As you roll through the mountain pass on your way to your favorite camping spot, you look in the rear-view mirror to check on your camper. You breathe easy knowing that your SUV is perfectly capable of handling the load.

If you have the need for an SUV that can tow a load from a hitch at its rear bumper, it’s wise to do a little research on which one is the most capable. Of all the SUVs out there, some are great for hauling. This is the best SUV to haul a bumper-pull trailer.

The 2020 Ford Expedition

With a towing package that lends even more capability to this already-powerful SUV, the Ford Expedition has a max towing capacity of 9,300 pounds. That is a considerable amount more than the Chevy Tahoe that can pull up to 8,600 pounds.

The Ford Expedition boasts a nimble 3.5 liter EcoBoost engine. Its 375 horsepower performance ranks 24 miles per gallon on the highway. While this is subject to change when towing, it is still a great starting point.

It is designed to haul

If trailer sway control comes standard on the base model of any given vehicle, it’s safe to assume that it was designed with towing in mind. The 2020 Ford Expedition is a workhorse. Its functional design means it can go from toting the team to hauling a trailer out for a weekend of adventure.

There is also an added towing package listed as an upgrade option. So if you are buying the vehicle with the knowledge that it will be pulling a camper, boat or horse trailer, it may be warranted to look into that upgrade.

Even without it, the Ford Expedition is ready for hauling. So, if it’s the option of great towing capacity you are looking for, this is it. The 2020 Expedition leaves the future wide open to any hauling challenges you may have to face.

Things to know about hauling

When researching vehicles for towing, you may run across some terms you are utterly unfamiliar with. Don’t be discouraged –– here are some meanings and explanations of a few of the primary hauling terms.

GVWR – this is an acronym for “gross vehicle weight rating.” The manufacturer should have this value specified as the maximum loaded weight of a single load. Both a loaded vehicle and a loaded trailer will each have their own GVWR.

GCVWR – “Gross combined vehicle weight rating.” This is a value specified by the manufacturer for the recommended maximum loaded weight of the full combination. The GVWR of the trailer and the GVWR of the tow vehicle comprise the full GCVWR.

GVW – “Gross vehicle weight.” This is the fully loaded weight of the tow vehicle without the trailer.

GTWR – “Gross trailer weight rating.” This is the manufacturer’s recommended maximum fully-loaded weight that the vehicle is able to tow.

It is important never to exceed the weight recommendation for your vehicle’s tow capacity. This can put stress on the engine, transmission, brakes, and other important systems, which could potentially cause some damage to your hauler.