Updated October 15, 2026 · By Brian Smith
Why there is no single RV price
RVs range from a small pop-up camper to a 40-foot motorhome, and the estimate can change a lot between them. A bumper-pull trailer, a fifth wheel and a motorhome need different trucks and equipment. A rig that rolls on good tires with working lights and brakes is a different job from one that has sat in a field for three years. That is why I do not publish a per-mile RV rate. Send me the details below and you get an estimate built for your rig, not an average that changes on pickup day.
Travel trailers and bumper-pull campers
A bumper-pull travel trailer is usually towed by a carrier with a truck rated for its weight and the right hitch. Small campers and pop-ups can sometimes ride on a flatbed instead. Either way, the carrier needs the length from hitch to bumper, the dry weight, and an honest answer about the tires, bearings, lights and brakes, because a towed trailer rolls the whole trip on its own running gear.
Fifth wheels
A fifth wheel needs a truck with a fifth-wheel or gooseneck hitch, so fewer carriers can take one than a bumper pull. They are taller and heavier, and the height decides which bridges and routes the driver can use. Measure the height from the ground to the highest point, including the air conditioner, and send it with the length and weight.
Motorhomes: Class A, B and C
A motorhome is matched to a method that suits its size, weight and condition. A running Class B or Class C is a very different job from a 40-foot Class A, and an inoperable motorhome needs a trailer and loading equipment rated for its weight. Tell me the class, the length, the weight and whether it starts and drives, and I will explain how yours would move before you commit to anything.
Wide and tall RVs need permits
A load wider than 8 feet 6 inches is oversize on most U.S. roads, and oversize loads need state permits. Very wide or tall loads can also need escort vehicles and are often limited to daytime travel. Permits add cost and time, and they are arranged before the move as part of the job. Measure the width with mirrors and awnings, because those count.
What to send for a clear estimate
- Type: travel trailer (bumper pull), fifth wheel, toy hauler, pop-up or truck camper, or motorhome Class A, B or C.
- Year, make and model, plus the length, width and height.
- Weight: the dry weight, or the weight on the registration.
- Condition: does it run? Are the tires, bearings, lights and brakes in working order?
- Pickup and delivery ZIP codes, and whether either end is an RV park, storage lot, dealer or home.
- Your first available pickup date and any deadline.
Preparing an RV or trailer for the move
- Retract and lock the slide-outs, and secure the awning and steps.
- Turn off the propane at the tank and empty the holding tanks.
- Latch cabinets, the fridge and doors, and pack or remove anything that can slide or break.
- For a towed unit, check tire age and pressure, wheel bearings, lights and brakes before the driver arrives.
- Hand over every key, including storage compartments and the entry door.
- Photograph the outside and the roof, and note existing damage on the inspection report with the driver.
RV parks, storage lots and access
An RV and the truck moving it make a long combination. Before pickup, check that the park or storage lot allows the truck in, that there is room to hitch or load, and who will release the unit if you are not there. If your home street is too tight, a nearby large lot works the same way it does for a car; the door-to-door guide explains how a meeting point is agreed.
Is my RV covered on the road?
A motorhome or fifth wheel can be worth more than most cars on a carrier, so compare the carrier’s certificate with what your RV is worth before pickup, and ask whether the limit applies per unit. Contents left inside are a separate question: agree them beforehand and do not assume they are covered. Keep the registration ready for the driver; the price guarantee covers what is fixed once the price is confirmed.
Written by Brian Smith, Auto Transport Manager at Leader Auto Ship LLC — FMCSA licensed property broker, MC #1638331, DOT #4232283. Verify the licence yourself.
