This post may contain affiliate links or mention our own products, please check out our disclosure policy.

Can a travel trailer fit in a garage?

Published on November 1st, 2019 by Ray & Tammy Roman
This post was updated on January 26th, 2023

Don’t let the high cost of RV storage stop you from buying a new RV. If you’ve ever wondered “Can a travel trailer fit in a garage?”, the answer is Yes! Not all trailers are small enough to store in a residential garage, but some can. Let’s review how to measure and make sure your new camper fits in yours.

Does That camper fit in a residential garage?

Residential garage sizes are pretty standard wherever you go in North America. A small trailer fits in a single-car garage if the dimension of the travel trailer is less than 8 feet wide and less than 7 or 8  feet in height.

Standard 1 Car Garage Door Measurements7’H x 8’W
7’H x 9’W
8’H x 8’W
8’H x 9’W
Standard 2 Car Garage Door Measurements:7’H x 16’W
7’H x 18’W
8’H x 16’W
8’H x 18’W

Keep in mind that using a garage for RV storage limits your model choices to pop-up tent campers, teardrops or small travel trailers.

Sign up for the newsletter today!

Please enter a valid email address.

An error occurred. Please try again later.

× logo

Thank you for subscribing to the RV Living newsletter, keep your eye on your inbox for updates.

Don’t just eyeball your garage for RV storage of a new camper. You need to know before buying your first pop-up or ultralight travel trailer.

How to Measure a Garage for RV Storage

  • First, get your dream camper’s measurements from the manufacturer. But don’t assume those figures are correct. Sometimes the dealer or previous owner modifies a feature that increases or decreases exterior dimensions. For example, the axle might have been replaced, a roof-top A/C might have been added or removed. Measure the camper yourself.
  • Next, measure the width and height of your garage door when it is up. Measure side to side between weather strips. Then measure from the ground to the door header.
standard residential garage to tell if a travel trailer can fit in a garage
Measurements of standard residential garage for RV storage.

10 travel trailers That fit in a garage

Now that you know your garage size for RV storage, it’s time to go shopping. Let’s take a look at the most popular travel trailers that fit in residential garages.

Rockwood Freedom Pop Up Tent Camper

Rockwood Freedom Camping Trailers fit in a garage
The Rockwood Freedom Pop-up Tent Trailer
  • Travel Height: 5’4″ to 6’9″
  • Travel Length: 12′ 1″ to 21’3″
  • Exterior Width: 84″

The Rockwood Freedom pop-up tent trailers made by Forest River are an excellent choice if you need to store a trailer in the garage. It’s available in four different floor plans, each offers excellent features including:

  • 12V Electric Water Pump
  • Hot Water Package (All models)
  • Shower/Cassette
  • Antifreeze Inlet Bypass
  • Permanently Mounted 3-Burner Range w/ Cover
  • Residential Style Cabinet Doors & Drawers w/ Metal Glides
  • USB Charging Ports
  • Roof A/C Bracing
  • 30 AMP detachable Power Cord
  • Storage Net Over Bunks
  • Leaf-Spring Axles
  • Easy Lube Axles
  • Electric Brake
  • 13″ Radial Tires
  • Aluminum Wheel
  • Double Battery Box & Wiring Kit
  • 4 Stabilizer Jacks w/ Sand Pads
  • Solar Panel Prep On Frame
  • LED Ceiling Lights
  • Patio Light
  • 110V Exterior Outlet
  • Single Entry Step
  • One Piece Screen Door
  • Large Entry Door Folding Grab Handle
  • 85″ Wide Body w/ 80″ Beds
  • 4″ Cushions & Covers
  • TV outlet w/ Cable & Satellite
  • Vinolon Supreme Tenting
  • Overhead Kitchen Cabinet
  • 2-20 lb. LP Bottles w/ Cover
  • Outdoors Package
  • Create-A-Breeze Roof Vent Fan
  • 20K BTU Furnace
  • Heated Mattress Bunk Ends
  • Awning w/ LED Lighting
  • Water Filtration System
  • Spare Tire w/ Carrier & Cover
  • ProRac Permanent Crossbars (150 lb. rating)
  • CO Detector
  • Outside Griddle
  • Power Roof Lift
  • 1.7 CU – 12V Refrigerator w/ 100W Roof Solar Panel

Keep in mind the length of the Rockwood Freedom pop-up trailer. Your garage must be deep enough to fit some of the models, which can exceed 18 feet in length.

Jayco Jay Sport Pop Up Tent Trailer

Jayco Jay Sport
  • Travel Height: 55″
  • Travel Length: 18′ 6″
  • Exterior Width: 85″

The Jayco Sport is a popular travel trailer that fits in a garage. The last models were built in 2019 so get them while you can. Made with sectionalized DuraTek water-repellent tent, it is also mildew resistant. The Jayco Sport is available in 4 different floor plans.

Opus Off-Road 4

The Opus Off-Road 4 Trailer fits in a garage.
The Opus Off-Road 4 Trailer fits in a garage.
  • Travel Height: 4′ 9″
  • Travel Length: 18′ 4″
  • Exterior Width: Not Specified by manufacturer

The Opus Off-Road is an innovative travel trailer fits in a garage. What makes the Opus a favorite of ours is the rugged design.

This camper is made to be used over rough terrain. It features an upgraded, all-terrain chassis with off-road-ready tires. The independent coil suspension adds to the comfort of the ride. It features an external slide-out kitchen and fridge.

Coachmen Clipper Pop-Up Tent Trailer

Coachmen Clipper Pop-Up camper.
Coachmen Clipper Pop-Up camper.
  • Travel Height: 5′ 5″ max
  • Travel Length: 22′ 7″ max
  • Exterior Width: 88″ max

The Coachmen Clipper pop-up camper is designed to be easy to set up, use, and store. The aerodynamic profile makes it easy to tow. The popular trailer that fits in a garage comes in three variations, each with different floorplans.

  • The Clipper Express is the smallest and comes in 3-floor plans.
  • Next is the the Clipper LS is the next model up and comes in3 floor plans.
  • The Clipper Sport is available with 1 floorplan.
  • Finally, the Clipper Classic comes in only one-floor plans.

Rockwood Hard-Sided Pop Up Tent Trailer

Rockwood Hard-Sided Pop Up
The Forest River Rockwood hard-sided trailer fits in a garage too.
  • Travel Height: 5′ 8″ max
  • Travel Length: 22′ 1″ max
  • Exterior Width: 84″ max

Forest River Rockwood also makes a hard-sided pop-up camper that fits in a garage. The series of campers combine the solid exterior of a travel trailer with a tent camper. The exterior is made of smooth bonded fiberglass and allows for quick and easy set-up. These hard-sided campers are still easy to tow and store in a garage.

There are two Rockwood models, each with several floor plans. The “Hard Side Series” has 3-floor plans, while the “Hard Side” High Wall Series” has four different floor layouts.

Aliner Tent Trailers

Aliner hybrid tent trailer camper
Aliner hybrid tent trailer camper (Image: Aliner)
  • Travel Height: 8o” max
  • Travel Length: 15′ max
  • Exterior Width: 78″ max

Aliner makes high quality, hard-sided tent trailer campers for remote camping and developed campgrounds. Six of nine Aliner pop-up tent trailers fit in a garage, including:

  • Ranger 10
  • Scout-Lite
  • Classic
  • LXE
  • Ranger 12
  • Scout Standard

Sylvan Sport Go Tent Camper

Sylvan Sport Go Tent Camper
  • Travel Height: 53″ max
  • Travel Length: 143″ max
  • Exterior Width: 75″ max

The Sylvan Sport GO is no ordinary tent camper. This innovative, versatile camper is suitable for those who appreciate the outdoors but need RV garage storage.

So what makes the Sylvan GO unique? First, it’s versatile, meaning it is not only has a camper mode, but it also has a gear hauler mode and utility trailer mode.

The interior is comfortable and features an elevated waterproof tent with a superfast set-up. You also have multiple dining and sleeping options. This tent trailer fits in a garage. And like the others featured above, is lightweight and, due to its low profile, is easy to tow.

Happier Camper

The Happier Camper fiberglass trailer fits in a garage.
The Happier Camper fiberglass trailer fits in a garage.

The Happier Camper fiberglass trailer has the potential to fit in your garage, but you need to make sure the roof A/C does not get in the way. So for this particular camper, do measure first.

The Happier Camper is a nice-looking retro-style lightweight travel trailer with a highly configurable interior. It features a wide entry door and a huge rear hatch.  The panoramic windows give you an excellent view all around.

How To Lower a Trailer To Fit In a Garage

If you are just shy several inches from storing a trailer in the garage, you can try to lower the travel trailer itself. Here are a couple of ways to do it:

Purchase smaller wheels

You can buy two 8-inch rims with 5.70×8 tires on them. They are typically used in tent campers and come in 5 lug configuration. Temporarily install them on your travel trailer, which should lower your unit by 3-4 inches.

If you need a little bit more of a height drop, some folks just use the bare rims without the tires. Just create two plywood tracks about 12 inches in width and roll the rim on them. Removing the wheels fast and easy with an electric impact lug nut wrench and a small floor jack.

Use Wheel Dollies

With this method, you will completely remove the wheel and place the travel trailer on a wheel dolly. Wheel dollies will keep your axle about 4-inches from the ground. Never try to roll your travel trailers on the bare brake drums. It may cause chips and crack.

Summary About RV Camper Storage in Garages

The most common travel trailers will not fit in a residential garage. For those, you will need a custom RV garage to store your camper.

However, you can store your RV for free if you own small travel trailers such as teardrops, tent campers, and any of the awesome small travel trailers featured here. Always measure before buying to ensure you can back your camper in without damaging your RV or the garage.

Related Questions

Does an Airstream Basecamp fit in a garage? The Airstream Basecamp cannot fit in a standard residential garage because it is too tall. The exterior height of the Basecamp is 8 feet 8.75 inches, while the height of a standard garage is either 7 feet or 8 feet. A Basecamp can, however, fit in a standard outdoor parking space.

Can an R-Pod fit in a garage? The Forest River R-Pod has an exterior height of 9-feet 8-inches, so it cannot fit in a standard residential garage.

Can a Scamp trailer fit in a garage? In most cases, yes, even with a 7-foot garage opening. Some people must remove the vent/hatch opening on their camper to make it fit.

Others temporarily replace the Scamp’s standard tires with 8-inch wheels and tires to reduce the height of the Scamp by about 3 inches. Some will just use the wheel and roll the camper on 12-inc wide plywood tracks into their garage. The plywood tracks prevent the wheel/rims from damaging your floor.