Camper Hauling Guidelines for Easily Transporting Your Camper

Our world is a wondrous place. Every corner of this good earth is beautiful in its own way. For some people, traversing the country to reach beautiful places like National Parks has become a pastime of passion. I mean, who doesn’t want to wake up with the backdrop of a beautiful forested canyon behind them?

There are several ways to reach these wonderful natural locations. You can drive to the destination, sure. But what if you want to stay there without being enclosed in a 4×4 hotel room? You’ll need a camper, or travel trailer. Campers need to be hauled by other vehicles. Sure, you can do it yourself, which can be quite difficult. Or you can hire a professional hauling company to do it for you!

In this article we’ll go through the different types of campers, the hauling methods and other guidelines to make sure you know everything about camper hauling to easily transport your beautiful sea green camper you nicely named Morticia Campee!

Overview of Different Types of Campers

There are several types of campers out there. Now you might think, isn’t an RV and a camper the same thing? Well, the simple answer to your valid questions is that a camper has to be towed or pulled by another vehicle. They are slightly smaller than RVs or motorhomes, as well.

Which type of camper do you have?

Lightweight Trailer

• Lightweight trailers are easily towed by other vehicles and they are smaller but can still pack the essentials needed for travel.

Travel Trailer

• Travel trailers can be hauled by many types of vehicles. They are small enough to have the essentials but can also be used for a variety of different reasons like RVing or camping.

Fifth Wheel

• These are bigger travel trailers that can accommodate sleeping and more of a living situation. They can be easily and more stably hauled by another vehicle.

Toy Hauler

• These trailers can be hauled from another vehicle. They are suitable for sleeping but also to store any of your belongings (or toys, like motorcycles).

Expandable Trailer

• Expandable trailers are small campers that can be expanded easily to increase living space. They are towed by another vehicle.

Best Vehicles for Hauling Campers

Based on your camper’s size and weight, you will need a particular hauler. Not all shipping companies may have the hauler that you need for your camper, so you have to know the dimensions and type of camper you have. There are currently three methods to haul campers of all types. Let’s take a look at each one.

Method 1: Drive-Away Shipping

Drive-away shipping is basically just what it sounds like. When you hire a camper shipping company, a driver will usually arrive to take your RV to where you want it relocated. The camper of course has to be operational and in good condition for it to be driven by a professional camper hauler.

Method 2: Flatbed Shipping

This type of shipping involves a truck with a flatbed. The camper goes on the flatbed and sometimes there’s multiple campers the truck is hauling (which can definitely make your camper shipping costs decrease). This method is also usually used for more long distance moves, whereas drive away shipping is more short distance relocations. With this method, it might take longer for the delivery to arrive.

Method 3: Tow-Away Shipping

Tow-away shipping is just what it sounds like. A truck with specialized equipment will tow your camper to its new location. This type of shipping method is more safe than the others. Because of this, it’s also quite pricier than the other methods. The cost of transporting will also depend on the camper’s size, weight, dimensions and other factors.

Equipment Needed for Camper Hauling

In order to tow your beloved camper, the shipping company will have the necessary equipment to tow your camper. However, if you want to do it yourself, there’s certain equipment you need in order to make it happen safely.

Safety Chains

This is the most essential part of the equipment needed for camper hauling. The safety chains are there as an extra safety net in case the trailer gets disconnected. They stop the camper from rolling elsewhere. Besides being an essential safety item, it is also required by law to have them.

Coupler Lock

The coupler is used to secure your hitch bill and with a lock, it is designed to have an added safety mechanism. The coupler lock makes it difficult to detach your camper from your vehicle, which can make thefts a lot difficult to maneuver.

Hitch Lock

A hitch lock is similar in that there is an added safety mechanism attached to the hitch, preventing misdeeds from happening or thievery from being easy.

Sway Bar/Weight Distribution Hatch

These two devices create stability between your camper and the vehicle hauling it. By ensuring stability, it prevents swaying and dipping and your camper and have a good straight connection with your vehicle.

Chocks

This item is used when your camper is parked and not moving. You can insert the chocks wedged in near the tires or underneath the tires to prevent it from rolling or moving.

Electric Tongue Jack

Campers or trailers have to be lifted up in order to secure the trailer to the vehicle. You need a hand-crank jack to do so, but with an electric tongue jack, you can save time and hassle. This is a definite equipment need!

Trailer Brakes

Trailer brakes are breaks attached to the trailer’s axles. It’s smart to have them so that when you break, the force and weight isn’t just on the towing vehicle. According to law, larger campers must have trailer brakes (California, for example, is 1,500 pounds).

Safety Equipment Considerations

It’s always smart to be safe when towing a trailer, which is why states have handbooks on towing trailers. A trailer is heavy and it can cause a lot of damage if not secured properly. Not only can the trailer be destroyed, but there can be outside damage done to its surroundings including your own vehicle or property.

Because safety is of the utmost importance, hiring a professional camper hauler may be the best way to avoid any incidents. They are professionals that know how to secure things properly and have the safety equipment necessary to get the job done right.

Back Up Camera

Another important safety equipment item that you can definitely invest in is a backup camera. A backup camera is an essential piece of the puzzle when it comes to hitching on the trailer to your other vehicle. Without one, it will be difficult and can even be dangerous. Not only is the backup camera a convenient tool to use at all times in the navigation, as well as the hitching on and off processes, but it is also an item that is made to save time and provide safety.

Camper Hauling Techniques

There are techniques that you can use to haul your camper in an efficient manner. Let’s take a look at them.

1. Prepare everything: make sure you hitch your camper to your vehicle correctly, check to see if your brakes are working and finally check for visibility on the road.
2. Know your camper: you should always know everything about your camper — its dimensions (height, width, length), its weight and all its functions.
3. Drive with caution: always drive safely when on the road and follow the law at all times.

Tips for Safe and Efficient Hauling

You should always haul in a safe manner. Accidents could happen, but it’s always best to avoid them completely. These important tips are easy to remember and really simple, but they will ensure you are hauling your camper in a safe and efficient manner.

Be sure to check:

1. Brakes
2. Lights
3. Tires
4. Your visibility on the road
5. You’ve packed everything, including first aid kits and essential supplies
6. What your camper can and cannot haul so you don’t exceed your hauling limit and cause an accident.

Maneuvering and Backing up a Camper

There are certain tricks and tips when backing up a camper. Getting a backup camera is very convenient and can really make backing up a camper easy and more safe.

1. Study your camper and how to drive it by reading your manual.
2. Back up slowly to ensure safety.
3. Practicing before the road trip will make you know how to back up once you are on the road in tougher terrains.
4. Practice the “swoop” technique.

Licensing and Regulations

In order to haul your camper, the shipping company that you hire must be registered with the state in which you live in and have a license. If you’re doing this on your own, there are certain rules you must adhere to. Let’s take a look at the regulations and licenses you need, as well as insurance considerations.

Regulations for Hauling Campers

When it comes to hiring a camper hauling company, you need to make sure that the shipping company is licensed with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Typically, the company’s number may be displayed on their website and you can check to see if it’s valid as every camper hauling company must have it.

If you are hauling the camper yourself, you don’t need to register it with the FMCSA, but you do need to register it with the state’s DMV. You should also make sure that your camper has reflectors, tail, brakes and license plate lights. Trailer over 80 inches need to have clearance lights, as well.

Insurance Considerations

It’s always smart to have insurance when camper hauling. You never know what’s going to happen and it’s better to be safe than sorry. Many states have now mandated individuals with campers to have insurance on them, just like car insurance requirements.

Camper shipping companies are required to have insurance, as well. Usually their policies can cover at least $750,000, so if you decide to go this route instead of doing it yourself, make sure you ask about their insurance policies and their limits.

Stress Free Camper Hauling with CitizenShipper

The main thing you have to think about are your stress levels. If you are going to be too stressed in hauling your camper yourself or you see that traditional camper hauling companies are too expensive, then finding an alternative is your best bet. Good thing is there is an alternative. don’t fret! The solution to your problem is CitizenShipper.

With CitizenShipper, there won’t be hidden fees, the quotes will be more affordable and everything will be safe and reliable. Because multiple transporters compete for your business, you may be able to find rates that aren’t offered by traditional camper haulers. Posting a listing and receiving quotes is easy as pie:

1. Create a listing on CitizenShipper. All you have to do is add your contact info, the details about your camper, the pick-up and drop-off locations and your preferred transport dates. It’s free to post a listing!
2. Your listing is visible to a network of vehicle transportation professionals. Every driver on CitizenShipper has passed a stringent background check.
3. The drivers submit bids on your listing — usually bids are submitted within minutes! It’s free to look over your quotes, chat with drivers and read reviews.
4. When you choose the driver you like best, you can book your trip!

We pride ourselves in having excellent customer service and making camper hauling safe, seamless and stress-free. Your second home, that beloved Morticia Campee, will be in good hands with our qualified transporters, who provide frequent updates through our internal messaging system.

Navigate to the RV transport page, plug in your camper’s info and get quotes faster than trekking from Yosemite to Zion!