RV & Travel Trailer Shipping Guide

In the captivating world of road travel, Recreational Vehicles (RVs) and travel trailers offer the freedom to explore and unwind amidst the comforts of home. But when it comes to transporting these beloved companions across vast distances, the journey can sometimes feel like uncharted territory.

If you have a chance to make this dream come true but don’t really have time to drive for a long distance, or you just don’t want the vehicle to wear and tear, Compare The Carrier, your expert co-pilot for all things vehicle transport, is here to help you with the ship my trailer or RV from your exact address to the exact drop off location.To help you understand the whole process of RV and trailer shipping, we have prepared this short guide that includes the following topics:

As the tourism industry continues to grow rapidly, more and more people are buying an RV or travel trailer from a business or private seller in another state or transporting one to their holiday destination. This type of vehicle offers a lot of comfort and entertainment features to its owners, as well as the opportunity to spend quality time with their family and friends.

Owning an RV (recreational vehicle) can be an amazing way to spend quality time together with family and friends. Whether you use it to vacation with your young kids, travel during retirement, or tailgate before and after the big game, owning an RV offers many of the comforts of home. The challenge arises when you need it moved; no matter the reason, we can help you with shipping a travel trailer or shipping a trailer across the country.

The tourism industry becomes more and more popular every day, and more people buy RVs to fulfill their dream of visiting each of the 50 states or the biggest or most popular national parks. Traveling in a travel trailer or RV is also a great opportunity to spend some quality time with your family and/or friends.

If you are only planning to buy a vehicle, besides the cost of the vehicle, you also need to think about how to ship a travel trailer home. In such cases, experts in travel trailer transportation are what you need. Compare the Carrier works with a number of companies that have been in the transportation industry for up to 30 years, and they have shipped all kinds of vehicles, including different types of Travel trailers and RVs.

If you need to have your trailer or RV shipped within the mainland, you should know that there are 3 main types of RV & trailer shipping. Let us tell you more about each of them.

Drive-away is probably the easiest type of shipping a trailer, but it’s definitely not the cheapest. But we will tell you about the price a bit later. So with drive-away, you just hire an experienced driver, who will drive your vehicle from your exact location to your exact delivery address, which can actually be anywhere.

Towing is the transportation of trailers that do not have an engine and must be pulled by a vehicle. Gooseneck trailers and 5th wheel trailers are usually transported this way.

But in case the regular motorhome doesn’t start, but rolls, steers, and brakes it can also be transported in such a way. Once the driver arrives at the pickup location, he attaches the trailer to his pickup truck or a semi-trailer and then goes to the drop-off address.

Hauling on a trailer is the last but not least popular type of ship RV. This way, any RV or travel trailer is loaded onto a flatbed or lowboy and shipped to the drop-off location.

This type of shipping is mostly used by dealerships, and it is used when the trailer is fully inoperable (so it can’t be hauled). If the RV or travel trailer is not that large (for example, Toy-Hauler Trailers, Cargo trailers, Lightweight trailers), the carrier can transport a few vehicles at a time. RV transport pay per mile 2022 rates are often competitive with this method.

Choosing the appropriate and most suitable type of transportation for your trailer is very easy. For that, you only need to know that, first of all, all recreational vehicles can be divided into 2 main types based on the availability of the engine.

So there are motorhomes and trailers, which can be divided into smaller subcategories depending on the purpose of the use. Let’s take a closer look at the most popular of them:

RVs of class A, B, and C Motorhome transport can usually be driven away. They are rarely shipped on a flatbed or lowboy as they are usually rather high. But if it is an inoperable vehicle, it can be loaded onto a special trailer and shipped under oversized vehicle hauling.

Types such as Toy-Hauler Trailers, Cargo trailers, Travel trailers, or Lightweight trailers can be hauled and towed, depending on your preference and budget. If you don’t want the vehicle to be subjected to wear and tear, you can have it loaded on the trailer and shipped anywhere within the US and even overseas. For these, reliable camper transport services near me are essential.

5th Wheel trailers are usually only towed away due to the specific type of link between the trailer and the pickup truck or semitrailer.

RVs can also be grouped by size. They can be small, regular, and oversized. Vehicles up to 25 feet long can be easily hauled or towed if they are less than 14 feet high, including the transport truck. If the vehicle you need to ship a trailer exceeds these limits, it is considered oversized and requires specialized shipping logistics.


So, whether small or extremely large, open or fully enclosed, Compare the Carrier can offer you RV and trailer transport quotes from carriers who are experts in hauling, towing, or driving away your RV or trailer. These trailer shipping companies offer comprehensive RV shipping usa services.

Traveling to Alaska in summer or escaping to Hawaii in winter to enjoy lots of magnificent places while living in your home on wheels is a thing that probably everyone dreams of. And the companies we collaborate with are ready to make this dream come true, as they also offer overseas motorhome shipping and Travel trailer shipping. If you need to ship an RV across country and beyond, we can help.

For more detailed info on shipping to Alaska, check our AK shipping guide.

All in all, there are two common ways to ship an RV or Travel trailer overseas or internationally:

This type of shipping is more popular for international shipping. It is suitable for all types of trailers that do not exceed the following size limits: 40’ in length, 7’10” in height, and 7’8” in width.

After vehicles are loaded and fixed inside the containers, they are stacked onto the vessel and shipped to their destination, where they are unloaded with a crane. The rate for shipping an RV to Hawaii via container starts at $2400 and increases based on the size of the chosen container.

This method of overseas shipping is more popular for shipping vehicles to or from Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. The vehicle is simply driven onto a large ship, then strapped to the deck and transported to the destination, where it is loaded onto the vessel in the very same way.

This method is more affordable, and it has a height limit of 15’, which allows you to transport any kind of RV or travel trailer. The price starts at $1740 and increases based on the vehicle’s size. For those wondering about the cost to ship an RV to Hawaii, this is often the best option. Also, there is one disadvantage: inoperable vehicles are not shipped to Alaska, and if shipping an RV to Hawaii, the vehicle should at least roll. So if it is an inoperable motor home, it may not start, but it should roll, so it could be towed onto the vessel.

Every single RV or travel trailer is different, and some of them can be customized over time. But, all in all, the RV shipping cost depends on various factors, including mileage, the pickup and delivery locations, condition (operable or inoperable), size of the vehicle, type of transportation, etc. Let’s look closely at each of the factors.

· The first aspect is rather easy to understand, since the shorter the route is, the cheaper it is to ship a trailer.

· The pick-up and delivery locations affect the price as well since if they are some faraway locations (for example, Neah Baym WA or Minot, ND), it rarely happens for the driver to find another vehicle to tow from such locations. So carriers have to go the extra mile to get back to large cities.

· The pick-up and delivery locations affect the price as well, since if they are some faraway locations (for example, Neah Baym WA or Minot, ND), it rarely happens for the driver to find another vehicle to tow from such locations. So carriers have to go the extra mile to get back to large cities.

· The condition of the vehicle and its size also play a huge role in the formation of motorhome shipping costs. Transportation of an inoperable vehicle may require extra help (like forklifts) for loading on the trailer, and it always costs extra. Besides that, if the vehicle is oversized, a special escort service should be hired to ensure transportation safety. It goes before and behind the trailer to warn other vehicles.

· The type of transportation also affects the trailer shipping cost. For example, drive-away service usually costs more than shipping a trailer on the trailer or towing it away, since you have to cover gas, payment to the driver, and sometimes even his way back, as he goes without his trailer and will not be able to ship other vehicles to cover his way back.

Besides that, since the drive-away service is rarely used, it’s unlikely he will find another vehicle to drive away on the same route. For an accurate estimate, use an RV shipping calculator.

To help you find out the estimated travel trailer shipping cost, we have prepared this table. You can see the rate per mile that changes depending on mileage and the size of the vehicle.

Please note that these rates are sensitive to the above-mentioned factors.

Note how the cost to ship a travel trailer varies based on distance, providing a good example of RV shipping rates for cross country RV transport.

Please note that all companies Compare the Carrier works with offer total prices that include: insurance coverage, fuel, driver pay, tolls, and permits. We do not offer free 2-day shipping trailer services, as specialized RV transport requires careful logistics. The service is specialized, allowing us to transport RV trailers safely.

Of course, a shipping manager of the company you choose will inform you in detail how to get your vehicle exactly ready for RV shipping, as there may be some differences due to the types of RVs. But here are a few general tips to help you out:

– Remove personal items that are important for you or may be needed while the vehicle is in transit;

– Turn off and unplug all electronics. Don’t forget to disconnect the gas and power supply.

– Make sure that all the times you are planning to ship inside the RV are properly packed and secured, so they will not damage the interior.

– If your RV will be driven away or towed away, make sure that the wheels, engine, fluids, and brakes are in good condition.

If you’re a visual learner, our recent video dives deep into the best practices for preparing your travel trailer for transportation. Let our host guide you through each meticulous step to ensure your trailer’s safety during its journey.

Not only does the video provide a hands-on demonstration, but it also emphasizes the importance of partnering with a reliable transport service like Compare The Carrier. For those serious about safeguarding their prized trailers, this is a must-watch.

If you have already started looking for a company to transport your vehicle, you know there are so many companies on the market. Some are experts in RV transportation, while others only ship small cars or motorcycles. So how can you find a company that provides the perfect service?

That is why we are here for you. Compare the Carrier collaborates with top trailer shipping companies from across the country. And from the top companies, we can help you choose the company that will suit your needs and budget.

When deciding whether to work with a company, we pay attention even to the smallest details because we want our users to experience an outstanding shipping service. Our team checks the company with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to ensure they are registered, bonded, and have active insurance on file.

We also check how long the company has been in business, and whether its drivers have clean driving records. And of course, we look through their reviews on Transport Review, TrustPilot, Google, Yelp, and others.

Besides that, our service is absolutely free, and you do not need to pay anything to simply request a quote on our website. You only need to provide the zip codes for the pickup and drop-off locations, the vehicle details, and your email and/or phone number. Once you submit a request through Compare the Carrier, we will check which companies best suit your needs and provide quotes from the top US shipping companies.

It’s as easy as pie!

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