Most big RVs just aren’t made for remote, off-road boondocking. Small campers, however, do the job just fine. Our list of the best travel trailers for a Jeep Wrangler will make you want to rough it in luxury.
Why Tow a Small Camper with a Jeep Wrangler?
Many ultralight trailers can be towed with passenger cars. One of the best cars for towing a camper is the Jeep Wrangler. It’s one of the most popular 4×4 SUVs on the market and with good reason. The Wrangler easily handles rough terrain, slick roads, and steep inclines. It’s also a more affordable tow vehicle for small trailers compared to the cost of light trucks.
The 2-door Jeep Wrangler starts at $30,295 for the Sport trim and $33,000 for the Willys Sport trim. The more feature-rich Sport S trim starts at $33,890, while the Willys model begins at $37,285. The rugged Rubicon model starts at $42,100.
2023 Jeep Wrangler Review, Kelly Blue Book
How Much Can a Jeep Wrangler tow?
The towing capacity of a Jeep Wrangler varies from 2,000- to 3,500 pounds depending on the Wrangler model. For example:
- The 2-door Jeep Wrangler Sport has a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds, and the 4-door Jeep Wrangler Sport can tow up to 3,500 pounds. A Jeep Wrangler 2-door Sport comes with a 3.6 L engine. It has a manual transmission and also has a 3.21 axle ratio. It has a maximum towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.
- If you buy a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited that has four doors and a 3.6 L engine, you can tow a camper up to 3,500 pounds. This model has an optional automatic transmission and an axle ratio of 3.73.
Locate a Jeep Wrangler Service Manual for your model to help you know exactly how much your Jeep can tow.
Learn how to calculate GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Ratio) before buying your camper.
We try to keep our camper and cargo weights within 60%-70% of towing capacity for our Jeep Wrangler. For example, 60- to 70-percent of 3,500 pounds on a Jeep Unlimited would be 2,100- to 2450-pounds. That means your travel trailer’s fully gross vehicle weight should be around that much.
Remember, be kind to your Jeep transmission. Even though your Jeep is rated for the maximum weight, picking up highway speed on merges or going uphill can be a struggle when your GVWR is maxed out. This must be considered so that your Jeep Wrangler is within safe towing limits.
5 Best Travel Trailers for a Jeep Wrangler
So you want to tow an off-road Jeep camper trailer with a Jeep Wrangler? First you should know that there is no single best travel trailer for a Jeep Wrangler. Your RV options are a bit limited, but you still have plenty choices. Let’s go over our list of the best travel trailers for a Jeep Wrangler.
Most of these ultralight travel trailers can be towed with the Jeep 4-Door Limited, which has a towing capacity of 3,500 lbs.
All of these trailers come in a variety of floor plans. Accessories differ too. Some popup units have basic cooking facilities and some small trailers even have a bathroom. Here’s a few of our favorite campers a Jeep Wrangler can pull.
Safari Condo Alto
GVWR: 1,867 to 1,825 lbs
Sleeping Capacity: 3-4
MSRP: Starting at $50,799 CAD
The Safari Condo Alto is a sleek, modern ultralight travel trailer. It’s got an aircraft-inspired design, aerodynamic efficiency, durable shell, and gorgeous interior. The most unique quality is is the retractable roof. When the roof is open, it adds about 17 inches of headspace for a roomier interior. The Alto also comes in a fixed roof model. Inside you will find a fixed flush toilet and an interior shower (depending on the model).
Happier Camper
The Happier Camper is one of the best travel trailers for a Jeep Wrangler. This retro-styled all-fiberglass travel trailer features a unique components system that allows you to easily customize your trailer. For example, the flooring features an interlocking surface that lets you add cube-shaped such as a bench, countertop, and a cooler icebox cube to create the interior layout you like. There are over 20 cubes available to purchase.
Dry Weight: 1,100
Sleeping Capacity: 1-5 depending on the layout
MSRP: $29,950
The Happier Camper is a retro-styled all-fiberglass camper that is quite suitable to be towed by a Jeep Wrangler, SUV, and even a car. Inside you’ll find a unique system that allows you to easily customize your interior. The flooring has a Lego-type surface to let you add component cubes such as a bench, countertop, and a cooler icebox cube. This enables you to create the interior layout that works best for you. There are over 20 cubes available to purchase.
SylvanSport GO
Unloaded weight: 840 pounds
Sleeping capacity: 2-3
MSRP: $11,995
The Sylvan Sport GO is not your typical traditional camper. It’s more like a tent on steroids. However, that is not to say that it is very functional and capable of being a great little travel trailer. It is a utility vehicle, camper, and gear hauler rolled in one.
It can haul all the gear needed for a quality outdoor adventure. And it can accept almost all Thule accessories. That comes in handy when there is a need to carry all your gear. This ultralight trailer for Jeep Wrangler models features two bed/dining table panels that allow you to configure the interior in six different ways. It has four self-inflating mattresses that add up to a King and a half-sized bed. The awning kit gives you an additional 80-feet of outdoor living space.
Forest River Flagstaff E-Pro E12RK
Unloaded Weight: 1,164 pounds
Cargo Carrying Capacity: 798 pounds
MSRP: $15,134
The Forest River Flagstaff E12RK is a small, lightweight travel trailer that sleeps two and comes with an outside kitchen. It’s a nice-looking little camper that a Jeep Wrangler easily tows. Features include a 12V TV with DVD Player, an AM/FM stereo with Bluetooth and USB, a multi-directional TV antenna, outside speakers, and a Coleman stove/grill combo. It’s also prepped for solar RV power.
TAXA Outdoors Cricket Camper
Unloaded weight: 1,732 lbs
Sleeping capacity: 2 adults and two children
MSRP: $31,600
The TAXA Outdoors Cricket Camper is rugged and lightweight. Easily towable by a Jeep Wrangler, it sleeps two adults and two children. The NASA-inspired design features integrated plumbing and electrical systems. It has a pop-up roof for added ventilation. Some features include a V-berth bed with an under-bed storage system, 32″ x 20″ picture windows, a kitchen with a large counter and covered sink; interior LED lighting, and much more.
Final Thoughts on Travel Trailers for Jeep Wranglers
These campers are just a few examples of the many travel trailers that a Jeep Wrangler can tow. Look around and you’ll also find a good selection of teardrop travel trailers that a 2-door Jeep Wrangler can tow.
The most important thing to remember when deciding which travel trailer to tow with your Jeep is to always stay at about 65-70% of towing capacity. Staying in this range will give you some reserve power to merge safely and deal with inclines. And you will also preserve your Jeep transmission for many years of off-road camping.
