The Ultimate SUV Towing Guide: You Don't Need a Truck to Camp

For decades, the "Rule of Thumb" was that if you wanted to tow a travel trailer, you needed a pickup truck. That rule is dead. Modern SUVs have evolved into incredible towing machines, blending the daily comfort of a family hauler with the torque and stability needed to pull a fully equipped RV.

At RV Canada, we are the SUV towing specialists. Whether you drive a compact crossover or a full-size luxury hauler, we have a camper that fits your lifestyle. This guide categorizes the most popular SUVs on the road to help you find the perfect match for your driveway.

Category 1: The Compact & Crossover Class (1,500 – 3,500 lbs)

These vehicles are perfect for "Micro-Camping." While they can't tow a bunkhouse, they are ideal for teardrops, pop-ups, and ultra-lite composites like Modern Buggy.

• Subaru Outback: The adventurer's favorite. With a 2,700–3,500 lb limit, it pairs perfectly with rugged, lightweight trailers.

• Toyota RAV4: From the fuel-sipping Hybrid to the rugged TRD, the RAV4 can handle surprisingly capable micro-campers.

• Mazda CX-50 / CX-5: Known for handling, these can tow ultra-lites with ease.

Category 2: The Mid-Size Family Class (5,000 lbs Sweet Spot)

This is the most popular segment in Canada. Most V6 or Turbo-4 SUVs in this class are rated for 5,000 lbs, allowing you to tow spacious single-axle bunkhouses and hybrids.

• Toyota Highlander: The family standard. Reliable and capable of pulling 20-foot trailers.

• Toyota 4Runner: The off-road legend. Ideal for rugged trailers that match its body-on-frame durability.

• VW Atlas: A spacious unibody SUV that offers excellent stability for wide-body lightweight trailers.

• Ford Explorer: A heavy hitter in this class, capable of towing up to 5,600 lbs with the EcoBoost engine.

• Jeep Grand Cherokee: One of the few in this class that can push past 6,000 lbs (V8 models), blurring the line with full-size SUVs.

• Honda Pilot: A reliable 5,000 lb hauler perfect for families towing hybrid expandable trailers.

• Kia Telluride / Hyundai Palisade: The new kings of the school run are also surprisingly capable tow vehicles for weekend getaways.

• Nissan Pathfinder: With a 6,000 lb capacity on newer models, it punches above its weight class.

• Subaru Ascent: Subaru's biggest hauler brings standard AWD stability to the 5,000 lb towing market.

Category 3: The Full-Size Heavyweights (7,000 – 9,000+ lbs)

These beasts offer truck-like towing capacity with three rows of seating. They can easily handle large dual-axle travel trailers and luxury couples' coaches.

• Toyota Sequoia: Built on the Tundra chassis, this is a serious tow rig for heavy loads.

• Toyota Land Cruiser: The global icon for durability. Whether V8 or Hybrid, it commands the road.

• Chevrolet Tahoe / GMC Yukon: The standard for body-on-frame towing. Capable of pulling 8,000+ lbs with ease.

• Ford Expedition: With the high-output EcoBoost, this SUV rivals many half-ton trucks in torque and capacity.

• Dodge Durango: The muscle car of SUVs. With the Hemi V8, it offers best-in-class towing up to 8,700 lbs.

• Jeep Wagoneer: A new contender with massive towing stats that challenge the domestic giants.

• Nissan Armada: An old-school V8 patrol vehicle that offers massive towing grunt.

Category 4: The Luxury Towing Segment

Who says towing can't be refined? These premium SUVs offer air suspension and massive torque for a velvet-smooth towing experience.

• Audi Q7 / Q8 / Q9: German engineering that offers surprising towing prowess (7,700 lbs).

• BMW X5 / X7: Excellent stability and diesel-like torque from their turbo engines.

• Porsche Cayenne: The sports car that can tow a boat or camper without breaking a sweat.

• Land Rover Defender / Discovery: Born for the overland trail, ready to tow your off-grid trailer anywhere.

• Lexus GX / LX: The luxury cousins of the 4Runner and Land Cruiser, offering proven V8 reliability.