Can I Pull A Camper With An Suv?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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While an SUV might not be your first choice for towing an RV camper, you might be surprised at how rugged and capable they can be.

With towing capacities up to 8,700 pounds, these SUVs can handle most lightweight camping trailers

. If you need more seating than a truck can offer, keep reading! Did you know?

What small SUV can pull a travel trailer?

  • Honda Passport — 5,000 pounds. The Passport is a midsize crossover SUV. …
  • Audi Q5 — 4,400 pounds. As far as small luxury SUVs go, the Audi Q5 offers the most towing capacity, at 4,400 pounds. …
  • Jeep Cherokee — 4,500 pounds. The Jeep Cherokee is a compact SUV. …
  • Toyota RAV4 — 3,500 pounds. …
  • Ford Escape — 3,500 pounds.

What is a good SUV to tow a camper?

  • 2021 Ford Expedition. Towing Capacity: 9,300 pounds. MSRP: $51,690 | Rating: 4.8. …
  • 2021 Nissan Armada. Towing Capacity: 8,500 pounds. MSRP: $50,095 | Rating: 4.0. …
  • 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon. Towing Capacity: 8,400 pounds. …
  • 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser. Towing Capacity: 8,100 pounds.

How do you turn an SUV into a camper?

Can an SUV pull a teardrop camper?


A teardrop camper can be pulled easily with a medium sized family car or a small SUV

. These campers can weight about 850-1100 lbs.

How much weight can a SUV tow?

Your Tow Vehicle

In your vehicle’s owner’s manual, you’ll want to look for your vehicle’s towing capacity. Most SUVs will be rated to tow somewhere

between 1,500 pounds and 5,000 pounds

.

Can a V6 pull a camper?

Can A V6 Engine Pull A Camper?

The trailers can be pulled by six-cylinder vehicles even though they can weigh up to 30 feet long

. The newer models have full bathrooms and appliances that are comparable to larger recreation vehicles.

What SUV has a towing capacity of 5000 lbs?

Make/Model Engine Max. Towing
Chevrolet Traverse


3.6L V6

5,000 lbs.
Dodge Durango 3.6L V6 6,200 lbs. Ford Explorer 2.3L I-4/3.0L Turbo V6 5,300 lbs. (ST: 5,600) Honda Pilot 3.5.L V6 5,000 lbs.

What size vehicle do you need to pull a camper?

This is why some people find the need to go from a

three-quarter-ton truck to a one-ton

—for example, if you have a RAM 2500 HD truck, but the fifth wheel’s pin weight, plus passengers, exceed 3,000 pounds. The average RAM 2500 payload maxes out around 3,000 pounds, but the average RAM 3500 can handle 4,000 pounds.

How much towing capacity do I need for a camper?

When matching a trailer to a tow vehicle, a good rule-of-thumb is to

keep the trailer’s GVWR at less than 75 percent of the tow vehicle’s trailer towing capacity

. So, if the tow vehicle is rated for a maximum of 6,000 pounds, the chosen trailer should have a GVWR of 4,500 pounds or less.

What kind of vehicle can pull a camper?

When it comes to towing a travel trailer, you have many options for a tow vehicle depending on your needs.

Pickup trucks

— for example — are a very common choice for towing a camper. You can even tow some campers with a motorcycle! Certain SUVs are also some of the best vehicles for towing a travel trailer.

Can you sleep in your SUV?

You can certainly lean back the front seat and sleep in the driver’s seat by the steering wheel, but the most common form of car camping we’ve seen is in larger crossovers/SUVs/vans where

you can lay the backseat of seats flat and sleep there

.

How do I camp out of my SUV?

What is an SUV equipped with a conversion package?

What is this? With an SUV camper conversion kit, you can

turn your car into a campervan

, disregarding the need for a tent completely. This clever idea means your vehicle becomes a sophisticated place to stay when you head out into the wilderness, complete with a bed and kitchen.

Can you tow a fifth wheel with an SUV?


Technically you can pull a fifth wheel with a van or SUV if you have an automated safety hitch

.

Can you pull an RV with a car?

With two-wheeled dollies and four-wheeled trailers,

almost any vehicle can be towed behind an RV

, provided that the weight of the car or truck and whatever is being used to facilitate the tow doesn’t exceed the motorhome’s recommended towing capacity.

How much does the average teardrop trailer weigh?

A teardrop trailer is one of the smallest camper types and one of the lightest. They typically weigh between 500 and 3,000 pounds, but the average is

closer to 1,500

. Some teardrop camper trailers have a gross vehicle weight rating as high as 4,000 pounds.

How do I increase the towing capacity of my SUV?

  1. Get the Right Hitch. First and foremost, you will need to invest in the right type of hitch. …
  2. Use a Programmer. …
  3. Replace Axles. …
  4. Upgrade the Braking System. …
  5. Install a Bigger Radiator. …
  6. Upgrade Suspension. …
  7. Enhance Your Intake and Exhaust. …
  8. Upgrade Your Truck.

What small SUV has the highest towing capacity?

The

Jeep Grand Cherokee

has the highest towing capacity of any small SUV on this list, with 4,500 pounds of capability. This vehicle is capable of hauling certain types of boats.

How much does a 30 foot camper weigh?

The average weight of a 30 foot camper is

between 5,200 and 5,800 pounds dry weight

which is the weight of your camper with empty water tanks and no gear on board. Filling your tanks and throwing in your gear will bring the weight of most 30′ campers up to 6,700 and 7,300 pounds.

Can a 4 cylinder SUV pull a camper?

Best Travel Trailers For Small SUVs

Your 4-cylinder SUV won’t have a problem towing them as long as you keep the gross vehicle weight (total weight) of your RV under the maximum weight rating (GVWR). Allow yourself some extra weight for passenger and driving horsepower. Maxing out puts a lot of strain on your vehicle.

Do you need a V8 to tow?

However,

a V8 is likely the smarter choice if you often tow and haul heavy loads

, especially if the V6 truck you’re considering doesn’t offer a turbocharged or diesel engine option. In general, V8 engines provide better overall power, speed and acceleration.

What size camper can a Chevy 1500 V6 pull?

It can pull good-sized campers and trailers without much difficulty. Due to the steel frame on the Chevy 1500,

the most basic model has a maximum towing capacity of approximately 7,000 lbs

. A good margin of safety of roughly 20% would cut that down to 5,600 lbs.

What car can tow 3500 lbs?

  • 2020 Subaru Outback: Up to 3,500 pounds. …
  • 2020 Chrysler Pacifica: Up to 3,600 Pounds. …
  • 2019 Chevrolet Volt: Up to 2,000 Pounds (unofficially) …
  • 2020 Kia Telluride/Hyundai Palisade: Up to 5,000 Pounds. …
  • 2020 Honda Pilot: Up to 3,500 Pounds.

What size truck do you need to pull 5000 lbs?

A general rule of thumb: for a front wheel drive car or small SUV is 1500 pounds. a mid-size all-wheel drive SUV or pickup 3000 pounds. a

full size SUV or half-ton pickup truck

5000 pounds or more.

What vehicle can tow 4000 pounds?

  • Ford Maverick | 4000 pounds. VIEW PHOTOS. …
  • Hyundai Santa Cruz | 5000 pounds. VIEW PHOTOS. …
  • Honda Ridgeline | 5000 pounds. VIEW PHOTOS. …
  • Nissan Frontier | 6720 pounds. …
  • Toyota Tacoma | 6800 pounds. …
  • Ford Ranger | 7500 pounds. …
  • Jeep Gladiator | 7650 pounds. …
  • Chevrolet Colorado | 7700 pounds.
David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.