The Honda CRV is one of the most popular sport utility vehicles sold domestically and internationally.
Honda has made a point to continually infuse the CRV with innovation and high material build quality.
This constant evolution of the vehicle has made it increasingly capable of towing more and more things.
If you are a Honda CRV owner, or you are thinking about investing in one, and you love RV travel, then you might be wondering can a Honda CRV tow a camper trailer?
The good news is that the baseline towing capacity of all the CRV’s trim levels rings in at 1,500-pounds. Which is enough to tow a lot of popup campers, teardrop campers, micro campers, and a few small travel trailers. Some of the best campers you can tow with a Honda CRV include the Coachmen – Clipper Express 9.0 TD and the MyPod.
It’s also important to note that the payload capacity of the Honda CRV does change a little with the various trim levels. This can influence just how much gear you can bring with you when using the CRV as a tow vehicle.
To truly give you a good idea of how much a Honda CRV can tow, we will have to take a closer look at the different types of campers you can pull with a Honda CRV.
Along the way, we should also take a glance at the slight differences in the trim levels. This might influence how much gear you can take with you in the CRV, as well as the creature comforts.
What Are the Differences Between The Honda CRV Trim Levels?
When you compare the 2020 Honda CR-V EX vs EX-L Trim levels, you find the EX and EX-L both have the same Honda Sensing features.
This includes active and passive safety features like lane assist and monitoring campers.
Though it’s worth bearing in mind that the EX-L gets an audio boost with its 8-speaker sound system as well as some creature comfort upgrades.
When it comes to payload capacity there are some differences
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The CRV LX has an Unladen Vehicle Weight of 3,307 lbs.
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The CRV EX has an Unladen Vehicle Weight of 3,358 lbs.
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The CRV EX-L has an Unladen Vehicle Weight of 3,377 lbs.
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The CRV Touring has an Unladen Vehicle Weight of 3,397 lbs.
What Types of Trailers Can Be Towed With A Honda CRV?
With an average maximum towing capacity of 1,500-pounds, you can definitely tow a lot of teardrops, popup, and micro campers with your Honda CRV. There are even a few small travel trailers that might be in range.
But when towing a trailer with CRVthe problem comes in when you start to load the campers up with gear or fill their water storage tanks.
If you are just going to be pulling the camper completely empty, then you can go by the camper or trailer’s stated “Dry Weight.”
If you are going to be hauling anything in the camper, then the GVWR or gross vehicle weight rating will be the more decisive number. This could put the camper beyond the range of what a Honda CRV can tow.
Camper Trailers That Can Be Towed With A Honda CRV
The following are some of the most popular campers that are in range for a Honda CRV to tow.
popup Campers A Honda CRV Can Tow
Popup campers are very popular for their compact travel size when you are pulling them down the road.
When you get to your intended destination, it expands to produce an impressive amount of sleeping space, as well as a fair amount of elbow room.
The following is a list of some of the best popup campers that can be towed by a Honda CRV.
1. The Aliner – Ranger 12 Base Floorplan
Right off the bat the Aliner – Ranger 12 Base Floorplan pushes the upper limit of what a Honda CRV can tow.
It stands as a prime example of why you need to be mindful of the trailer’s statistics.
When completely unladen the Aliner – Ranger 12 Base Floorplan has a dry weight of 1,450-pounds.
This is just 50-pounds under the maximum towing capacity of a Honda CRV.
If you load any gear into it, then you will likely exceed what is safe for the CRV to tow on the highway.
So, this is the sort of popup camper that is meant to be crept down quiet country roads from point A to point B rather than something you want to drive down the interstate at highway speeds.
2. The Livin’ Lite – Quicksilver 8.0
With a dry weight of only 994-pounds and a hitch weight of just 124-pounds the Livin’ Lite – Quicksilver 8.0 is a little more inside the Honda CRV’s towing capacity.
Though with a gross vehicle weight rating of 2,090-pounds you could still potentially overload it to the point of it being dangerous to drive at highway speeds.
So, the Livin’ Lite – Quicksilver 8.0 is definitely best suited to be towed empty by a Honda CRV.
It’s also worth noting that the interior of the Livin’ Lite – Quicksilver 8.0 can technically sleep up to 6 people on paper.
Though four or five is probably more realistic. When you also consider the 8,000 BTU air conditioner that comes with the original purchase the Livin’ Lite – Quicksilver 8.0 might be the best popup camper for a family that a Honda CRV can tow.
3. The Coachmen – Clipper Express 9.0 TD
The Coachmen – Clipper Express 9.0 TD is a cozy, lightweight popup camper that is possibly one of the best lightweight campers that a Honda CRV can tow.
It only has a dry weight of 663-pounds and a tight 1,273 gross vehicle weight rating.
This means you can load your camping gear into it, packing it to the gills and it’s still in the range of what a Honda CRV can tow.
The tradeoff with this lightweight design is that the Coachmen – Clipper Express 9.0 TD will only sleep up to two people.
And when you look at the floorplan layout even that is cozy. There’s even a 5-gallon cassette toilet.
Ultimately, this lightweight camper is more suited for a single person or a couple that wants to travel light while towing the camper behind a Honda CRV.
If there’s a complaint that stands out about the Coachmen – Clipper Express 9.0 TD it’s that there is no air conditioning system or air conditioning prewiring. This could be an issue if the weather turns balmy hot and humid.
4. The Wooly Bear Micro Camper
The Wooly Bear by Taxa Outdoors turns the concept of a popup camper on its ear and innovates it with organization and 21st Century storage options.
When it’s on the road being towed behind a Honda CRV it looks like little more than a compact popup camper.
Though unloaded it still has a dry weight of 1,270-pounds and a hitch weight of 140-pounds. This is within range of a Honda CRV’s towing capacity.
The concern is that you might overload the Woolybear’s 830-pound innovative cargo bay, which would push it beyond safe towing limits.
When you get to camp the top of the Woolybear expands into a full-size tent that that is truly capable of sleeping two to three people comfortably.
Yet the lower section opens up to give you access to the impressively large cargo bay that includes a convenient pull-out kitchen.
Ultimately, if you are going to pull the Woolybear with a Honda CRV, and make full use of the thoughtfully organized cargo bay, then you need to pack the bulk of your camping gear in the CRV and install it into the camper when you finally set up camp.
Teardrop & Micro Campers That Can Be Towed By A Honda CRV
Teardrop and hard-sided micro campers are also popular options for small SUVs like the Honda CRV. They offer a little bit more resilience to the weather than a popup camper.
Some of the best teardrop and micro campers that can be towed by a Honda CRV also have special features like sound systems, entertainment centers, LED lights, and other customizable options.
5. The MyPod
The MyPod is a relative newcomer in the world of micro campers. The fiberglass construction also lets it replicate a classic teardrop shape, yet still take advantage of 21st Century aerodynamics.
It tips the scales with a dry weight of 760-pounds and a hitch weight of just 110-pounds the MyPod can easily be towed when empty.
Just bear in mind that with a gross vehicle weight rating of 1,570-pounds you could possibly overload it with gear.
So be mindful of just how much you pack inside the sturdy fiberglass shell of the MyPod.
The MyPod also has some customizable upgrades available that can be fused into the original purchase.
The expandable screen porch which gives you an impressive amount of outdoor living space.
It even includes a rain fly, which can be a big deal if you want to stretch out on a rainy day, which makes this optional extra worthy of selection.
6. The Colorado Basedrop Teardrop Camper
Colorado Teardrops is a small RV manufacturer that makes a compact teardrop camper that serves as a relatively blank canvas for a wide range of optional extras.
Depending on what you choose, this can greatly affect the dry weight and gross vehicle weight rating in ways that might make it challenging for a CRV to tow.
In the standard Basedrop floor plan, you get a hard-sided teardrop camper that rings in with a dry weight of just 1,000-pounds, which makes it one of the best teardrop campers to tow behind a Honda CRV.
Though the gross vehicle weight rating can go all the way up to 2,000-pounds, which is more than what the Honda CRV can handle.
So, be mindful of weight when selecting your optional extra, and be mindful of the weight when you are loading the Colorado Teardrops Basedrop camper.
7. The nuCamp TAG
Like a lot of the best teardrop campers, the nuCamp TAG has room for optional customization.
This can affect the weight dramatically depending on the optional features you select from the manufacturer.
On its own, the nuCamp TAG has a dry weight of 1,282-pounds and a hitch weight of 146-pounds.
These are numbers that are still within the Honda CRV’s towing capacity.
Just be mindful not to use up too much of the 807-pound payload capacity when loading this teardrop camper.
8. The MeerKat Teardrop Camper
The Meerkat Teardrop Camper looks like a miniature travel trailer, and in many ways, it truly is a travel trailer that can be towed by a Honda CRV.
Though it only tips the scales with a dry weight of 900-pounds and a hitch weight of just 100 pounds.
This lets the MeerKat tow comfortable and tracks nicely behind the CRV tow vehicle.
The interior of the Meerkat is arguably spacious for a travel trailer that is small enough to be towed behind a Honda CRV.
The interior ceiling is 73-inches and there’s even a small kitchen area with a two-burner stove.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does The Honda CRV Come With A Tow Package Included?
Starting in 2019, Honda started offering the CRV with a tow bar and standard tow package included on all models and trim levels.
Though some lower trim levels from 2018 and earlier didn’t always have a tow package installed.
Considering the longevity of this small, lightweight SUV, there are a lot of older models on the road still.
So, take the time to double-check if a pre-owned Honda CRV from 2018 or older comes with a fully functional tow package installed.
Can I Pull 100% Of The Honda CRVs Towing Capacity
The general rule of thumb is that you shouldn’t tow more than 80% of any vehicle’s maximum towing capacity.
If you go over this 80% limit, the tow vehicle might struggle to deal with steep inclines or loose surfaces.
It could also put you at risk of suffering a dangerous trailer sway incident when traveling at highway speeds.
In the case of a Honda CRV with a 1,500-pound towing capacity, this sets the 80% limit at around 1,200-pounds.
Conclusion
With all the new innovations in lightweight camper materials and smart engineering of 21st Century RV manufacturers, there are a surprising number of popup campers, travel trailers, teardrop campers, and micro campers that can be towed by a Honda CRV.
If you are a single person or perhaps traveling as a couple the Coachmen – Clipper Express 9.0 TD might be the best camper you can pull with a Honda CRV. It is truly lightweight and compact, making it easy to tow.
If you want to enjoy some 21st Century innovation and aerodynamics, then the MyPod might be the best camper you can tow with a Honda CRV.
It’s also probably worth spending the money to upgrade with the optional screen porch tent to maximize your livable space on a rainy day.
Though if you want a modest kitchen to help you cook meals, and you want a travel trailer look, then the MeerKat Teardrop Camper might be the best camper you can tow with a Honda CRV.
It certainly has the looks and feels of a travel trailer, with the aerodynamics of a teardrop.
Whatever your preferences and traveling style happen to be, chances are good that the best camper you can tow with a Honda CRV is somewhere on this list.
