The Best Travel Trailers Under $20000

We’ve written many resources for first-time RV shoppers, but here’s one catch-all piece of advice: Choosing a budget-friendly travel trailer makes the buying process much easier. The best travel trailers under $20000 offer an excellent entry point for new owners. 

Plus, travel trailer depreciation is typically lower than other affordable RVs. Many budget-friendly travel trailers can also be towed by a wider range of vehicles, including some SUVs and minivans. Today, let’s dive into the best inexpensive travel trailers under $20,000 in 2025.

Key Takeaways

• Budget-Friendly Entry Point: The best travel trailers under $20000 offer an affordable way for first-time buyers to enter the RV market. They have lower depreciation and are compatible with a wide range of tow vehicles.
• Top Picks from Leading Brands: Models from Keystone, Jayco, Forest River, Heartland, and others provide various floorplans, including bunkhouses, couples’ coaches, and off-road-ready options, each packed with practical amenities.
• Key Features & Innovations: Many budget travel trailers now include tankless water heaters, Murphy beds, walkable roofs, outdoor kitchens, and smart storage solutions, making them more functional and comfortable for new and experienced RVers alike.

Picks for the Best Travel Trailers Under $20,000

These inexpensive small travel trailers are perfect for first-timers and anyone downsizing from a larger RV. We’ve selected top floor plans from leading RV manufacturers like Keystone, Forest River, Jayco, and East to West RV.

Keystone Coleman & Coleman Light

Keystone offers some of the lightest, most affordable travel trailers available in the Coleman and Coleman Light lines. While the interiors are minimal, the amenities are not. Smart features like a high-rise faucet, glass stove cover, and dedicated trash can storage make even the smallest trailers seem large and liveable. 

Construction is the primary distinction between the Coleman and Coleman Light models. The Coleman Light features aluminum framing, a front cap, and fiberglass sidewalls. The Light models have upgrades like a black tank flush and an entry-assist door handle, while the Coleman models have a walkable roof.

If you want a low-cost camper that is effortless to tow while offering bunks for the kids, check out the 16-foot Coleman 13B. For more space and a dinette, bump up to the Coleman 17B, 23B, or Coleman Light 17BX. For couples, the Coleman 17R, 19R, and Coleman Light 17RX are some of the best travel trailers under $20000.

Heartland Mallard & Pioneer

Heartland’s Mallard and Pioneer trailers are sister lines with many shared layouts and minor distinctions in exterior graphics and interior decor. Both feature a tankless water heater, a roof-mounted air conditioner, and a residential-sized queen bed.

If you have an SUV or light-duty truck with a 5,000-pound tow capacity, you can easily tow a Heartland Mallard 17BHL or 17RBL or a Pioneer 17BH or 17RB. The bunkhouse trailers (17BH and 17BHL) offer a pair of bunks with a corner bed and dinette, while the rear bath campers (17RB and 17RBL) give the front bed walkaround space-–eliminating the need to crawl over one another for nighttime bathroom breaks.

Jayco Jay Flight SLX

Specs

• Length: 21’3’-23’5”
• Dry Weight: Approximately 3,000-3,900 pounds
• Cargo Capacity: Approximately 800-1,000 pounds
• Sleeping Capacity: 3-6

Jayco’s Jay Flight SLX lineup offers impressive construction inside and out, with solid hardwood cabinets and a Magnum Truss™ roof system topped by a seamless PVC roofing membrane. Because of this, Jayco campers have a reputation for being among the best used travel trailers under $20000.

My first Jayco bunkhouse had tiny holding tanks and a small water heater, which made hookups a necessity for even short trips. However, the new SLX lineup has a tankless on-demand water heater and a 30-gallon fresh water tank on the single-axle models, meaning you can get through family showers without shivering.

For a bunkhouse SLX model, check out the Sport 170BH or 175BH. The 175FQ and 195RB are couples coaches, offering the advantage of a walkaround bed. The 197MB amps up the sleeping and sitting space with a slide-out, double bunks, and a Murphy bed that converts to a sofa. 

Forest River Salem FSX & Wildwood FSX

Specs

• Length: 20’-20’1”
• Dry Weight: Approximately 2,800 pounds
• Cargo Capacity:  Approximately 1,000 pounds
• Sleeping Capacity: 2-5

The Forest River Salem FSX and Wildwood FSX are sister lines of inexpensive small trailers featuring identical floorplans and amenities and minor distinctions between exterior graphics and interior decor. Visit your local Camping World to see which fits your personal preferences. 

If you prefer a sofa instead of a dinette, check out the Salem FSX or Wildwood FSX 174BHLE or 164RBLE. The 174BHLE offers bunks with a corner queen bed on the front wall, while the 164RBLE gives you a walkaround bed and a bathroom linen closet.

These FSX Limited Edition campers under 20k include a roof-mounted AC, a fully walkable roof, an electric fireplace, and all-vinyl flooring. Unlike many single-axle trailers in this size range, these floorplans have an upgraded 4.5-cubic-foot fridge. 

Keystone Hideout Sport

Specs

• Length: 16’10”-20’11”
• Dry Weight: 2,756-3,476 pounds
• Cargo Capacity: Around 1,000 pounds
• Sleeping Capacity: 2-6

Is Keystone Hideout Sport the king of inexpensive travel trailers? With seven floorplans under $20,000, you can find one that checks your boxes. Do you want a bunkhouse or couples coach, booth or U-shaped dinette, walkaround or corner queen, slide or no slide? Their lineup has traditional and creative layouts that stand out among the best travel trailers under $20000.

Keystone continually innovates, adding features like the breakfast bar with an extendable desk in the 171MB. For a couples coach, check out the 140RE, 171MB, 177RD, 178RB, or 179RB. For a bunkhouse, consider the 175BH or 176BH, which are similar floorplans, but a slide-out adds additional floorspace in the 176BH. 

No matter which layout appeals to you, all Hideout Sport RVs have standard amenities like a tankless water heater, solid hardwood cabinet doors, and a bathroom sink.

Forest River Wolf Pup

Images by Camping World

Specs

• Length: 19’3”-23’9”
• Dry Weight: Approximately 3,000-4,000 pounds
• Cargo Capacity: Approximately 2,000-2,500 pounds
• Sleeping Capacity: 3-5

Forest River offers tremendous variety with the Wolf Pup lineup, with nearly a dozen models featuring traditional and innovative RVs under 20k. These units have amenities like stable entry steps, large refrigerators, and a seamless roof membrane.

The Wolf Pup 16EV is an all-electric model, so you’ll find an electric fireplace and a microwave/air fryer/convection oven instead of a stove/oven, eliminating the need for propane, which is a benefit some travelers appreciate. 

If you like cool travel trailers, check out the 14CCW. Its rear entrance allows you to load large gear easily and creates a bathroom divider, separating the toilet and shower. The 16LP and 16BHSW are more traditional bunkhouse layouts, while the 16FQW is a well-equipped couples coach.

Heartland Eddie Bauer

Specs

• Length: 20’11”-21’2”
• Dry Weight: 3,048-3,220 pounds
• Cargo Capacity: Approximately 700-800 pounds
• Sleeping Capacity: 5-6

Who says low-cost travel trailers have to be basic? If you want an RV with a little eye candy, check out the Heartland Eddie Bauer lineup, which captures current trends with gold hardware, green cabinetry, faux marble countertops, and stylish bedding. The Eddie Bauer RVs earn a spot on our list of the best travel trailers under $20000 for their unique interior decor, but they’re also quite functional.

The 17BH-L features bunks and a dinette, while the 17RB-C offers a walkaround bed, dinette, and bathroom wardrobe. In addition to the impressive decor, these trailers feature amenities like a residential mattress, AZDEL laminated sidewalls, JBL audio, and a tankless water heater.

Forest River Ozark

Specs

• Length: Approximately 20-22’
• Dry Weight: 2,800-3,600 pounds
• Cargo Capacity: Approximately 1,000-1,500 pounds
• Sleeping Capacity: 3-7

You might have noticed I haven’t mentioned an outdoor kitchen yet—that’s a rare find in low-cost travel trailers. But the Forest River Ozark 1650BHK not only has an outdoor kitchen, it also sleeps six or seven with double bunks, a convertible dinette, and a corner queen bed. If you’d rather have single bunks, check out the 1620BHLE. 

For couples, the 1610RBLE and 1660FQ are solid options. Though the 1660FQ has been discontinued for 2025, used models may be found. The 1610RBLE has a wardrobe in the bathroom, while the 1660FQ has a sink. That would be a hard decision, as either amenity is a real plus.

No matter which you select, these Ozark travel trailers have impressive features like a walkable roof, roof-mounted AC, enclosed underbelly, and extra large fresh water tanks (39 gallons, among the best in the class). Upgrade to the Ascent package for fiberglass exterior walls, a waterproof shower door, and a JBL stereo package.

East to West Silver Lake LE

Specs

• Length: 21-23 feet
• Dry Weight: 3,600-4,300 pounds
• Cargo Capacity: 1,000-1,300 pounds
• Sleeping Capacity: 3-7

Like the Ozark, the East to West Silver Lake LE 1610BHLE and 1700BHLE can sleep seven. They have double bunks, a convertible dinette, and a front Murphy bed. The 1700 offers a slide-out to open up the floor space, while the 1610 is a no-slide floor plan, weighing 400 pounds less and freeing you from slide maintenance.

The 1600RBLE also features a front Murphy bed for a cozy couples coach. The bathroom is surprisingly well-outfitted with a wardrobe and a sink, giving it more storage space than you often find in smaller trailers. 

In fact, the storage situation is impressive across all Silver Lake models, which have built-in cabinetry in the kitchen, around the Murphy bed, in the bathroom, and above the dinette. Other nice features that earn these RVs a spot on the list of the best travel trailers under $20000 include a tankless water heater, magnetic storage door clasps, a black tank flush, and motion sensor LED lighting.

Coachmen Clipper & Clipper ROK

Do you feel like you’ve seen all the possible configurations and still haven’t found your perfect travel trailer under $20,000? If so, look at the Coachmen Clipper and Clipper ROK lineups, which feature cool travel trailers.

The Clipper 12000ROK may be the best off-road camper trailer under $20,000. It has a cassette toilet, heavy-duty tires, and solar prep. This teardrop trailer places the kitchen at the rear exterior, covered by a flip-up door that becomes an awning for cooking. The 8-foot exterior height makes it easy to access the rooftop Thule racks for hauling bikes or kayaks. 

My husband and I want to downsize but also want recliners, which are difficult to find in a small trailer. The Clipper 18FQ caught my eye because it offers a pair of stand-alone recliners paired with a Murphy bed and a moveable table. For more traditional layouts, check out the 17CBH and 17CFQ.

Crossroads Zinger

Images by Camping World

Specs

• Length: 21’5”
• Dry Weight: Approximately 3,000-3,200 pounds
• Cargo Capacity: Approximately 1,200 pounds
• Sleeping Capacity: 4-7

For a $20,000 price tag, the Crossroads Zinger lineup offers everything you need in a travel trailer to get started or to downsize. Each features a roof-mounted AC, a tankless water heater, and solar prep.

I’ve seen many RV floor plans, but I have never seen one like the 18QB. It sleeps seven in an RV under 22 feet, and only two of those spots are convertible beds. This unique model eliminates the central living space by combining it with a bunk room, which has three bunks and a fold-out sofa. 

If you don’t need to sleep seven, Crossroads Zinger offers a more traditional bunkhouse floorplan with the 18BH and two couples coaches with the 18RB and the 18RK (a unique rear kitchen layout). My first travel trailer didn’t have any counterspace, so I always look at that when checking out small trailers, and the Zingers pass my test, providing a decent area for food prep.

Grand Design Transcend One

Specs

• Length: 19’8”
• Dry Weight: Around 3,600 pounds
• Cargo Capacity: Approximately 800 pounds
• Sleeping Capacity: 4-5

Grand Design describes the Transcend One line as “compact road freedom.” While compact, these nimble units offer impressive construction features and exceptional amenities. Grand Design uses upgraded insulation, provides a heated and enclosed underbelly, and offers a TRO roof membrane with a limited lifetime warranty. 

Other thoughtful features are found across the Transcend One line, including a rear receiver hitch, aluminum steps, and hidden interior pet dishes. These trailers come prepped for a solar controller, inverter, and panels, making it easy to add the system of your choice.

The Grand Design 151RB is a rear bath model that maximizes floor space with a front Murphy bed. A camp-side dinette lets you take in campsite views while dining. For bunks, check out the 151BH. The lack of a dinette is no problem, thanks to the interior-exterior folding table.  

If nothing on this list of the best travel trailers under $20000 catches your attention, here are a few other collections of featured travel trailers: 

• Best RV for Beginners
• Best Small Camper
• Off-Road Pull-Behind Campers

Which would you select for your next (or first!) travel trailer? Let us know in the comments below.