Best SUVs in 2024 (Compared)

Helpful Towing Information

4-Wheel Drive vs. All-Wheel Drive

All-wheel drive can send power to both the front and rear axles, usually relying on the vehicle’s computers to determine which of the four wheels need power based on available traction. Although it can handle light-duty off-roading duties, such as campsite access trails, it is meant primarily for on-road driving.

Four-wheel drive is made for more challenging off-road driving situations. The system sends equal amounts of power to the front and rear instead of allocating power to certain wheels and typically has a “Low” range for the most difficult conditions. 4WD vehicles sometimes offer higher towing capacities, but not always, so do check out each model’s various capacities.

Towing Terms Explained

• Towing Capacity: The maximum amount of weight a vehicle can safely pull
• Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): The maximum amount of weight that a vehicle can handle safely, including its own weight, along with that of its load, its passengers and any accessories as determined by the manufacturer. Ask your dealer for the details.
• Tongue weight (TW): The amount of downward force a trailer puts on the towing vehicle’s trailer ball.
• Gross Combined Weight (GCW): The maximum weight of a vehicle and its attached trailer, including all passengers and cargo in both the tow vehicle and the trailer.

Tow Hitch Classes

1. Class I Hitch: This means it can accommodate a gross trailer weight (GTW) of up to 2,000 pounds. Usually used for small crossovers and cars. Receiver size is 1.25″.
2. Class II Hitch: Usually used on small to midsize SUVs and minivans, with a maximum capacity of up to 3,500 pounds. Receiver size is 1.25″.
3. Class III Hitch: Maximum capacity of 8,000 pounds, usually used for vans, trucks, SUVs, and crossovers. Receiver size is 2″.
4. Class IV Hitch: Only used on trucks and SUVs with a maximum capacity of 10,000 pounds. 2″ receiver size.
5. Class V Hitch: Commercial duty hitch, compatible only with chassis and dually (dual rear wheel) style trucks. They can tow up to 20,000 pounds with various receiver sizes. This level is not relevant for any vehicles in these reviews.

The 80/20 towing rule

The 80/20 rule for Towing is that you should never exceed 80% of your vehicle’s max tow capacity, which is set by the vehicle’s manufacturer. To figure out how much you can tow, subtract 20% from your vehicle’s max towing capacity. For example, if your vehicle can tow 10,000 pounds, using the 80/20 rule you would not tow more than 8,000 pounds.