If you’re going to spend a lot of money on an RV, then you might have an expectation to be able to take it out no matter what the weather is doing. You might want to remain comfortable during the summer months, warm during the winter, and everything in-between.
The vast majority of RVs that are available are not designed for this sort of use. But, 4 season travel trailers are, and should be able to tackle many adverse weather conditions with ease.
If you take a look at any online dealership, you’ll find plenty of results for the search term ‘4 Season travel trailer’. For the most part, these travel trailers, motorhomes, and campers should be able to handle the heat and cold pretty well.
However, you should be aware that some models are 4 seasons in name only. Other than a higher price tag and increased tow weight, some of these RVs are no better at handling extreme weather than any other RV.
Table of Contents
What is a 4 Season Travel Trailer?
Unfortunately for the consumer, there is no industry-accepted definition as to what constitutes a 4 season travel trailer. Our intention for this article is to lay the groundwork for what you should be looking for in a travel trailer you can use year round.
We hope you’ll be able to make a smart buying decision and buy a 4 season travel trailer that meets your needs. Or, even what to so if you want to beef up your existing travel trailer so it can handle all weather types.
How Are You Going To Use Your 4 Season Travel Trailer?
How are planning to use your travel trailer and where you’re going to use it? Being able to answer these questions will give you an excellent understanding of the sorts of weather-related stresses your travel trailer is likely to encounter. In the long run, this can save you a ton of money.
As a starting point, answer the following questions:
- Will most of your travel trailer trips be long or short?
- Are you going to travel with your family, guests or solo?
- Will you mostly be dry camping or using hookups?
- Will your travel trailer be used off road or off the beaten track?
- Are you going to live in your travel trailer full time?
If you can answer these questions truthfully and accurately, then you’re going to have a good idea of the kit your 4 season travel trailer will need. For example, solar panels will be great if you dry camp but might be unnecessary if you only ever camp at sites with a hookup.
Armed with your new knowledge you’re all set to go shopping.
Buying a 4 Season Travel Trailer
Now that we have a good idea of the kit, space, and features we must have, it’s time to start looking at 4 season travel trailers that meet are requirements within our price range.
We think there are four criteria that need to be given serious consideration when it comes to shopping for a 4 season travel trailer. These are:
- Wall Structure: What are the walls made from.
- Insulation: Is the travel trailer fully insulated.
- Size of the Windows: Are we going to let in enough light without overheating.
- Cooling, Heating, and Ventilation: Are the cooling, heating and ventilating systems able to keep us comfortable?
What a Great 4 Season Travel Trailer Should Be Made From
As with houses, the materials used to construct a travel trailer impact its ability to shrug off all weather conditions. The materials used by the various manufacturers will differ, but you should be able to get hold of this information easily by consulting the manufacturer’s website. Just bear in mind, you’re looking for quality materials.
A true 4 season travel trailer will have solidly constructed sidewalls, insulated ceilings, and paneling, and insulated holding tanks. If you take at online customer reviews, the better the reviews, the more capable the 4 season travel trailer is likely to be.
When we’re looking to buy a 4 season travel trailer we would expect the following:
- A comfortably appointed living space where we can remain even if the outside temperates drops beneath freezing or rise above 90.
- Adequate insulation so as to prevent holding and pipes from freezing during cold weather.
- Sufficient insulation so as to prevent the build-up of moisture and to keep occupants cool.
- Insulated and sealed windows and doors so as to prevent cold/warm air entering or escaping.
How to Weatherproof Your Existing Travel Trailer
If you already own a travel trailer, chances are that it’s not cut out for extreme weather conditions. If your travel trailer falls into this category, then all is not lost, there are things you can do to increase the weatherproofing of your travel trailer.
Here are our top tips:
- Insulate your windows with strips of self-adhesive insulation.
- Replace the weather stripping around the doors.
- Stuff foam into spaces and cracks that let in cold air.
- Splash out and buy a tank heater to warm things up.
- Cover water lines and exposed piping with insulation.
- Treat your holding tanks with antifreeze when not in use.
- Use a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture from the air.
Our Five Favourite 4 Season Travel Trailers
Livin Lite Camplite Travel Trailer
Camplite might not be a choice that immediately springs to mind, but we think the Livin Lite Camplite travel trailer is a worthy addition to out 4 season camper. Camplite features 10-floor plans, with the CL14DB and CL11FK being some of our favorites. Depending on the configuration you choose, you can sleep up to 6 people comfortable, while remaining durable and easy to use.
The travel trailer boasts dual pane windows to keep things cozy, and full blinds to keep the sun out when things begin to heat up. When things begin to really cool down, the furnace and more than capable insulation ensure you’re going to remain comfortable no matter what the weather outside is doing.
If that’s not more than enough, the Camplite is well known for its durable construction, and it comes with a range of upgrade options. We think it’s a very capable 4 season travel trailer.
Features:
- 10-floor plans offering flexible living.
- Double pane windows with integrated blinds.
- Powerful furnace.
- Full Aluminum structure.
- Weatherproofed external speakers with lighting.
- A range of interior color choices.
Lance Travel Trailer
The lance brand has come up multiple times in our previous articles, and for good reason. Lance travel trailers boast several features which make them particularly well suited for all weather camping. They are available in a range of flexible floor plans which are able to create comfortable and fun interiors, perfect for those looking to take the trailer out no matter what the weather is doing.
Like the Camplite above, the lance comes with double paned windows. In addition, they come with Azedel walls for improved insulation properties. If that’s not enough to meet your needs, then there are a range of extras that will increase its comfort during extreme weather.
In terms of comfort and entertainment, you can enjoy an entertainment system, exteriour speakers and lighting, and a capable furnace to name just a few.
Features:
- Flexible living arrangements offered by 11-floor plans.
- Tinted and insulated acrylic windows.
- Double foam insulated walls throughout.
- Strong aluminum frame.
- Luxury cabinets and storage.
Forest River Flagstaff Micro-Lite Travel Trailer
The Forest River Flagstaff Micro-Lite Travel Trailer offers a warm, inviting and lightweight 4 season travel trailer option. They are available with staggering 17-floor plans, which meet many of the requirements to be classed a 4 season travel trailer.
The Flagstaff has many things going for it, including a luxury interior and fittings. In terms of weatherproofing, the Flagstaff is available with optional Thermopane windows, double insulated walls, and a robust aluminum frame to give the structure strength and durability. Besides these points, the trailer has a ton of options to choose, from a furnace all the way up the color of the internal walls.
Features:
- An impressive 17 variable floor plans.
- Furnace with ducting.
- Centrally controlled station.
- Extensive WiFi provided by a range booster.
- Attractively decorated sidewalls.
- Tinted windows.
Jayco Jay Flight SLX Travel Trailer
Jayco has a ton of travel trailers available, but we think the Jay Flight SLX travel trailer ticks all the right boxes and we’re happy to recommend it as an excellent 4 season travel trailer.
The Jayco is available with 17 different floor plans which are more than enough to guarantee you’ll be able to find something to meet your requirements. The trailers provide a great mix of features, upgrades and most importantly weatherproofing features. We love both the Jay Flight SLX 145RB and the Jay Flight SLX 154BH, they are both excellent choices.
Most floor plans will comfortably sleep 4 adults, but look for plans featuring bunk beds if you need to sleep more.
If we take a closer look at the features and design, you don’t need to be an expert to see that special attention has been paid to the construction and insulation. The trailer features insulated reflective foil, ensuring the maximum amount of heat is reflected back into the RV. If you so choose, you can upgrade to the Canadian RV standard, which almost guarantees you’ll stay warm regardless of what the weather outside is doing.
In addition, the Jayco is constructed from a full aluminum frame and I-Beams, which means that it’ll last through almost anything you can throw at it. A pothole is going to be the end of your trailer.
Features:
- 17 distinct floor plans.
- Reinforced skirting.
- Double-sided reflective insulation.
- Easy to use electric slide outs.
- Luxury wooden cabinet and storage.
- Powerful and efficient furnace.
Dutchmen Aspen Trail Travel Trailer
The Aspen is the final 4 season travel trailer in our list, but its deserving of its place and is an outstanding RV. With an incredible 36 floor plans to choose from, even the fussiest of customers are bound to find something to their liking. We especially like the Aspen Trail 1600RB and the Aspen Trail 1700BH, both give large amounts of room and usability.
Most of the floor plan comfortably sleeps 4 adults, and that’s within a trailer which measures only 21 feet in length, which is great for the day tripper or those with limited space at home for storage.
The Aspen Trailer is surprisingly effective as a 4 season travel trailer. A heated underbelly and a powerful furnace keep the occupants warm and cozy even if the outside temperatures are freezing. If you need to travel in locations where the temperate drops at night, then this is the travel trailer for you.
Even though the Aspen has fantastic all weather properties, it’s still a luxury trailer. We especially like the central command center, skylights, and luxury mattresses. If you so choose, there’s a range of additional options to pick from.
Features:
- An impressive 36 floor plans to choose from.
- Aerodynamic design.
- Powerful furnace.
- Weatherproof outdoor speakers.
- Prefitted satellite TV input.
Final Thoughts
Finding a 4 season travel trailer to meet your needs doesn’t need to be a frustrating experience. We’ve listed five of our favorites, but if you’re a big fan of another brand, let us know in the comments below.
If you liked this article, you might also like to check out our other travel trailer recommendations here or learn more about RVs here.
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