5 RVs You Can Pull with an SUV

RVs provide the adventure of camping with the comforts of home. Towable RVs can be one of the most affordable ways to enjoy RV camping. While that’s true, you might think you need a larger budget for a motorhome or a heavy-duty truck to pull a towable camper. But many SUV towable RVs on the market provide a great entry point for those who don’t want to commit to a large towing truck.

There are RVs small enough that you won’t need to buy a truck to pull it. What’s more? They’re small enough not to need to pay for RV storage! We’ve got you covered with five RVs you can pull with your SUV. Keep your car, save on storage, and camp in the comfort of an RV.

SUV Towable RVs

Now for the fun part–let’s dive into some fun SUV towable RVs.

Flagstaff E-Pro

Our list starts with Flagstaff’s E-Pro line of travel trailers. These SUV towable RVs have been a mainstay for RVers looking for off-road capability from a camper they can tow with an SUV or small truck.

With 13 models to choose from, the E-Pro line of campers ranges in length from approximately 12 to 21 feet. The smallest E-Pro, the E12S, has an unloaded vehicle weight (UVW) of just 1,900 pounds. Meanwhile, the E20FKS is the largest E-Pro and has a UVW of almost 4,000 pounds. There’s quite a range, so look for E-Pro models within your SUV’s towing capacity. 

E-Pro travel trailers are not only small and light but rugged and designed to go off the beaten path. They come standard with 15” Mud Rover Radial tires and a lift kit for additional clearance. And, like many other Flagstaff RVs, they’re built with Azdel paneling, which is mold-resistant and offers better insulation. 

You’ll also enjoy standard features like an outdoor shower, an outside griddle with LP hookups, a fixed exterior ladder, and outdoor speakers. 

Jayco Jay Feather Micro

The Jay Feather Micro is a lightweight single-axle offering from popular RV manufacturer Jayco. It offers the traditional RV comforts of Jayco’s larger campers in an SUV-friendly format. With available models, Jay Feather Micro travel trailers range in length from approximately 19 to 23 feet, and the unloaded weights go from 3,895 pounds to 4,510 pounds.

The compact yet comfortable floorplans range from couples campers to mini bunkhouses capable of sleeping eight! Like most of these SUV-friendly travel trailers, a Jay Feather Micro can fit into almost any size campsite. 

While Jay Feather Micro is an entry-level RV line, it offers excellent Jayco construction features like 0-100 degree Climate Shield protection and Azdel-constructed walls for moisture resistance and increased insulation. With 55-gallon fresh tanks and tankless water heaters, you won’t miss the comforts of home.

Airstream Basecamp

Airstream’s smallest offering is the Basecamp. Though smaller than other Airstreams, it can fit a kayak or any other gear you might want to take onboard. The Basecamp is 16 feet three inches in length and weighs 3,500 pounds.

You can expand the footprint of this SUV-towable RV with side and rear tents. Another option is the Basecamp X option, which makes it even better equipped to go off the asphalt with a three-inch lift kit and other off-road-friendly features.

Airstreams are notorious for being sleek, aesthetically unique, and completely functional. This small trailer design is no exception. Though it differs from the traditional silver bullet look of a full-size airstream, it delivers all the same sleek functionality in the tiniest package possible. A vista bay window isn’t a bad way to wake up each morning. Rugged adventures are calling when you take this stainless steel gem off-road.

Winnebago HIKE 100

The HIKE 100 campers are an exciting offering from Winnebago. They promise feature-packed adventure for campers under 16 feet and 3,300 pounds. Choose from five models that sleep from two to four.  

Lightweight, off-road-ready, and with floorplans that resemble Class B RVs more than travel trailers, the HIKE 100s offer something new to the SUV towable camper scene. They have modular layouts with full-height ceilings to make the most of every inch. 

Owners love the ability to bring along extra gear with a 2-inch receiver and a rack-ready patented exoskeleton to bring along kayaks and other toys. Plus, All HIKE 100 campers come equipped with solar power in the form of a 190-watt solar panel with the option to add a second. 

Keystone Outback OBX

Ready to meet the newest SUV towable travel trailer to hit the scene? Welcome the Keystone Outback OBX, available for the first time in 2024. Choose from two single-axle models that are lightweight, compact, and ready for off-road adventures. 

At under 4,000 pounds and just over 20 feet, the OBX sleeps five to six campers, with bunks included on both models. The 18BHS features a single slide-out for a more spacious dining and living area, a rarity among travel trailers of this size. 

Built for off-road adventures, the OBX includes knobby 14” radial tires and high-performance, water-resistant flooring. It also includes a cargo rack on the bumper, an outdoor shower, and an outdoor kitchen. With a 37-gallon fresh water tank and tankless water heater, you can enjoy hot, convenient showers when venturing off the beaten path, too. 

Factors to Consider When Choosing an SUV Towable RV

When shopping for a towable RV, you will need to know a few terms. Knowing what these terms mean will help you determine if your current vehicle can tow the specific RV you’re looking at. 

Your SUV’s Towing Capacity

Look in your vehicle’s owner’s manual for its towing capacity. Most SUVs are rated to tow between 1,500 and 5,000 pounds, but each is different. And, of course, there are exceptions. Some SUVs can tow more than 5,000 pounds. Use our handy tow guide to find out your vehicle’s tow capacity with a few clicks. 

Your vehicle’s payload, curb weight, and gross vehicle weight rating are equally as important. Confused already? Learn all the essential weights and numbers with our guide to weight ratings.

In short, curb weight is how much your vehicle weighs without anyone in it. Payload is how much the vehicle can carry. Your GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) is the dry weight (no items or liquids onboard) of your vehicle and the maximum payload. If you don’t know your vehicle’s payload, find the GVWR and subtract the curb weight from that number.

The RV’s “Dry Weight”

As you look at RVs, you will see terms like “dry weight,” AKA unloaded vehicle weight (UVW), and CCC. An RV’s dry weight is its weight straight out of the factory with no potable water, waste, or anything else in it.

Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCC)

This is the weight your RV will be capable of carrying on board. This is important because you won’t be pulling an empty travel trailer to go camping, you’ll have it packed up. You’ll load up your camper with gear, potable water, accessories, and other supplies. On the way back, you’ll also have liquids in your gray and black tanks (if your RV has these, which most do).Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)

Adding an RV’s CCC and dry weight will give you its gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). This is the number that needs to be within your vehicle’s tow rating. CCC + UVW = GVWR

Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR)

There’s also a gross combined weight rating (GCWR). This rating includes your SUV, trailer, passengers, and cargo. 

Just because you pull a camper within your towing capacity doesn’t necessarily mean you’re all set. You also need to stay below the vehicle’s GCWR. If you stay under the GCWR with all of the things discussed above, you’re headed in the right direction. 

Tongue Weight and Your Vehicle’s Payload

Don’t forget to take into account the RV’s tongue weight. Every vehicle will have its hitch rated for a certain weight. Even if you’re within the towing rating and under a GCWR, if you’re over the rating for your vehicle’s hitch you can experience problems. It’s also important to note that the tongue weight of the RV factors into the vehicle’s GVWR. If the tongue weight of the RV puts you over on GVWR, it’s too much trailer for your vehicle. 

If you’re a little confused, it’s okay. You can come back to this weight rating guide at any time for a quick refresher.

Have you ever thought about pulling a used travel trailer with your SUV? Browse our small campers and let us know which one you like.