The title of “camper trailer” encompasses a wide variety of RVs. These are made for all kinds of tow vehicles and most of them have different weights, lengths, and widths. But one area that might most concern their customers is the measurement of their height.
State laws vary somewhat concerning height limits, but generally, camper trailers cannot be more than 13 feet, 6 inches tall. Each different type of camper has a different height average, ranging from 4-foot tall teardrop trailers to 13-foot tall fifth wheels.
Almost every state in the USA has regulations concerning the legal height limits of camper trailers, and going over this limit can result in a fine or even some damage to the roof of your vehicle! To help you get an idea of the average heights of camper trailers, I’ve compiled some general information on each type below.
Measuring Your Camper Trailer
When you’re looking for a camper trailer to purchase, or checking one that you already have, a good thing to do is to measure its height. Try doing this when it’s unhitched, as well as when it’s hooked up. Depending on the type of camper you have, the addition of a truck and hitch can sometimes increase its total height.
Make sure that your camper is level and stationary when you check it. Uneven ground might throw off your measurements, especially if one end is raised above the other.
The good news is that you can just use a standard tape measure to test this. No fancy gear or specialized tools necessary! All you need is your fifth wheel, a tape measure, and maybe a friend to hold the other end of it.
RV heights are measured from the tallest point of the roof down to where the tires meet the ground. Don’t measure from the inside of the cab, because this will only give you an idea of the standing room, not the overall height.
It’s also important to include any roof additions in your measurements too, as these can sometimes put your vehicle over the legal limit. Vents, satellite dishes, pop-up sections, sunroofs, etc. should not be overlooked!
Make sure to explore the interior measurements of your RV as well. The outside measurements are important for legal reasons, but the inside will be important for customers to know. This is the space you’ll be living in and moving around in. Make sure it’s tall enough to be comfortable!
Class A RVs (12 Feet, 5 Inches Average Height)
Class A RVs are a type of camper that has a connected driving and living space. They are a kind of motorhome with the driver and passengers seats at the front of the vehicle and a mobile living area behind them.
Unlike most other types of trailer, class A RVs don’t include two separate spaces that have been linked together. There is no separation between the tow vehicle and the trailer. Each RV is a single unit that can be driven like any other kind of car.
Class A RVs are usually one of the largest types of camper trailer you can find. Their huge bulk makes them appealing because of the amount of living space and storage they contain. Typically these vehicles are quite tall, heavy, and long.
Because of their large dimensions, you can run into trouble with height restrictions. There are sometimes vents, pop-up panels, satellite dishes, or other roof attachments that can put these vehicles over the edge. Be sure to account for these additions before buying a class A RV, and make sure that you have a garage with the proper height clearance to accommodate them.
To help you get an idea of the average dimensions and weights of a class A RV, I’ve collected a few models for you to explore below.
Legacy SR 340
- Exterior Height: 12 feet, 4 inches
- Exterior Length: 36 feet, 2 inches
- Exterior Width: 8 feet, 4 inches
For more information on this camper, including additional floor plans, optional upgrades, and a photo gallery, visit the company website here.
Berkshire 34QS
- Exterior Height: 12 feet, 7 inches
- Exterior Length: 35 feet, 7 inches
- Exterior Width: 8 feet, 4 inches
For more information on this camper, including additional floor plans, optional upgrades, and a photo gallery, visit the company website here.
Georgetown XL 369DS
- Exterior Height: 12 feet, 8 inches
- Exterior Length: 37 feet
- Exterior Width: 8 feet, 5 inches
For more information on this camper, including additional floor plans, optional upgrades, and a photo gallery, visit the company website here.
Class B RVs (9 feet, 7 inches Average Height)
Class B RVs are similar to class A RVs in a few ways. For example, both of them have a combination of driving space and living space. Class B RVs are also single unit vehicles that don’t require any hitches or modifications to act as a motorhome.
Class B RVs are different in their overall builds and dimensions though. Class B RVs (often called camping conversion vans) are essentially large vans that have been designed to include convertible living space and additional seating.
These motorhomes also don’t usually include any slide-outs in their design. They are streamlined vehicles with floor plans that have easily accessible amenities.
These come with raised roofs and lowered floors to maximize standing space inside. They are usually quite a bit smaller than class A RVs, but are still longer and taller than most standard vehicles on the road.
To illustrate the differences between class A and B RVs, I’ve selected a few good models for you to explore below. Check out their heights and compare them to the previous section to see the difference for yourself.
Beyond 22D
- Exterior Height: 9 feet, 11 inches
- Exterior Length: 22 feet, 2 inches
- Exterior Width: 7 feet
For more information on this camper, including additional floor plans, optional upgrades, and a photo gallery, visit the company website here.
Galleria 24FL
- Exterior Height: 9 feet, 9 inches
- Exterior Length: 24 feet, 3 inches
- Exterior Width: 6 feet, 11 inches
For more information on this camper, including additional floor plans, optional upgrades, and a photo gallery, visit the company website here.
Arriva V24
- Exterior Height: 9 feet, 8 inches
- Exterior Length: 24 feet, 2 inches
- Exterior Width: 6 feet, 6.5 inches
For more information on this camper, including additional floor plans, optional upgrades, and a photo gallery, visit the company website here.
Class C RVs (11 feet, 1 inch Average Height)
Class C RVs are motorhomes that are built on minimal truck platforms. The front of these vehicles resembles a more classic car front, but the rest is covered by a rigid shell that spans over the length of the vehicle.
They still include merged interior space, but have a bit more separation than class A or B RVs. The front space is occupied by the driver and passenger seats, while the back of class C motorhomes is filled with living space. A small overhang sits above the driver’s cab as well, which is usually used for extra sleeping space or storage.
Because each class C RV is built around the skeleton of a tow vehicle, they encompass a pretty wide range of sizes. Some class C RVs are just barely longer than an average truck, while others are close to the size of a class A RV.
This, plus their standard cab-over profiles, can make their heights unpredictable. To give you a better idea of what to expect from class C RVs, check out the models I’ve collected below. This sampling should give you an idea of the size range you’ll be working with.
Forester LE 2851SLE
- Exterior Height: 11 feet, 3 inches
- Exterior Length: 31 feet, 5 inches
- Exterior Width: 8 feet, 5 inches
For more information on this camper, including additional floor plans, optional upgrades, and a photo gallery, visit the company website here.
Sunseeker LE 2350LE
- Exterior Height: 11 feet, 3 inches
- Exterior Length: 25 feet
- Exterior Width: 8 feet, 5 inches
For more information on this camper, including additional floor plans, optional upgrades, and a photo gallery, visit the company website here.
Leprechaun 210QB Chevy 4500
- Exterior Height: 10 feet, 10 inches
- Exterior Length: 24 feet, 6 inches
- Exterior Width: 8 feet, 4 inches
For more information on this camper, including additional floor plans, optional upgrades, and a photo gallery, visit the company website here.
Travel Trailers (10 feet, 11.5 inches Average Height)
The words “travel trailer” can mean a lot of things! Within this classification of camper there is a huge range of sizes, weights, floor plans, etc. Although there are ways to distinguish one type from another, this section deals with classic (or standard) travel trailers.
Unlike teardrop trailers (which are miniature trailers that usually include just a single room), classic travel trailers are much larger, offering a complex and comfortable living space on the road. Many travel trailers also incorporate slide-outs into their designs, which are sections that extend outward to increase the size of their floor plans.
They typically require either ball hitches or weight distribution hitches. Unlike the motorhomes discussed previously, travel trailers do not include space for a driver, not any kind of independent engine. They must be towed by another vehicle that has the strength and tow capacity to do so.
Travel trailers range in length from 10 feet to 35 feet and often include bathrooms, interior kitchens, dining space, bedrooms, etc. Travel trailers are very popular among the camper community because they can be towed by any vehicle with a high enough tow capacity. You don’t necessarily need a truck to bring your travel trailer out on the road!
Because they’re so popular, travel trailers have been made for vehicles of every shape and size. To compare their average heights, weights, and lengths, check out the models I’ve selected below. They should give you a good idea of what to expect from the campers in the travel trailer family.
Impression 20RB
- Exterior Height: 10 feet, 7 inches
- Exterior Length: 23 feet, 1 inch
- Exterior Width: 8 feet
For more information on this camper, including additional floor plans, optional upgrades, and a photo gallery, visit the company website here.
Wildcat Maxx 26FBS
- Exterior Height: 11 feet, 4 inches
- Exterior Length: 29 feet, 11 inches
- Exterior Width: 8 feet
For more information on this camper, including additional floor plans, optional upgrades, and a photo gallery, visit the company website here.
Vibe 25RK
- Exterior Height: 11 feet, 3 inches
- Exterior Length: 29 feet, 4 inches
- Exterior Width: 8 feet
For more information on this camper, including additional floor plans, optional upgrades, and a photo gallery, visit the company website here.
Teardrop Trailers (5 feet, 5 inches Average Height)
Teardrop trailers are small, light travel trailers that can be towed by just about any size of vehicle. They’re light, aerodynamic, and can carry much more than you might expect. They often include just a single interior room though, and it’s usually not tall enough to stand up in.
Their small size doesn’t mean that they can’t do anything though! Teardrop trailers come in a lot of different forms. Some of them have lots of fold-outs and extensions that make them great for outdoor cooking. Some maximize their storage space to double as storage and equipment haulers. No matter what their design though, almost every model offers a good amount of sleeping space!
Teardrop trailers are easy to fit with just about any type of tow vehicle because they’re so light and adaptable. Towing capacity is rarely a problem with this type of camper and a limited payload isn’t a problem because their weight doesn’t rest on the bed of the tow vehicle.
You may sacrifice a bit of space and functionality, but these campers still manage to do a lot of things despite their small size. I can guarantee that their height won’t get you in trouble with the law though! Teardrop trailers are some of the smallest trailers in every dimension and won’t push too close to any state’s height restrictions.
To prove that I’m not exaggerating their small dimensions, check out the teardrop trailers I’ve selected below. You’ll see that they are some of the smallest offerings on the market!
Polydrop Trailer
- Exterior Height: 4 feet, 8 inches
- Exterior Length: 12 feet, 5 inches
- Exterior Width: 5 feet, 6 inches
For more information on this camper, including additional floor plans, optional upgrades, and a photo gallery, visit the company website here.
Mean Bean Trailer
- Exterior Height: 6 feet, 3 inches
- Exterior Length: 14 feet, 1/4 inch
- Exterior Width: N/A
For more information on this camper, including additional floor plans, optional upgrades, and a photo gallery, visit the company website here.
Classic Timberleaf Trailer
- Exterior Height: 5 feet, 5 inches
- Exterior Length: 14 feet
- Exterior Width: 6 feet, 6 inches
For more information on this camper, including additional floor plans, optional upgrades, and a photo gallery, visit the company website here.
Fifth Wheels (12 feet, 9 inches Average Height)
Fifth wheels are some of the heaviest and most complicated campers to fit with any given vehicle. These are large and heavy campers that give class A RVs a run for their money in terms of size. They also can only be pulled by trucks due to their unique designs.
Like travel trailers and teardrop trailers, fifth wheels don’t include engines or space for drivers. They are designed to be pulled behind trucks. Because of their large sizes and heavy weights, they have the freedom to include a lot of luxuries that other models can’t afford.
Obviously, the issue of towing capacity is present here, but the biggest thing to watch for with fifth wheels is their payload weight. A lot of smaller trucks have a high tow capacity, but a low payload. This means that they can pull heavy loads behind them, but the truck bed isn’t built to handle the hitch weight that comes with a fifth wheel.
Fifth wheels can also be quite tall and they are designed to sit above the bed of a truck. As such, the taller the truck is, the taller the fifth wheel will be. Bear this in mind when questions of height restriction come up. If you lower your truck and fifth wheel down, it shouldn’t be a problem.
To help you get an idea of the average dimensions and weights of fifth wheels, I’ve collected a few models for you to explore below.
Riverstone 37MRE
- Exterior Height: 13 feet, 4 inches
- Exterior Length: 43 feet, 2 inches
- Exterior Width: 8 feet, 6 inches
For more information on this camper, including additional floor plans, optional upgrades, and a photo gallery, visit the company website here.
Sabre 32DPT
- Exterior Height: 12 feet, 5 inches
- Exterior Length: 36 feet, 7 inches
- Exterior Width: 8 feet
For more information on this camper, including additional floor plans, optional upgrades, and a photo gallery, visit the company website here.
Shockwave 28FWGDX
- Exterior Height: 13 feet, 4 inches
- Exterior Length: 32 feet, 6 inches
- Exterior Width: 8 feet, 6 inches
For more information on this camper, including additional floor plans, optional upgrades, and a photo gallery, visit the company website here.
