Top 10 suggestions for buying a tow car

Choosing the proper tow car indicates cautiously matching the car for your caravan, and becoming certain you have the proper driving licence to tow your chosen mixture. Our top ten suggestions for buying a tow vehicle will show you the primary issues to consider, and our best estate cars and best 4x4s and SUVs guides then provide you with the lowdown on the specific models we recommend.
Thousands of individuals personal a caravan, trailer, boat or horse box - and if you’re one of them, you will require a vehicle that may cope with the rigours of towing.

Towing a heavy boxUnderstanding the weight of what you are towing is essential

1. Braked or unbraked? There’s a big distinction

Manufacturers always quote ‘braked’ and ‘unbraked’ maximum loads. The braked figure refers to trailers and caravans which are hooked up to the car’s braking system and have their own brakes that are activated when you press the pedal. If what you’re towing does not have its own brakes, it needs to weigh much less than this to become safe to tow.
2. Discover just how much your car can tow

Car producers usually publish towing capacities for their cars, so ask about this to create sure your intended buy will probably be able to cope. However, the limits quoted are what a model is physically capable of pulling, not necessarily what’s safe.

There’s no hard-and-fast rule, but many towing specialists recommend that whatever you are towing doesn’t exceed 85% of one's car’s weight. For instance, in case your vehicle weighs 1470kg, it would only be recommended to tow some thing weighing much less than 1250kg. Generally speaking, the reduce the weight ratio in between your car and what it’s towing, the better breakdown recovery Dublin.

What driving licence you hold - and whenever you passed your test - is also a aspect in knowing what you are able to legally tow.
3. Contemplating noseweight

If you are towing a caravan, you will also need to establish its noseweight (in other words, the weight bearing down around the car’s towball), either by asking the manufacturer or by using a noseweight scale, then verify that this comes in below your car’s towball limit.

Towing caravan with a 4x4
Got a large caravan? You're going to need a full-size 4x4

4. What vehicles are best for towing heavy loads?

Got something big to tow? In the event you have to transport a horse box, Sunseeker yacht or eight-berth caravan, you’re going to need something pretty serious to cope - and that means a full-size 4x4. We’re talking about vehicles like the Volkswagen Touareg and Land Rover Discovery, which can tow up to about 3.five tonnes (braked).

Trailer stability assist method
Volvo is one car maker offering trailer stability help

5. What about Trailer Stability Help systems?

Wallowing or jack-knifing can occur when you are towing, which can be hard to control. Trailer Stability Assist systems aim to mitigate this effect. These make use of the car’s stability manage method, automatically braking 1 or much more wheels and limiting torque, to bring the motion back below manage. Car makers providing this facility consist of Honda, Skoda, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo.
6. What tow bar to make use of?

Most vehicle makers provide their own bespoke tow bars, a few of which have the advantage of being hidden away when not in use. However, you don’t necessarily require a manufacturer’s personal tow bar - they’re normally much more costly than proprietary tow bars, which may be each bit as great.

7. What weight are you currently towing?

The first thing to establish is just how much weight you will be towing. Little caravans can weigh beneath 750kg, but some large ones can weigh two,500kg, so do your research. Don’t forget to add in the weight of any extra products you’re carrying, too, like camping gear. If you are towing a horse box, the weight of a couple of horses can easily double it.


18. Diesel or petrol power?

Diesel engines with their huge reserves of torque (pulling power) have traditionally been the engines of choice for tow cars, particularly as fuel consumption is usually much better with diesel. Some drivers prefer the instant response of a large petrol engine, but fuel expenses can be prohibitive. Do not discount petrol entirely, though - some of the latest engines, like Ford’s EcoBoost, are eminently suited to towing and pretty economical.

9. What vehicles are very best for towing lighter loads?

In the event you only have a small trailer or caravan to tow, you really do not need a huge 4x4. Even medium-sized hatchbacks - like the Ford Concentrate and Volkswagen Golf - can do the job. The current Audi A3, for example, has maximum towing weights of as much as 690kg / 1,800kg (unbraked/braked).
10. What vehicles are best for towing medium loads?

If you require a practical daily vehicle that may also be pressed into towing a caravan or boat, a medium-sized 4x4 or estate car is perfect. That way you can steer clear of the typically extremely high operating costs of a full-size 4x4. Examples of medium-sized 4x4s include the Audi Q5, Honda CR-V and Skoda Yeti. Numerous estate cars are nicely suited to towing, too, some of which - like the Skoda Excellent - are accessible with 4x4.
1 energy choice that might not be open to you is hybrid. For instance, Toyota’s Auris Hybrid and Prius are not designed to tow at all, but other people (like the Lexus RX450h and Volvo V60 PHEV Plug-In Hybrid) can tow nearly as a lot as a diesel.

The car’s legal towing limit should also be checked. Generally the legal maximum figure is higher than an 85% match, but that’s not usually the case. Below no situations ought to the legal maximum be exceeded.

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