The arrival of fall means a lot of things, but for a large portion of the population it is all about the return of football season. Of course, with college and pro football kicking off over the next few days, tailgating parties will be springing up all across the country.

While food and fanfare is certainly a must at any tailgating party, if your car is not up to snuff the whole thing could be put in jeopardy. To help all the tailgaters out there get the most out of their pre-game parties, Kelly Blue Book recently released its list of the top 10 cars for tailgating.

"Forget the beach parties and don't worry about the holidays just yet – it's time for cold drinks and hot dogs before a stadium-sized event," said Jack Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book'. "And to throw a proper tailgating party, you need a proper tailgating car. We've ranked the top 10 new party-mobiles to assist anyone in planning their next parking-lot party."

The list was compiled by the editors of the company's website, kbb.com, and focused on a number factors including seating capacity, electronics and amenities such as built in coolers.

Starting off the list is the 2011 Ford Explorer. This SUV has been a standard on roads for years, and it is especially well-suited for the parking lot before the game. In addition to comfortably seating seven, it features folding rows and a fully-adjustable front passenger seat so it can accommodate any and all cargo as well.

A little further upon the list is the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Known for its spacious interior and smooth ride, this popular SUV also has something few others do – an excellent sound system. Specifically, the website says the Cherokee is outfitted with a 10 speaker, 506-watt system.

Though the Explorer and Cherokee are solid options, experts say it can't compare to the 2011 Dodge Ram. This powerful pickup offers plenty of space with its expansive bed, but its what lies beneath that really sets it apart. According to kbb.com, the truck has locking bedside bins that can hold and astonishing 240 12-ounce cans. It also has under-seat compartments for plenty of extra space.