Last updated on August 24th, 2023 at 11:20 am
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If you’re new to RVing and wondering how you can keep track of your mileage, what’s a better tool than an odometer!? But if you’re looking to purchase a travel trailer or fifth wheel, you may be wondering if there will even be an odometer onboard for you to utilize.
So, do travel trailers have odometers?
Travel trailers do not have odometers. However, you can use other methods to track your miles, such as mobile apps, hubodometers, and more. You may consider doing this in order to keep track of your RV maintenance as well as how far you have traveled in your travel trailer.
Why don’t travel trailers have odometers, and how can you install one yourself with ease? In this article, we’ll discuss different odometer options if you own a towable rig, as it’s rare to find these devices in these types of RVs.
Let’s get started!
Why Don’t Travel Trailers Have Odometers?
There are a few reasons why travel trailers don’t have odometers, but the main reason is that they are typically towed by a vehicle with an odometer. This makes for easy tracking of your travel trailer mileage, along with your tow vehicle mileage. There’s not too much demand for travel trailer odometers, and this is another reason why these RVs don’t tend to come standard with them.
Lastly, travel trailers and fifth wheels may not have odometers because the overall mileage of a travel trailer affects fewer RV components when compared with a motorhome or drivable RV. With a Class A, Class B, or Class C motorhome, mileage is key. The distance driven in any vehicle matters as it will affect the tires, brakes, axles, engine components, and more. With a travel trailer, the overall mileage only really affects the drive system, such as tires and shocks.
With a motorhome, there are far more components that could be affected by your mileage, so it’s important to pay close attention to the odometer in this type of RV. If any mileage maintenance needs to be done to your travel trailer, chances are, you’ll need to perform that maintenance on your tow vehicle first. But this isn’t to say installing an odometer in your travel trailer isn’t a good idea!
How Do I Track My Travel Trailer Miles Without An Odometer?
Tracking travel trailer miles without using an odometer is possible, in a few different ways. Not pushing your tow vehicle or travel trailer too much is crucial for safety and comfort on the road. Try and avoid driving too many miles in a day, and keep an eye on the mileage of both vehicles to indicate when certain maintenance tasks may need to be performed.
Download An Odometer App
Downloading an odometer app is a simple way to track travel trailer mileage utilizing GPS tracking in order to get accurate mileage. It’s an easy way to separate travel trailer miles from tow vehicle miles. I recommend searching your phone or device app store for top-rated apps able to track your mileage, just like an odometer can.
You’ll likely be able to use it while on the road in your tow vehicle, but it may not work as accurately or effectively in low or problem signal areas. Given many campers travel in areas with less cell phone signal, it’s not uncommon to experience some issues with precise tracking. However, as technology improves, this will hopefully not be a problem for too much longer!
Use Your Tow Vehicle Odometer
I would assume most RVers interested in tracking their travel trailer mileage use the odometer inside their tow vehicle. This is one of the easiest ways to track your trailer mileage, given it’ll be one of the most accurate readings you can receive. However, using the odometer inside your tow vehicle to track the mileage of your fifth wheel or travel trailer means you will need to do a bit of math.
You’ll likely be unhitching your travel trailer at some point while on your travels and driving your tow vehicle separately. This means you’ll need to calculate the miles you are driving around without your travel trailer, and only calculate the miles you drive with the travel trailer hitched up. This can be an annoying task for many RVers, especially if you’re just trying to enjoy your camping trip or time on the road.
However, if you aren’t worried about a precise and exact number of miles, this method may work well for you. It means you won’t have to spend any additional money on your travel trailer, and your odometer is right there as you drive so you can easily keep track of how many miles your travel trailer has completed.
Install A Hubodometer On Your Travel Trailer
To know the exact mileage for your travel trailer or other towable RV, it’s wise to consider installing a hubodometer in your RV. But what exactly is this device, and why is it beneficial to you and your travel trailer or fifth wheel?
A hubodometer is a simplistic device that attaches to the axle of a vehicle. It rotates with your vehicle’s tires, giving you an accurate mileage reading, as talked about in the video below:
It’s easy to attach hubodometers to a travel trailer without too much hassle! Many RVers who are interested in tracking their towable rig mileage specifically invest in a hubodometer. They are relatively inexpensive, such as [amazon link=”B002D469TC” title=”this option available on Amazon from Stemco.” /] You’ll only need one, and they are extremely easy to install.
The most important thing to consider when purchasing a hubodometer is the size of your tires. Many manufacturers of this device offer different model options depending on the size of your tires, and travel trailer tires are often unique in their sizing. Be sure you have the correct size before making your final purchase!
This device is useful if you plan on going off-grid or outside of cell phone signal frequently, as this is a simple tracking device without any electronic components. Most of these are also waterproof, making them ideal for traveling in inclement weather situations.
Bonus: Check Out These Hubodometers From Trailer Life Meter!
Given the complicated tire size often found with travel trailers and fifth wheels, you may have trouble finding a hubodometer to fit your rig. You should check out these hubodometers from Trailer Life Meter, a company specifically dedicated to creating hubodometers for towable rigs!
Trailer Life Meter’s hubodometers are easy to install and can help you track maintenance for the following RV systems:
- Wheel bearings
- Axle and suspension components
- Tires
- Braking systems
- Electrical and lighting systems
As you can see, these are all necessary and important components of your travel trailer or fifth wheel. Having an accurate reading from one of these odometers can help you schedule and track maintenance for each and every one of these RV systems!
Go Old School And Use A Map!
Speaking of options that work well if you are a frequent boondocker or off-grid adventurer, you may be satisfied tracking your travel trailer miles using a map. While you can go extremely old school and use a paper map, you can also keep track of your mileage using a map application on your mobile device.
So long as you know where you are coming from and where you are headed, you can easily use a map to keep track of your travel trailer miles. However, it won’t be possible for you to track every single trip to the gas station or detour, as this will likely become more complicated than it’s worth.
However, if you aren’t interested in an exact mileage count, this option may be the most affordable and convenient for you to try out. After all, you likely already have a map application downloaded on your smartphone as we speak!
How To Track Mileage In A Travel Trailer?
Tracking mileage in a travel trailer can be done in a variety of ways, but if you already own a phone, a GPS-based app seems like the easiest option! Hubodometers are also a good option to go for, though they will likely be more expensive and require a bit of installation. Relying on the odometer of the tow vehicle can also be an easy way of tracking trailer mileage, though it may be a bit tedious to keep noting mileage changes down all the time!
Knowing the exact number of miles your travel trailer has completed is a wise choice, but it isn’t a must. If you only use your travel trailer for a week or so each year, a hubodometer may be a bit over the top! RVing costs money, and if you’re on a tight budget and don’t use your tow vehicle very often at all, I’d be inclined to stick to a free app!
Why Install An Odometer In A Travel Trailer?
If you’re still on the fence, there are a few reasons you may want an odometer in your travel trailer. Whether you’re preparing to sell your rig or want to keep track of maintenance, it can be beneficial to track your mileage. Let’s talk about those reasons in more detail now.
For Resale Purposes
One of the primary reasons RV owners may want to install an odometer on their travel trailer is for resale purposes. Many RV lots and sales choose to list mileages for their RVs, whether or not they are motorhomes or towable rigs. If you’re planning on selling your travel trailer as a private sale, having the estimated mileage for your towed rig may matter to you.
It may give you a leg up on the competition in terms of your knowledge about the RV and the amount of care you have taken to disclose all information to a possible buyer. Buying a used vehicle of any type can be extremely stressful, so you may consider an odometer to give your potential buyers some peace of mind.
After all, wouldn’t you like to know how many miles have been put on a travel trailer’s current tires and braking system? You’re doing everyone a favor by having an odometer for an accurate reading of your miles traveled!
Ease Of Mileage Tracking
Whether or not you’re planning on selling your travel trailer or fifth wheel, having an odometer installed on your rig can be valuable to easily track how far you’ve traveled. Tracking this amount using your tow vehicle can have inaccuracies and other hassles involved, which you may want to avoid.
You may be planning on logging how far you’ve traveled for personal reasons and looking back on your journeys in your travel trailer or fifth wheel. You may also want to log how far you’ve traveled for resale purposes, but it’s also smart to keep track of your mileage for sentimental reasons!
For example, logging how far you’ve traveled in your travel trailer year after year may give you a good insight into how often you’re actually using your travel trailer. It may help you determine whether or not it’s worth continuing to own the travel trailer, as renting one from RVShare or Outdoorsy may end up being a better option for you.
To Keep On Top Of Maintenance
One of the primary reasons RVers may want an odometer attached to their travel trailer or fifth wheel is to help keep track of maintenance. Many different parts of your RV need maintenance annually, and your tires and braking system should be monitored frequently.
Tracking the mileage you’ve placed on your existing tires and brakes, as well as your axles and shocks, can be beneficial in terms of scheduling necessary maintenance and safety checks. We all know owning an RV requires a decent amount of maintenance, and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t track your mileage if it helps you determine when you need to maintain certain aspects of your travel trailer.
No matter how often you take your RV out, knowing how many miles you have driven matters. While your travel trailer doesn’t have a timing belt or anything more severe to replace, your mileage is a key factor for many necessary safety features of your rig.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve always wondered if travel trailers have odometers, now you know the answer! Travel trailers rarely have odometers, however, this isn’t a reason for you to not invest in one or track your travel trailer’s overall mileage.
Many different maintenance tasks can be tracked through an odometer, and you may be able to track your mileage using your tow vehicle rather than a separate device or mobile application. No matter what you decide, you can hit the road in confidence and learn how to track the mileage on your travel trailer with ease!