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If you want to enjoy a camping experience with horses in tow, you may need to know the answer to the question: can an RV pull a horse trailer?
While there are a number of factors that may lead you to bring along your horses, whether camping or otherwise, it’s important to know whether you can accomplish this task safely.
So, can an RV pull a horse trailer?
Depending on the type of RV you have and its towing capacity, you can pull a horse trailer. However, only the largest of Class A and Class C motorhomes can best accomplish this task, and still, it will depend on your towing capacities, the size of your horse trailer, and your own comfortability while towing.
In this article, we will address everything you need to know about towing a horse trailer behind your RV, including whether or not it is wise to accomplish the task. We’ll go over the types of RVs best suited for pulling a horse trailer as well as some helpful tips and tricks to help you get the job done. Let’s get started!
If you are only looking for a particular section of this article, feel free to use our table of contents to navigate to it now!
Pulling a Horse Trailer with an RV: Can it Be Done?
In the grand scheme of things, it’s possible to pull a horse trailer with an RV. With the proper skills and rig, you can bring along just about any size of horse trailer on your camping adventures.
You may want to do this so that you can camp with your horses, or perhaps you are traveling to a show or horse-related event and want to save some funds on lodging. Regardless of why, it is indeed possible to accomplish this task.
However, not just any type of RV can pull a horse trailer, and the same can be said for the type of person towing said trailer!
Let’s dive in and get to the nitty-gritty of what it means to pull a horse trailer with an RV.
Types of RVs that Can Pull Horse Trailers
First thing first: you aren’t going to be able to tow a horse trailer with just any type of RV. In fact, there are very few RVs that can safely pull a horse trailer, especially if you need to bring along multiple horses!
Here are the types of RVs that can pull a horse trailer, no matter the size and weight.
Class A Motorhomes
If you are buying an RV made to tow a horse trailer, a Class A motorhome is your best bet.
Manufactured with either gasoline or diesel fuel, Class A motorhomes are the largest drivable RVs on the market today. This means they have a high towing capacity and enough power to safely bring along a trailer full of horses behind you.
Depending on the manufacturer, most Class A RVs can tow up to 20,000 pounds, but most options average anywhere from 7,500 to 10,000 pounds. You’ll have a higher towing capacity if you opt for a diesel-fuel Class A motorhome rather than a gasoline-powered option, as these come fully loaded with more horsepower (ha!) from the get-go.
Keep in mind that the larger Class A you purchase, the more likely it is for you to have a high towing capacity to bring along a larger horse trailer. However, this also means that your Class A RV will potentially be larger than you want it to be.
When contemplating driving your RV that’s towing a horse trailer, can you picture yourself arriving safely at your destination if you are driving a 40 ft long RV with a 10 ft long trailer attached?
Class C Motorhomes
There’s a possibility that you can pull a horse trailer with a Class C motorhome almost as easily as with a Class A motorhome.
Class C RVs are the next largest type of motorhome available on the market currently, with a wide range of sizes, layouts, and price points. There are also Class C RVs designated as Super C RVs. these are likely your best bets if you want to pull a horse trailer.
Super C RVs are almost always equipped with diesel engines, offering you more fuel efficiency as well as more towing capacities. They are often built on a similar chassis as a Class A RV, but they maintain a more nimble frame and offer you more sleeping arrangements inside due to the over-cab bunk setup.
If you choose a standard Class C motorhome, the average towing capacity of this type of RV ranges anywhere from 5,000 to 7500 pounds. This may not be enough for your horse trailer, depending on the size of your horses and the overall length of the trailer in question. However, if you want to keep things compact, a standard Class C motorhome will suit you well.
Super C RVs are a great option if you want the towing capacity, but they can get pretty big. Granted, you’ll have anywhere from 10,000 to 15,000 pounds of towing capacity, but you’ll likely run into the same issues offered by a Class A RV: an extremely long and potentially unsafe rig while driving!
What About the Other Types of RVs?
Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that you will be able to tow a horse trailer with any other type of RV. It isn’t legal to tow an additional, large trailer off the back of a travel trailer or fifth wheel in most locations. That only leaves you with a Class B motorhome to consider, and these RVs are technically glorified vans in many ways.
You may find a Class B RV with a 5000-pound towing capacity, and this may be enough if you have an extremely small horse trailer and horse. However, you should always keep in mind that towing outside of your towing capacity isn’t safe for you as well as your RV, so make sure to never exceed this limit!
What to Consider Before Pulling a Horse Trailer with an RV
There are a number of things that you should consider before you begin pulling a horse trailer behind any type of RV. But what might some of those considerations be?
Let’s take a look at some of the things you may or may not have thought of yet when it comes to pulling a horse trailer with an RV!
Towing Capacities of Your RV
As previously mentioned, knowing the overall towing capacities of your RV is step one in finding an option that works well for you and your horses. Many RV experts recommend basing your towing capacities on an 80% guideline. This essentially means that you should never tow more than 80% of your towing capacity at any given time, especially when your trailer is full.
Leaving this extra bit of wiggle room for yourself will help keep you safe during any type of towing scenario, especially one that involves heavy cargo such as horses. For example, if you are interested in an RV with a 10,000 lb towing capacity, you should ensure that your horse trailer weighs less than 8,000 lb once there are horses in it!
This can be an extremely difficult number to both figure out as well as meet, as many different factors will affect your overall towing capacity. However, towing less than 80% of your overall towing capacity is key for your safety while driving, especially during difficult weather or up and down mountain passes.
Weight of Your Horse Trailer (With Horses!)
What goes hand in hand with the overall towing capacity of your RV? The weight of the trailer you are interested in towing! Knowing how much your horse trailer weighs is everything when it comes to finding an RV capable of towing it, as this number will inform the size of the RV you need more than anything else.
If you already own a horse trailer, you should take a moment to figure out how much it weighs. You can figure this out both at home or at a standard truck stop with a weigh station. Better yet, if you have a horse trailer and your horses are ready to go, you should weigh everything that you plan on bringing with you behind your RV!
Depending on the size of the horse trailer you have as well as the size of your horses, horse trailers can weigh upwards of 8,000 to 10,000 pounds. If you only have a single-stall horse trailer, you may hover around 5,000 pounds, making it easier for you to tow a smaller trailer with a smaller RV. However, never forget how much an adult horse can weigh!
To reiterate, you should never pull a horse trailer with an RV without knowing how much it weighs, and preferably an exact number rather than manufacturer facts and figures. This is especially true if you start your horse trailer journey with an adolescent horse that slowly grows larger and larger with each passing year, altering your overall towing capacities!
Overall Length and Height While Towing
While choosing an RV, especially a Class A RV, that has a particularly large towing capacity, you should keep in mind just how long your RV will be when you hit the road with a horse trailer behind it. Depending on the trailer that you have, your RV and horses can exceed 50 ft in length while driving down the highway.
I personally own a 19 ft long travel trailer, so the idea of driving something that is over 50 ft long stresses me out. However, many RV owners have 45 ft long fifth wheels attached to their pickup trucks, making their rigs just as long and occasionally as heavy as a Class A RV with a horse trailer!
Depending on your own abilities and comfortability while driving, you may want to seriously consider just how long your RV will be with a horse trailer behind it. Some horse trailers can reach close to 20 ft in length, depending on the style you are looking for. This may make your RV and trailer extremely difficult to maneuver down the roads, especially if you have to make any sharp turns.
The same can be said for the overall height of your RV as well as the height of your horse trailer. While there’s nothing you can do about the height of either of these things, you should keep in mind that it can be extremely dangerous to drive a high-profile vehicle down a highway, especially during inclement weather scenarios.
While remaining within your towing capacity is a must, debating the overall length of your entire rig – RV and horse trailer included – is a good idea as well!
Fuel Requirements
While this may not be a priority for you right away, knowing the fuel requirements of your new RV is a good idea before you hit the road with a horse trailer behind you. You’ll likely have diesel fuel on board your Class A or Super C RV, which means keeping an eye out for diesel fuel stations while you travel.
This means that you likely have plenty of space to maneuver in a gas station given the fact that semi trucks use diesel fuel. However, towing a horse trailer also means likely running out of gas sooner than you expected!
Being prepared and knowing when and where you can stop for fuel is a good idea before you hit the road, given the stress that often comes from towing any type of trailer.
Campgrounds or RV Parks that Accommodate Horse Trailers
Whether you are on your way to a show or simply want to camp and ride your horses wherever your journeys take you, you should be aware that not all campgrounds or RV parks will be able to accommodate an RV with a horse trailer.
Depending on the size and overall length of your RV or motorhome, many campgrounds and RV parks have length limits that will limit whether or not you can bring a horse trailer with you. At the very least, you will likely need to park your horse trailer elsewhere in the RV park or campground and park your motorhome in your campsite.
This may raise some concerns for your overall safety and comfort, but it’s important to keep in mind that most locations can’t accommodate the immense size of a motorhome that is towing a horse trailer behind it! However, there are many campgrounds that offer horse camps or other alternative camping methods so that you aren’t separated from your horses for long.
Hitch Type
While it will depend on the type of RV you have as well as the type of horse trailer that you have, choosing a hitch type that supports safe travel is always a good idea. There are a number of different types of hitches on the market today, as well as different types of hitch accessories to help you maintain safe and level towing while traveling at high speeds.
For example, choosing a hitch that offers you proper weight distribution as well as sway control is a good idea. Oftentimes, these options are available as accessories rather than standard features. However, you may find a type of hitch that offers you a number of impressive means of helping you tow your horse trailer safely!
For example, weight distribution can be extremely helpful if you are towing particularly heavy things along with you. It’s often smart to choose a higher-priced hitch if you know you will be towing something that is heavy as well as potentially movable, such as the shifting weight of a large horse!
Tips and Tricks for Pulling a Horse Trailer with Your RV
Are there any other tips and tricks that you should be aware of before you pull a horse trailer with your RV or motorhome? Here are some further considerations and things to keep in mind before you hit the road with your equine companions!
Your Hitch is Everything
As previously mentioned, the hitch type that you choose is paramount for keeping you and your cargo safe while on the road. The last thing you need is to choose a hitch that can’t handle the weight of your horse trailer, or perhaps it is a simplistic hitch that doesn’t offer you anything in terms of safety and control.
Since you likely won’t be able to tell how your hitch is doing once you hit the road in your motorhome, it’s important to choose a brand that is reliable and offers you all the safety features you are looking for. I highly recommend researching your hitch extensively, including asking both RV professionals and people who frequently tow horse trailers for advice.
Practice Makes Perfect
If you are especially nervous about towing a horse trailer behind your RV for the first time, you should be sure to practice often. While it’s completely understandable to feel apprehensive about accomplishing such a task, experience is everything when it comes to driving any type of RV, especially a large motorhome.
Take your time driving your new RV around on its own before you attempt to tow anything behind it. You should practice backing up as well as changing lanes, especially if you plan on driving your new RV solo. This may be a great opportunity to note whether any additional accessories or safety features may suit you.
Once you feel comfortable driving your RV around on its own, you should then attach your horse trailer to it. Don’t feel obligated to load up your horses for this test drive, though it is a good idea to learn how that feels later on as well. Adding horses to your horse trailer will indeed affect your driving capabilities slightly, but you don’t always need to practice with them on board!
Distribute Weight Evenly
As previously mentioned, distributing the weight evenly, both in your RV and in your trailer, is key to your safety and comfortability while on the road. Anyone who owns a travel trailer will be the first to tell you that weight distribution is necessary when it comes to towing anything safely, and the same can be said for a horse trailer as well.
For the most part, your horse trailer should be fairly easy to distribute the weight evenly across it, unless you are traveling with only a single horse in an extremely large horse trailer. The goal is to centralize most of the weight of your trailer along the front and center of the trailer itself. By basing your cargo on the axis of the tires, you can more efficiently and safely balance your rig.
If you are also bringing along a decent amount of gear and other cargo besides horses you should do your best to keep these in your motorhome rather than in the horse trailer. The lighter you can make your tow load, the safer you will be while driving. That’s why you should prioritize storing things in your motorhome, likely the exterior storage compartments.
You don’t have to worry about distributing weight as much inside your motorhome as you do inside your trailer, as the overall size of your motorhome won’t get unbalanced due to cargo weight.
Use Additional Mirrors and Accessories
If you’re steadily getting the hang of towing your horse trailer behind your RV, you may find that there are a number of accessories that may help you improve your driving experience.
For example, there are tow mirrors and additional accessories that you can purchase to help with your sight lines while driving down the road. This is often the most difficult part of towing a horse trailer behind an extremely long motorhome.
You may also find that installing cameras in various locations on your motorhome helps you with the sight lines as well. Having a visual guide while driving may help you avoid any dangerous maneuvers. This will also give you a look at your trailer while on the road so that you can keep an eye on any potential hazards such as tire blowouts or anything dangling from your trailer.
While there are a number of accessories out there for all types of RVs, some can be extremely expensive. At the end of the day, it’s all about you being comfortable while pulling a horse trailer down the highway, so it’s difficult to put a price on safety!
Be Realistic About Your Camping Experience
If you want to pull a horse trailer to your local state park and camp there with your huge Class A RV as well as your trailer, you may need to be realistic about what this experience will be like. As previously mentioned, it’s rare to find a campground or RV park that can accommodate a Class A RV and a horse trailer in a single spot.
This is why it’s important to be realistic about where you choose to sleep in your RV when pulling a horse trailer. You will likely need to unhitch your horse trailer in a designated area and camp your RV elsewhere, depending on where you choose to stay. In addition, the overall length of your RV and horse trailer will make it difficult for you to simply camp in a parking lot for a night!
Regardless of your plans and where you choose to stay, always keep in mind that your RV will be extremely long and difficult to park when there’s a horse trailer attached to it!
Two Drivers May Be Necessary
If you find yourself nervous about towing a horse trailer behind an extremely large motorhome, it may be time to get realistic about whether this is the right option for you. This is also true if you find that a Class A or Class C motorhome isn’t right for your family or lifestyle outside of pulling a horse trailer.
For example, you may find that a huge motorhome has the perfect towing capacity for your horse trailer, but the overall layout, price point, and maintenance needed for these RVs are simply too much for you to handle. A smaller RV, including certain types of travel trailers, maybe a better RV option for you and your family.
At the end of the day, finding an additional driver that can tow your horse trailer while you tow or drive your RV may work out better for your lifestyle and situation. If you don’t have any other traveling companions, obviously choosing a motorhome that can tow your horse trailer is your best bet. However, traveling in pairs has many benefits outside of a safer RV driving experience!
Can an RV Pull Other Types of Trailers?
Depending on what you are hoping to accomplish, your RV can pull a number of other types of trailers as well as horse trailers. If you have someone who can tow your horse trailer but you need additional room for supplies or cargo, you can always tow a smaller cargo trailer behind your motorhome.
This may make it easier on both your safety on the road as well as your wallet, as you will likely be able to purchase a much smaller motorhome than originally expected. You can tow just about any type of trailer behind an RV, so long as you pay attention to the weight limits and towing capacities of all vehicles involved!
4 Motorhomes that Can Pull a Horse Trailer
Curious what some examples might be of motorhomes that can pull a horse trailer?
Here are four different examples with large towing capacities so that you can safely bring along your large horse trailer and all of your horses too!
Class A Option: Newmar Ventana
With countless floor plans across multiple lengths, this Class A option from Newmar is a great choice if you want to bring your horses with you on your camping adventures.
While it isn’t at a budget-friendly price point, starting over $400k, the Newmar Ventana is highly customizable and likely worth every penny if it is what you are looking for.
Not only can you choose from a variety of different floor plans and rig lengths, but you also get to choose the chassis on this particular motorhome.
Both chassis options have their pros and cons, but no matter what option you choose, you have a towing capacity ranging from 10,000 to 15,000 pounds, depending on the size of the RV you choose.
Packed full of luxury and capable of tackling even the largest of horses and horse trailers, this option from Newmar is perfect for living full-time or simply taking with you when you need a home on wheels for your horse-related adventures!
Class C Option: Thor Four Winds
Certainly less expensive than the Newmar and Entegra options on this list, the Thor Four Winds offers RV consumers multiple floor plans at a fair price.
You have different lengths of RV for this Class C motorhome, including fairly compact options that don’t skimp on their towing capacity.
Starting at $123k, the Four Winds offers fairly basic features but at an affordable price. The one non-negotiable that should be on your list? Your towing capacity!
Thankfully, the Four Winds offers you up to 8,000 pounds across all of its floor plans, making it a great choice for those of you seeking something smaller but still capable of towing your horses and trailer.
Super C Option: Entegra Coach Accolade XT
New to the market in 2023, the Entegra Coach Accolade XT is a great choice for those of you looking for a Super C option with a high towing capacity as well as many other features.
Not only does this motorhome offer you a 12,000-pound towing capacity, but it also has all-terrain capabilities and plenty of luxury features.
This RV is the perfect blend of luxury as well as ruggedness, as the exterior of this RV differs from most Super C motorhomes in the same price point.
It’s ideal for those of you hoping to take your RV off-road and off the beaten path, so long as your horse trailer can handle it too!
There are far too many features to list here, but the Accolade XT offers you plenty, especially if you want to bring your horses along with you.
This rig also isn’t nearly as long as other options, making it ideal for those of you with large horse trailers.
With a raised chassis capable of handling any road conditions, you can easily reach your destination while towing safely.
Budget-Friendly Option: Winnebago Minnie Winnie
Starting at $134k the Minnie Winnie from Winnebago is a great budget-friendly choice for those of you seeking something that can pull a horse trailer without breaking the bank.
There are a number of different floor plans to choose from, including different lengths of RV, but all of these Class C RVs have an average towing capacity of 7,500 pounds.
While this won’t suit a horse trailer packed full of multiple horses, it may suit your smaller trailer and up to two horses easily. Plus, this option has many family-friendly floor plans at a fair price.
This is a great RV to consider purchasing and using in other capacities when you don’t have to worry about bringing your horses with you! It may not be the most luxurious, but it’s a great choice.
Final Thoughts
It is indeed possible to pull a horse trailer behind an RV, but not just any type of RV. you’ll need an especially large motorhome such as a Class A RV or a Super C RV to accomplish the task. Plus, your experience level and overall safety while on the road are also important to keep in mind when pulling any type of trailer behind your RV.
If you find that a large motorhome isn’t the type of RV you want, you should definitely consider traveling with two drivers so that you can safely bring your horses as well as your RV with you. Regardless of your situation, there’s a solution for you and your family so that you can bring along everything and everyone you want, including horses!