Minivans are some of the most versatile vehicles on the road today, thanks to their large open interior, ample seating, and lower van floor, making them great for hauling people as well as cargo.
But can a minivan tow a camper?
Most newer minivans today have a towing capacity between 3,000 and 3,600 pounds, depending on the make, model, and year, making it possible for a minivan to tow a small teardrop or stand-up camper.
If you have an older minivan, however, it’s important to check the owner’s manual for its specific towing capacity, as older minivans will often have a lower towing capacity compared to newer ones.
But if you’re curious about what campers a minivan can pull, keep reading.
As we provide 10 awesome campers that a minivan can tow.
10 Awesome Campers You Can Tow With a Minivan
There are actually quite a few small campers and teardrop trailers on the market today, light enough to be towed by a minivan.
As most small campers under 18 feet in length will usually have a dry weight starting at around 1,200 pounds and top out under 3,000 pounds.
For more information on how much a small travel trailer weighs, check out our article “How Much Do Small Travel Trailers Weigh?“.
But these 10 small campers are some of our favorites and ones you should definitely check out if you’re looking for a camper that you can tow with a minivan.
1. Timberleaf Pika
Skip to the 7:00 minute mark for a walkthrough of the Timberleaf Pika
Quick Specs
- Price: $13,200
- Dry Weight: 970 Pounds
- Length: 12 Feet
- Sleeping Capacity: 2
The Timberleaf Pika is the lightest teardrop trailer on this list by more than 200 pounds, with a dry weight of only 970 pounds.
Making the Timberleaf Pika super easy to pull behind a minivan.
This compact and lightweight teardrop camper is also great for boondocking and outdoor adventures thanks to its available off-road package which equips the camper with Timbren axleless 3,500 independent suspension, 4-inch lift, electric drum brakes, BFGoodwrench KO2 tires, oversized fenders, front corner rock sliders, and Max-Coupler articulating hitch.
In addition, this rugged teardrop trailer has LED lighting throughout, a basic rear kitchen for meal prep while camping, and space for two campers to sleep comfortably.
For information on the Timberleaf Pika, check out Timberleaf’s website by clicking here.
2. Forest River Rockwood Geo Pro G12RK
Quick Specs
- Price: $12,000
- Dry Weight: 1,252 Pounds
- Length: 11 Feet 3 Inches
- Sleeping Capacity: 2
The lightest Camper on this list that just about any minivan could pull is the Forest River Rockwood Geo Pro G12RK, which is a teardrop trailer that has a dry weight of only 1,252 pounds and a gross vehicle weight rating of 1,953 pounds.
While this small camper from Forest River is not completely self-contained, as it lacks a bathroom.
This little teardrop trailer is perfect for the RVer that wants a super lightweight and simple RV to take camping.
Because while this little camper doesn’t have a bathroom, it does have just about everything else you could want including a comfortable place to sleep, a rear outdoor kitchen with running water, a fridge, and a microwave, onboard electricity with 110 outlets and USB ports for charging, as well as a heater and a roof-mounted AC.
For more information on the Forest River Rockwood Geo Pro G12RK, check out Forest River’s website by clicking here.
3. nuCamp TAG
Quick Specs
- Price: $17,000
- Dry Weight: 1,284 Pounds
- Length: 13 Feet 7 Inches
- Sleeping Capacity: 2
The NuCamp TAG is the perfect teardrop trailer to tow with a minivan if you’re a camper that wants a small and lightweight boondocking travel trailer, that can pretty much go anywhere.
As this little camper has everything you would need for an extended boondocking or dry camping adventure including a rear outdoor kitchen with running water and sink, a large battery bank with optional solar to keep all your electrical devices charged, and a heater with a wireless thermostat for those colder nights.
But perhaps our favorite feature of this little teardrop trailer is the star-gazing window, which lets you view the stairs even when you’re inside the trailer.
And if you opt for the Boondock Package you can take your nuCamp TAG even further into the wilderness, as it provides aggressive off-road tires, a heavy-duty pitched axle, included solar package, and a roof rack.
For more information on the nuCamp TAG, check out NuCamp’s website by clicking here.
4. nuCamp Tab S Teardrop Camper
Quick Specs
- Price: $28,000
- Dry Weight: 1,969 Pounds
- Length: 15 Feet 3 Inches
- Sleeping Capacity: 2
When you’re ready to move beyond small teardrop trailers and want something you can actually stand up in, then you definitely need to check out the Tab S Teardrop Camper by nuCamp.
As this little camper from nuCamp not only lets you stand up inside the trailer but is also one of the lightest self-contained travel trailers on the market today, with a dry weight of only 1,969 pounds and a gross vehicle weight rating of 2,900 pounds.
And thanks to the fact that this travel trailer is completely self-contained, it has everything you would need for a quick weekend getaway including a small wet bath with cassette toilet, a small kitchenette, as well as a large seating area with a table that converts into a queen bed.
For more information on the nuCamp Tab S Teardrop Trailer, check out NuCamp’s website by clicking here.
To see other teardrop campers you can stand up in, check out our article “10 Must-See Teardrop Trailers You Can Stand Up In“.
5. Scamp 16 Standard Trailer (w/ Bathroom)
Quick Specs
- Price: $17,000 – $25,000
- Dry Weight: 2,000 Pounds
- Length: 16 Feet
- Sleeping Capacity: 2 to 4 (Depending on Floorplan)
Two of my personal favorites when it comes to small travel trailers are the 13-foot Scamp trailer and the 16-foot Scamp trailer because of how lightweight and simple they are.
As the 16-foot Scamp trailer only has a dry weight of 2,000 pounds, making it more than possible to tow this camper with a minivan.
This small camper from Scamp is also available in 5 different floorplans with tons of options to choose from, allowing you to design your Scamp trailer to perfectly fit your preferred camping style.
And this is because Scamp trailers are built to order directly from the Scamp factory.
But one of the downsides of this factory direct approach is that you typically have to wait 6 months or longer before you can take delivery of your Scamp.
For more information on the Scamp 16 Trailer and to see the available floorplans, check out Scamp’s website by clicking here.
6. KZ RV Sportsmen Classic 130RB
Quick Specs
- Price: $13,000
- Dry Weight: 2,190 Pounds
- Length: 16 Feet
- Sleeping Capacity: 3
Another awesome camper that can easily be pulled by a minivan is the KZ RV Sportsman Classic 130RB, which has a dry weight of 2,190 pounds and a gross vehicle weight rating of 2,800 pounds.
And thanks to its affordable price, this travel trailer is also a great option for any RVer shopping on a budget.
In addition, while it doesn’t have a full three-piece dry bath, it does have a two-piece dry bath, which is pretty good for a trailer of this size, as they usually have wet baths.
There’s also plenty of seating in this small camper, thanks to the large convertible dinette booth and sofa.
For more information on the KZ RV Sportsman Classic 130RB, check out KZ RV’s website by clicking here.
7. Casita Spirit Deluxe
Quick Specs
- Price: Starting at $25,694
- Dry Weight: 2,480 Pounds
- Length: 17 Feet
- Sleeping Capacity: 4
A camper that has a very similar look and feel as well as weight compared to the Scamp 16 is the Casita Spirit, which is available in both a standard and a deluxe version.
But if you want a bathroom, then you need to go with the deluxe version.
As the Standard 17-foot Casita Spirit doesn’t come with a bathroom.
The standard version does, however, have a higher sleeping capacity compared to the deluxe version due to its additional bunk beds.
In addition, like Scamp trailers, Casita trailers are built to order and must be ordered directly from the manufacturer, as you can’t buy a Casita travel trailer on an RV lot like you can with most other RV brands.
For more information on the Casita Spirit Deluxe, check out the Casita website by clicking here.
8. Riverside Retro 135
Quick Specs
- Price: $14,000
- Dry Weight: 2,540 Pounds
- Length: 16 Feet
- Sleeping Capacity: 3
Perhaps one of the most unique travel trailers on this list that can be pulled by a minivan is the Riverside Retro 135 because of its unique retro look and vibe.
As both the interior as well as the exterior of this small lightweight camper looks like it stepped right out of the 1950s.
But it’s not just the retro look of this camper that makes it great, as it’s also are very well-equipped trailer with a large permanent queen bed, a comfortable sofa, a small kitchenette, as well as a 2-piece dry bath.
And the reason why Riverside was able to cram so much into this compact retro camper is due to its rear door configuration, which allows full use of both sidewalls of this trailer for amenities and features.
To find out more about the Riverside Retro 135, check out Riverside’s website by clicking here.
9. Lance 1475
Quick Specs
- Price: $50,000
- Dry Weight: 2,600 Pounds
- Length: 20 Feet
- Sleeping Capacity: 2 or 3 (Depending on Floorplan)
While the Lance 1475 is one of the most expensive campers on this list that’s capable of being towed by a minivan, it’s also the only camper on this list with 4 season capability.
As the Lance 1475 has an optional 4 Season All-Weather Package, which allows you to camp year-round in this small camper, thanks to its enclosed underbelly, advanced ducting, enclosed and insulated holding tanks, and dual pane windows.
In addition, this trailer from Lance is the first and only trailer on this list that has a full three-piece dry bath, which includes a standup shower, toilet, and dedicated bathroom sink.
Lance also made a departure from the standard dinette booth found in most RVs on this trailer, by allowing you to choose between either two large comfy swivel chairs with a small center table or a large couch with two separate smaller swivel tables.
For more information on the Lance 1475, check out Lance’s website by clicking here.
10. Forest River E-Pro E15TB
Quick Specs
- Price: $20,000
- Dry Weight: 2,608 Pounds
- Length: 15 Feet 10 Inches
- Sleeping Capacity: 2
Another well-equipped small camper that can be pulled by a minivan is the Forest River E-Pro E15TB which has a dry weight of 2,608 pounds and an overall length of 15 feet 10 inches.
The nice thing about this travel trailer is that instead of the more common large convertible dinette found in most small campers, the E-Pro E15TB has two twin beds with a free-standing table in the middle.
Which allows you to switch from daytime mode to nighttime mode and vice versa much easier.
In addition, this loaded-up small camper from Forest River also comes with a standard 100-watt solar package instead of it being an option.
For more information on the Forest River E-Pro E15TB, check out Forest River’s website by clicking here.
Which Minivan is Best for Towing?
With the exception of the Ford Transit Connect, which only has a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds, most newer minivans today have a towing capacity between 3,000 and 3,600 pounds.
This means that any of the popular minivans today, including the Honda Odyssey, the Toyota Sienna, the Dodge Caravan, and the Chrysler Pacifica are good vehicles for towing light to medium-sized loads, as they are all equally well equipped for towing.
With the exception of perhaps the Ford Transit Connect, due to its limited towing capacity.
To see how much each popular minivan can tow check out the below list, which provides the towing capacity for every popular minivan on the road today.
Popular 2021 Minivan Towing Capacities
- Honda Odyssey – 3,500 Pound Towing Capacity
- Toyota Sienna – 3,500 Pound Towing Capacity
- Dodge Caravan – 3,600 Pound Towing Capacity]
- Dodge Grand Caravan – 3,600 Pound Towing Capacity
- Kia Sedona – 3,500 Pound Towing Capacity
- Chrysler Pacifica – 3,600 Pound Towing Capacity
- Chrysler Voyager – 3,600 Pound Towing Capacity
- Ford Transit Connect – 2,000 Pound Towing Capacity
Can a Minivan Tow 5,000 Pounds?
Most newer minivans on the road today typically have a towing capacity between 3,000 and 3,600 pounds depending on the make, model, and year of the minivan.
This means that a minivan cannot tow 5,000 pounds, as this would greatly exceed the minivan’s max towing capacity.
What Camper Can a Honda Odyssey Pull?
The new Honda Odyssey has a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, allowing it to tow a wide variety of small teardrop and stand-up campers.
Below is a partial list of campers that a new Honda Odyssey can pull.
- Little Guy Trailers MyPod – 760 Pounds (Dry Weight)
- Scamp 13 Standard Trailer (w/o Bathroom) – 1,200 Pounds (Dry Weight)
- Forest River Rockwood Geo Pro G12RK – 1,252 Pound (Dry Weight)
- nuCamp RV TAG – 1,284 Pounds (Dry Weight)
- Jayco Jay Feather Micro 12SRK – 1,585 Pounds (Dry Weight)
- inTech RV Flyer Pursue – 1,595 Pounds (Dry Weight)
- Aliner Ascape Plus – 1,630 Pounds (Dry Weight)
- nuCamp Tab S Tear Drop Camper – 1,969 Pounds (Dry Weight)
- Scamp 16 Standard Trailer (w/ Bathroom) – 2,000 Pounds (Dry Weight)
Can a Dodge Caravan Pull a Camper?
The new Dodge Caravan and Dodge Grand Caravan both have a towing capacity of 3,600 pounds, making it possible to pull a small teardrop or stand-up camper with the minivan.
Below is a partial list of some popular travel trailers that a new Dodge Caravan can tow.
- Timberleaf Pika – 970 Pounds (Dry Weight)
- Happy Camper HC1 – 1,100 Pounds (Dry Weight)
- Forest River Rockwood Geo Pro G12RK – 1,252 Pound (Dry Weight)
- nuCamp RV TAG – 1,284 Pounds (Dry Weight)
- TAXA Outdoors TigerMoth – 1,310 Pounds (Dry Weight)
- Jayco Jay Feather Micro 12SRK – 1,585 Pounds (Dry Weight)
- inTech RV Flyer Pursue – 1,595 Pounds (Dry Weight)
- Aliner Ascape Plus – 1,630 Pounds (Dry Weight)
- nuCamp Tab S Tear Drop Camper – 1,969 Pounds (Dry Weight)
To see campers that an SUV can tow and learn how SUV towing capacity compares to minivan towing capacity, check out our article “18 Must-See Campers You Can Pull with an SUV“.
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