You don't need to trade in your four-cylinder car for a heavy-duty truck just to haul a camper trailer. While a truck is advantageous, it's not always necessary. In fact, hauling a camper with a smaller vehicle can be better for a number of reasons.
They're easy to maneuver, take up less space at the campsite, and have less environmental impact.
The key is to find a camper your small car can handle. That might sound like a real trick, but there's no shortage of options for you to work with.
We're happy to introduce you to some of our favorites. But since there's a little more to towing a camping trailer than just hooking up a hitch, we'll also share some tips you need to know to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip.
What to Look for in a Smaller Vehicle Trailer
Knowing what types of travel trailers are typically towable for smaller vehicles will set you in the right direction. However, it's not enough to find the perfect fit for your situation.
You need to look at a few key features to ensure a trailer is safe for your vehicle and can provide the camping experience you're after.
Weight
Any trailer you're considering must not exceed your vehicle's towing capacity. Going above the vehicle's max tow rating is not only hard on the mechanical parts but can also be dangerous.
You also need to consider the weight of anything you will store in your camper as you travel, typically allowing an extra few hundred pounds to ensure you don’t max out your towing capacity.
Compactness
Smaller trailers are easy to maneuver and take up less space at the campground. They're also easier to store in a garage to protect it from the elements and pests.
Compact doesn’t necessarily have to sacrifice features either. Compact trailers, like the Woolly Bear X, still offer plenty of room to sleep three adults and offer an outdoor kitchen setup.
Aerodynamics
Wind resistance caused by your trailer can cost you valuable fuel economy and make it harder for smaller vehicles to tow. That’s why we recommend an aerodynamic trailer like the Cricket X.
Even the classic teardrop trailer design is famous for its aerodynamics, making it popular to tow with smaller vehicles.
Storage/Features
When shopping for smaller trailers, it's important to balance the features you want to ensure the camping experience you're after. At the very least, it should offer enough sleep space for campers and ample storage room.
Many lightweight trailers, like those offered by Taxa Outdoors, can also come with full kitchens, convertible living spaces, heating systems, and air conditioning.
Types of Camping Trailers for Small Vehicles
There are several types of travel trailers designed specifically to be towed by smaller vehicles. These include:
Pop-up Campers
Pop-up campers like the Mantis X are great for people looking to get the most out of a small package. These models fold down into compact trailers that are easy to store and tow.
Once the destination is reached, they pop up to expand living space and can sleep up to four people—usually two adults and two children. These have a ton of room for cargo and can often be equipped with amenities to make for the ultimate camping experience.
Teardrop Trailers
Teardrop trailers are highly aerodynamic, which makes them really easy to tow. They're also very small and lightweight.
Still, they offer more than enough room for two adults to sleep comfortably and plenty of storage space.
A-Frame Campers
A-frame campers are similar to pop-up campers in that they collapse into a compact form for towing and storage. The difference is that they’re a bit smaller.
They still offer plenty of amenities and storage space; they just eliminate features that aren't necessary for one or two people.
Micro Trailers
Micro trailers are great for the minimalist. They're essentially small cargo trailers with a platform for a rooftop tent that sleeps up to three adults.
Models like the Taxa Woolly Bear make the most of this packaging by offering tons of cargo space, a designated room for power stations, and a full outdoor kitchen.
Lightweight Trailers
Lightweight trailers like the Taxa TigerMoth are also worth considering. This model specifically has a dry weight of just 1,310 pounds but offers plenty of storage space and sleep area for two adults.
The hard structure allows for a rooftop tent and fold-out sides to create the most immersive camping experience possible with a hard-sided trailer.
Tips for Towing with Smaller Vehicles
As excited as you might be to head out on the first of many road trips after landing your dream camper, you should pace yourself to avoid trouble.
Again, there's a little more to towing than just hooking a hitch up. These tips will ensure you're safe on any camping adventure you embark on.
Know Your Towing Limits
It's impossible to overstate the importance of picking a trailer within your vehicle's towing limits.
If you're not sure what these are, you can find them in the owner's manual. You should also make sure the tow hitch selected is rated for your trailer camper.
Drive Carefully
Even a lightweight trailer adds at least 1,000 pounds to the rear of your vehicle. This makes it more difficult to navigate turns and reduces your stopping power, forcing you to be more cognizant of other drivers on the road around you.
Distribute Weight Evenly
As you load cargo into the trailer, it's essential to distribute the load evenly so you don’t strain your suspension or trailer tongue. This will help keep the trailer stable, ensuring safe travels.
Use Towing Aids
Trailer brake controllers aren't the only safety devices to consider using when towing. Anti-sway bars, helper springs, and safety chains should also be used when towing to avoid dangerous situations.
There's very little that separates towing a camper trailer with a small vehicle from using a truck to do the same job. It's all about understanding the vehicle's towing capacity, staying within those limits, and balancing features you deem important to your camping experience.
Then, it's just a matter of using the right towing practices to guarantee a safe and memorable adventure.
FAQ
How do I determine if my vehicle can safely tow a camping trailer?
You should refer to the max towing capacity in the owner's manual and compare it to the camper trailer you're considering. Also, if your vehicle has a hitch, you should check its capacity as well.
How does towing a camping trailer affect fuel efficiency?
The added weight and wind resistance require the driveline in a vehicle to work harder and, therefore, consume more fuel. Sticking to lightweight, aerodynamic designs lessons the impact.
