Towing a small pop up with a CRV

What is the towing capacity of your CRV - does it even have one? What is the hitch weight limit for your CRV? I'd have your dealer check through the VIN and find out. If it doesn't have a tow package, it's a no-go for a car this small.

How small is the PUP? I would think only the smallest, lightest PUPs could be towed with a CRV that has a tow package with an external transmission cooler added.

Take a look at the Honda CRV site. Several there tow with a CRV

xteacher wrote:
What is the towing capacity of your CRV - does it even have one? What is the hitch weight limit for your CRV? I'd have your dealer check through the VIN and find out. If it doesn't have a tow package, it's a no-go for a car this small.

How small is the PUP? I would think only the smallest, lightest PUPs could be towed with a CRV that has a tow package with an external transmission cooler added.

You might want to look atmy first question !

Jack L

rv2go wrote:
Take a look at the Honda CRV site. Several there tow with a CRV

Many thanks,

I didn't know there was such a site

Jack L

It is doable, earlier CRVs were rated to tow 1000 pounds, later models 1500.

The lightest PUP models today are somewhat under 1500 empty (particularly those with 8-foot box and minimal features). Some older ones may be even lighter, designs have gained weight as conveniences were added.

There are tent trailers even lighter: some LivinLite Quicksilver models are under 1000 pounds, Jumping Jack (eight foot box) is about 1300, there are trailers for motorcycle towing under 500 pounds.

My 1999 CRV felt like it wanted to lose speed in hilly country even when not towing, but that is mostly a driver or cruise control problem, not getting into the accelerator before the hill starts sapping kinetic energy.

The lil' Max camper would be a good one for this size car. Video of the setup.

We tow an Aliner Sport with our 2014 CRV. The Sport is under 1500 lbs which is the tow limit for the CRV. We do not usually add any extra weight to the Aliner (no water, battery removed, very little in the fridge, etc).

We took a six week trip last year from Texas to Death Vally to Yosemite/California up the coast to the state of Washington. We went eastward and then down to Yellowstone, to Colorado, and back to Texas.

Best trip of our lives. The towing was effortless in the mountains and the only issue was new tires needed for the Aliner (to be expected since they were a few years old).

We always stay in campgrounds with FHUs...even when we had our 25 ft Hybrid travel trailer....so water and electric are non-issues.

NanciL wrote:

xteacher wrote:
What is the towing capacity of your CRV - does it even have one? What is the hitch weight limit for your CRV? I'd have your dealer check through the VIN and find out. If it doesn't have a tow package, it's a no-go for a car this small.

How small is the PUP? I would think only the smallest, lightest PUPs could be towed with a CRV that has a tow package with an external transmission cooler added.

You might want to look atmy first question !

Jack L

Excuse me for trying to give you some questions to consider and help you decide whether it's doable. I won't bother you again.

My wife has a Ford Escape with the V-6 and 3500 lb towing package. When we bought our Flagstaff HW trailer, we used this vehicle to bring it home because I hadn't yet got my truck.

The weight of the trailer was knocking on the max hitch weight and tow capacity, so it made for a uneasy drive home. Now, if we had chosen a camper closer to the 2K range and a lower profile, then I wouldn't have a problem towing with this vehicle at all. I think if you don't go overboard weight wise, and height wise, then you should be fine.

The Flagstaff camper itself and the AC unit was above the roofline of the Escape, so it kinda acted like a big sail.

My mother tows an 8' popup (Coleman Taos) with a Subie Forester, a very similar sized CUV and similar engine power. It does fairly well, but you sure know it's back there.

Strongly recommend no more than an 8' pup and that you make sure the loaded tongue is under 200# and that you get the CRV wired for electric brakes.

The previous version was rated 1,500# towing, but I'm not sure what the current CVT transmission ones are rated for. Might want to think about whether you're up for being a towing guinea pig. Honda isn't legendary for auto transmission quality....