How Do I Choose the Right Tow Vehicle?

What vehicle do I need to tow with?

Tow vehicle - Lets make sure we ‘put the horse before the cart’

When considering what type and size of accommodation trailer you want, some thought must be given to your tow vehicle.  Will the vehicle you own tow a caravan, fifth wheeler or camper trailer?  Vehicle manufacturers will have towing recommendations set out in the Owner’s Manual and it is important to not exceed that limit.  If your vehicle will not be able to tow the RV you choose it will likely affect your overall budget as you will either have to compromise or purchase a larger tow vehicle.  You don’t want to be in a situation owning a lovely new RV and be unable to tow it safely. 

The following is a guide only and you should make enquires with the manufacturer of your tow vehicle and/or check the Owner’s Manual:-

Toyota Camry Grande 4 cyl – (Max Torque 218Nm @ 4000 rpm) tow capacity 1200 kg braked & 500 kg unbraked.

Holden Commodore Executive Wagon VZ 3.6 litre V6 – (Max Torque 320Nm @ 2800 rpm) – 1200kg, 1600 kg & 2100 kg towing equipment available.

Subaru Outback 2.5i (automatic) – (Max Torque 226Nm @ 4400rpm) tow capacity 1500 kg braked 750kg unbraked.

Ford Territory TX AWD – (Max Torque 383Nm @ 2500 rpm) – standard towpack 1600 braked, heavy duty towpack 2300 kg braked and 750kg unbraked.

Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2 TD (automatic) – (Max Torque 358Nm @ 2000 rpm) tow capacity 2500kg braked 750 kg unbraked.

Toyota Prado GXL TD – (Max Torque 410Nm @ 1600 rpm) tow capacity 2500 kg braked 750 kg unbraked.

Toyota Landcruiser GXL TD (automatic) – (Max Torque 430Nm @ 1400 rpm) tow capacity 3500 kg braked 750g unbraked.

Toyota LandCruiser 200 – (Max Torque 410 Nm @ 3400 rpm) tow capacity 3500 kg braked 750 kg unbraked.

Ford F-250 Super Cab Pick-Up XLT – (Max Torque 475Nm @ 2500 rpm) – conventional towing capacity 3500 kg.

Vehicle manufacturers recommend you do not tow a trailer with a new vehicle or a vehicle with a new power train component (transmission, differential, engine, wheel bearing etc.) for about the first 800 km (500 miles).  Your vehicle will also most likely require more frequent maintenance if you tow regularly. 

Most larger modern cars make excellent tow vehicles but you may want to take your RV off the beaten track so you will need to consider a 4WD or the mid-size recreational (SUV) tow vehicle.   

For safety reasons the tow vehicle should be one that is heavier than the (loaded) caravan, 5^th wheeler or camper trailer it tows.  Larger 4WD vehicles are often better suited for heavy caravans.

If buying a second hand vehicle with a tow bar attached you will need to ensure that the tow bar and tow ball are adequate for what you intend towing.  The vehicle tow bar and the tow ball may only be rated to tow a small box trailer. See related article - Towbars & Towballs

For fifth wheelers, a tray back, utility/pick-up truck type vehicle is necessary to accommodate the hitch.  Generally, a larger tow vehicle will be required for the fifth wheelers for example a Toyota Landcruiser would allow you to pull up to a 30 ft unit. See related article - Compliance Plates and Trailer Weights

Diesel/LPG gas, petrol or petrol/LPG gas  – this is a matter of choice for you.  Diesel is said to be more economical when towing larger heavy caravans or 5^th wheelers and is often more readily available in remote areas of Australia.  If driving on LPG gas it does not seem to have the power for towing but it does give you the option to switch over from petrol once you are at your destination and have unhitched your trailer.  This can then prove economical for touring around your holiday destination.

A turbo diesel vehicle will provide that extra ‘grunt’ for towing larger RV units.  If you are still not satisfied you could further consider the addition of a Safari Dtronic which is an aftermarket electronic diesel computer plug-in computer device.  This device fits in easily behind the glove box neatly out of sight. The manufacturer claims it can increase torque by 20-30% and increase the power by 15-20%.  The beauty of this device is that it can be unplugged and removed if you want to sell the vehicle or to return the vehicle to standard power.

Petrol driven vehicles generally have more power and response but usually consume more fuel when towing than say a turbo diesel vehicle.  There is another very good argument for the petrol vehicle - Diesel vehicles can require a service or at least a change of oil every 5,000 klms if you are towing so this additional service cost should be considered.

If you are looking at using your vehicle in out of the way places where there may be tall grasses then some consideration should be given to a diesel fueled vehicle as diesel fuel has a lower combustion point.  Unless you clear grasses caught under the vehicle they can catch fire from the heat of the engine and if you were without a fire extinguisher or fire blanket it could mean the loss your vehicle.

Automatic or manual transmission – this also is a matter of choice although towing an RV can take a lot of concentration and an automatic transmission simply makes life easier by enabling you to concentrate more on driving conditions.  An automatic transmission can also take the guesswork out of when to change gear whilst towing and the transition between the gear change is smooth and quick, enabling you to avoid losing speed or traction during gear changes.

With a manual transmission, there can be a lot of ‘riding’ of the clutch whilst reversing particularly with a heavy weight behind. Reversing into those tight caravan park sites is also easier with an automatic especially as just the sight of someone attempting to do so always seems to create an audience.

An interesting point here is the Toyota Owner’s Manual for GXL TD 100 (2004) states:-

Trailer Towing Tips - ‘In order to maintain engine braking and electrical charging performance, do not use fifth gear (manual transmission) or overdrive (automatic transmission).

Other articles that may interest you -

Different Types of Caravans - Fifth Wheelers - Campertrailers

Starting Out - Towbars and Towballs - Compliance Plate and Trailer Weights

Vehicle Bull Bars