Tow Vehicles for your Vintage Trailer

I have strong opinions on tow vehicles for vintage trailers. I know there are people in the camping trailer community that won't agree with me, but I tend to operate on the safe side (despite my many crazy tales). I prefer to take no chances when it comes to towing. I am a bit of a nervous Nelly--I admit. But face it, women tend to be more nervous about towing in general. Many of my trailer sisters white-knuckle it their first few times at the wheel towing their little gems. Security and safety are foremost in our minds, with good reason.

Small SUVs

There are those in the vintage trailer community that advertise using small SUVs to tow vintage trailers. The thought is that these little trailers tend to be fairly light (the smaller ones at least), so you should be able to tow it with "any vehicle within reason". I strongly advocate against this.

Despite small SUVs having factory tow hitches, and technically the trailer is within their towing capacity, there is a significant difference in the length/mass of a trailer and a small SUV. Smaller SUVs are lighter, with shorter wheelbases, which means they can more easily be swayed by a trailer that is out of control due to wind or road conditions. I have had trailers that "tugged" on my heavy beast of a Suburban, which was a terrifying experience. I can't even imagine what it would be like with a small SUV!

Confession: I have always wanted a Jeep Wrangler to use with my vintage trailer. I just love them! The V6 version with tow package has a tow capacity of 4500 pounds. My fully-loaded trailer averages about 3000 pounds--well within the tow capacity of the Jeep. After doing extensive research and talking to vintage trailer veterans, I have come to the conclusion that towing with a Jeep Wrangler would be a colossal mistake. Trailerites cautioned strongly against it, with many scary stories of mishaps involving Wranglers and towing. Aside from fireside tales, the Wrangler has a shorter wheelbase than I am comfortable with, sad to say. It turns out that the length of a vehicle wheelbase significantly affects stability and safety while towing a trailer. Who knew? It's all physics!

Let me explain: a trailer exerts forces on the tow vehicle when it is on the road. Not only does it exert pressure downwards on the hitch (tongue weight), but it exerts tension on the tow vehicle when accelerating (slowing it down), compression pushing against the vehicle when braking (pushing it forward), and lateral forces in situations of sway (side-to-side motion). Poor load distribution, passing semi-trucks and high winds can all increase sway (lateral forces).

Tension when acceleration is addressed by a vehicle's tow capacity. Typically the vehicle engine is sufficient in power to tow a certain weight (ideally). Compression (forward forces) when braking is mitigated by integrated trailer brakes or a brake controller. It is the lateral forces that are most concerning when choosing a tow vehicle, and many forget to take this into account.

The long wheel base acts as a lever, counteracting the side-to-side motion of the trailer. This means the vehicle with a longer wheelbase is less likely to be effected by the forces exerted by a trailer. A vehicle with a shorter wheelbase is more likely to experience sway and be pushed around by its trailer--not a good situation to be in!

A longer wheelbase equals more towing stability, period. So goodbye Wrangler dreams.

Electric Vehicles

For starters, electric vehicles are rad. I have one for my commuter car and it saves me considerable money in gas and repairs. There are many conflicting opinions about the environmental impact but I won't get into that here (you can make up your own mind on that debate). However, some electric vehicle manufacturers tout the EV ability to tow. Chevy and Ford recently came out with EV versions of their heavy duty trucks. Even my Kia EV6 has a tow capacity of 3000 pounds, which would be plenty for my old Aristocrat Lo-Liner. But not so fast...

Real world examples of issues with EV towing has made me shy away from wanting to install a tow hitch on my Kia. Evidently towing a trailer drastically reduces the range of EVs (go figure). Meaning...more stops on your trip to charge. Trailers are not particularly aerodynamic, and EVs depend on this to get their optimal range. Even the huge Ford F-150 Lightning has owners reporting drastically reduced range. Not ideal.

The other issue reported is that with the configuration of typical EV fast charging stations, most trailerites would need to unhitch their trailers to charge their EV. That means backing your trailer into a parking spot (which can be at a premium at busy charging stations), unhooking, charging, then hooking back up. What a pain!

Needless to say, I am skipping the EV as a tow vehicle.

Optimal Tow Vehicles

Vintage trailer enthusiasts love classic cars to tow their little beauties. Personally, I lust after a 1960s Cadillac to tow my Aristocrat. Many of the classic cars of the 50s and 60s had powerful V8 engines with plenty of torque. They are also period correct, in that they were the original tow vehicles for vintage trailers of the period. If you have the know-how and skill to keep your classic car on the road, and can deal with any break-downs along the way, go for it! I have seen the cutest matching classic car/trailer pairs that are dynamite and envied by all.

For me, I like to stick to a Chevy Suburban or GMC Yukon XL. They have a generous tow capacity, long wheel base and huge cargo/passenger space. They are also very comfortable, powerful and an added bonus in California--have ice-cold air conditioning. The new models are pricey, but as a second car dedicated to family trips, camping and towing, I prefer older, pre-owned models. They are more affordable, and prior to 2015, tend to be pretty reliable. I have a mechanic install heavy duty shock absorbers to offset any extra hitch weight, to be safe.

I have many fellow atomic trailer owners that tow with large pickup trucks or other full-size SUVs and they have generally had good towing experiences. I towed with a Chevy Silverado and Ford F-150 at different points in time and felt secure. Toyota Tundras are great, but I hesitated to tow with my front-wheel drive Toyota Sequoia because I had heard mixed reviews.

So now you choose, fellow atomic trailer chicks...what will you tow with?

As always,💫 Happy Atomic Trails!

Disclaimer

The information provided on this website, in videos, social media posts, articles, or any other materials is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not professional, legal, or engineering advice. Renovating, restoring, or modifying vintage trailers—and towing them—can involve risks, including but not limited to structural failure, electrical hazards, fire hazards, and injury. You are solely responsible for determining whether any project, modification, or safety procedure is appropriate for your specific trailer, skill level, and circumstances.

Always consult qualified professionals—such as licensed electricians, plumbers, structural engineers, certified trailer repair specialists, or certified RV inspectors—before undertaking any work on a trailer’s structure, electrical systems, plumbing, or towing setup.

By using the information provided here, you acknowledge and agree that:

• You assume all risk for any injury, loss, or damage that may occur.

• The creators, authors, and publishers of this content are not liable for any damages, injuries, or losses arising from the use or misuse of this information.

• Compliance with all local, state, and federal laws, building codes, road safety regulations, and manufacturer specifications is your responsibility.

If you are not experienced in trailer restoration or repair, seek professional help before attempting any work. Safety should always be your first priority.