"Do I need a big 4WD to tow a camper?" It's the question we hear more than any other, usually from someone who already owns a perfectly good SUV and doesn't want to spend another $60,000 just to go camping. The honest answer: no — not if you pair it with the right camper.
Mid-size SUVs like the Toyota RAV4, Subaru Forester, Mazda CX-5, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage are among the most common vehicles on Australian roads. They're comfortable, economical, and — crucially — most of them are rated to tow between 1,500 kg and 2,000 kg braked. A lightweight teardrop like the Hip Summit or Hip Companion weighs far less than a caravan, which puts it squarely within what your existing SUV can handle.
This guide walks through it properly: the towing capacities of the popular SUVs (and dual-cabs), the weight terms that actually decide whether a match is legal and safe — ATM, GTM, GVM, GCM and tow-ball download — the widely quoted 85% rule, what you need to hitch up, and a real-world worked example. If you drive a mid-size SUV, by the end you'll know exactly where you stand.
The short answer: Yes — a RAV4, Forester, CX-5, Tucson, Sportage or similar mid-size SUV can tow a lightweight teardrop camper in Australia. Most are rated to tow 1,500–2,000 kg braked, and the Hip Summit and Companion have a 1,500 kg ATM (1,380 kg GTM), with a realistic on-the-road loaded weight of about 900–1,100 kg. That sits comfortably inside a mid-size SUV's braked rating. You'll need a towbar, a wiring plug and — because a Hip has electric brakes as standard — an in-cab brake controller. Always confirm your exact vehicle's braked towing capacity, tow-ball rating and GCM on its compliance plate and in the owner's manual.
Which SUVs can tow a teardrop? The capacity matrix
Nearly every mid-size SUV sold in Australia can tow a lightweight teardrop, and every dual-cab ute and large 4WD can do it with room to spare. The number that matters is braked towing capacity — the maximum trailer weight a vehicle may tow when the trailer has its own braking system, which every Hip does. Here's how the popular models line up against the Hip's 1,500 kg ATM.
| Vehicle | Braked towing capacity | Tow a Hip (1,500 kg ATM)? | Margin at real load (~1,000 kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota RAV4 (petrol & hybrid) | 1,500 kg | Yes | Comfortable |
| Subaru Forester | 1,500 kg | Yes | Comfortable |
| Honda CR-V | 1,500 kg | Yes | Comfortable |
| Mitsubishi Outlander | ~1,600 kg | Yes | Comfortable |
| Hyundai Tucson | 1,650–1,900 kg | Yes | Large |
| Kia Sportage | 1,650–1,900 kg | Yes | Large |
| Nissan X-Trail | 1,650–2,000 kg | Yes | Large |
| Mazda CX-5 | 1,800 kg | Yes | Large |
| Subaru Outback | 2,000 kg | Yes | Large |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | 1,800–2,500 kg | Yes | Large |
| Dual-cab utes (Ranger, HiLux, D-Max, BT-50, Triton) | 3,000–3,500 kg | Yes | Very large |
| Large 4WDs (Prado, LandCruiser, Everest, MU-X, Pajero Sport) | 3,000–3,500 kg | Yes | Very large |
Two things jump out. First, every one of these vehicles can legally tow a Hip up to its full 1,500 kg ATM. Second — and this is the part that makes a teardrop such an easy tow — you almost never load one to its ATM. A realistic weekend load is around 900–1,100 kg (we break that down below), so even a 1,500 kg-rated RAV4 is using roughly two-thirds of its capacity, not straining at the limit. The dual-cabs and 4WDs are, frankly, overkill for a teardrop; they exist on this list because plenty of buyers already own one and want to know it'll cope. It will, effortlessly.
One honest caveat on the lightest end of the range: if your SUV is rated at exactly 1,500 kg braked, you can tow a Hip loaded to its 1,500 kg ATM, but you'd be at the vehicle's ceiling with zero margin. The sensible approach is to keep your actual loaded weight moderate — easy with a teardrop, since there simply isn't room to pack a tonne of gear. Fill the 80 L water tank, load your bedding and camp kit, and you'll still be hundreds of kilos under the limit.
How to read a towing spec: ATM, GTM, GVM, GCM and tow-ball download
Before you trust any "yes", it helps to understand the six weight terms that decide whether a vehicle-and-trailer pairing is legal. They look like alphabet soup, but each one answers a simple question, and once you've got them, towing specs stop being intimidating. Here's the plain-English version, with the Hip's own numbers so you can see them in context.
| Term | What it means | Why it matters for a teardrop |
|---|---|---|
| Tare mass | The empty weight of the trailer as it leaves the factory. | The Hip's is 700–750 kg — the number that sits well under any SUV rating. |
| ATM (Aggregate Trailer Mass) | The maximum weight of the fully loaded trailer, measured while uncoupled (includes the load that will rest on the tow ball). | The Hip's is 1,500 kg — the absolute ceiling once you've loaded gear and water. |
| GTM (Gross Trailer Mass) | The weight carried by the trailer's own wheels once it's hitched (ATM minus the tow-ball download). | The Hip's is 1,380 kg — this is the figure the brake law uses. |
| Payload | ATM minus tare — how much you can actually load. | The Hip gives 750–800 kg for gear, water and supplies. |
| Tow-ball download (ball weight) | The downward force the coupling puts on the tow ball — a rule of thumb is about 10% of the loaded trailer weight. | On the Hip that's roughly 120 kg at full ATM; it counts against your vehicle's payload and its rated max ball weight. |
| Kerb mass | The tow vehicle's own ready-to-drive weight (fluids, no passengers or cargo). | The base figure for the 85% guideline (below). |
| GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) | The maximum loaded weight of the tow vehicle itself — passengers, cargo and the tow-ball download included. | Adding the ball weight eats into it, so a full car plus a heavy ball weight can quietly push you over. |
| GCM (Gross Combination Mass) | The maximum combined weight of the loaded vehicle plus the loaded trailer. | The one people miss — you often can't be at max GVM and max towing at the same time. A teardrop's light weight makes this a non-issue. |
The key relationship to remember: ATM = GTM + tow-ball download, and you tow to the lowest of three ceilings — the trailer's ATM, your vehicle's braked towing capacity, and your vehicle's GCM (once you subtract the loaded vehicle's own weight). For a caravan, GCM and tow-ball limits are where dreams go to die; owners discover they can't carry a full family and tow at maximum. For a teardrop, all of these have so much headroom that the maths is boring — which is exactly the point. If you want the full weight picture for our models, the what's-included guide and the FAQ weights section lay it out.
The 85% rule: a guideline, not a law
The 85% rule is a safety guideline, not legislation. It suggests that a fully loaded trailer should ideally weigh no more than about 85% of the tow vehicle's kerb mass, on the basis that a trailer much heavier than the car behind it is more likely to push the vehicle around — sway, poor braking, a nervous feel in crosswinds — particularly for less experienced towers. Motoring bodies such as the RACQ publish it as sound advice for choosing a match, but no state fines you for exceeding it. (Reference: RACQ — safe towing guide.)
For a teardrop, the guideline is almost comically easy to satisfy. Take a RAV4 with a kerb mass around 1,700 kg: 85% of that is roughly 1,445 kg. A Hip loaded to a realistic 1,000 kg is only about 59% of the car's weight — miles inside the comfort zone. Even more importantly, a teardrop's low, compact shape keeps its centre of gravity down near the axle, which is the real driver of towing stability. A tall caravan at 85% can still feel twitchy; a low teardrop at 60% feels planted.
The one place to stay honest: if you loaded a Hip to its absolute 1,500 kg ATM behind the very lightest SUVs, you'd be nudging the 85% guideline. But you'd have to work hard to pack a teardrop that heavy, and there's no reason to. Load it sensibly and you're always comfortably under.
The takeaway: The 85% rule is about stability, not legality. A low, light teardrop passes it easily behind any mid-size SUV — and its low centre of gravity makes it more stable again than the raw percentage suggests.
Where a Hip teardrop sits: the real weights
Here are the actual towing numbers for both models, so you can hold them against your vehicle's plate. The Summit and Companion share a chassis, so their towing figures are identical — the difference between them is layout and sleeping capacity, not weight.
| Spec | Hip Summit | Hip Companion |
|---|---|---|
| Sleeps | 2 adults + 1 child | 2 adults |
| Tare mass | 700–750 kg | 700–750 kg |
| ATM | 1,500 kg | 1,500 kg |
| GTM | 1,380 kg | 1,380 kg |
| Payload | 750–800 kg | 750–800 kg |
| Tow-ball download (at full ATM) | ~120 kg | ~120 kg |
| Coupling | 50 mm ball | 50 mm ball |
| Brakes | Electric, standard | Electric, standard |
| Chassis | Hot-dip galvanised | Hot-dip galvanised |
| Suspension | Leaf spring standard (independent optional) | Leaf spring standard (independent optional) |
Two figures do the heavy lifting when you compare them to your SUV. The tare mass of 700–750 kg is what the trailer weighs before you touch it — lighter than a couple of adults' worth of luggage over what your car already carries. The tow-ball download of about 120 kg at full load is well within the ~150 kg ball rating typical of mid-size SUVs, and lower in practice because you rarely load to ATM. Compare that to a caravan's 200–350 kg ball weight, which is where many SUVs actually run out of road. If you're weighing a teardrop against a bigger van, our teardrop vs caravan comparison goes deeper on the trade-offs.
What about the RAV4 Hybrid?
The RAV4 Hybrid tows a teardrop just as happily as the petrol model. It's one of the best-selling cars in the country, and its 1,500 kg braked towing capacity is identical to the petrol RAV4 — the hybrid system doesn't cost you towing rating. In fact, the electric motor's instant torque is a genuine help: low-speed pulling out of a bush campsite and hill starts on a boat ramp feel smoother with an electrified drivetrain than with a small petrol engine alone.
Fuel use will rise while towing — expect somewhere around 8–10 L/100 km with a light teardrop behind you, versus the low-5s the RAV4 Hybrid sips unladen. That's still dramatically better than the 18–25 L/100 km a large diesel 4WD burns hauling a caravan. If you're looking further ahead to a fully electric tow car, the physics are the same but range is the trade-off; we cover it in towing a teardrop camper with an EV.
Do the numbers actually stack up? A worked example
Theory is fine, but here's what a real load looks like. Say you own a RAV4 (1,500 kg braked) and a Hip Summit, and you're heading away for a long weekend. This is roughly how the trailer's weight builds up.
| Item | Approx. weight |
|---|---|
| Hip Summit, empty (tare) | ~725 kg |
| Bedding, clothes, camp chairs, kitchen kit | ~80 kg |
| Food and dry stores | ~40 kg |
| 80 L fresh water (full tank) | ~80 kg |
| Tools, recovery gear, firewood, extras | ~45 kg |
| Typical loaded weight | ~970 kg |
| The Hip's maximum (ATM) | 1,500 kg |
| Your RAV4's braked limit | 1,500 kg |
At roughly 970 kg loaded, you're using about 65% of the RAV4's towing rating and leaving over 500 kg of headroom. The tow-ball download at that weight is around 90–100 kg — comfortably inside the vehicle's ball rating with your family and boot cargo still aboard. This is the whole argument for a teardrop in one table: the trailer that fits your existing car is the one you'll actually use, and you're not white-knuckling the limits to make it work. It's also why a teardrop is such a sensible first tow — more on the value case in is a teardrop camper worth it?
What you need to hitch up
Beyond the vehicle itself, towing a teardrop needs four things — none of them expensive, most of them one-time. Before your first trip, make sure your SUV has:
- A rated towbar. Most mid-size SUVs don't come with one from the factory. A quality towbar fitted by a professional is typically $500–$1,000 installed, and it must be rated to at least your loaded trailer weight and tow-ball download (any reputable fitter will match this to your vehicle).
- A 7-pin (or 12-pin) trailer plug. This connects your vehicle's electrics to the trailer's brake lights, indicators and — importantly — its electric brakes. It's fitted as part of the towbar job.
- An electric brake controller. Legally required because a Hip's 1,380 kg GTM is over the 750 kg brake threshold. It lives in your cab and modulates the trailer's electric brakes. Many 4WDs and dual-cabs have one factory-fitted; on a mid-size SUV an auto electrician fits an aftermarket controller (Tekonsha, Redarc, Hayman Reese) for around $400–$700. We explain the options in electric brakes on camper trailers.
- Mirrors (usually the ones you have). A teardrop is narrow — typically no wider than your vehicle — so standard mirrors are normally sufficient. Wider setups may need clip-on towing mirrors; check your state's rule if you're unsure.
That's the full list. A towbar, a plug, a brake controller — fit them once and your SUV is a tow vehicle for good.
Why a lightweight camper makes so much sense
The lighter the trailer, the less it asks of everything — your engine, brakes, tyres and your nerves. Choosing a teardrop over a heavy caravan pays off in ways you feel on every trip:
- Better fuel economy — a ~1,000 kg teardrop barely dents consumption next to a 2,000–3,000 kg caravan, so a longer trip costs meaningfully less. We put real numbers to it in the cost of owning a camper trailer.
- Less wear — lighter loads mean less strain on your brakes, tyres, transmission and cooling system, so your car lasts longer and services stay cheaper.
- Easier handling — less sway, easier reversing, more confidence in crosswinds and on overtakes. A low centre of gravity does most of that work for you.
- No new car needed — keep the SUV you already know instead of spending $60,000+ on a big 4WD just to pull something heavier.
For a lot of buyers, that last point is the whole decision. The teardrop route means you can hit the road this season with the car in your driveway, rather than saving for two vehicles. If you're still weighing formats, our teardrop vs campervan comparison and the Hip Summit vs generic teardrops piece are good next reads.
SUV, dual-cab or 4WD — do you need to upgrade?
For a teardrop, no upgrade is necessary — a mid-size SUV is enough, and a dual-cab or 4WD is just extra headroom you may already have. The choice really comes down to what else you tow and where you go:
- Mid-size SUV (RAV4, Forester, CX-5, Tucson, Sportage, X-Trail, Outback, CR-V, Outlander, Tiguan): ideal for a teardrop on sealed roads and well-graded gravel. This is the sweet spot for the vast majority of Australian camping.
- Dual-cab ute (Ranger, HiLux, D-Max, BT-50, Triton): rated to 3,000–3,500 kg, so a teardrop is a featherweight. Worth it only if you also carry a heavy tray load or tackle rougher tracks.
- Large 4WD (Prado, LandCruiser, Everest, MU-X, Pajero Sport): maximum capability for remote touring and steep, rocky access. Overkill for a teardrop alone, but if you own one, it'll tow a Hip and never notice.
In other words: the direction of the decision matters. Don't buy a bigger car to suit the camper — buy a camper that suits the car you already have. That's the entire premise of a teardrop.
What about unsealed roads and light off-grid?
A teardrop handles the unsealed roads that reach most of Australia's best campgrounds without drama. Many favourite spots — from the Grampians to Wilsons Promontory — are accessed via short gravel or dirt sections, and a teardrop on a hot-dip galvanised chassis takes them in stride behind a standard SUV. For the destinations themselves, see our best campgrounds in Victoria and NSW.
If you plan to spend a lot of time on corrugations and formed dirt roads, two things help: the optional independent suspension (the standard setup is leaf spring, which is fine for most owners) soaks up the washboard better and is kinder to your gear, and airing your tyres down takes the sting out of corrugations. Both models are self-contained enough to camp well away from powered sites — 100 W of solar, a 120Ah LiFePO4 battery, 80 L of fresh water and instant hot water mean you're not chained to a caravan park; the details are in our self-contained teardrop guide and the 12 V power system explainer.
Where you'd want to stop is serious low-range 4WD work — rock steps, deep ruts, sand dunes. That's the territory of purpose-built off-road trailers and capable 4WDs, not a mid-size SUV and a touring teardrop. For everything short of that — national parks, coastal reserves, bush camps down a gravel track — an SUV and a teardrop will get you there and back comfortably.
How to confirm your exact vehicle can tow it
Don't take a table's word for it — check your own vehicle in five minutes. Towing figures vary by model year, variant and drivetrain, so before you commit, run through this:
- Find the braked towing capacity in your owner's manual or on the manufacturer's specs for your exact variant. It needs to be at least 1,500 kg to cover a Hip at full ATM (and every vehicle in our matrix clears that).
- Check the maximum tow-ball download. It's usually around 10% of the towing capacity (often ~150 kg on a mid-size SUV). The Hip sits near 120 kg at full load, less in practice.
- Note your GVM and GCM from the compliance plate (usually in the driver's door jamb). Confirm that your loaded car plus a loaded teardrop stays under the GCM — with a teardrop, it always will.
- Confirm a brake controller is fitted, or budget for one. It's mandatory with the Hip's electric brakes.
- When in doubt, ask. Tell us your make, model, year and variant and we'll sanity-check the match with you.
Every Hip is finished and inspected in Melbourne, Victoria, and certified for Australian roads through the national approval process before you register it in your own state — so the trailer arrives with its ATM, GTM and braked spec set and plated. Your job is simply to match those figures to your tow vehicle, and for a teardrop that's the easy part. For anything specific to your setup, get in touch — we do this every week.
The Hip Summit and Companion, in brief
Both models are built to be towed by ordinary cars, not just big 4WDs. Each leaves with a 1,500 kg ATM, 1,380 kg GTM, electric brakes and a 50 mm ball coupling on a hot-dip galvanised chassis — plus 100 W solar, a 120Ah LiFePO4 battery, a 2000 W inverter, 80 L of fresh water with instant hot water, a full stainless-steel galley, an outdoor shower and a retractable awning as standard. The Hip Summit adds a skylight and sleeps two adults plus a child; the Hip Companion has a side window and sleeps two.
You can see what's ready to go now in current stock, or spec your own colours and galley in the 3D builder and get a price. Custom builds start at $19,000 for the Summit and $18,000 for the Companion; fully-equipped standard builds are $22,500 and $21,500. As a bit of extra reassurance, everything we sell is backed by Australian Consumer Law (see the ACCC on consumer guarantees) plus our own 24-month structural warranty and 12 months on fittings and components.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Toyota RAV4 tow a camper trailer?
Yes. Recent Toyota RAV4 models (petrol and hybrid) are rated to tow 1,500 kg braked, which covers a Hip Summit or Companion right up to its 1,500 kg ATM. In real-world use most owners tow a loaded teardrop at around 900–1,100 kg, so a RAV4 sits comfortably inside its rating with margin to spare. Always confirm your exact variant's figure on its compliance plate and in the owner's manual.
Can a hybrid SUV like the RAV4 Hybrid tow a teardrop camper?
Yes. The RAV4 Hybrid carries the same 1,500 kg braked towing capacity as the petrol model, and the electric motor's instant torque actually helps with low-speed pulling and hill starts. Expect fuel use of roughly 8–10 L/100 km while towing a lightweight teardrop — far less than a large 4WD dragging a caravan. Towing with an EV works too, though you trade some driving range; we cover that separately.
What size camper can a mid-size SUV tow in Australia?
Most mid-size SUVs are rated between 1,500 kg and 2,000 kg braked, which is plenty for a lightweight teardrop like the Hip (1,500 kg ATM, and typically 900–1,100 kg loaded on a trip). It is not enough for a full caravan, which is often 2,000–3,000 kg loaded and needs a large 4WD or dual-cab ute. The trick is matching the trailer's ATM and real loaded weight to the vehicle's braked capacity, tow-ball limit and GCM.
What is the difference between ATM and GTM?
ATM (Aggregate Trailer Mass) is the maximum weight of the fully loaded trailer measured while it is uncoupled — it includes the weight that will rest on the tow ball. GTM (Gross Trailer Mass) is the weight carried by the trailer's own wheels once it is hitched, which is the ATM minus the tow-ball download. On the Hip Summit and Companion the ATM is 1,500 kg and the GTM is 1,380 kg, a difference of about 120 kg that sits on the ball.
What is the 85% towing rule, and is it the law?
The 85% rule is a widely quoted safety guideline — not a law — suggesting that a fully loaded trailer should ideally weigh no more than about 85% of the tow vehicle's kerb mass for stable, confident towing, especially for less experienced drivers. A loaded teardrop of roughly 900–1,100 kg behind a mid-size SUV of about 1,600–1,800 kg kerb sits well within it. The legal limits you must not exceed are the vehicle's braked towing capacity, tow-ball rating, GVM and GCM.
Do I need a brake controller to tow a Hip camper?
Yes. Every Hip Summit and Companion has electric brakes fitted as standard because its 1,380 kg GTM is over the 750 kg threshold at which trailer brakes become mandatory. Electric brakes need an in-cab brake controller to work. Many 4WDs and dual-cabs come with one factory-fitted; on a mid-size SUV an auto electrician fits an aftermarket controller for around $400–$700.
Do I need a towbar and towing mirrors for a teardrop?
You need a towbar rated to at least your trailer's loaded weight and tow-ball download; most mid-size SUVs don't come with one from the factory, and a quality towbar is typically $500–$1,000 fitted. A teardrop is narrow — usually no wider than your vehicle — so standard mirrors are normally sufficient and clip-on towing mirrors aren't required. Confirm your state's mirror rules if in doubt.
Can I tow a teardrop camper on dirt or gravel roads?
Yes, for well-maintained gravel and dirt roads. A teardrop on a hot-dip galvanised chassis handles the unsealed access to most Australian campgrounds comfortably behind a standard SUV. For frequent corrugated tracks, choosing the optional independent suspension and airing down your tyres helps a lot. Serious rock-crawling 4WD tracks still call for a purpose-built off-road trailer and vehicle.
The bottom line
If you drive a RAV4, Forester, CX-5, Tucson, Sportage or a similar mid-size SUV, you can absolutely tow a camper trailer — provided you choose a light one. A teardrop with a 1,500 kg ATM, loaded to a realistic ~1,000 kg, sits well inside your vehicle's braked rating, respects its tow-ball and GCM limits, and passes the 85% stability guideline with room to spare. No new tow car, no compromise on where you can go — just a towbar, a brake controller and a weekend to plan.
Want to check your exact vehicle or see a Hip in person? Get in touch to talk through your tow setup or arrange a viewing at our Perth display unit, browse current stock, or build your own in 3D and see the Hip Summit or Hip Companion spec'd exactly how you want it.