After I bought my minivan, I was already considering what camper I should get. But after some research, I realized that my minivan can’t tow just ANY camper I find. There are things I needed to look into before I even invest in a camper.
I’m sure many of you have wondered, “can you tow a camper with a minivan anyway?” Read on as I show you the factors to consider when you want to tow a camper using your minivan, and some excellent options if you’re still on the search for a vehicle.
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Can You Tow a Camper With a Minivan?
The short answer is: YES, you can tow a camper using your minivan. But as mentioned, it depends on various factors.
First, you have to check if your minivan can tow vehicles and campers. Not all minivans have the capacity to tow large weights! Furthermore, the minivan should have the correct hitch and run in excellent condition, which you can check with your car mechanic.
Now that you know your minivan can tow vehicles, the biggest factor to consider is your minivan model and its unique specifications:
For instance, the Chrysler Town and Country models can pull up to 3,600 pounds of towed weight. However, other models can only tow up to 1,600 pounds!
You will need to double-check your minivan’s towing weight capacity to know how big of a camper it can safely pull.
Furthermore, you have to look into what tow package your minivan can handle. Car manufacturers can provide tow packages to install on your minivan to easily tow your camper.
When you have a tow package in place and a camper that meets your minivan’s towing weight capacity, you can attach it to the hitch. Connect its safety chain and light systems well, and be sure to test everything before going on the road. You can test it in a large parking lot to check its brake, lights, pulling power, and the like. In addition, there are other trailer additions that you can immediately check out – a trailer awning or rv bike rack for safe transportation.
Another factor to consider is what you will add to the camper, as you shouldn’t only consider the camper’s weight. You will have people living in the camper, place furniture and supplies, and other equipment, which can be quite heavy!
That’s why I recommend that people invest in a much lighter trailer, weighing less than the minivan’s towing weight capacity. This will give you ample weight room for people, equipment, food, and other supplies that will be stored in the minivan and camper itself.
If you choose a camper closer to your minivan’s to weight, chances are that you can’t carry everything you need properly. Also, your minivan won’t run well, as it would struggle to carry all the weight! Choosing something lighter is a better choice, rather than to go near the maximum towing weight capacity your minivan can take.
What Camper Size Can I Get For My Minivan to Tow?
The size of the chosen camper will depend on the weight of your camper. And the weight of the camper should depend on the towing weight your minivan can take! So no, it isn’t about the foot length when you’re considering what your minivan can tow.
For instance:
A minivan can tow around 3,500 pounds, which doesn’t include your trailer weight. Subtract the passenger weight, which is around 500 pounds. This means that the minivan can handle a 3,000-pound camper.
Then, you have to consider your food and supplies. Let’s say, you have about 800 pounds of food, equipment, and supplies. Subtract that, and your minivan can carry a camper weighing up to 2,200 pounds.
But of course, you’ll want to go a bit lighter than that to take care of your minivan! Your minivan should have the engine power to tow the trailer well, especially when you plan to rig up steep mountain slopes. That’s why you should test the braking and engine power of your minivan, and to also consider your driving skills to ensure your safety.
When you find out the weight your minivan can tow, that’s when you can search for campers of a similar weight, which will show the exact sizes you can choose from.
Do you want to learn more about towing your camper and what vehicles are permitted to do so? Check out this informative video:
What Minivans Have a Good Towing Capacity?
If you don’t have a minivan yet and are still planning to consider getting one, here are your top choices:
- Ford Transit Connect has a towing package already installed, which can handle 2,000 pounds easily
- Kia Sedona and Toyota Sienna have a tow rating of 3,500 pounds with strong engines
- Chrysler Pacifica can handle 3,600 pounds and has a stronger engine compared to the Kia and Toyota
- Honda Odyssey has a powerful engine that can handle about 3,000 pounds
- Nissan NV is an excellent minivan with an adequate engine, able to tow about 8,500 pounds without hassle
- Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana has one of the most powerful engines for a minivan, and it can pull almost 10,000 pounds easily. However, these aren’t minivans, but bigger vans!
All these minivans have a good towing weight capacity. Note that you should still consider other factors, such as the minivan’s weight, looks, design, gas tanks, axle ratios, storage capacity, customizing capabilities, as well as other specific features you may need.
Read More: Can You Live In A Camper On Your Own Land – Key Things You Should Know
Wrapping It Up
Just because you own a good minivan doesn’t mean it can tow a camper! There are many things to consider and you’ll need to do the math before you start getting a camper for your minivan to bring around. As long as you get a camper your vehicle can handle, you can easily bring it around without risk of damaging engines and car parts.
I hope that this article answered your question, “can you tow a camper with a minivan?” Now that you know the answer, start your search for the optimum camper or minivan for your next adventures!
