Extended travel can be made a lot easier when you tow a travel trailer, but after a while (sometimes even within a couple of days), those walls can feel like they’re closing in on you. Your answer to travel trailer claustrophobia may be to get one with a slide, and it’s true in this case that two is better than one.
Even if you’re not sure what a slide is, you’ve probably seen a travel trailer with one. Simply put, a slide, slide-out, or slide room is an add-on that extends to create additional living space inside your travel trailer.
In the beginning, slides could be difficult to use and have problems when extending or retracting. But even with occasional issues, slides quickly rose to popularity in the 1990s and haven’t gone away because they are an incredibly convenient way to make your travel trailer feel more like home.
The problems of those early models have long been resolved and the best part about slides is that while they give you additional living space when stationary, they also retract easily (many at the push of a button) so that your travel trailer remains road-friendly.
Having opposing slides is a great way to maximize the room in your travel trailer. Opposing slides are just what they sound like, slides positioned opposite one another, creating a gigantic space for you to relax in or entertain your friends.
We’ve rounded up nine awesome travel trailers with opposing slides that create such a large space that you might just forget you’re in a movable home.
1. Highland Ridge Open Range 275RLS
The Highland Ridge Open Range Light 275RLS comes in at thirty-three feet and eleven inches in length. The opposing slides are in the rear of the trailer and provide a large living space that includes a galley with center island, dining, and living area. The extra room allows for a table and chairs in the dining area rather than the standard booth-style dinette you’ll find in most models.
The full wet bathroom includes an oversized shower and a larger than the standard countertop. The bedroom is accessed through a french door at the front of the trailer and includes dual shirt wardrobes, two nightstands, and a large closet. Optional features on this model also include a second air conditioning unit and an outdoor cooking space with a BBQ grill.
Customers note that Highland Ridge RVs have good manufacturer support and warranties. Because these models are so lightweight, they are easy to tow as well as spacious, making traveling with this beauty a breeze.
2. Jayco Jay Flight 34RSBS
Jayco’s Jay Flight 34RSBS measures at thirty-seven feet, six inches long and has a total of four slides. The opposing slides in the rear of this model allow for an entertainment center complete with a thirty-nine-inch TV and a fireplace directly across from plush theater seating. Within this living area is also a roomy kitchen and dinette (with an option for a table and chairs) and a large sofa.
Other features of this travel trailer are a queen sized bed which can be upgraded to a king, the potential to turn the rear sofa into a hide-a-bed, and a split sink in the kitchen. Jayco is also known for its custom-manufactured frames which offer higher than standard strength and durability with top-quality materials.
RVers find that this model has a luxury feel in the interior and gives plenty of space in the living area to relax or hang out with friends and family. This model is also well ranked by consumer guides as a top travel trailer.
3. Keystone Premier 24RKPR
Like the Jayco Jay Flight 34RSBS, the Keystone Premier 24 RKPR has three slides in the rear of the trailer. At a more conservative length of twenty-nine feet and six inches, the opposing slides in the living area give room for a sixty-eight-inch tri-fold sofa or optional theater seats. There is also an entertainment center adjacent to the free-standing dinette and a coat closet.
Having the kitchen on the third slide at the back wall of the trailer helps to divide the space cleanly and give it a more homey feel. The bedroom features a standard queen-sized bed, individual LED reading lights, and hardwood entry doors as well as a convenient laundry chute.
The bathroom includes a solid wood medicine cabinet and a deluxe radius shower with a glass door. Another fun option on this model is the bumper-mounted Aussie grill.
Keystone is always a top seller, and reviewers like the spacious feel of this model’s living space. This model is another top-rated seller by RVers who love the open floor plan and easy to tow a trailer.
4. Flagstaff Classic Super Lite 832IKBS
The Flagstaff Classic Super Lite 832IKBS has an exterior length of thirty-four feet and eleven inches. The floor plan in this model features opposing slides in the rear that give plenty of room for a carpeted dining area with a free standing table and chairs beside a window with an eight-foot-long exterior awning for a shady breakfast spot.
Next to the dinette is the entertainment center and fireplace across from the galley and 60-inch sofa which also features carpet.
The center island expands the feel of the kitchen and the two bar stools at the island give additional seating. The rear wall holds another seating area with swivel recliners that can be upgraded to a lazy boy option.
The wet bath features a shower and linen closet and separate entry into the bedroom where a queen-sized Serta bed can be upgraded to a king-sized bed with optional carpeting and corner TV.
Users of the Flagstaff Classic Super Lite 832IKBS love the fireplace feature, especially on chilly nights, and find that four people can sleep comfortably. Many people also find exterior storage to be plenty of space and easy to organize.
5. Prime Time RV Lacrosse 3299SE
Another lengthy model, the Prime Time Lacrosse 3299SE travel trailer is just under thirty-seven feet long. The rear opposing slides in this model allow for the carpeted free standing dinette and entertainment center as well as theater seating and a spacious galley with a corner pantry and a hutch in addition to the center island with a stainless steel sink.
This model also boasts an outside kitchen area with a fridge and grill as well for those days when it’s too nice out to stay inside. The interior kitchen has a large eleven cubit foot refrigerator, microwave, oven, and stove. The bathroom has a roomy shower, and the private bedroom features a king sized bed with plenty of storage and a skylight.
Many users of the Lacrosse 3299SE say that they love the outdoor kitchen because of its great storage so there isn’t a lot of running back and forth to get drinks and snacks. Others say that the kitchen island is helpful for having more than one cook working in the kitchen.
6. SportTrek Touring Edition STT333VFL
One of the cool features of the SportTrek Touring Edition STT333VFL is that the opposing slides in the living area are in the front of the thirty-six foot, eleven-inch trailer instead of the rear.
On one slide are the theater seating and overhead cabinet while the opposite slide has the entertainment center and fireplace. The front end of the trailer includes a seventy-inch tri-fold sofa that also converts to a bed, making the end tables double as nightstands.
Next to the theater seating is the kitchen area which includes a dining table and chairs separated from the living area by a small wooden divider. This gives a great feeling of separation between the areas and a more home-like living space. The kitchen also has dark wood cabinetry, solid surface counters, and a stainless steel sink.
Beyond the sleek exterior, SportTrek users love the floor design and interior decor which comes in three options: granite, latte, and mountain walnut. The Touring line is meant for a comfortable feel and lots of storage. This line also boasts large panoramic windows and wider doorways as well as eighty-two-inch ceilings.
7. Prime Time Tracer 238AIR
Another great travel trailer from Prime Time is the Tracer Air line. These are designed to be easy to tow and ultra-lite so that they can be towed behind a cross-over or mid-sized SUV. The twenty-six foot, eleven inch 238Air model is the only model in this line with an opposing slide which is located almost exactly in the center of the trailer.
The slides give space for the dinette and kitchen with overhead storage and a center island with a double sink. The kitchen also has a nice sized pantry and a good deal of cabinet space, including pull-out drawers. While the interior doesn’t have the same feeling of luxury as some of the pricier models, the Prime Time Tracer 238 Air gives a sense of relaxed functionality and family-friendly design.
One feature popular with users is the rear bathroom because it doesn’t interrupt the flow of the bedroom and living space. Also helpful are the adjacent pantry and linen closet for additional storage that doesn’t cramp the overall space.
8. Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8326BHS
If you’re just not into traveling solo or as a duo, the Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8326BHS is a great choice for larger groups or families. This model has an exterior length of thirty-five feet and eleven inches and a total of four slides.
The opposing slides in the rear hold a total of three (yes, three!) bunk beds with room along the back wall to add an optional TV. The kitchen and living area contain a sixty-seven-inch hide-a-bed sofa and a dinette that can also convert into sleeping space. Combined with the queen-sized Serta bed in the bedroom, this model can easily sleep ten people.
This travel trailer is also equipped to feed all those people as well. The large galley includes a countertop extension for prepping and serving meals and the outside kitchen also features a swing-out stove. The driftwood cabinetry gives plenty of storage space and the standard package includes the upgraded twenty-two-inch gas oven, solid surface countertops, and exterior speakers.
Many customers love how easy this model is to tow and find that the strong structure and thick insulation make this a four seasons travel trailer. The tall ceilings and helpful warranty make this feel like a real home on wheels, even for families with teenagers.
9. Forest River Salem 27REI
The last of our featured travel trailers with opposing slides is the Forest River Salem 27 REI. At a length of just one inch over thirty-four feet, this model goes pretty much wherever you want it to. This model sleeps up to five and has a master bedroom with a queen sized bed and under-bed storage area as well as mirrored wardrobes.
The opposing slides of this model open up the floor space of the living area to make room for matching recliners and a booth dinette with a picture window perched opposite the galley and entertainment center with fireplace. The galley has a three-burner range, a double-door refrigerator, and a residential sink located on a center island.
Many customers of this brand love the floor plan and the division of space, finding that the interior feel is more like a small apartment than many travel trailers. Others find that the expanded living and dining area makes this an easy choice for entertaining and a great model for those traveling with pets.
Choosing Slide Models and Maintenance
Not everyone needs opposing slides, and not everyone even wants a slide in their travel trailer. When looking at these and other models, think about what you need on the road.
If you like the convenience of constantly traveling and you don’t like the thought of settling down for more than a few days at a time, you may find slide outs troublesome to set up and take down every time you’re ready to hit the road.
Especially for families and those who like to set up camp for a while, having opposing slides are definitely worth the time and (minimal) trouble to set them up. Remember that slide out does require regular maintenance to keep them in the best working order.
There are generally two kinds of slides, electric and hydraulic. Smaller and lighter slide outs are usually electric and move by a motor. Larger, heavier slide outs are generally operated by hydraulic systems and may have pumps, valves, and lines that move with them, particularly if that slide out holds a kitchen or bathroom area.
You’ll want to make sure an inspect these additional parts when you examine your travel trailer for routine maintenance. Be sure and check any seals regularly to prevent moisture getting inside or the creation of openings where insects or pests may hide.
If you leave your travel trailer in storage for most or part of the year, be sure to store it with the slide outs closed to protect the seals from the elements and to keep debris from sitting on slide out roofs.
You may also find it helpful to listen to the slide out as you move it because creaks and squeaks may mean you need to lubricate the seals. Any jerky movements may also mean that lubrication is needed or that debris has gotten lodged somewhere.
Whatever model you choose to travel in, the opposing slides are helpful in giving your travel trailer a comfortable, roomy feel. Opposing slides are the best way to maximize space and give you extra room whether you choose to fill it up or just appreciate the empty space.
