5 Best Bicycle Trailers For RV Camping Trips That Nomads Swear By
Haul your bikes on your next RV adventure.
You’ve found the perfect campsite, leveled the rig, and unhooked the toad. Now you need to make a quick run for firewood or explore that scenic bike path a mile away. Firing up the truck or motorhome for a two-mile trip feels like a waste, and that’s where the humble bicycle trailer proves its worth.
For a nomad, a bike trailer isn’t just an accessory; it’s a utility vehicle in miniature. It’s the key to unlocking freedom from your main rig, turning your bicycle into a practical tool for errands, gear hauling, and family adventures. This simple piece of equipment can fundamentally change how you interact with your surroundings, making you more mobile, efficient, and connected to the places you visit.
Choosing the right one, however, means balancing capability with the ever-present constraint of storage space. The best trailer is the one that fits your specific adventure style and, just as importantly, fits in your RV’s storage bay without a fight. It’s about finding that perfect companion for your two-wheeled excursions.
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Find Your Perfect RV Bike Trailer Companion
The search for a bike trailer often starts with cargo capacity, but for an RVer, it should start with storage. A trailer that hauls 100 pounds is useless if it doesn’t fit in your pass-through storage. The best models for nomadic life are the ones that break down quickly, pack down small, and don’t require a full toolbox for assembly.
Think of a trailer as a specialized piece of gear designed to solve a specific problem. Are you hauling kids to the playground, groceries from a distant camp store, or paddleboards to the lake? Each mission profile points toward a different design, whether it’s a rugged single-wheel for trails or a stable two-wheel for paved paths.
Ultimately, the goal is to find a trailer that expands your capabilities without becoming a storage burden. It’s a classic small-living tradeoff: maximizing function while minimizing footprint. The right choice will feel like a natural extension of your RV setup, ready to deploy at a moment’s notice.
Burley Coho XC: Your Off-Road Adventure Awaits
Conquer any trail with the Burley Coho XC single-wheel cargo trailer. Its slim, suspension-equipped design and 70+ liter cargo bay offer stable transport for your gear, while the versatile hitch system ensures easy attachment to most bikes.
When your campsite is the gateway to singletrack trails and rugged fire roads, the Burley Coho XC is the tool for the job. Its single-wheel design is its defining feature. This allows the trailer to track perfectly behind your bike, leaning with you into turns and navigating narrow paths where a wider two-wheel trailer would get snagged.
The genius of the Coho XC for RV life lies in its thoughtful engineering for both use and storage. It features an adjustable suspension system that smooths out rough terrain, protecting your gear from jarring bumps. More importantly, it disassembles completely without tools, breaking down into a surprisingly compact package that can be tucked into a crowded storage bay.
This level of performance comes at a premium price, making it a serious investment. It’s not the ideal choice for hauling bulky, square items like a large cooler, as balancing the load on a single wheel takes some practice. But for the dedicated adventurer who wants to push their bike explorations far beyond the pavement, the Coho XC is unmatched.
Thule Chariot Cross: Haul Kids and Gear in Style
Adapt to any adventure with the Thule Chariot Cross 2 Double. This versatile trailer easily converts for biking, jogging, strolling, and skiing, featuring adjustable suspension and modular seating for ultimate comfort and convenience.
For nomadic families, the Thule Chariot Cross is less of a bike trailer and more of a mobile command center. This is the ultimate multi-sport solution, seamlessly converting from a bike trailer to a high-performance stroller, a jogger, or even a cross-country ski pulk with optional kits. This multi-functionality is the holy grail for RV living, where one piece of gear that does the job of three is a massive space-saver.
The design prioritizes comfort and safety, with an excellent suspension system that keeps little ones happy on bumpy campground roads. The seats are padded and recline independently, and the entire cabin is protected by an integrated weather cover. It’s a well-thought-out system that makes it easy to bring the kids along on any adventure, rain or shine.
The trade-off for this versatility is its size and cost. The Chariot Cross is a significant investment and, even when folded, it has a larger footprint than a dedicated cargo trailer. However, for active families who will use its multiple functions, it replaces several other bulky items, more than justifying its space in the rig.
Burley Nomad: Maximize Your Cargo-Carrying Power
Haul more on your adventures with the Burley Nomad cargo trailer, featuring a durable, lightweight aluminum frame and a water-resistant cover. Its stable two-wheel chassis and secure interior tie-downs ensure your gear stays protected and organized, while push-button wheels enable easy storage and transport.
If your primary mission is hauling stuff, the Burley Nomad is your workhorse. Originally designed for long-distance bike touring, its features are perfectly suited for the demands of RV life. With a 100-pound capacity and a massive interior, it can handle a week’s worth of groceries, a load of laundry, or all your beach gear with ease.
The two-wheel design provides a low, stable center of gravity. This makes it incredibly easy to load and unload, and it won’t tip over when disconnected from the bike—a small but crucial detail when you’re managing heavy loads. The included weather-proof cover keeps your cargo dry and contained, and the internal pockets help organize smaller items.
While the Nomad collapses for storage, its wide, stable platform means it’s still a sizable object. It’s not built for tight, technical trails, but it excels on pavement, gravel roads, and campground paths. For pure, unadulterated cargo-hauling power, the Nomad is the benchmark by which others are measured.
Schwinn Day Tripper: Your Affordable Camp Hauler
Haul up to 100 lbs of gear with the Schwinn Daytripper cargo trailer. Its folding frame and quick-release wheels offer compact storage, while 16-inch air-filled tires ensure a smooth ride.
Not every RVer needs an expedition-ready trailer. Sometimes, you just need a simple, reliable way to haul a bag of charcoal and a case of drinks from the camp store. The Schwinn Day Tripper fills this role perfectly, offering dependable performance without the high price tag of more specialized models.
This trailer is all about straightforward utility. It features a simple steel frame, 16-inch wheels that handle common campground terrain, and a decent cargo capacity for everyday errands. The quick-release wheels and folding frame make it easy to break down and slide into a storage compartment or the back of a tow vehicle.
You won’t find adjustable suspension or high-tech materials here. The Day Tripper is a budget-friendly tool, and its performance reflects that; it’s best suited for slower speeds on relatively smooth surfaces. For the camper who needs a trailer for occasional, light-duty tasks, it represents an incredible value.
Aosom Wanderer: The Smart, Versatile Cargo Solution
The Aosom Wanderer occupies a fantastic middle ground in the cargo trailer market. It offers a robust and practical design that’s a clear step up from the most basic models, but it remains accessible and affordable. It’s a popular choice for RVers who need a reliable hauler for frequent use but don’t require backcountry-level performance.
Its key feature is a durable steel frame that provides a solid foundation for hauling heavy loads, often rated for around 100 pounds. Many models come with a removable fabric liner and cover, which is a huge plus for containing loose items and protecting your cargo from the elements. The hitch system is simple and compatible with most standard bicycles.
Like other two-wheel cargo trailers, its strength is in stable hauling on predictable surfaces, not technical trail riding. It provides a fantastic balance of capacity, durability, and cost. For the RVer looking for a "do-it-all" cargo solution for runs to the farmer’s market, the beach, or the laundry facility, the Wanderer is a smart and versatile choice.
How to Choose the Right Bike Trailer for Your Rig
Choosing the right trailer isn’t about finding the "best" one, but the one that’s best for you. Your decision should be guided by a realistic assessment of your needs, your bike, and most importantly, your available space. Get this balance right, and the trailer will become an indispensable part of your kit.
Start by considering these three core factors. They will quickly narrow the field from dozens of options to the two or three that make the most sense for your nomadic lifestyle.
- Primary Use: What will you haul 90% of the time? Kids and pets demand safety features and suspension. Groceries and gear benefit from a stable, two-wheel design. Off-road adventures require a nimble, single-wheel trailer.
- Storage Footprint: This is the big one for RVers. Before you buy, measure your intended storage space. Look for trailers with tool-free disassembly and quick-release wheels, as these features make packing up significantly faster and easier.
- Bike Compatibility: Don’t assume a trailer will fit your bike. Thru-axles, common on modern mountain bikes and e-bikes, often require a specific adapter that’s sold separately. Check your bike’s rear axle setup and confirm compatibility with the trailer’s hitch system.
Don’t underestimate the importance of easy storage. In the confined world of an RV, gear that is difficult to store is gear that gets left behind. A trailer that folds down into a clean, compact shape is far more likely to be used regularly than one that remains a bulky, awkward object.
Hit the Road with Your New Favorite Camping Gear
A bike trailer is a force multiplier for your RV lifestyle. It transforms your bike from a recreational toy into a light utility vehicle, granting you a new level of freedom and flexibility once you’re parked. It’s about making your base camp more efficient and your explorations more ambitious.
The most profound benefit is the ability to leave your primary rig undisturbed. No more enduring the hassle of unhooking utilities and leveling jacks just to make a quick trip. This simple change saves fuel, reduces wear and tear, and encourages you to get out and explore the immediate area in a more intimate way.
Ultimately, investing in the right bike trailer is an investment in a better travel experience. It’s a piece of gear that bridges the gap between your parked RV and the world just outside your door. It empowers you to live a little smaller, travel a little smarter, and connect more deeply with every destination.
In the end, a bike trailer is more than just a cart you pull behind you. For the modern nomad, it’s a key to unlocking convenience, reducing your reliance on a motorized vehicle, and expanding the radius of your adventures from camp. By matching the trailer’s capabilities to your lifestyle and storage realities, you add one of the most useful and versatile tools to your RV arsenal.
