Choosing the right tow vehicle and caravan.
There is a lot more to consider than just connecting a caravan to your tow vehicle.
There are many options and just because your tow vehicle is the biggest and most powerful, it does not mean that you can tow anything you want.
There may be a better option when considering all the variables.
Choosing the right tow vehicle.
Let’s first consider the tow vehicle:
Choosing a tow vehicle with a longer wheelbase and a shorter rear overhang will provide better stability and minimise sway when towing.
A tow vehicle with a live rear axle. Live axles are generally stronger and provide more consistency when loading the tow vehicle and when needing large tow ball weight requirements. They normally provide more even wear of the tyres.
Tow ball weight, or tow ball mass, rating of the tow bar of the tow vehicle. This is the vertical load limit that the tow bar is rated to handle.
Towing capacity is usually found in the owner’s manual but can be found online using a Google search or any web search. This needs to be equal to or more than the ATM of the caravan.
When looking at the compliance plate of your vehicle you will be able to see the GVM. Check our post about GVM.
Now we consider the curb weight of the vehicle. This is usually measured as a dry weight or sometimes can be measured with engine, gearbox and differential oil. The best way would be to use a weighbridge. You can check out our post about weighbridges.
We also want to know how many kilograms of payload we can carry. We can get this by subtracting the curb weight from the GVM.
When we want to find out how much weight we can carry in the vehicle, we need to consider any additional equipment, tow bar, bull bar, or winch. We also need to take into consideration the weight of a full tank of fuel, the weight of all passengers, luggage etc.
Remember, if your setup is classified as illegal it means that your vehicle is no longer road worthy and this means that your registration and insurance can be void.
Choosing the right caravan.
Let’s now consider the caravan:
When looking at a caravan there is a maximum weight (ATM), this needs to be less or equal to your tow vehicle’s capacity.
The ATM of a caravan will be found on the compliance plate.
The difference between the ATM and the curb weight will show you the load carrying capacity of the caravan.
Make sure you load the caravan by distributing the weight evenly left and right and allow for around 10-15% of the total ATM as the tow ball weight. A correctly loaded caravan can reduce sway.
Some caravans will come equipped with stability features, weight distribution systems, stabiliser bars and anti-sway systems. While these can assist with stability when driving on the road, weight distribution systems can impact your off-road capability.
Aerodynamics can allow the caravan to be easier to tow, reducing the wind resistance takes less power from the tow vehicle’s engine allowing better fuel economy.
Any caravan or trailer over 750kgs will require brakes. Most caravans now have electric brakes. Sometimes the brake controller is integrated into the drawbar of the caravan and the electrics from the tow vehicle just need to provide power to the controller. Other caravans require a brake controller to be installed in the tow vehicle. Older caravans may use a mechanical braking system, these brakes engage automatically when the caravan is trying to go faster than the tow vehicle.
Many car and caravan owners will neglect the tyres on their vehicles. Caravans can often sit for weeks, months and sometimes years between uses. Tyres degrade over time due to a chemical reaction caused by the components of the rubber making process, heat, sunlight, coastal locations and poor storage conditions can accelerate the aging process. Always look at the tyres of both your tow vehicle and caravan before you set off on your trip.
Is my tow vehicle able to tow my caravan?
Let’s now consider the compatibility of the tow vehicle and caravan together.
The best way would be to take the tow vehicle and caravan for a test drive.
This is not always possible to take the caravan for a test drive, but you can consider the tow vehicle and estimate how it will handle the additional load of the caravan. Think of things like acceleration, handling, and braking.
You may be able to gain more payload by getting a lighter vehicle that has a towing capacity suitable for your caravan.
Or you might be better off choosing a lighter caravan that will allow your tow vehicle to tow the caravan more comfortably.
Choosing the right combination for you and your expected destinations will ensure a smoother journey.
Just because a tow vehicle shows a towing capacity that matches your caravan, it does not necessarily mean that you should tow your caravan with your tow vehicle.
What does this mean?
For example, my wife owns a Hyundai ix35. It shows that it has a towing capacity of 1600kg. I had a trailer that weighed around 1200kg and the car struggled to get to 100km/h. If I really put my foot down, I could get to 100km/h, but I was in 3rd gear and nearly a red line on the tachometer which showed I was using 40L/100km.
We ended up driving along at about 80km/h in 4th gear, which made the trip take a lot longer than expected. If you do not mind holding up traffic behind you, then you might be OK with this scenario.
What I did
I had already purchased a 4WD for adventuring.
I have a 2002 Nissan Patrol, which runs on Petrol and LPG dual fuel. It has a 3,500kg towing capacity.
When it came time to upgrade from the camper trailer there were a few expectations that the caravan needed to live up to.
I wanted:
A caravan with a large load carrying capacity.
I did not want any pop-up or pop-out sections.
Off-road capable.
My wife wanted:
An island bed.
Separate toilet and shower.
Brand new.
We ended up getting a 20 foot 6 inches semi off-road caravan, it was brand new and had the largest caravan fridge on the market.
It is semi off-road, I think they say semi off-road so that they can have an out if I take it offroad and I break something.
It has a queen size island bed, plenty of storage, under bed, tunnel boot, large toolbox on the drawbar. It also has 2 jerry can holders on the back bumper bar.
It has 2 100W solar panels and 2 AGM batteries, with a 35 AMP battery management solar controller.
The empty weight of the caravan shows 2,600KG and the AGM is 3,400KG, this gives us 800KG of loading capacity. There are 2 x 100 L water tanks, which if they are full leaves 600KG for everything else.
The wheels for the caravan and tow vehicle are interchangeable, they both have the standard 6-bolt pattern