RVRESOLVE

RVIA has approved increasing the maximum allowable size for
travel trailers from 320 square feet to 400 square feet for member
manufacturers, effective January 1, 2008.
Although towable RVs under current federal law can be up to
400 square feet in the set-up mode, travel trailers had been
restricted to 320 square feet through the RVIA standards program.
Units beyond 400 square feet are considered to be manufactured
housing by the federal government and required to meet standards
set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD).
“The 320 square foot limit was put in place
in 1987 based on towing capability available at
that time; but with better technology and more
powerful tow vehicles that limit is no longer
valid.” said RVIA Vice President of Standards
and Education Bruce Hopkins.
“As a result, the increase in travel trailer size is being permit-
ted by the RVIA Board of Directors for RVIA members as an asso-
ciation variance to the existing 320 square foot parameters of the
NFPA 1192 RV Standard,” he continued.
The new allowable size for travel trailers will result in a square
footage overlap with park trailers. Manufacturers building travel
trailers between 320 square feet and 400 square feet will have the
option to declare these products “travel trailers” or “park trailers”
for the RVIA membership program. This declaration of how the
products will be classified must be made prior to inspections.