Can a Kia Sportage Tow a Camper?

The Kia Sportage is one of the most popular compact SUVs on the road today, thanks to its stylish exterior, feature-rich interior, and quick and nimble driving characteristics.  

But due to its small and compact size, can a Kia Sportage tow a camper?

The Kia Sportage can tow a lightweight camper that weighs up to 2,000 pounds if the trailer is equipped with trailer brakes or a camper up to 1,653 pounds if the trailer is not equipped with trailer brakes.

But there’s a lot more to know about towing a camper with a Kia Sportage, than just the maximum camper weight that a Sportage can tow.

So make sure to keep reading if you’re planning on towing a camper with a Kia Sportage.

As we discuss what types of campers as well as what specific campers that a Kia Sportage can tow.

What Types of Campers can a Kia Sportage Tow?

Due to the limited towing capacity of the Kia Sportage, the only three types of campers that a Sportage can tow is either a teardrop camper, a stand-up camper, or a pop-up camper.

As only these three types of RVs will be light enough to be potentially towed by a Kia Sportage.

However, keep in mind that this does not mean that a Kia Sportage can tow every teardrop camper, stand-up camper, or pop-up camper.

Because as you can see from the table below, there are campers in each of these RV classes that exceed the max towing capacity of the Kia Sportage.

Especially considering the fact that most small and lightweight campers do not come standard with trailer brakes.

	Style of Camper	Average Length	Average Dry Weight
	Teardrop Camper	11′ – 15′	760 lbs. – 2,000 lbs.
	Stand-Up Camper (Standy)	13′ – 17′	1,000 lbs. – 2,500 lbs.
	Pop-Up Camper	10′ – 16′	1,100 lbs. – 3,800 lbs.

So unless you plan on installing trailer brakes to the lightweight camper, you are going to be limited to campers that weigh less than 1,653 pounds.  

Which is considered a very ultra-light camper.

But not to worry, as we found 6 super cool and ultra-lightweight campers that a Kia Sportage can tow.

6 Popular Lightweight Campers that a Kia Sportage Can Tow

When going through this list of campers that a Kia Sportage can tow, it’s important to keep the below items in mind.

1. The weight listed for each camper is the dry weight of the camper only, so any cargo loaded into the camper must be added to the dry weight.
2. All campers on this list are light enough to be towed by a Kia Sportage without the assistance of trailer brakes.
3. It’s always recommended to stay substantially below the max tow rating of any vehicle by using the “80 Rule for Towing“.

1. Little Guy Trailers MyPod

Quick Specs

• Cost:  $13,500
• Dry Weight:  760 Pounds
• Length:  11 Feet 6 Inches
• Sleeping Capacity:  2

One of the smallest and lightest teardrop trailers you can pull behind a Kia Sportage is the Little Guy Trailers MyPod, which has a dry weight of just 760 pounds, thanks to its fully molded fiberglass body.

Which gives this little trailer a very stream-lined and aerodynamic look.

But despite its ultra-lightweight design, this little teardrop camper is still loaded with features to make your next camping trip more enjoyable as well as comfortable.

Including a full-size bed, 12V and 110 power, an entertainment system with tv, a built-in air conditioner, 3-speed fantastic fan, and a roof rack for all your outdoor and adventure gear.

For more information on the Little Guy Trailers MyPod, make sure you check out Little Guy Trailer’s website by clicking here.

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2. Sylvan Sport Go Trailer

Quick Specs

• Cost:  Starting at $9,995
• Dry Weight:  840 Pounds
• Length:  11 Feet 10 Inches
• Sleeping Capacity:  4

The smallest and lightest pop-up camper that can easily be towed by Kia Sportage is the Sylvan Sport Go Trailer, which has a dry weight of only 840 pounds.  

But despite its ultra-lightweight design and compact size, this pop-up camper can actually sleep up to 4 campers at a time and provides a nice basecamp while camping.   

In addition, the Sylvan Sport Go Trailer also features a roof rack, allowing this compact camper to transport all kinds of outdoor gear including bikes and even a canoe.  

The one major drawback to this ultra-lightweight pop-up camper though, in my opinion, is its lengthy and involved setup time, which usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes to completely set up, due to over-engineered design.  

For more information on this ingenious little pop-up camper from Sylvan, make sure to check out Sylvan’s website by clicking here.  

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3. Timberleaf Pika

Quick Specs

• Price:  $13,200
• Dry Weight:  1,025 Pounds 
• Length:  12 Feet
• Sleeping Capacity:  2

Timberleaf makes some of the most well-built and rugged teardrop campers on the market today, with three main models to choose from including the Classic, the Pika, and the Kestrel. 

But probably their most popular model is the Pika, as it provides a nice blend between their most loaded and heaviest model the Classic, and their most minimalist and lightest model the Kestrel.

By providing a well-equipped and comfortable teardrop camper but still keeping the overall weight down on the trailer, making it an ideal choice for the Kia Sportage, which has a limited towing capacity.  

And if you’re looking to take your Kia Sportage off the beaten path and need a teardrop camper that can keep up, the Timberleaf Pika makes a great choice, thanks to its three available off-road packages.  

For more information on the Timberleaf Pika as well as the other two available models, check out Timberleaf’s website by clicking here.  

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4. Happier Camper HC1

Quick Specs

• Cost:  $30,000
• Length:  13 Feet
• Dry Weight:  1,100 Pounds
• Sleeping Capacity:  2

The lightest travel trailer on the road today is the Happier Camper HC1, which makes it a great choice for the Kia Sportage due to its limited towing capacity.

But it’s not just its lightweight design that makes this stand-up camper so great, as it’s also one of the most customizable and versatile campers that you can buy today.

Thanks to its Adaptiv™ Floorplan, which allows you to completely customize the interior of the trailer to your particular needs and wants.

By allowing you to move around its Adaptiv™ components inside the trailer to whatever best suits your particular camping style.  

In addition, this premium camper also features a large rear hatch door for easy loading and unloading of the camper, the ability to sleep up to five, uses premium fabrics and hardware, and is solar-ready.  

For more information on the lightest travel trailer from Happier Camper, be sure to check out Happier Camper’s website by clicking here.  

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5. Aliner Scout Lite

Quick Specs

• Cost:  $12,000 
• Dry Weight:  1,180 Pounds
• Length:  13 Feet
• Sleeping Capacity:  3

The Aliner Scout Lite is a unique take on the standard tent-style pop-up camper, as this pop-up from Aliner features hard-sided walls instead of the more standard canvas walls found on most pop-up campers.

Providing a better insulation value as well as sound deading ability compared to the standard tent-style pop-up camper.

In addition, this hard-sided pop-up camper from Aliner is also extremely lightweight with a dry weight of just over 1,000 pounds, allowing the Kia Sportage to easily tow this ultra-lightweight pop-up camper.  

But the features and amenities don’t stop there, as the Scout Lite also comes standard with four stabilizer jacks, a fantastic ven fan, two skylights, 10-inch electric brakes, a small sink, and LED lights throughout.

For more information on the Aliner Scout Lite, be sure to check out Aliner’s website by clicking here.  

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6. 13-Foot Scamp Trailer (w/0 Bathroom)

Quick Specs

• Cost:  Starting at $15,000
• Length:  13 Feet
• Dry Weight:  1,200
• Sleeping Capacity:  4

Probably one of the most well-known stand-up campers on the market today is the small and lightweight 13-foot Scamp trailer, which has a dry weight of 1,200 pounds when not equipped with the optional wet bath.

Making this small camper a great choice for Kia Sportage owners, looking for a lightweight travel trailer that they can tow.  

In addition, this travel trailer is also the only trailer on this list that has all the features you would normally find on a larger travel trailer, with the exception of a bathroom.

As this small 13-foot trailer has sleeping for 4, a convertible dinette table, a small kitchenette that includes a kitchen sink, two-burner propane stove, and a small mini-fridge, as well as a trailer battery for electricity and a propane tank for cooking and to heat the trailer.  

(As a note though, the 13-foot Scamp can be optioned with a bathroom as well, however, when optioned with a bathroom, the trailer must be equipped with the optional 10-inch electric brakes, as the dry weight of the trailer increases to 1,600 pounds.)

For more information on the 13-foot Scamp trailer, make sure to check out Scamp’s website by clicking here.    

 

For a list of cheap RV accessories that every RVer should have, check out our article “20 Must-Have RV Accessories Under $20“.