Can a Kia Sedona Tow a Camper? The Kia Sedona’s towing capacity is 3,400 lbs, it can tow a camper, however, the camper it can safely tow should not have a GVWR higher than about 80% of Kia’s maximum towing capacity.
Let’s take a closer look at the Kia Sedona’s engine and transmission. The Kia Sedona power train has the following specifications: (The last model year for the Sedona was 2021. It has been replaced by the Kia Carnival).
- Engine: 3.3-liter V6 Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) Lambda Engine
- Horsepower: 276 hp @ 6,000 rpm
- Torque: 248 lb.-ft @ 5,200 rpm
- Transmission: 8-Speed Automatic Transmission
- Drive-Train: All Kia Sedonas are front-wheel drive vehicles
The Kia Sedona towing capacity as I stated earlier is 3,500 lbs on all trims. There is a towing package but it’s not made to increase towing capacity in the 2021 models. The Kia Sedona towing package includes a wiring harness from what I can tell.
What Travel Trailers Can a Kia Sedona Tow?
When it comes to the camper size that the Sedona can tow you do have a few travel trailers to choose from. Don’t expect a camper that is big as the minivan is not going to be able to tow it.
The list of campers I chose that can be towed by the Kia was based on the following criteria:
- GVWR: Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
- Aerodynamics: When possible a camper that has a streamlined design, which helps with towing and fuel economy
- Easily available brand of RV
I’m often asked the question if it is OK to max out the towing capacity of a tow vehicle. For example, the Sedona has a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. Should I hitch a camper that has a GVWR of 3,500 lbs?
My opinion and experience are not to max out your towing capacity. The reason is safety. You want some power reserve capacity to merge unto highways when needed if the road is a hill or rather steep.
Having said that keep in mind that 80% of capacity is a very general rule. To really check your tow capacity you can use this application called RV Tow Check.
List of Campers a Kia Sedona Can Safely Tow
Here is my list of the travel trailers you can tow with a Kia Sedona. As always use caution when loading up your camper so you don’t exceed the cargo-carrying capacity.
Taxa outdoors Cricket
The Taxa Cricket has a GVWR of 2,700 lbs and a capacity of 900 lbs of cargo which give you an overall weight of 3,500 lbs. Personally, I would not max out the cargo capacity in order to feel more comfortable towing the Cricket with the Sedona.
If you would like to learn more you can read my review of the Taxa Outdoors Cricket.
Jayco Jay Feather Micro
Can a Kia Sedona tow a camper like the Jayco Jay Feather Micro? It depends on the floor plan you select. The Jay Feather Micro is the successor to the Jayco Hummingbird. There is only one-floor plan in the Jay Feather Micro line-up that can be towed by the Sedona.
The 12SRK has an unloaded vehicle weight of 1,585 lbs. Add cargo carry capacity and you end up with a GVWR of 2,795 lbs. Even though it is a lightweight, small-sized camper it is suitable for 1-2 people for weekend camping trips. You can check out this camper here.
Forest River R-Pod
The Kia Sedona can tow a Forest River R-Pod, but there are two caveats to that. In order to stay below the maximum towing capacity, you will need to choose one of the three following models:
- RP- 171
- RP-180
- RP-190
The above three models have unloaded vehicle weights of slightly less than 3,000 lbs. To keep your GVWR below max you will have to in some cases half your cargo carrying weight. For some that might not be an issue if you are not planning on an extended camping expedition. For others, this will not work so the R-Pod might not be your best choice.
Droplet XL
The Droplet XL is a teardrop camper that is easily towed by the Sedona and many other small minivan/SUV vehicles such as the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, and Chrysler Pacifica. Teardrop campers are inherently lightweight campers that offer a place to sleep, usually an outdoor kitchen, and a few other amenities.
The Droplet XL has a dry weight of just over 1,000 lbs. Cargo carrying capacity is not listed but it should be much considering there is not that much space for cargo.
Sylvan Sport GO
The Sylvan Sport GO is a unique pop-up camper that is very versatile and lightweight. The Go weighs only 840 lbs and can carry quite a bit of weight (see specs for more details). It transforms from a tent camper to a lightweight utility trailer very easily making it very versatile for many uses.
The Kia Sedona towing capacity can easily handle this camper. It’s a breeze towing this camper down the highway with a Sedona. Overall this is a great little camper that can be towed by a wide variety of medium to smaller vehicles.
Kia Sedona Towing Capacity Final Thoughts
For many, the Kia Sedona can be both a family vehicle for everyday use and a very good vehicle for towing a lightweight camper for those weekend family RVing trips.
Though you are limited to the size of the camper you can tow, depending on your needs, you should be able to find one that fits well with the Sedona.
As always check with your auto dealer and RV dealer to make sure your set-up is safe. Towing capacities just happens to be one of those RV topics with varying opinions, so it’s best to always seek out the advice of a professional.
Further Reading: Can a Toyota Tacoma Tow a Camper?
