As the fall season is underway and many drivers are searching for alternatives from the long summer road journey. A few might be out drinking tniailga to show their support for their favourite football team. Some might be enjoying an upcoming film at a nearby drive-in or taking in beautiful leafy drives and picking apple. The fall season is the ideal time to go out and enjoy the wonderful outdoors, whether camping in a motorhome or RV, or a traditional tent.
Similar to any adventure, you’ll need bring the essentials in preparation for your camping adventures. It is also important to ensure that you have the appropriate vehicle that can safely transport you and your camper or RV to where you want to go. Most automobile warranties will not protect RVs in the event of repairs or breakdowns that happen outside of the scope of your protection plan. Instead, selecting the appropriate transport vehicle, and a protection program can assist you in avoiding the expensive expenses that breakdowns and repairs can cause.
Top Vehicles for Towing Campers
When it is about hauling or towing heavy-duty pickup trucks as well as big SUVs tend to be on first on the list due to features like up four-wheel drive, top-quality engines, and towing packages. Other models of vehicles, such as minivans and the popular Jeep are also great alternatives.
For help in preparing for your next camping adventure take a look at our list of the best camping vehicles:
Pickup Truck
The vehicle of choice for construction workers, contractors and others who wish to take on the toughest tasks Pickup trucks are the top choice in towing campers. Some of our top models include:
- Ford F-150 — Probably the most well-known pickup truck in America This vehicle is capable of hauling your camper to the tow and everything you need. The more basic models from 2021 F-150 come with around 8,500 lbs. in towing capability, an upgraded model is available with an 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine and the highest-rated towing capacity of 14,000 pounds. Along with being popular for its the power it produces, F-150 can also max out at a staggering 25 miles for every gallon (mpg) in the city and 26 mpg for highway which will save you money on the fuel pump..
- Chevrolet Silverado Chevrolet SilveradoLike the F-150 The Silverado can handle the task with an impressive towing capacity that can go up to 13,300 pounds. The Silverado is also able to handle everything and then some, thanks to 2280 pounds. of capacity for hauling. It is not as powerful as the F-150 it is possible that you will need to make a few visits to the gas station since the Silverado has a maximum fuel consumption of 20 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway.
- Dodge RAM 1500 — Just below the Silverado RAM 1500 is the RAM 1500 is another fantastic option with 13,000 pounds. of towing capacity. Its towing capacity is the thing that makes its RAM 1500 apart from the F-150 and the Silverado is its fuel efficiency with the equivalent of 23mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.
SUV
In the case of vehicles, you have plenty of models to choose of that may be employed to tow campers. Some of these include:
- Nissan Armada — Per J.D. Power the 2020 Armada is rated with a quality and reliability of 91/100. rating. It is also a reliable car to use for any situation It is also a great choice for a family vehicle. Armada is also equipped with various trim levels that are able to haul up to 8.500 pounds and is the ideal choice for camping gear and campers. However, the Armada isn’t the most efficient in terms of efficiency in both the four-wheel drive model and the rear-wheel-drive version with a city fuel efficiency of 13-14 mpg and 18-19 mpg on the highway.
- Ford Expedition -A different alternative with regard to SUVs would be that of the Ford Expedition, which can achieve the maximum towing capacity of 9,3000 pounds with the right equipment. The Expedition will also allow you to save money on your fuel consumption, as it is more efficient than its predecessor, the Armada by 17 miles per gallon in the city and 23 mpg on the highway.
- Chevrolet Tahoe -A top choice for those who want an SUV with a lot of performance and excellent fuel efficiency The basic model gets as high as 16 mpg for city and 20 mpg in the highway. The high-powered engine helps make the Tahoe above other SUVs in the field of hauling campers as it can tow the weight of 8,400 pounds. when properly equipped.
Minivan
Minivans are another great alternative for those who want to haul campers. But, it’s essential to make sure your vehicle is capable of handling the task prior to departing. If your vehicle isn’t able to handle the load of your camper, it’s likely to cause major damage and cause expensive repairs. If you’re not sure whether your minivan is able to take on the task of towing your camper, the owners manual could be able to aid you.
Some of the models we would recommend to tow camping vehicles include
- Chrysler Pacifica -The Pacifica is able to accommodate the whole family (and and then some) and more, the Chrysler Pacifica can also be the ideal option in your campsite. If it is properly equipped with the right equipment, the Pacifica can have a staggering towing capability of 3,600 pounds. The Pacifica model also boasts over-the-average gas mileage of 19 mpg in the in the city and 28 mpg on the highway which makes it one of the most efficient minivans available for efficiency in fuel consumption.
- Toyota Sienna — Another fantastic minivan can be that of the Toyota Sienna, coming in just below the Pacific with 3500 pounds. of towing capacity. While not as impressive as that of the Pacifica with regards to its ability to tow, Sienna is able to make up for it the overall performance, scoring at 11 points more in the J.D. Power Best Small and Midsize Trucks 2021 awards list. In addition to being capable of towing campers, the Sienna is also available as a hybrid vehicle, helping its owners achieve an unbeatable performance of 35 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.
- Honda Odyssey -The legendary Honda Odyssey has been around since 1994, and remains an extremely well-known minivans available in the present. It joins the Sienna in as much as 3500 lbs. of towing capacity, the Odyssey is also able to compete to Pacifica’s 19 mpg urban and 27 mpg on the highway.
Jeep
Jeep is among the most recognized brands available in the present. They are known for their off-road capabilities There are several Jeep models that provide the ideal balance between towing and fuel efficiency that make them ideal options for campers that tow for example:
- Jeep Wrangler The legendary Wrangler is often a top option for those wanting to get out of the way. With a variety of trim levels that offer the ability to tow 3500 pounds. along with a 20 percent fuel efficiency in the city and 24 percent on the highway, it’s an ideal all-rounder for towing your camping equipment and camper.
- Jeep Grand Cherokee — Like the Wrangler The Grand Cherokee can offer you an all-purpose vehicle capable of towing the most massive trailers or campers with over 6,200 pounds. of towing capacity thanks to its V6 engine, as well as the Class IV towing package. If you want to go even further it is possible to get a V8 model that can tow 7,200 pounds. however, they do not have an overall fuel efficiency of 14 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on highway as compared with the V6’s 19 miles per gallon along with 26 and 27 mpg.
Vehicles Not To Use For Towing Campers
There are a variety of possibilities to find the perfect towing vehicle to know which vehicles to steer clear of like:
- Minivans with not enough power or torque.
- SUVs with no amazing engines or get the power.
- Any vehicle that’s not certified for towing.
- Do not tow any vehicle that has an underpowered engine.
- Trucks with insufficient power to tow campers won’t be able to bear the load. If you try the task, it may result in injuries and severe damage.
- Small-sized vehicles may work, but the cost of gasoline and the risk of towing uphill makes them cars to steer clear of when it comes down to towing.
- They don’t provide a good gas mileage and typically have limited towing capacity.
- Minivans and SUVs with no V-shaped frames will not be capable of supporting the weight of towing campers.
Make sure your vehicle is protected by ensuring Endurance
Although these vehicles are fantastic alternatives for towing your camper or RV It is important to know the cost of maintenance for towing vehicles is likely to be greater than for non-towing vehicles. Towing vehicles usually experience greater stress when hauling large loads, which causes greater wear and wear and tear damages than regular driving conditions.
Avoid paying out-of-pocket for expensive repair bills with the help of a vehicle protection plan like EnduranceAdvantage(TM). The most comprehensive plan on the market The Endurance Advantage gives drivers unparalleled protection and can cover up to $3500 in annual maintenance costs. Annual services, like alignment checks and tire rotations, are also covered. Additionally, you can also receive special once-off services, such as replacing your battery or cooling maintenance for your system.
Endurance customers also get one year of Premium Benefits which include advantages like 24/7 roadside assistance, as much as two tire replacements or repairs every year, replacement of the key fob and many more.
Request a free no-obligation estimate to find out more about the Endurance insurance plan. Also, visit the Learning Center to read more information on topics like experts on auto safety, make/model comparisons tutorials, and more.
