Pickup trucks have long been the workhorse of the RV industry. The first mass-produced RVs were actually pickup campers built to fit onto the pickup bed. John Steinbeck used one of these early models in the 1960s when he traveled the country while writing his book "Travels With Charley." This camper, which he named "Rocinante" after Don Quixote's horse, is on display at the Steinbeck Museum in Salinas, California. Today's pickup trucks are still used to haul campers. One advantage of these slide-in campers is that they can be taken off the pickup truck, freeing up the vehicle for other uses. Another plus is that you can tow a boat or a small trailer with off-road vehicles as long as you don't exceed the pickup truck's Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). The GVW is the total weight of the pickup, camper, passengers and cargo. Pickup trucks are also used to tow conventional travel trailers and fifth wheels. Conventional travel trailers are towed with a hitch attached to the rear of the pickup truck. Fifth wheel trailers use a special hitch that sits in the bed of the pickup truck.
Combining the rugged efficiency of a pickup truck with the convenience of more passenger space, Sport Utility Vehicles, or SUVs, can also tow an assortment of travel trailers. Some SUVs have a four-wheel drive feature, which when combined with a compatible trailer, such as a lightweight pop-up trailer, can get you into back country too rugged for conventional RVs. Pop-up trailers look like a box when being towed. The short stance provides less wind resistance when towing, and they are easy to maneuver. Once the SUV tows the trailer to the perfect spot at a campground or even a remote lake, the trailer can unfold to create a comfortable living space. SUVs can also tow small boats and small trailers loaded with motorcycles, off-road vehicles or camping equipment. Towing is done by means of a trailer hitch attached to the rear of the SUV. Larger SUVs, such as the Ford Expedition or the Dodge Durango, can tow bigger travel trailers. As with pickup trucks, the GVW of the vehicle must be matched to the trailer you are towing.
The trend in building RVs was to keep making them bigger and to put as many of the comforts of home in them as possible. RVs can be found with washer/dryers, large screen TVs, even propane fireplaces. Multiple slides open up to create more living space. As gas prices rose, some RV manufacturers started downsizing their offerings. It is now possible to find pop-up tent campers that can be pulled by motorcycles and bicycles. Some of the lightest of these on the market are the Sundowner by A & A Manufacturing, which weighs 250 pounds, and Roadman's popup camper at 220 pounds. As with any tow vehicle, it is important to check the towing capacity of your motorcycle before buying one of these small campers. Some advantages of towing with a motorcycle are fuel economy and maneuverability.
