One of the questions RVers frequently ask is whether it’s legal and safe to ride in a travel trailer while it’s being towed. You know, like when you’re on a road trip and you want to have access to the RV bed for a quick nap and the RV bathroom? While the short answer is yes, it is legal in some states to ride in a moving travel trailer, that certainly doesn’t mean it’s safe or a good idea to do it.
Here’s what you should know.
Can Passengers Ride in a Travel Trailer?
Technically, it’s possible to ride in a travel trailer while it’s being towed, but only in some states is it legal to do so. For safety reasons, no person or pet should be inside the camper while it’s in motion. If you’ve ever seen what happens when a travel trailer is in a wreck, you know what I am talking about.
States That Allow You to Ride in a Travel Trailer
Wondering what states allow passengers to ride in a camper trailer while it’s traveling down the road? The majority of states do not. However, it is legal to ride in the back of a travel trailer in 16 states and the District of Columbia. Some of them have detailed conditions that the camper needs to meet and detailed safety considerations for passengers. A few, however, have no restrictions at all.
Riding in a conventional travel trailer is legal in the following states:
- Arizona
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Tennessee
- West Virginia
- District of Columbia
Conditions for States that Allow People to Ride in a Moving Trailer
Nearly all states that allow people to travel from the back of a trailer have regulations on what types of RVs can transport passengers, so check your state laws to learn the details. Further, when you cross state lines, new laws for that state immediately apply. Here are some of the most common regulations. Note that all, some or none of these may apply according to each state.
Trailer Must Have Seat Belts
Some states have RV rules stating that pull-behind recreation vehicles must have seatbelts to be allowed to carry passengers in the back. Towable RVs don’t usually have seat belts.
Passengers Should Stay Seated and Buckled
Nearly all states require anyone traveling in any RV to remain seated and buckled while the vehicle is in motion for obvious reasons.
Trailer Windows Must Have Safety Glass
This is glass that is tempered or laminated, so it doesn’t shatter into pieces when it breaks. A camping trailer usually doesn’t come with this type of glass.
Driver and Passengers Must Have a 2-Way Communication Device
Some states may require you to have two-way radios to facilitate communication between the driver of the towing vehicle and passengers. It can help the passengers alert the driver when there is an emergency at the back. They insist on this since you will not always have cell phone service.
Trailer Door Must Be Able To Open from the Inside and Outside
Some state laws require that passengers at the back should be able to open the door from the inside to escape a dangerous situation. The trailer should also be accessible from the outside to allow rescue personnel to quickly help the passengers if they are unconscious or incapable of moving.
Other Requirements
States also have differing rules for travel trailers regarding brakes, turn signals, hitch type, weight, and speed limits.
Why You Shouldn’t Ride in a Travel Trailer
Even if your RV meets all the state’s requirements and you’re familiar with all laws, it’s not advisable to ride or transport passengers in the back of your travel trailer. Here are some solid reasons why you should avoid it.
Most Travel Trailer Quality is Questionable
One of the main reasons to avoid riding in travel trailers is that their structural integrity is often poor due to the fact that RV manufacturers mass-produce them. In fact, many of the popular models are assembled in less than 24 hours and have thin walls, which lowers the quality. Such trailers can’t withstand the impact during a major collision, much less if they roll over.
Travel Trailers Are Riskier To Tow
Compared to 5th wheels, travel trailers are riskier to tow, especially if you don’t invest in additional towing accessories. There are many cases where trailers come unhitched when being towed, and there is no way to regain control once it detaches itself while driving. Even with proper hitching, two safety chains, mirror extenders, and a hitch pin to secure the trailer coupler to the trailer ball, it isn’t worth risking a life by allowing someone to ride back there.
Travel Trailers Have Dangerous Sway
Another danger of riding in a travel trailer is that they often whip around when being pulled, which not only is dangerous but also can make for a very unpleasant ride for passengers. This sway can tip over the trailer, cause you to lose control of your tow vehicle, or make passengers fall down. While instability is often caused by things you can control such as improper weight distribution, tight turns, under-inflated tires, and high-speed driving, there are causes even a safe driver can’t control, such as high wind gusts, uneven roads, and wind bursts from a passing high-profile truck.
Camping Trailers Have Few Safety Features
Even if you wanted to ride in a travel trailer, they have inadequate or non-existent safety features. Many pull-behind campers aren’t equipped with seat belts or airbags to reduce the likelihood of serious injury in the event of an accident. Very few have an electronic stability assist system to alert the driver and take corrective actions automatically.
Riding in a Travel Trailer Is Uncomfortable
Most travel trailers don’t come with shock absorbers, as many manufacturers don’t expect anyone to ride in them. That means you can’t have a smooth ride in them. They are super bouncy and will suddenly jolt from bumps and potholes in the road. And since you have no idea of what is going on outside, you won’t know when to brace yourself for stops or turns. Also, these awkward movements may cause motion sickness.
Contents Shift During Travel
The sway and bounciness not only makes travel uncomfortable, but it could also expose you to flying projectiles. Without shock absorbers, cabinets can open, and contents can shift, becoming dangerous projectiles for passengers in the trailer.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about riding in the back of a recreational vehicle or inside a truck camper.
Is It Legal to Ride in the Back of Fifth-Wheel Campers?
Compared to travel trailers, more states allow passengers to ride in fifth wheels or toy haulers with a gooseneck hitch. Some consider it a bit safer because 5th wheel trailers are more stable while towing and are built to a higher standard. However, they still carry many of the risks associated with travel trailers, so we don’t recommend riding in them.
Is it Legal to Ride Inside a Truck Camper?
Riding in the back of a pickup camper that’s in motion is legal in all but 5 states — Arkansas, Mississippi, Maine, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania. However, it’s not safe as the camping shell rarely features safety features. Different states have their own laws on this topic. Some require the truck camper to have an opening that allows access from the camper into the pickup truck cab. Others have regulations around the age limit for the passengers.
Should Pets Ride in a Travel Trailer?
You should never transport your pet in a towable RV or truck camper. This may expose them to injuries in case of an accident, cause overheating if the trailer isn’t air-conditioned, traumatize them due to the earthquake-like noises, and cause separation anxiety. Place them in the same vehicle as you.
Takeaway
Put simply, the only recreational vehicles that you can safely transport passengers or pets in are motorhomes. They include Class As, camper vans/Class Bs, and Class C motorhomes. That’s because they have many of the safety features found in passenger vehicles and are more predictable on the road. One more thing to note is that you should never ride in a vehicle being towed by an RV.
More From RV Top Tips
Cynthia Measom is the founder and main content creator of RV Top Tips. Not just a writer, she’s a dedicated RV owner and enthusiast, alongside her husband, Joe, who is an experienced RV tech. With their joint knowledge, the two are up on the latest trends and technologies in the RV industry, as well as practical camping and lifestyle tips.
The couple own a 2020 Coachmen Chaparral fifth-wheel that they absolutely love. Their secret to being so satisfied? They purchased the model after a solid year of researching different fifth-wheel campers in person and online to find the perfect fit for their family of three.
- Cynthia Measomhttps://rvtoptips.com/author/admin_rvtoptips/
- Cynthia Measomhttps://rvtoptips.com/author/admin_rvtoptips/
- Cynthia Measomhttps://rvtoptips.com/author/admin_rvtoptips/
- Cynthia Measomhttps://rvtoptips.com/author/admin_rvtoptips/
