If you’ve ever wondered whether you can safely tow a camper with a Jeep, you’re not alone. In a recent Girl Camper Podcast episode, Lesa McDermott teamed up with Tony and Peggy Barthel from StressLess Camping to talk all things Jeep towing. As a former Jeep owner, Lesa brings real-life experience—and some hard-learned lessons—to the conversation.

Know Before You Tow

Many Jeep Wranglers have a maximum tow capacity of just 3,500 pounds. While that might sound like plenty, it’s important to factor in more than just the dry weight of your camper. Once you add propane, batteries, water, gear, and your passengers, your actual towing weight can be much higher than expected.

Why Tongue Weight and Payload Matter

Tony and Peggy break down key towing terms like tongue weight (typically 10–15% of your trailer’s weight) and payload capacity. They also explain why weight distribution hitches and sway control aren’t optional—they’re essential for safety, stability, and reducing stress on your vehicle. Both Tony and Peggy and Lesa recommend using a weight distribution hitch with built in sway control and they like Camco's Eaz-Lift ReCurve R3.

The Truth About Dealership Advice

Not all dealers fully understand towing specs. Lesa shares how even her Jeep dealership didn’t realize she needed to change her differential fluid more frequently when towing. Bottom line: always do your own research and verify what your specific vehicle can handle using a VIN-based towing guide.

Yes, You Can Tow—With the Right Camper

There are lightweight travel trailers, overland campers, and pop-ups designed for towing behind a Jeep. But knowing your numbers—and staying under them—is key. Need to look up your vehicle's tow weight? Here is a link to a site that you can do that for free.

Special thanks to Go RVing for sponsoring this episode! Check them out for more towing advice and to find your next camper.

https://youtu.be/bEFfj_chYb0

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