950s-style vintage trailer interior.
It features a black-and-white checkerboard flooring; dinette cushions in aqua, red, or seafoam green; and bright birch wood interior walls and cabinetry.
The ceiling is 6′ 3″ with an airy feel, despite being one of the smallest camper trailers on our list. The Retro has plenty of room for a 20K Btu furnace and 13.5K Btu A/C, a full wet bath, and a kitchenette with a refrigerator and cooktop.
Riverside RV Retro 135 Features
- Hitch weight: 140 lbs.
- Gross vehicle weight rating: 3,730 lbs.
- Unloaded vehicle weight: 2,640 lbs.
- Exterior length: 15′ 9″
- Full exterior height: 9′ 6″
- Exterior width: 7′ 6″
- Interior height: 6′ 5″
- Freshwater capacity: 36 gallons
- Gray water capacity: 32 gallons
- Black water capacity: 17 gallons
- Optional dinette
- Base MSRP: $24,317
3. 2023 Travel Lite Rove Lite 16RB: A Versatile and Lightweight Trailer
You will love the new Rove Lite 16RB ultralight travel trailer from Travel Lite. This is the largest in the company’s offerings. Yet, it’s one of the most affordable small travel trailers on the market and light enough to pull behind many small cars and tow vehicles.
The sleek Euro-style design, use of state-of-the-art composite materials, aluminum chassis, and seamless poured resin fiberglass roof are industry-leading materials.
Interior features include a convertible bed and one of the only lightweight travel trailers with a full bathroom (and an outdoor shower, too). RVers love the unexpected space-saving functionality of this ultra-light travel trailer.
2023 Travel Lite Rove Lite 16RB Features
- Hitch weight: 154 lbs.
- Gross vehicle weight rating: 3,500 lbs.
- Unloaded vehicle weight: 2,044 lbs.
- Exterior length: 18′ 9″
- Full exterior height: 8′ 11″
- Exterior width: 7′ 11″
- Freshwater capacity: 10 gallons
- Gray water capacity: 30 gallons
- Black water capacity: 5 gallons
- Optional exterior shower and electric side awning
- Base MSRP: $30,236
4. 2023 Keystone Passport Solo 15FK: An Elegant Small Trailer with a Full Kitchen
Keystone RV’s new Passport Solo 15FK is the smallest of the five Solo Series (single-axle) lightweight travel trailers. It’s in prototype phase now but will be out in 2023.
This ultralight travel trailer is loaded with standard features usually not found on single-axle campers, including an outdoor kitchen, tongue jack, stabilizer jacks, and a 10-foot awning.
This compact travel trailer features Keystone’s exclusive HyperDec flooring (composite and water-resistant), a rear wet bath, a 60″x80″ tri-fold queen-size bed, plus a beautiful wrap-around kitchen in the front with a large pantry, an 8 cu. ft. 12V fridge, plus a microwave and two-burner LP stove. There’s also an outside kitchen with a pullout griddle to accommodate hungry family members.
2023 Keystone Passport Solo 15FK Features
- Hitch weight: 595 lbs.
- Gross vehicle weight rating: 5,650 lbs.
- Unloaded vehicle weight: 4,410 lbs.
- Exterior length: 19′ 5″
- Full exterior height: 10′ 4″
- Exterior width: 8′
- Freshwater capacity: 37 gallons
- Gray water capacity: 30 gallons
- Black water capacity: 30 gallons
- Optional solar panel packages and lithium batteries
- Base MSRP: $34,350
5. L’Air Camper Company Trillium Lion 1300 GT: Classic Styling in a Lightweight Pull-Behind Trailer
Want to tow a small trailer with a small SUV or crossover? This is it!
L’Air Camper’s new Trillium Lion 1300 GT is a great small camper for couples and solo RVers who love the look of classic ’50s styling.
The molded fiberglass, 13-foot, 2,200-pound Lion GT model with the bathroom layout has everything needed to camp comfortably anywhere.
This small pull-behind camper features a 46″x76″ foam bed, two-burner cooktop, microwave, fridge, 12V/110V and solar power, A/C, furnace, hot water, inside shower, cassette toilet, 8-foot awning, and decent storage.
The Lion version has 15″ wheels, all-terrain tires, fender flares, gray marine upholstery, and roof rails for gear racks.
L’Air Camper Company Trillium Lion 1300 GT Features
- Hitch weight: 165 lbs.
- Gross vehicle weight rating: 2,200 lbs.
- Unloaded vehicle weight: 1,500 lbs.
- Exterior length: 13′ 5″
- Full exterior height: 7′ 6″
- Exterior width: 6′ 6″
- Interior height: 6′ 2″
- Freshwater capacity: 13 gallons
- Gray water capacity: 13 gallons
- Black water capacity: N/A
- Base MSRP: $39,500 USD
6. 2023 InTech Sol Horizon: A Stylish, Luxury Ultralight Trailer
InTech’s new Sol Horizon is a luxurious aluminum ultralight travel trailer with a full-width U-shaped dinette up front. The big windows on three sides give expansive views of your surroundings.
The roomy interior has a unique “tilt-forward design” that allows use of the area over the trailer’s tongue to increase sleeping/lounging space.
The Sol Horizon also sports a sizeable wet bath; a luxurious kitchen with an enormous farmhouse sink, commercial-grade faucet, and two-burner LP-gas stove; and an adjacent entertainment center. A 10′ awning is standard, with options such as a slide-out kitchen and solar power.
2023 InTech Sol Horizon Features
- Hitch weight: 465 lbs.
- Gross vehicle weight rating: 4,000 lbs.
- Unloaded vehicle weight: 3,372 lbs.
- Exterior length: 19′
- Full exterior height: 9′ 5″
- Exterior width: 8′ 6″
- Interior height: 6′ 6″
- Freshwater capacity: 28 gallons
- Gray water capacity: N/A
- Black water capacity: 32 gallons
- Optional dual LP-gas tanks and off-grid package
- Base MSRP: $42,539
7. Vorsheer XCT: Rugged Off-Road Campers
From the ground up, Vorsheer’s 2023 Xtreme Camp Trailer (XCT) is an adventure-style off-road trailer designed with longevity and quality in mind.
Made in Utah, the XCT has hot and cold season insulation, a composite shell, aluminum-body subframe, high-strength steel main frame, a full trailer kitchen in back, queen-size bed inside, and much more in a unique, head-turning design.
This small off-road trailer will carry a rooftop tent for added sleeping options. In addition, you can also carry adventure toys such as kayaks or a canoe.
It stands tall to handle the tougher 4×4 trails with nearly 20″ of ground clearance. If your tow vehicle can clear the obstacle, you know your trailer will too.
Vorsheer XCT Features
- Hitch weight: 260 lbs.
- Gross vehicle weight rating: 3,500 lbs.
- Unloaded vehicle weight: 1,995 lbs.
- Exterior length: 14′
- Full exterior height: 6′ 11″
- Exterior width: 7′ 5″
- Freshwater capacity: 27 gallons
- Gray water capacity: N/A
- Black water capacity: N/A
- Extra large 270° awning (Bat Wing)
- Optional exterior water heater and shower
- Base MSRP: $44,560
8. 2023 Mars Campers Mars 15 Deluxe: Off-Road Trailer with a King Bed and Full Bath
Mars Campers is the sister company to Black Series Campers and closely resembles their off-road campers imported from Australia into North America.
The Mars 15 Deluxe is a full-featured hybrid trailer. For example, it has a metal roof that lifts up to add headroom and a rear slide-out adds living space.
This small pull-behind trailer is solid. For instance, it’s built with rock sliders and skid plates to protect every vulnerable area. Additionally, it has an independent suspension to smooth out the ride over rough terrain.
The interior is large, with a big kitchen, four-burner cooktop, fridge, and lots of storage. It also has a wet bath and the rare feature of a lightweight travel trailer with a king bed.
Additionally, the pair of fold-up bunks makes it family-friendly. You’ll love the huge slide-out kitchen and 13-foot awning too.
If you can’t get to Australia to buy it, don’t worry. The Black Series HQ12 small 4×4 trailer is a great alternative.
Mars 15 DeluxeFeatures
- Hitch weight: 320 lbs.
- Gross vehicle weight rating: 5,291 lbs.
- Unloaded vehicle weight: 4,409 lbs.
- Exterior length: 18′
- Full exterior height: 8′ 2″
- Exterior width: 7′ 4″
- Interior height:6’4″
- Freshwater capacity: 26.4 gallons
- Gray water capacity: 26.4 gallons
- Black water capacity: 26.4 gallons
- Base MSRP: $55,990
9. 2023 Lance Camper Enduro: An Equipped and Innovative Overlanding Trailer
This off-grid camper is built for RVers who love off-road outdoor adventures. The all-new 19′ 1″, 4,500-pound (GVWR) Lance Camper Enduro is centered around an interior wet bath with a cassette toilet, a U-shaped convertible dinette, kids drop-down bunks, and a large exterior kitchen under the rear hatch with a two-burner cooktop.
Robust solar and lithium battery technology handles the power for dry camping. Additionally, having 40 gallons of onboard freshwater and a remote filtering system gives you independence.
Back kitchen galley of the Lance Camper Enduro.
The prototype campers have been in development for almost two years and will hit RV dealer lots in early 2023.
2023 Lance Camper Enduro Features
- Hitch weight: 350 lbs.
- Gross vehicle weight rating: 4,500 lbs.
- Unloaded vehicle weight: 3,500 lbs.
- Exterior length: 19′ 1″
- Full exterior height: 9′ 6″
- Exterior width: 8′ 5″
- Freshwater capacity: 40 gallons
- Gray water capacity: 26 gallons
- Black water capacity: N/A
- Base MSRP: $59,000
10. 2023 Kimberley Kampers Kruiser E-Class: Small Camper with a Composting Toilet
The Kimberley Kampers Kruiser E-Class is a full-featured travel trailer from the company’s Ohio location. This luxury small camper is loaded with high-tech features, particularly the adjustable air bag suspension and the diesel-powered hot water system.
Additionally, there is a retractable island queen bed and an RV composting toilet. These travel trailers keep RVers comfortable in the outback or anywhere in North America.
The E-Class Kruiser model has more options than many small campers. It’s easy to tailor this camper to fit any RV lifestyle.
2023 Kimberley Kampers Kruiser E-Class Features
- Hitch weight: 265 lbs.
- Gross vehicle weight rating: 5,500 lbs.
- Unloaded vehicle weight: 3,836 lbs.
- Exterior length: 17′
- Full exterior height: 9′ 8″
- Exterior width: 7′ 11″
- Freshwater capacity: 50 gallons
- Gray water capacity: 16 gallons
- Black water capacity: Waterless Composting Toilet
- Base MSRP: $89,268
Editor’s note: RV production costs are in flux. Base costs for these small towable RVs may have changed since Q4 2022 (when we created this list of the best lightweight travel trailer reviews for 2023).
Meet other lightweight travel trailer owners
One of the best parts about RVing is meeting other camping fans. Learn more from owners of expandable, hybrids, & light travel trailer campers in the iRV2 Discussion Forums. Get other perspectives on the best small travel trailers, light tow vehicles, RV products, great camping spots, hacks and mods, and much more.
Related articles:
- 10 Best Lightweight Travel Trailers of 2022
- What Is Your Gross Vehicle Weight (And Why Does It Matter)?
