Even though SUVs have become increasingly car-like over time, the utility remains one-third of the SUV equation. SUVs excel in transporting large groups of people and their belongings, as well as towing trailers that a minivan could never handle.
That said, I’ve got 6 of the best SUVs for you that excel towing travel trailers.
- 2022 Ford Expedition: 9,300 Lb Towing Capacity
- 2022 Lincoln Navigator: 8,700 Lb Towing Capacity
- 2022 Nissan Armada: 8,500 Lb Towing Capacity
- 2021 Dodge Durango: 8,700 Lb Towing Capacity
- 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe: 8,300 Lb Towing Capacity
- 2021 Land Rover Defender: 8201 Lb Towing Capacity
The most powerful SUVs can tow up to 9,300 pounds, which is enough to tow a boat, a travel trailer, or ATVs to the sand dunes while still offering comfortable family transportation. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look into what makes these SUVs the best suited for towing a travel trailer.
6 Of The Best SUVs For Towing A Travel Trailer
You have a variety of tow vehicle alternatives when towing a travel trailer, depending on your needs. For example, towing a camper with a pickup truck is popular. Some motorcycles can even tow campers! Certain SUVs are also excellent towing vehicles for travel trailers.
What SUVs, on the other hand, can pull a travel trailer? The ideal SUVs for towing a travel trailer include towing solid capacity, plenty of storage space, and various seating options. In addition, SUVs, unlike pickup trucks, can accommodate many rows of passengers, making them ideal towing vehicles for camping families.
So, beginning with the heavyweight 2022 Ford Expedition, here’s what value they add to your next road trip and camping excursion.
2022 Ford Expedition – 9,300 lb Towing Capacity
The 2022 Ford Expedition should be at the top of your buying list if you require a large SUV with a lot of towing capability.
With the optional towing package, the Expedition can tow a class-leading 9,300 pounds and may be equipped with Ford’s trailer backing assist technologies, which help while navigating with a full load.
The Expedition Max’s towing capacity is only 9,000 pounds, but it’s still a level of capability that only full-size pickup trucks can equal.
The SUV’s size provides for a spacious and comfortable interior, and Ford has upgraded the model for 2022 with style and technological enhancements, as well as a new off-road Timberline variant, the first Expedition explicitly designed for off-roading.
The 2022 Ford Expedition full-size SUV can seat up to eight people, travel on the highway, and drive off-road. It’s a spacious and adaptable vehicle, with the longer Max version providing significantly additional luggage capacity.
Ford offers a new hands-free driving function called BlueCruise in the top model to simplify highway driving. This year, the Timberline, a new off-roading vehicle, makes its premiere. The rest of the lineup ranges from well-equipped to almost opulent.
V8 engines are standard in full-size SUVs, but this one uses a fuel-efficient turbocharged V6. In addition, some of the Expedition’s panels are made of aluminum to keep the vehicle from getting too sluggish. Despite this, the body-on-frame design allows for class-leading towing statistics.
It is the fourth version of the Expedition, which debuted for the 2018 model year. As a result, technology is still cutting-edge, and it gets even more so this year with the introduction of a 15.5-inch infotainment touchscreen.
2022 Ford Expedition Specs
- Engine Specs
- DOHC 24-valve V-6, twin-turbocharged and intercooled, aluminum block and heads, port, and direct fuel injection
- Torque: 480 lb-ft @ 3250 rpm
- Power: 400 hp @ 5000 rpm
- Transmission: There is a manual shift mode on the 10-speed automatic transmission.
- Drivetrain
- Four-Wheel Drive
- Rear-Wheel Drive
2022 Lincoln Navigator – 8,700 Lb Towing Capacity
The 2022 Navigator SUV, which sits at the apex of Lincoln Motor Company’s all-SUV portfolio, shares mechanicals with the Ford Expedition. Still, it’s considerably more than an Expedition with leather seats.
Instead, the Navigator’s luxurious interior is adorned with high-quality materials, a comprehensive list of standard convenience features, and the most cutting-edge technology available from Lincoln.
The inside has a classy feel thanks to the leather, wood trim, and knurled metal knobs, while optional 30-way power-adjustable front seats make it easy to customize the car to your preferences. The Navigator is powered by a 440-hp twin-turbocharged V-6 engine that can tow up to 8700 pounds.
The 2022 Navigator also has Lincoln’s new semi-autonomous driving mode, Active Glide. The technology is identical to Cadillac’s Super Cruise and enables genuine hands-free driving.
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra recorded new interior chimes and alarms and upgraded massaging chairs, and an option for second-row massaging seats. In addition, a 13.2-inch display has replaced the 10.0-inch infotainment touchscreen from last year.
Like the high-end Rolls-Royce Cullinan, the Navigator will now utilize a forward-facing camera to detect road bumps and adjust the suspension to mitigate the impact.
2022 Lincoln Navigator Specs
- Engine Specs
- DOHC 24-valve V-6, twin-turbocharged and intercooled, aluminum block and heads, port, and direct fuel injection
- Torque: 512 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm
- Power: 450 hp @ 5500 rpm
- Transmission: 10-speed automatic transmission.
- Drivetrain
- Four-Wheel Drive
- Rear-Wheel Drive
2022 Nissan Armada – 8,500 Lb Towing Capacity
The rugged body-on-frame structure of the 2022 Armada serves as the foundation for its remarkable blend of strength, durability, and usability.
Armada has a proven 5.6-liter Endurance V8 with best-in-class2 standard 400 horsepower and is built on a sturdy, heavy-duty ladder frame (at 5,200 rpm). The torque rating is 413 lb-ft (at 4,000 rpm).
The 2022 Armada also has a best-in-class standard maximum towing capacity of up to 8,500 pounds for all 4WD and 2WD variants as part of its adventure-ready character (when properly equipped).
Standard on the SV, SL, and Platinum grades is an integrated trailer brake controller with a tow hitch receiver. In addition, on the SL and Platinum grades, Trailer Sway Control is standard.
When the car’s system detects wobble, Trailer Sway Control applies the brakes and slows the vehicle to remove the sway for a more secure towing experience.
Because of its broad gear ratios, automatic transmission fluid warmer, and idle neutral control, the standard, sophisticated 7-speed automatic gearbox with Adaptive Shift Control and Downshift Rev Matching helps to improve fuel economy.
The technology functions in the 2WD mode under typical driving circumstances, but when road conditions permit, it may transfer torque to all four wheels (up to 50 percent of torque can go to the front wheels on demand).
Anti-lock brakes, Electronic Braking Force Distribution, and Brake Assist are included in the responsive 4-wheel disc brake system.
Hill Start Assist, 2-wheel or 4-wheel limited-slip, and a Vehicle Dynamic Control system are standard on the Armada (including a deactivation switch). An engine-speed-sensitive power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system provides steering.
The Armada’s sturdy independent double-wishbone front and rear suspension deliver smooth ride comfort and quick handling for both on-road and off-road driving. And finally, each corner is equipped with twin-tube shock absorbers.
2022 Nissan Armada Specs
- Engine Specs
- Direct fuel injection, DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block, and heads
- Torque: 413 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
- Power: 400 hp @ 5800 rpm
- Transmission: 7-speed automatic transmission.
- Drivetrain
- Four-Wheel Drive
- Rear-Wheel Drive
2021 Dodge Durango – 8,700 Lb Towing Capacity
In the midsize SUV class, the Dodge Durango is the most refined towing SUV. This 3-row SUV can tow 6,200 pounds even with the least costly 6-cylinder, 2-wheel drive variant. The most potent high-performance Dodge vehicles, however, can tow the most.
The 475-horsepower SRT 392 Durango and the crazy 710-horsepower supercharged Hellcat Durango can each haul a massive 8,700 pounds. That’s amazing, considering these two SUVs can accelerate like muscle cars and haul more than most full-size SUVs.
When coupled with the Tow n’ Go option, which incorporates some of the performance technology from the SRT variants, the milder Durango R/T with a 360-horsepower V8 can tow 8,700 pounds.
Even a basic V8 with all-wheel drive can tow trailers weighing up to 7,200 pounds. So the Durango is worth considering if hauling big trailers with your midsize SUV is a priority. The only drawback is that the Durango is primarily designed for on-road use. That said, this isn’t the SUV for you if you like to play in the dirt.
2021 Dodge Durango Specs
- Engine Specs
- 16-valve V-8 with pushrods, iron block and aluminum heads, and port fuel injection
- Torque: 390 lb-ft @ 4250 rpm
- Power: 360 hp @ 5150 rpm
- Transmission: It has an 8-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode.
- Drivetrain
- Four-Wheel Drive
- Rear-Wheel Drive
2021 Chevrolet Tahoe – 8,300 Lb Towing Capacity
The revised 2021 Tahoe’s maximum trailer weight is 8,400 pounds when equipped with two-wheel drive (2WD), the standard 355-horsepower 5.3-liter V-8 engine, and the Max Trailering Package, according to Chevrolet.
The all-new Tahoe can tow up to 8,300 pounds when equipped with the optional 420-hp 6.2-liter V-8 engine. The towing capacity of the new Chevy Tahoe is marginally lower than that of the previous generation.
With 2WD, a 5.3-liter V-8, and the optional Max Trailering Package, the 2020 Tahoe could tow up to 8,600 pounds. The previous Tahoe had a 6.2-liter V-8 and a towing capacity of 8,400 pounds.
According to Automotive News, the new Tahoe’s standard towing capacities are 7,900 lbs. (2WD) and 7,700 lbs. (4WD), which are greater than the 2020 model. Cargo Capacity Ratings for the Chevrolet Tahoe in 2021
The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe has a redesigned independent rear suspension that enhances ride and handling, especially when combined with the MagneRide adjustable damping or air suspension options.
The new suspension design is more compact and sophisticated, allowing for more second-and third-row passenger space and increased load capacity.
2021 Chevrolet Tahoe Specs
- Engine Specs
- 16-valve pushrod V-8 with aluminum block and heads and direct fuel injection
- Torque: 383 lb-ft @ 4100 rpm
- Power: 355 hp @ 5600 rpm
- Transmission: 10-speed automatic transmission.
- Drivetrain
- Four-Wheel Drive
- Rear-Wheel Drive
2021 Land Rover Defender – 8201 Lb Towing Capacity
The Land Rover Defender is more than simply a four-wheel-drive SUV. The Defender is also an excellent towing vehicle. The 296-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine in the Defender can pull 7,716 pounds.
That is true whether you go for the 2-door 90 or the 4-door 110. When you upgrade to the 395-horsepower P400 6-cylinder engine, the weight jumps to 8,201 pounds. That’s also the same as a Land Rover Discovery, another alternative if towing is your primary aim.
Land Rover is one of the few SUVs with the towing capacity as standard equipment, regardless of whether you choose for the Land Rover towing package.
The towing package ($1,850) provides some fantastic features like all-terrain progress control (kind of like off-road cruise control), Terrain Response 2, advanced tow assist (where you can steer the trailer with the infotainment knob), and a tow hitch receiver.
The optional air suspension on the Defender will also help balance the load. With all of these features and technology, towing a large travel trailer with a Defender should be pretty painless.
2021 Land Rover Defender Specs
- Engine Specs
- Aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection, supercharged, turbocharged, and intercooled inline-6
- Torque: 406 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
- Power: 395 hp @ 5500 rpm
- Transmission: It has 8-speed automatic transmission.
- Drivetrain
- Four-Wheel Drive
- Rear-Wheel Drive
What To Consider When Choosing A SUV For Towing A Travel Trailer
Before you invest in a specific SUV for towing trailer campers, let’s discuss what to consider what to look for in an SUV that is best suited to tow travel trailers. Once you know what kinds of specs to look for, you’ll be better prepared to head out into the market and do some shopping before you decide which one works for you.
Consider The Overall Towing Capacity
The towing capability is the first item you should consider. Your vehicle’s towing capacity is the maximum weight it can safely pull. As a result, it must be greater than the combined weight of your trailer, any luggage, and even the persons you want to transport in the SUV.
As a result, SUVs with the most significant towing capacity are those that can pull a camper well. Nevertheless, just because an SUV can tow a trailer doesn’t mean that it should. Although certain vehicles can carry a specific load, this does not indicate that the driver is not causing harm to the vehicle.
Furthermore, it does not imply that the vehicle will be able to come to a safe stop in a reasonable length of time.
Consider The Type Of Engine
The kind of engine might also have an impact. In general, a diesel engine will haul more than a gasoline engine. This is because the diesel engine has higher torque, which is the most crucial sort of power when moving more oversized, heavier items, especially uphill.
It isn’t to argue that a gas engine can’t pull a trailer. But, in many circumstances, a gasoline engine will suffice.
Consider The Drivetrain And Trailering Package
Front-wheel drive is standard on most SUVs. But unfortunately, this isn’t the most acceptable option for towing. The ideal SUV for towing RV trailers will certainly feature rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
Finally, looking for an SUV with a trailer package is usually a good idea. This will include a factory-installed trailer brake controller, as well as additional features that will make towing easy for both your car and yourself.
Conclusion
The ideal SUV for towing a travel trailer is determined by the type of camper you wish to tow, the size of your family, and the amount of extra cargo space you need. The good news is that SUV manufacturers are aware that more and more individuals are towing travel trailers with their vehicles daily.
That’s why this list of the six best SUVs has been developed to pull travel trailers — and families — of various shapes and sizes.
Good luck, and happy camping!
Check out our article on: What Size Travel Trailer Can A F150 Pull?