Can a Mitsubishi Outlander Tow a Camper? Solved

The Mitsubishi Outlander has been a popular mid-size SUV ever since it was first released in North America in 2003.

With the hybrid PHEV model of Outlander holding the distinction of being one of the best selling plug-in hybrids of all time.

But owners of the Outlander often wonder what kind of towing capacity it has?

And if the Mitsubishi Outlander can tow a camper?

The good news is like most mid-size SUVs on the market today, the Mitsubishi Outlander has a decent towing capacity ranging from 1,500 to 3,500 pounds, allowing the Outlander to tow a small lightweight camper such as a teardrop, stand-up, or pop-up camper.

But how much the Outlander can tow depends on several factors including its year and the engine it’s equipped with.

So if your planning on towing a camper with a Mitsubishi Outlander, keep reading.

As we go into great detail about what affects its towing capacity and give some specific examples of campers that a Mitsubishi Outlander can tow. 

Mitsubishi Outlander Towing Capacity

Year	Engine	Towing Capacity
2016	2.4-liter Inline 4-cylinder	1,500 Pounds
2016	3.0-liter V6	3,500 Pounds
2017	2.4-liter Inline 4-cylinder	1,500 Pounds
2017	3.0-liter V6	3,500 Pounds
2018	2.4-liter Inline 4-cylinder	1,500 Pounds
2018	3.0-liter V6	3,500 Pounds
2019	2.4-liter Inline 4-cylinder	1,500 Pounds
2019	3.0-liter V6	3,500 Pounds
2020	2.4-liter Inline 4-cylinder	1,500 Pounds
2020	3.0-liter V6	3,500 Pounds
2021	2.4-liter Inline 4-cylinder	1,500 Pounds
2021	3.0-liter V6	3,500 Pounds
2022	2.5-liter 4-cylinder	2,000 Pounds

As you can see from the above table the biggest deciding factor on the towing capacity of the Mitsubishi Outlander is whether the vehicle is equipped with a 4-cylinder or 6-cylinder engine.  

As the 4-cylinder Outlander has a towing capacity of 1,500 pounds, while the 6-cylinder model has a towing capacity of 3,500-pounds.

You might have noticed though at the bottom of the table that the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander only has a 4-cylinder option and just one max tow capacity of 2,000 pounds.

This is because Mitsubishi in an effort to streamline production and help improve the gas mileage on the Outlander (24 mpg city / 31 mpg highway) discontinued the 6-cylinder engine and gave the SUV a flat 2,000-pound towing capacity regardless of trim package.

Mitsubishi Outlander Available Tow Package

While a tow package does not come standard on the Mitsubishi Outlander, the SUV can be optioned with an available class 2 tow package.

Making the Outlander ready for towing right from the manufacturer when optioned with the tow package, which includes:

• Tow Hitch
• Wiring Harness
• Ball Mount with a 2-inch Ball
• Protective Cover for 2-inch Receiver

Can You Put a Hitch on a Mitsubishi Outlander?

If you happen to own a Mitsubishi Outlander that doesn’t have the factory tow package though that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck.

As you can either install or have a tow hitch and wiring harness installed on your  Outlander.  

Allowing you to pull a wide variety of vehicles behind the SUV including a small camper, ATV, jetski, or snowmobile.  

For a more detailed look at what’s involved to install a trailer hitch on an Outlander, check out the helpful YouTube video from above.  

Things to Keep in Mind

The first thing you always want to keep in mind before towing anything with your Mitsubishi Outlander is the towing capacity recommended by the manufacturer, whether it’s 1,500, 2,000, or 3,500 pounds is the max towing capacity of the vehicle.

So it’s a good idea to stay considerably under the max tow capacity.

To ensure that you’re not constantly maxing out the vehicle’s engine, drivetrain, transmission, brakes, or suspension.

Which can lead to early wear and tear and excessive maintenance and repairs to the vehicle.

And if you’re wondering how much you should be under the max tow capacity of the Outlander?

A good rule of thumb that many RVers use is the “80 Rule”, which states you shouldn’t tow anything that weighs more than 80% of your tow vehicle’s max tow capacity.

For more information on the “80 Rule for Towing”, check out our article “How the 80 Rule for Towing Affects Max Tow Capacity“.

So when you looking for campers that the Mitsubishi Outlander can tow, you ideally want to stay 20% below whatever the max tow capacity of your particular Outlander happens to be.  

It’s also important to keep in mind that when an RV manufacturer lists the weight of a camper, it’s usually the dry weight or unloaded vehicle weight of the trailer.

So even if the dry weight of the lightweight camper is at or below 20% of the max tow capacity of the Mitsubishi Outlander, it’s still very easy to exceed the Outlanders tow capacity, once you start loading cargo into the trailer.

Because of this, it’s important to be mindful of how much cargo your loading into the camper, to make sure you stay under the Outlanders max tow capacity.  

Types of Campers that a Mitsubishi Outlander Can Tow

	Type of Camper	Typical Dry Weight	Typical Length
	Teardrop Camper	760 lbs. – 2,000 lbs.	11′ – 15′
	Stand-Up Camper	1,000 lbs. – 2,000 lbs.	13′ – 17′
	Pop-Up Camper	1,100 lbs – 3,800 lbs.	10′ – 16′

There are three main types of campers that a Mitsubishi Outlander can tow, which include the teardrop camper, the stand-up camper, and the pop-up camper.  

As all three of these small lightweight campers are small enough and light enough to be towed by a Mitsubishi Outlander.

However, it’s important to remember that just because the Outlander can generally tow these three types of lightweight campers, that doesn’t mean that Outlander can tow every one of them.

Because as you can see from the above table there are campers in each of these RV classes that would exceed the max tow capacity of the Mitsubishi Outlander depending on your particular model. 

Teardrop Campers

Teardrop campers are one of the smallest and lightest types of campers that you can buy, as they are almost always under 2,000 pounds and often under 1,000 pounds.

Making them an excellent choice when looking for a camper that a Mitsubishi Outlander can tow.  

And they are also very easy to identify thanks to their unique and aerodynamic shape.

But just because teardrop campers are one of the lightest and smallest campers you can buy, doesn’t mean they are some stripped-down bare-bones trailer.

As teardrop campers often have as many comfort and convenience features as their larger brothers, just in a smaller package. 

Teardrop Campers that the Mitsubishi Outlander Can Tow

Below are some of the most popular teardrop campers that the Mitsubishi Outlander can tow regardless of which particular Outlander you happen to own.

As every teardrop camper below has a dry weight of under 1,500 pounds.

Little Guy Trailers MyPod

Quick Specs

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

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

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Timberleaf Pika

For a walkthrough of the Timberleaf Pika, skip to the 7:00 minute mark in the video.

Quick Specs

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

For more information on the Timberleaf Pika, check out Timberleaf’s website by clicking here.  

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Forest River Flagstaff E-Pro E12RK

Stand-Up Campers

Stand-up campers or “Standy’s” as they are sometimes called are small lightweight campers that as the name implies allow you to stand up inside them.

They are typically less than 16 feet long and have a dry weight of under 2,000 pounds.

Stand-up campers are basically a miniaturized version of the more common and larger travel trailer, which is often 20 feet long or more and has a dry weight of around 4,000 pounds.

Making them great for towing with a Mitsubishi Outlander, due to their limited towing capacity. 

Stand-Up Campers that a Mitsubishi Outlander Can Tow

Below we have listed some of the more popular stand-up campers that all Mitsubishi Outlanders can tow, as they all have a dry weight of under 1,500 pounds.  

Little Guy Trailers Meerkat

Quick Specs

• Price:  $22,970
• Dry Weight:  920 Pounds 
• Length:  13 Feet
• Sleeping Capacity:  2

For more info on the Meerkat, be sure to check out Little Guy Trailer’s website by clicking here.  

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Happier Camper HC1

Quick Specs

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

For more information on the Happier Camper HC1, check out Happier Camper’s website by clicking here.  

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13-Foot Scamp Trailer (Standard Edition w/o Bathroom)

Pop-Up Campers

Long before the teardrop and stand-up camper entered the RV market, the pop-up camper was the original lightweight camper.  

Which was the go-to choice for generations of RVers looking for a lightweight alternative compared to the more standard and heavier travel trailer.  

And while there are lots of different choices when it comes to lightweight campers today, the iconic pop-up camper is still one of the most popular lightweight campers you can buy.

Due to the pop-ups versatility, affordable price, lightweight design, and low profile while in travel mode.

Pop-Up Campers that the Mitsubishi Outlander Can Tow

While you might think that the Mitsubishi Outlander could tow just about any pop-up camper on the market today, thanks to its tent-style construction.

There are actually a wide variety of pop-up campers on the market today, with many of them exceeding the Outlander’s towing capacity.

So when looking for a pop-up camper that the Mitsubishi Outlander can tow, you need to focus on the lighter pop-up campers.

Below we have listed some of our favorite lightweight pop-up campers that you can pull with the Outlander.

Sylvansport Go Trailer

Quick Specs

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

For more information on the Sylvansport Go Trailer, be sure to check out Sylvansport’s website by clicking here.  

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Aliner Scout Lite

Quick Specs

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

For more info on the Aliner Scout Lite, check out Aliner’s website by clicking here.  

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Coachmen Clipper Express 9.0TD

Quick Specs

• Cost:  $8,000 
• Dry Weight:  1,418 Pounds
• Open Length:  13 Feet
• Sleeping Capacity:  2

For more information on the Coachmen Clipper Express 9.0TD, check out Coachmen’s website by clicking here.  

 

 

For other lightweight camper options, check out our article “What is the Lightest Travel Trailer on the Roady Today“.