Best Vehicles For Towing A Caravan

What The Best Vehicle Recommended For Towing A Caravan?

The vehicle you intend to tow a caravan is just as important as the caravan, meaning both must be suited to each other and capable of towing the weight of your load. When purchasing the vehicle, you need to make sure it is not only powerful enough to tow the caravan but also comfortable for carrying passengers. There is so much to consider when making these choices. If you already know the type of caravan you will be towing, make sure you advise the salesman at the car yard of this and ensure your choice is the best option for the load you will be towing otherwise it could be a costly if you purchase the incorrect vehicle to tow the weight of a van you have already purchased or committed to.

When towing you should have a smooth drive. Considering the safety of your and the safety of other road users around, you need to make sure that the vehicle for caravan towing is powerful enough to tackle the road when you are travelling. The power of the vehicle required is calculated by the weight and size of the load you are towing. There are a variety of different vehicles available on the market and many of them can tow a smaller caravan, but they may not be suitable for larger ones. Be sure to do your research on what weight the vehicle can handle before you purchase it and check with the manufacturer.

How Do I Know That The Vehicle Is Legal For Caravan Towing?

The best thing you can do for yourself and your passengers before you take off on a trip in your caravan is to get it to a mechanic to perform a safety inspection on your vehicle. This will give you peace of mind knowing if you need to make any urgent repairs to the vehicle you can get them done to keep everything running in top form on the road. They can also advise if you need any additional caravan towing equipment to assist when you are towing, you just need to ask their advice.

Is There A Way To Calculate The Aggregate Trailer Mass?

The Aggregated Trailer Mass is also known as the ATM, this is the overall maximum rating that a caravan or trailer is legally allowed to weigh when you have it fully loaded with everything you need to carry inside it. When you have it fully loaded it is not able to weigh more than this.

ATM= tare mass (weight of the trailer) + Maximum load (this includes passengers, fuel, vehicle towing the trailer or caravan, etc, and any other items you need to pack) + The Tow Ball Mass.

What Is Meant By The Gross Trailer Mass?

The Gross Trailer Mass is also known as the GTM, this is the rating of the caravan when it is fully loaded and hitched or attached to the tow vehicle. There is absolutely no reason at all that this can be exceeded when you are about to tow your caravan or any other item you may be towing. It is a standard rule that must be always followed and is the responsibility of the driver to ensure this is adhered to.

So, this means that your GTM is calculated by the ATM (or less) the Tow Ball Mass.

So, in short, your ATM & GTM rating limits are determined by the manufacturer, and you can find this in your vehicle manual and the trailer plate or placard.

What is meant by the Tow Ball Mass?

The tow ball weight is the maximum weight that the tow ball can carry when the caravan is connected to the vehicle. It is the responsibility of the person towing the vehicle that must ensure the weights are followed. This is where it becomes confusing though. The manufacturer book may say your vehicle can tow up to 2,000kg but you also need to consider the tow bar weight as this may be a different amount. While you can tow up to the amount they say on the towbar you need to remember if the vehicle tow mass is less then you don’t want to put pressure on the vehicle and tow more than it is designed to tow. Carasel recommends that you check both weights and if you are not sure consult the vehicle owner’s manual and the plate on your trailer or caravan.

Towing With An Automatic Transmission Vehicle

When choosing a vehicle there is no difference between an automatic or manual transmission. This comes down to your personal preference. However, there are some things that you should consider before you make a choice on one or the other.

Towing With An Automatic Transmission Vehicle

Automatic vehicles have a much higher towing capacity than those that go for a manual vehicle. When circumstances occur if you are driving offroad on sandy or uneven tracks or even downhill, the automatic transmission vehicles handle the situation a lot better than the manual vehicles as there is no fuss when changing gears as it is all done for you. The chance of stalling a manual vehicle while changing gears is a lot higher and the chances of rolling back are much greater. However, automatic vehicles can overheat much faster and Carasel suggests that you would benefit from installing an automatic cooler as this can assist in preventing the vehicle from overheating.

Towing A Caravan With A Manual Transmission

Manual vehicles have a much lower towing capacity as when you need to change gears damage can occur to the clutch, especially when you are towing larger loads. Manual vehicles can cope better in off-road situations as the driver has complete control of the vehicle. Carasel suggests that manual vehicles also allow the driver to be more alert as they are controlling the gears in the vehicle.

Personally, some drivers feel that the manual vehicle is better if you are driving on hilly ground offroad as this gives you more control when you have a caravan hitched up towing behind you.

What Is The Ideal Vehicle For Towing Caravans?

All-wheel drive vehicles, 2WD, and 4WD are ideal for towing caravans however, while you can read forums and read websites it is someone’s opinion that may influence you. Basically, the vehicle you tow with needs to be able to tow the weight of your caravan, trailer, or boat and must be one that you and whoever else will be using the vehicle feel comfortable driving also. Local driving in the suburbs is better in a 2wd as the roads are usually flat. When driving off road, however it is more relaxing in a 4WD, and they get better traction on uneven, sandy muddy, or icy roads or tracks.

What Are The Best Tyres For Towing On A Vehicle?

When driving off road on sandy, muddy or icy terrain, Carasel recommends that you have the best caravan towing equipment possible, and this includes tyres. There are a lot of people that choose light truck tyres, but we have noticed that on city bitumen roads, they tend to wear down faster. All-terrain tyres are a great compromise when you are combining off road and city driving.

Understanding Your Tow Vehicle Service Costs

When choosing your vehicle, ask what the servicing costs will be like. Additionally, ask how readily available parts are or whether there are generic parts available should there be a shortage of manufacturer branding parts. The costs of replacing parts can vary greatly and Carasel suggests that you look at a few vehicles that are in the range of your towing capacity to compare. Check all their service costs and additional charges for replacing parts. Additionally, ask about the manufacturer’s warranty and terms and conditions as most dealers are all different and all have their own agreements and warranty terms that you should consider.

Additional Considerations

Your vehicle and caravan manufacturers may highly recommend a weight distribution hitch be installed. If you are unsure of this and need it further explained feel free to call Carasel, at either of our two locations, the team can explain this to you and if you decide to go ahead can have one available to purchase for you.

Depending also on the weight of the trailer, if it is over 750kg you will be required to install a brake controller and if the weight is over 2,000kg then you will also be needing electronic brakes. The brake controller can be installed by an approved fitter like Carasel for you and we can place it under the dashboard out of sight. You always need to be 100% sure that your vehicle and trailer are always both legal and safe for towing.

Finally ….

If you are ever in doubt about something you need for towing, you can call Carasel, and our friendly team will be happy to help and keep you safely towing on the road. Last, but not least we all remember to get the car and caravan serviced before we go out on long trips, but have you ever thought about getting your towbar serviced? Carasel provide towbar services too as this is the best way to ensure nothing is bent in the materials, no leads are worn or corroded, and all your indicator and lighting is in full working order. You can call or book online to have this service completed and have peace of mind that your towing equipment is in perfect working order.