Is it safe towing a large caravan with a ute?

QUESTION

Hi John,

I have watched quite a few of your YouTube videos and found them very helpful. I will be in the market for a new tow vehicle in the next few months and am wondering if you can help me with advice choosing the vehicle, and subsequent purchase.

We have a deposit on a Masterpiece Dynamic 19’6” dual axle caravan with tare of around 2500kg and ATM of 3300kg, although I plan not to exceed 3000kg. Tow ball weight will be around 250kg. It is semi-off road and capable of going off-grid.

My wife and I don't have a lot of experience, so we plan to start off ‘small’ and stick to parks and established off-grid areas. We plan one day to do the Gibb River Rd, and the York Peninsula. We don't really envisage going ‘hard core’ and driving up dry creek beds!

Given the size of the van I expect we need to go for a 4x4 ute type vehicle. We have looked at Ranger, D-MAX, BT-50, Triton etc. We obviously need a tow bar and I'm thinking a canopy for the tray is the most practical arrangement. Not sure about all the other accessories - bull bar, suspension kits etc.

All of the vehicles seem to be capable of doing the job, provided we are mindful of all the weights (I have done a spreadsheet with all weights etc., thanks to your videos.)

Can you offer some sage advice for us novices regarding vehicle choice and accessories? And can you help us source a vehicle in a few months time? We pick up the van from Remon in September.

Thanks & regards,

Martin

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ANSWER

Martin,

Utes are severely compromised at 3300kg, and still quite compromised at 3000kg.

Towing more than 2500kg with a ute is typically a mistake. The options are: Landcruiser or Patrol.

You cn do it with a ute, on paper, but it’s awful. Plus the van is significantly heavier than the ute towing it, and has the capacity to push the vehicle off the road. Also, your proposed towball weight is too light. For heavy trailers it needs to be 10% (300kg).

I would not be driving more than about 80-90km/h with 3000kg behind a ute.

Also, Triton only tows 3100kg max - too close to your proposed ATM of 3000.

For example, Ranger Wildtrak has a kerb weight of 2278kg and a GVM of 3200, but the GCM is 6000kg, so this effectively reduced the GVM to 3000kg when you are towing 3000kg. (3000kg van + 3000kg ute = 6000kg.)

3000kg - 2278kg = 722 of payload - 300kg (towball download; it’s part of the payload) = 422kg in the ute. Minus 60kg for the towbar = 362kg. Minus you and your wife and some personal effects = 160kg for payload in the ute. Minus a second spare tyre for the outback = 120kg.

Complete heavy towing guide: GVM, GCM, payload, towball limits explained >>

We have not yet put in a decent jack and shovel, a fire extinguisher, a compressor and tyre repair kit, or recovery equipment. If you pack that stuff and fit a bullbar, you’ll be overloaded.

I sincerely and strenuously advise you to go out there and find a van that does not exceed 2500kg if you intend to tow it with a ute.

There is also the matter of towing experience, which you apparently have little to none of. This would not be the place I would advise you start (towing 3000kg with a ute).

Sorry - I know this is not what you want to hear.

Sincerely,

JC

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