Motorhome owners know the hassle of breaking camp to grab groceries or visit a local restaurant. That’s why towing a second vehicle—often called a toad or dinghy—makes sense. But some cars are better for towing behind a motorhome than others. Let’s find out what makes the best vehicle to tow behind an RV.
Key Takeaways
- Towing Methods & Compatibility: RVers can tow vehicles using three primary methods—flat towing, dolly towing, and trailer towing—each requiring compatibility with the vehicle’s drivetrain and transmission; not all cars are suitable for all methods.
- Towing Capacity & Vehicle Selection: Choosing a toad depends on your motorhome’s towing capacity; keeping the towed vehicle’s curb weight below 80% of that capacity to reduce wear and improve fuel economy is advised.
- Best Vehicle Types: Small sedans, compact SUVs, and select trucks are popular toads, especially those with manual transmissions or 4WD systems with neutral transfer cases for flat towing, with specific curb weight data provided for various 2025 models.
Can You Tow Any Vehicle Behind a Motorhome?
The vehicles you can tow behind a motorhome depend on your preferred method of towing. There are three commonly used methods:
- Trailer towing (the entire vehicle on a vehicle trailer)
- Dolly towing (two wheels on a tow dolly)
- Flat towing (aka four-down towing)
Trailer Towing
Theoretically, you can tow any vehicle behind a motorhome on a trailer. However, your motorhome must be rated to tow the combined weight of your vehicle and trailer, and the trailer must be capable of safely carrying your vehicle’s weight.
Dolly Towing
Dolly towing works well for front-wheel-drive vehicles. You simply connect the dolly to your motorhome’s hitch receiver, drive the front wheels onto it, and secure them. Since the rear wheels spin freely on a front-wheel-drive vehicle, this method works for any car with that type of drivetrain.
Flat Towing
Flat towing requires the most research to know if it’s safe for your vehicle and compatible with your setup. Since all four wheels are on the ground, flat towing typically requires a car with an unlockable or manual transmission. At its simplest, the flat-towed vehicle must be placed in “Neutral” for safe flat towing, and not all cars with an automatic transmission offer this capability.
Still, your options for flat towing include sedans, SUVs, and trucks. Of course, smaller, lighter cars put less strain on your motorhome. Towing a lighter vehicle also improves your fuel economy and gives you a more fuel-efficient option when exploring from your motorhome basecamp.
How To Know What Your Motorhome Can Tow
Beyond choosing your towing method (flat, dolly, or trailer), selecting a toad depends on your motorhome’s towing capacity. Even some of the smallest Class C motorhomes are rated to tow up to 5,000 pounds. Larger diesel pushers and more robust Class C campers can tow 8,000 pounds or more.
Start by checking your motorhome’s towing capacity. From there, identify a vehicle that weighs less than that capacity and suits your towing method. If you have a car you hope to tow, check its curb weight next.
Curb weight is a vehicle’s weight when it’s ready to be driven, including all necessary fluids and accounting for a full gas tank. It does not include cargo or passenger weight, but most manufacturers recommend flat towing without any additional cargo loaded into the towed vehicle.
While the DOT recommends using GVWR for hitch and tow vehicle choices, in the case of a toad, the vehicle isn’t hauling any cargo; it is the cargo. You must know the exact weight of your towed vehicle (toad) to ensure it remains under your RV’s towing capacity.
Technician Tip: Many experienced owners will try to keep their towed vehicle’s weight below roughly 80% of their motorhome’s towing capacity. This reduces wear and tear on the engine, drivetrain, suspension, and other components.
What Is the Best Vehicle to Tow Behind an RV?
Explore sedans, SUVs, and trucks for the three common motorhome towing methods below. The rated curb weights are estimates for the 2025 model year.
Technician Tip: Consult the vehicle’s manufacturer to double-check the curb weight for your specific year, make, model, and trim. Also, confer with the vehicle manufacturer about your intended towing method to ensure it won’t void any existing vehicle warranties.
Small Cars
Small sedans are great secondary vehicles for trailer or dolly towing (FWD models only). Unless specifically stated by the manufacturer, most sedans cannot be flat towed unless they have a manual transmission. However, the combined weight of a sedan and a vehicle trailer may still work for your motorhome.
Once you reach your destination, small cars are especially great for RVers who love exploring urban environments, as they offer the most flexibility to fit in tight parking spots and navigate narrow streets. Here are some of the best small vehicles to tow behind a motorhome:
| Sedans for Dolly or Trailer Towing | Curb Weight (lbs.) |
| Toyota Yaris iA | Up to 2,385 |
| Honda Fit | Up to 2,577 |
| Nissan Versa | Up to 2,717 |
| Hyundai Elantra | Up to 3,020 |
| Chevrolet Malibu | Up to 3,223 |
| Kia K4 | Up to 3,283 |
| Ford Mustang | Up to 3,933 |
This list isn’t exhaustive. Furthermore, if your primary goal is to use the car as a toad and you’re on a budget, consider shopping for a used model. However, if you also plan to use it as a daily driver, a newer vehicle with a higher trim level may be worth the investment. Small cars can be excellent everyday vehicles with many features and amenities, while also fitting your motorhome towing needs if you’re set on trailer or dolly towing.
Smaller Crossovers and SUVs
You may tow smaller SUVs and crossovers with a trailer or dolly, but this segment also offers models for flat towing. For that method, look for models or trim packages with a manual transmission or transfer case that shifts into neutral. Front-wheel-drive models will work well for dolly towing.
Whether you tow flat or on a dolly or trailer, SUVs are great for campers who need extra seating capacity or love exploring off-road from their RV basecamp. Still, SUVs allow you to retain the easy maneuverability and parking flexibility you get with a sedan. Here are some good options:
| SUVs for Flat Towing | Curb Weight (lbs.) |
| GMC Terrain | Up to 3,598 |
| Chevrolet Equinox | Up to 3,629 |
| Buick Envision | Up to 4,085 |
| Chevrolet Blazer | Up to 4,313 |
| GMC Acadia | Up to 4,502 |
| Buick Enclave | Up to 4,537 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | Up to 4,784 |
| Chevrolet Traverse | Up to 4,793 |
| Ford Bronco | Up to 4,945 |
| Jeep Wrangler | Up to 5,268 |
| Dodge Durango | Up to 5,575 |
If you own an SUV with a manual transmission or transfer case, check your motorhome’s towing capacity and find the right parts for flat towing safely.
| SUVs for Dolly or Trailer Towing | Curb Weight (lbs.) |
| Nissan Kicks | Up to 3,252 |
| Hyundai Kona | Up to 3,505 |
| Mazda CX-3 | Up to 3,527 |
| Ford Bronco Sport | Up to 3,707 |
| Toyota RAV4 | Up to 3,775 |
| Kia Sportage | Up to 3,809 |
| Ford Escape | Up to 3,904 |
| Honda CR-V | Up to 3,926 |
Owners of front-wheel drive vehicles who wish to tow them behind an RV will need the right towing dolly. Others must consider whether the combined weight of their ideal SUV and a vehicle trailer will remain below their camper’s towing capacity.
Larger SUVs
Due to their higher curb weights, larger sport utility vehicles are less suited to dolly or trailer towing. So, we’ll focus on models designed for flat towing. Not all trim packages may be flat towed. You’ll need a manual transmission or a 4WD model with a transfer case that allows you to place the vehicle in neutral for flat towing.
Here are the curb weights for some of the best larger SUVs for flat towing:
| Vehicle | Curb Weight (lbs.) |
| Ford Expedition | Up to 5,794 |
| Chevrolet Tahoe | Up to 5,845 |
| GMC Yukon | Up to 5,868 |
| Lincoln Navigator | Up to 6,023 |
| Chevrolet Suburban | Up to 6,051 |
Compact and Half-Ton Trucks
Like bigger SUVs, compact and half-ton trucks aren’t ideal for dolly or trailer towing, except with larger diesel or Super C motorhomes. Please note that not all trim packages may be flat towed.. Only models with a manual transmission or 4WD models with a transfer case that allows the truck to be shifted into neutral should be flat towed.
Here are the best trucks with trim packages designed for flat towing:
| Vehicle | Curb Weight (lbs.) |
| GMC Canyon | Up to 4,840 |
| Chevrolet Colorado | Up to 4,910 |
| Jeep Gladiator | Up to 5,031 |
| Ford Ranger | Up to 5,325 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | Up to 5,710 |
| Ford F-150 | Up to 5,863 |
| GMC Sierra 1500 | Up to 5,890 |
| Ram 1500 | Up to 6,283 |
Want to learn more about dinghy towing? Check out these resources:
Do you currently tow a vehicle behind your RV? Leave a comment letting us know what model you have and what tips you’d share with other RV owners.
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