What is the Lightest Travel Trailer on the Road Today?

If you’ve been shopping for a travel trailer recently, you know how important the weight of the trailer can be.

As the weight of a camper will not only dictate the type of tow vehicle needed but will also impact how easy the camper is to tow as well as the tow vehicle’s gas mileage.

But if you’re curious about what the lightest travel trailer is, you’re in luck, as we did some research and this is what we found out. 

The lightest travel trailer is the Happier Camper HC1, which has a dry weight of only 1,100 pounds and an overall length of just 13 feet.  

If you’re looking for more information on the lightest travel trailer though, keep reading.

As was provide a complete review of the Happier Camper HC1, as well as highlight several other great lightweight travel trailers.  

Lightest Travel Trailer:  Happier Camper HC1

Quick Specs

• Price:  $30,000
• Dry Weight:  1,100 Pounds
• Length:  13 Feet
• Sleeping Capacity:  2

While there are a few travel trailers that come close to the weight of this trailer, the honor of the lightest travel trailer goes to the Happier Camper HC1, which has a dry weight of only 1,100 pounds.

But it’s not just the lightweight design that makes this travel trailer so unique, as this small camper also has a modular floor plan that lets you completely customize the interior of the trailer. 

Thanks to what Happier Camper refers to as their Adaptiv™ floor plan, which is made from 1.5-inch thick honeycomb fiberglass with built-in groves.

Allowing you to move the modular Adaptiv™ cube components around inside the camper.  

But the flexibility and convenience doesn’t end there.

As the lightweight HC1 camper also has multiple floor panels equipped with their leg mount, allowing you to install the table throughout the trailer as well as conveniently placed D rings that can be used as tie-downs for cargo.

And this camper even has a drain, allowing you to hose down the floor for easy clean-up after a long camping trip.

Why the Happier Camper HC1 is So Light

• Uses a two-piece fiberglass hull with no internal framework, as opposed to the more common and heavier stick frame construction found in other travel trailers. 
• Modular design allows for a minimalist interior with only the bare necessities, which helps to keep the weight down. 
• The shorter length, width, and height of the trailer help to reduce the overall weight of the camper.  
• While the Camper can be optioned with a dry flush toilet, the lack of a full bathroom or shower helps to save on weight.

For more information on the Happier Camper HC1, check out Happy Camper’s website by clicking here.  

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Lightest Travel Trailer (Runner-Up):  Scamp 13 Foot Standard Trailer

Quick Specs

• Price:  $15,000
• Dry Weight:  1,200 Pounds (w/o bathroom)
• Length:  13 Feet
• Sleeping Capacity:  4 (w/o bathroom)

The Scamp 13 Foot Standard Trailer is one of the lightest travel trailers on the road today, with a dry weight of only 1,200 or 1,500 pounds depending on whether or not it’s optioned with a bathroom.

But it’s not just the trailer’s lightweight that makes it so great, as this little camper is loaded with tons of features that make it perfect for a quick weekend getaway.  

For starters, this little travel trailer can actually sleep up to 4 campers at a time when the trailer is optioned without a bathroom, which is pretty amazing considering the interior space of the trailer is only about 10 feet long.

This is because the 13-foot Scamp has two sleeping spaces inside the trailer including a rear dinette booth that converts into a full-size bed as well as bunk beds at the front of the trailer.  

If the trailer is optioned with a front bathroom though the sleeping capacity drops to 2.

As the wet bath takes the place of the front bunk beds.

This lightweight travel trailer also has a well-equipped kitchenette that includes a two-burner propane stove, a kitchen sink, and a small mini-fridge, making it possible to prepare just about any meal even while camping.

Although in fairness the lack of counter space inside the Scamp does make cooking and food prep a little more challenging.

Why the 13 Foot Standard Scamp Trailer is So Light

• Uses a two-piece fiberglass hull with no internal framework, as opposed to the more common and heavier stick frame construction found in other travel trailers. 
• The cabinets inside the trailer are molded from lightweight fiberglass as opposed to heavier wood.
• Removal of the bathroom eliminates the weight of the bathroom fixtures as well as most of the plumbing.
• The shorter length, width, and height of the trailer help to reduce the overall weight of the camper.  

For more information on the Scamp 13-foot trailer, check out Scamp’s website by clicking here.  

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Lightest Travel Trailer (Runner-Up): nuCamp Tab 320 S Teardrop Camper

Quick Specs

• Price:  $27,000
• Dry Weight:  1,969 Pounds
• Length:  15 Feet 2 Inches
• Sleeping Capacity:  2

Even though the nuCamp Tab 320 S Teardrop Camper is more than 900 pounds heavier compared to the Happier Camper HC1, it’s still worth an honorable mention due to its 2,000-pound dry weight.

Which makes the nuCamp Tab 320 S Teardrop Camper one of the lightest traveler trailers you can buy.  

Another reason why this lightweight travel trailer is so great is its iconic teardrop shape, which is shared by the entire NuCamp lineup.  

However, the Tab 320 S is the smallest and lightest teardrop camper that nuCamp makes that still allows you to stand up inside.  

And while the nuCamp Tab 320 S might not be the lightest travel trailer on this list, it’s still pretty amazing how many features that nuCamp was able to cram inside this small and lightweight camper.  

Including features such as a full three-piece wet bath with cassette toilet, a complete kitchenette with a two-burner propane stove, a kitchen sink, a 12-volt marine fridge, and an optional microwave, as well as a convertible dinette booth that sleeps two.

Why the nuCamp Tab 320 S Teardrop Camper is So Light

• The shorter length, width, and height of the trailer help to reduce the overall weight of the camper.
• Standard cassette toilet allows for the removal of the black tank, which helps to save on weight. 
• Lightweight fiberglass construction reduces the weight of the camper.
• Aerodynamic and lightweight teardrop design reduces the weight of the camper.  

For more information on the nuCamp Tab 320 S Teardrop Camper, check out nuCamp’s website by clicking here. 

What is Considered a Lightweight Travel Trailer?

When shopping for a travel trailer, it’s important to realize that RV manufacturers and RV dealers tend to use the term lightweight pretty loosely when marketing and advertising their travel trailers.  

Because while there is no exact weight that a travel trailer must be to be considered lightweight, I’ve seen some RV dealers advertising travel trailers that weighed more than 8,000 pounds as lightweight.

Which in my opinion is well beyond anything that could be considered lightweight.  

As it’s generally accepted that lightweight travel trailers will have a dry weight between 1,000 and 6,000 pounds.  

For more information on how much small lightweight travel trailers weigh as well as the different types of trailer weights and what they mean, check out our article “How Much Do Small Travel Trailers Weigh?“.

How Much Do Ultra Light Travel Trailers Weigh?

While the terms lightweight and ultra-lightweight are often used interchangeably in the RV industry when describing the weight of a travel trailer.

It’s important to understand that there is a distinction between these two travel trailer weight classes. 

As a lightweight travel trailer will usually have a dry weight between 1,000 and 6,000 pounds.

While an ultra-lightweight travel trailer will usually have a dry weight between 1,000 and 3,000 pounds.  

What is the Lightest Travel Trailer with a Bathroom?

The lightest travel trailer with a bathroom is the Scamp 13 Foot Standard Trailer, which has a dry weight of 1,500 pounds when equipped with the optional wet bath. 

By comparison, the next lightest travel trailer with a bathroom is the nuCamp Tab 320 S Teardrop Camper, which has a dry weight of 1,969 pounds.

Making the Scamp 13 Foot Standard Trailer almost 500 pounds lighter, compared to the nuCamp Tab 320 S Teardrop Camper.

What Can You Tow Under 1500 Pounds?

If you’re looking for a travel trailer that’s under 1,500 pounds, your options are somewhat limited.

As you’re towards the bottom end of the weight range for ultra-lightweight travel trailers.

However, there are several teardrop campers as well as a few small stand-up trailers that do have a dry weight under 1,500 pounds.

• Little Guy Trailers MyPod – 760 Pounds (Dry Weight)
• Timberleaf Pika – 970 Pounds (Dry Weight)
• ProLite Eco 12 – 995 Pounds (Dry Weight)
• Happier Camper HC1 – 1,100 Pounds (Dry Weight)
• Sunset Park RV 109 – 1,180 Pounds (Dry Weight)
• Scamp 13 Standard Trailer (w/o Bathroom) – 1,200 Pounds (Dry Weight)
• Forest River Rockwood Geo Pro G12RK – 1,252 Pounds (Dry Weight)
• Forest River Flagstaff E-Pro E12rk – 1,252 Pounds (Dry Weight)
• nuCamp RV Tab – 1,284 Pounds (Dry Weight)
• TAXA Outdoors TigerMoth – 1,310 Pounds (Dry Weight)

What Campers are Under 3500 Pounds?

When you step up to campers that are under 3,500 pounds, you have a lot more to choose from.

As there are many ultra-lightweight campers as well as few lightweight campers that have a dry weight under 3,500 pounds.  

• nuCamp Tab 320 S Teardrop Camper – 1,969 Pounds (Dry Weight)
• Scamp 16 Standard Trailer (w/ bathroom) – 2,000 Pounds (Dry Weight)
• KZ RV Sportsman Classic 130RB – 2,190 Pounds (Dry Weight)
• Casita Spirit Standard – 2,210 Pounds (Dry Weight) 
• Riverside Retro 135 – 2,540 (Dry Weight) 
• Lance 1475 – 2,600 Pounds (Dry Weight)
• Forest River E-Pro E15TB – 2,608 Pounds (Dry Weight)
• Forest River R-Pod RP-171 – 2,714 Pounds (Dry Weight)
• Airstream Bambi 16RB – 2,900 Pounds (Dry Weight)
• Forest River Flagstaff E-Pro E19FBS – 3,075 Pounds (Dry Weight)
• Winnebago Hike H170S – 3,260 Pounds (Dry Weight)