June is National Camping Month, which makes it a great time to get your camping plans and towing setup ready for summer travel. Whether you are taking a motorhome across the country, pulling a lightweight camper for weekend trips, or upgrading to a larger trailer, the right setup can make towing feel more predictable and manageable.
A safe towing setup starts with matching your trailer or towed vehicle to your tow vehicle’s ratings. From there, it comes down to using properly rated components, balancing the load, checking your brakes and wiring, and making sure everything works together before you leave the driveway.
The Best Towing Setups For Different Camping Styles
Every camper has a different version of the “ideal” setup. The right setup depends on what you drive, what you tow, and how you actually camp.
1. Motorhome + Flat-Towed Car
A motorhome with a flat-towed car is a convenient setup for RVers who want a smaller vehicle once they arrive. The motorhome handles the long-distance travel and living space, while the towed car makes it easier to run errands, visit trailheads, explore town, or go out to dinner without packing up camp.
This setup is often called flat towing or dinghy towing when all four wheels of the towed vehicle stay on the road. It works best for Class A and Class C motorhome owners who stay in one place for several days at a time.
Most flat towing setups need a few core components:
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Vehicle-specific base plate
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Safety cables
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Supplemental braking system
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Wiring kit for brake lights, turn signals, and taillights
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Rise or drop adapter if needed to keep the tow bar level
The biggest consideration is vehicle compatibility. Not every car can be flat towed, so always check the owner’s manual before choosing this setup.
Instead of managing tongue weight as you would with a trailer, this setup requires you to check the motorhome’s towing capacity, gross combined weight rating, tow bar rating, and the weight of the towed vehicle. The tow bar should also sit as level as possible to reduce stress on the connection.
2. SUV + Lightweight Camper
An SUV pulling a lightweight camper is a smart choice for newer campers, couples, and small families who want more comfort than tent camping without moving into a full-size truck.
This setup usually works best with a smaller travel trailer, teardrop camper, pop-up camper, or compact hybrid camper. The trailer should stay comfortably within the SUV’s tow rating and payload capacity, not push both numbers to the edge.
For most SUV camper setups, the essentials are:
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Properly rated receiver hitch and vehicle wiring
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Ball mount with the correct rise or drop
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Correct hitch ball size for the coupler
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Safety chains
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Brake controller if the camper has electric brakes
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Weight distribution hitch with sway control, when recommended
For bumper-pull campers, proper tongue weight plays a big role in stability and steering control. A weight-distribution hitch can also help balance the load across the SUV and trailer, especially on longer drives or when the camper is pushing the upper end of the vehicle’s towing capacity. This type of setup works well for weekend camping, shorter trips, and newer drivers looking for a more manageable towing experience.
3. Pickup Truck + Travel Trailer
A pickup truck pulling a travel trailer is one of the most common camping setups because it gives families more room, more cargo flexibility, and a stronger towing platform.
Compared with many SUVs, trucks often offer higher payload ratings, longer wheelbases, stronger towing packages, and more room for camping gear. That makes them a strong match for mid-size travel trailers, bunkhouse campers, and longer road trips.
Most travel trailer setups rely on:
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Receiver hitch rated for the loaded trailer
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Weight distribution hitch matched to the loaded tongue weight, when recommended
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Sway control
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Correct hitch ball and coupler size
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Safety chains
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7-way Vehicle connector with matching trailer plug.
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Trailer brakes and brake controller
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Towing mirrors if needed
A truck may be more capable than an SUV, but it can still be overloaded by tongue weight, passengers, bed cargo, and gear. It’s important to note that tongue weight should also include anything placed behind the rear axle of the truck. For many travel trailers, a weight distribution hitch helps reduce rear-end squat, restore weight toward the front axle, and improve how the truck and trailer sit together.
4. Heavy-Duty Truck + Fifth-Wheel Camper
A heavy-duty truck pulling a fifth-wheel camper is a strong option for campers who want more living space, more storage, and a stable feel on longer trips.
Instead of connecting behind the bumper, a fifth-wheel trailer connects in the bed of the truck near the rear axle. That connection point helps distribute part of the trailer’s weight over the tow vehicle, which is one reason many experienced RVers prefer fifth wheels for larger campers.
Fifth-wheel campers require a slightly different setup, including:
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Fifth-wheel hitch rated for the loaded trailer
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Compatible rail, puck, or bed-mounted installation system
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Kingpin connection
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Proper bed clearance
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Enough payload capacity for the loaded pin weight
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Most vehicles pulling a fifth wheel also require an electrical extension, such as Rigid Hitch’s CM-56000
The key weight factor here is pin weight, not tongue weight. Fifth wheels typically place a higher percentage of their weight on the truck than bumper-pull trailers, so payload often becomes the limiting factor, even when the advertised tow rating looks high.
This setup is ideal for extended travel, larger campers, snowbird trips, and RVers who want a more residential camping experience.
What To Check Before You Tow This Summer
Before you head out for National Camping Month, check the full setup, not just the hitch. A trailer may be within the tow rating, but still overload the vehicle once passengers, cargo, water, propane, batteries, and camping gear are added.
Review these items before your first trip:
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Tow vehicle tow rating and payload capacity
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Gross vehicle, axle, and combined weight ratings
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Loaded trailer weight
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Tongue weight or pin weight
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Hitch, ball, and coupler ratings
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Safety chains or cables
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Trailer wiring, lights, and brakes
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Breakaway system
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Tire pressure on the tow vehicle and trailer
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Load placement inside the trailer
Dry weight is only a starting point. Loaded trailer weight matters more than dry weight because it reflects how the trailer will actually travel.
Make National Camping Month The Start Of A Safer Towing Season
June is National Camping Month, a time when many families, RVers, and weekend travelers start planning more time outdoors. It is also a good reminder to make sure your towing equipment is ready before peak camping season gets busy.
The best setup depends on how you camp, how much you tow, and how much space you need once you get there. Some campers prefer the flexibility of a motorhome and towed car, while others want the extra room of a travel trailer or fifth wheel.
No matter which setup fits your plans, the same rules apply: stay within your ratings, use matched components properly, balance the load, and check the full system before you leave. A properly matched setup can make towing feel a lot smoother and less stressful on the road.
