One of the most fun parts of investigating RVs and travel trailers is seeing the ingenious ways designers have built these vehicles to squeeze every inch of usable space out of them. Bedroom furnishings fold up to reveal dining areas, storage cabinets and closets are tucked into the most improbable places, and entire sides of the RV open and close to make more or less space depending on your needs. When you think about it, it’s kind of mind-boggling.

One of the ways designers have discovered to make the most of your living space is with a Murphy bed.

6 Travel Trailers with Murphy Beds

Murphy beds are brilliant, because when you’re not using them they simply fold away either into the wall or into a sofa or dinette, revealing more living space for you to use during the day. A travel trailer with Murphy bed could be the solution you need for more space when you travel.

Travel Trailer With Murphy Bed and Slide out

A travel trailer with Murphy bed and slideout gives you maximum living and sleeping space in your setup.

1.) The Coachmen Apex 238MB

Specifications:

• Sleeps 4
• Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 6,500 lb
• Overall Length: 25 feet, 6 inches
• 1 slideout
• Fresh Water Tank (gallons): 50
• Black Water Tank (gallons): 35
• Grey Water Tank (gallons): 35

Coachmen is a trusted travel trailer manufacturer, and the Apex 238MB features both a slideout and a Murphy bed to create even more living space. The Apex 238MB is Green Certified, and has a hot and cold outdoor shower, an awning, and pass-through storage. The kitchen features a 3-burner cooktop, fridge, microwave, and plenty of counter space.

2.) Lance 2185

Specifications:

• Sleeps 7
• Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 6,000 lb
• Overall Length: 25 feet, 8 inches
• 1 slideout
• Fresh Water Tank (gallons): 45
• Black Water Tank (gallons): 45
• Grey Water Tank (gallons): 45

Price: The base price is $40,208

The Lance 2185 features a super slide and three bunks that fit either children or adults. It’s a great travel trailer for either a family, or for a group of friends headed out on a road trip together. The Lance also has a convertible sofa/Murphy bed, or you can order it with a walk-around queen bed instead. Storage is tucked under bench seats, and the kitchen has a 3-burner stove, an oven, a fridge, a microwave, and plenty of counter space.

3.) The Gulf Stream Cruiser 23BHS

Specifications:

• Sleeps 6
• Dry Weight: 4,253 lb
• Overall Length: 26 feet, 1 inch
• 1 slideout
• Fresh Water Tank (gallons): 27
• Black Water Tank (gallons): 33
• Grey Water Tank (gallons): 33

Price: The Gulf Stream begins around $30,000

Here’s one example of a Gulf Stream Cruiser on RVshare – it’s vintage styling makes it a fun travel trailer to take out on the road! It also sleeps quite a lot of people for a small-looking trailer, thanks to the Murphy bed and the slideout that give you a lot more room. The trailer has a bathroom, bunk beds, and a dinette with a Murphy bed that folds over the top. You can even remove the table and eat outside once you’ve set up camp.

4.) Forest River RV Rockwood Mini Lite 2511S

• Sleeps 4
• Dry Weight: 5,266 lbs
• Overall Length: 25 feet, 11 inches
• 1 slideout
• Fresh Water Tank (gallons): 58
• Black Water Tank (gallons): 30
• Grey Water Tank (gallons): 60

Price: The Rockwood Mini begins around $23,000

This travel trailer features a roomy kitchen with an oven, a pantry, and plenty of counter space. The dinette slides out to afford even more room, and converts to a bed. The bedroom doubles as a living room, and the sofa has a Murphy bed behind it.

Small Travel Trailers with Murphy Beds

5.) Winnebago Micro Minnie 2106DS

• Sleeps 3
• Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 7,000 lb
• Overall Length: 21 feet, 11 inches
• 1 slideout
• Fresh Water Tank (gallons): 31
• Black Water Tank (gallons): 25
• Grey Water Tank (gallons): 25

Price: The Micro Minnie begins at $21,862

This teeny trailer packs a lot into a small space! There’s a reason Winnebagos are so well-known – they make quality RVs and campers that last a long time. Even though this trailer has been downsized, they’re constructed the same as the much larger and higher-end Winnebagos. You’ll sacrifice some space in the kitchen, where there’s almost no counter space, but you do get a 3-burner cooktop with a cover and a pop-up counter extension. The kitchen also has an oven, fridge, microwave, and some cabinet storage. There is a bathroom and wardrobe. The trailer also has a power awning, a hot and cold outdoor shower, and an exterior TV hookup. You can rent an adorable Micro Minnie through RVshare!

6.) The Forest River Salem 280RT

• Sleeps 5
• Dry Weight: 5,608 lbs
• Overall Length: 32 feet, 4 inches
• 1 slideout
• Fresh Water Tank (gallons): 38
• Black Water Tank (gallons): 30
• Grey Water Tank (gallons): 30

Price: The Salem begins around $20,000

This travel trailer is also a toy hauler with a back ramp that can serve as a patio. The garage also has flip-down sofas that can serve as extra sleeping space at night. The trailer has a pass-through bathroom with a shower, toilet, and sink, and the kitchen area has a slideout dinette. The front of the trailer has a sofa with a Murphy bed that can unfold over it at night. You can rent a Forest River Salem through RVshare if you want to try one out!

FAQ

Are there any special considerations when owning a travel trailer with a Murphy Bed?

You will want to make sure your RV is completely level before unfolding your Murphy bed. You may want to use leveling blocks to achieve this.

Are there ways to improve the mattress on a Murphy bed?

Because your bed locks in place during the day, any improvements to the mattress (like making it thicker or adding a topper) mean you may have to adjust the locking mechanism. You can add a topper and remove it when you fold up the bed, although then you’ll have to consider storage for the topper. If you feel confident in your DIY skills, you may also be able to adjust the locks to add a thicker mattress.

What is a Murphy Bed?

A Murphy bed is a smart solution when space is at a premium! Murphy beds have a platform and mattress that can be stored in a wall or folded down into a bed at night. They can be used in homes (many people put Murphy beds in basements as a guest room solution) and are very handy in motorhomes and RVs where you want to use the space for other things during the day.

Will a King Size Murphy Bed Fit in my Travel Trailer?

There are some larger travel trailers that can accommodate a king-sized Murphy bed. The Jayco White Hawk, the Keystone RV Cougar, and the Gulf Stream Kingsport all include king-sized Murphy beds in their travel trailers.

How do you build a Murphy bed in a trailer?

If you are handy with tools, you can build your own Murphy bed in your travel trailer. The advantage to doing this (along with saving money!) is that you can make the Murphy bed the exact size you want for the space.

Does a Murphy bed need to be attached to the wall?

Because of the pressure and weight of a Murphy bed, they do need to be attached to the wall to be safe.

Pros and Cons

Murphy beds are a wonderful solution but may not be for everyone. Here are a few pros and cons for getting a trailer with a Murphy bed.

Pros:

The biggest advantage of getting a travel trailer with a Murphy bed is that you’ll be using space that would otherwise go to waste. Murphy beds free up a lot of living space and can potentially allow you to get a smaller trailer since you won’t need as much floor space.

Also, unlike a convertible bed that folds into a dinette or other usable space, you don’t need to unmake your Murphy bed. You’ll need to remove blankets and fluffy comforters, but you can leave the sheets on and fold the whole thing up into the wall until you need it again that night.

Cons:

The biggest disadvantage to a Murphy bed is that you lose your sleeping space during the day. If you like to nap, or relax and read on your bed during the afternoon, you may want to consider a different solution. Some people also find that a Murphy bed mattress is uncomfortable, and any solution to fix the mattress will either involve a topper you need to store separately during the day or will involve changing the mechanism that fastens your bed to the wall.

While a travel trailer with a Murphy bed may not work for everyone, you could find that it’s the perfect solution for you when you travel!