Preparing a Vehicle for Towing Feedback @ ExplorOz

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Preparing a Vehicle for Towing Feedback

Submitted: Wednesday, Aug 06, 2008 at 21:27

nicki

Article Overview - Preparing a Vehicle for Towing
Everyone who intends to tow a caravan, or indeed any sort of trailer, needs to be aware that various tow vehicle and trailer combinations can behave in slightly different ways and certainly different from just driving the tow vehicle itself. View Full Article...

A very comprehensive and useful article-many thanks.
As someone who is a newbie to caravaning I need all the help I can get. My partner and I plan to purchase a camper trailer in th enear future. Does anyone have any advice on how suitable a Toyota Camry 1993 station Wagon, (4 cylinders, can tow 1200kg) would be to tow a Jayco Dove or Coromal Eko or (price will probably negate this) Golstream Link camper trailer? These models fall within the allowable towing weight-but we want to take our bikes and not sure how much to allow for taking into account once trailer is loaded.
Any advice gratefully received.

AnswerID: 319463 Submitted: Wednesday, Aug 06, 2008 at 21:38

Member - Graham H (QLD) replied:

The main thing to remember is that the plated weight of the trailer must not exceed the plated towing capacity of the tow vehicle. Full or not.
Also the ball weight forms part of your cars load.

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FollowupID: 586041 Submitted: Wednesday, Aug 06, 2008 at 21:44

Vivid Adventures posted:

Nup... the main thing to remember is that the actual weight of the trailer must not exceed the maximum towing capacity of the tow vehicle and it's hitch (whichever is lowest) and the actual ball weight of the trailer must not exceed the maximum ball weight of the tow vehicle and as you state must be included in the car's load which should not exceed the load carrying capacity of the vehicle. These are not plated - they are in the owner's handbook, or available from the manufacturer. Some vehicles have even more complex maximums - eg. total combined mass must not exceed X.

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AnswerID: 319469 Submitted: Wednesday, Aug 06, 2008 at 21:59

neil&brenda replied:

Nicki, My partner and I are doing a similar thing. We purchased a Goldstream Goldstar for a reasonable price. Found it was outfitted a hell of a lot better than the Jaycos of the day. We are going down the weight thing ourselves. It can be very confusing. Gross mass of vehicle and van etc. Check the vehicle manual. It should give you the weights. Then check the van compliance plate. Then get a guide from any decent caravan joint. Sit down (as we did) with a calculator and find out that including petrol and passengers, you can only pack a pair of underpants to go away with and only have bread and a wet sponge for sustenance.
Good luck in your endeavours.

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FollowupID: 586178 Submitted: Thursday, Aug 07, 2008 at 13:09

PeterInSa posted:

I agree with your comments Neil/Brenda, if Nicki wants to tow legally with some gear in the vehicle and camper, as well as a full tank of gas, it would be better to upgrade the camry.

Peter

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FollowupID: 586275 Submitted: Thursday, Aug 07, 2008 at 22:00

nicki posted:

Geez, sounds like the diet will work while away anyhow! Yes, we are doing the calculations and trying to get our un-technical heads around ball weights, towing hitches, tare weights etc. Luckily have still got the vehicles manual so am clear on maximums. But confused about the tow ball weight and how it relates to towed total.
Where did you find the decent caravan joint by the way? We're in Victoria and are still looking..
Anyhow, thanks,
Nicki

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FollowupID: 586351 Submitted: Friday, Aug 08, 2008 at 12:30

neil&brenda posted:

Nicki, We got our guide from the local Jayco in Wells Road Seaford.

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FollowupID: 586483 Submitted: Friday, Aug 08, 2008 at 23:41

nicki posted:

Thanks again-we were planning to see their Jaycos range. Also interested in the Eko Coromal which is more expensive-is it worth the difference? Any one know from experience?
Nicki

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AnswerID: 319528 Submitted: Thursday, Aug 07, 2008 at 09:16

DIO replied:

Subject to all of the weight limitations (as mentioned by others) using a front wheel drive to tow can also be a problem particularly on loose of gravel roads with a slight upward incline. However, many people have successfully towed with such vehicles after seeking professional advice and installing high quality weight distribution hitch (WDH) - Hayman Reese etc. Link

Reply 3 of 4

AnswerID: 319580 Submitted: Thursday, Aug 07, 2008 at 15:46

brizmatt replied:

Until recently used a 4cyl manual camry wagon (wide body) to tow our Finch. Towed about 15000ks over two years. Full of stuff for a family of four, including bikes at times. We used a one-bar WDH. The issues we encountered- more than once- was losing traction on gravel roads going up hills and it was pretty hairy towing on the wet on windy roads. To me this is a physics issue with towing with front wheel drive and always something that you need to keep in the front of your mind. But was economical, could sit on all speed limits, I used to tow in 5th gear (which I am not game to do in my Bravo I bought so could do Fraser etc) and reliable (traded in with 250k on clock). Did Cunningham' Gap regularly and also towed up range to Aherton Tablelands. Whilst not fast uphills I used to take it easy in 2nd gear and temp gauge never rose.
Cheers
MattD

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FollowupID: 586274 Submitted: Thursday, Aug 07, 2008 at 21:53

nicki posted:

Thanks MattD, Glad to hear it is possible-up Atherton is quite a drive from memory. The Camry is automatic so imagine using gears manually will be required for such an uphill trek. The car is very reliable so reluctant to trade up, just yet. We were planning a slightly heavier than Finch-but are still investigating our options. Thanks.
Nicki

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