This may open a can of worms so please make sure this stays on topic but I thought I would share this which I have received.
Please don't turn this thread into a brand bashing of tow vehicles etc
Caravan and camping sales Below is a copy of this link
Guide points to tow tug truths
words - Chris Fincham
New checklist highlights risks of ‘tail wagging the dog’ when caravan weighs substantially more than tow vehicle
While complying with the law, inexperienced caravanners using heavy-duty four-wheel drives to tow big caravans are still taking unnecessary risks, warns the Caravan Council of Australia (CCA).
The RV consumer advocacy group has released a tow vehicle selection guide that recommends a fully laden tow vehicle should weigh at least 30 per cent more than any fully laden caravan it’s towing.
The formula means that even highly-regarded, heavy-duty tow vehicles like the Toyota LandCruiser and Land Rover Discovery are not of sufficient mass to safely tow up to their recommended maximum limits of 3.5 tonnes.
For example, the 200 Series LandCruiser GXL with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of 3350kg, can safely tow 2570kg – well short of the manufacturer’s 3500kg rating. While the top-spec Discovery 4 with a GVM of 3240kg and similar towing capacity, is even less.
The tow vehicle’s GVM refers to its ‘dry’ weight plus any accessories, fuel, passengers and cargo.
However, both the diesel-powered Discovery 4 (183kW/600Nm) and LandCruiser (195kW/650Nm) have more than enough grunt to comply with the guide’s mathematical formula regards power -- kW/GCM (tonne) should be more than 25-- and torque -- Nm/GCM (tonne) of more than 65. GCM, or Gross Combined Mass, is the maximum allowable weight of both car and trailer combined.
While the Caravan Council of Australia’s Colin Young admits the recommendations are primarily aimed at inexperienced caravanners, including those who relieve the ‘main’ driver on longer trips, they also applicable to anyone who wants to reduce the risk of the “tail wagging the dog”.
“If you’ve been test driving caravans and been a journalist for 40 years, it’s a bit different to someone who drives a Mini around town for 50 weeks, then suddenly gets four and half tonnes behind them,” he said.
“They’re only recommendations for safety, and there’s certainly no doubt the big (vehicles) can tow a lot more. But still on the roads there are way too many Patrols and ‘Cruisers that have (sway) problems, particularly with the new, heavy rear kitchen type (caravans), where there is so much inertia at the back of the vehicle.”
He said the checklist was compiled after consultation with a number of “highly experienced engineers and vanners”.
“There are way too many incidents on the road, partly because the tow vehicle doesn’t have the power and the mass, also of course because the person doesn’t know how to load the vehicle (properly), or has it horribly over-loaded.”
The guide also aims to clear up some common misconceptions, such as the blanket rule that ball loading should be 10 per cent of the caravan’s overall mass.
“(In regards to) ratings and masses, even some of the major (caravan) manufacturers don’t get it right. They still think the ball loading is the ATM (Aggregrate Trailer Mass) rating minus the GTM (Gross Trailer Mass) rating, which is absolute rubbish and even some of the major publications put that out. No wonder people have accidents...”
Those considering any of the latest crop of three-tonne-plus tow tugs, including dual cab utes, to tow a big caravan should also do their homework.
“There is a real concern that in order to sell some vehicles including 4x4s and twin cabs, it would appear that they’re given ratings for towing and tow ball downloading way above what they really should have,” he said.
The CCA next plans to put out a guide on safe tow ball loading, while it continues to push for the introduction of a compulsory licence for towing heavy trailers.
For a copy of the tow vehicle selection guide visit the CCA website.
Please don't turn this thread into a brand bashing of tow vehicles etc
Caravan and camping sales Below is a copy of this link
Guide points to tow tug truths
words - Chris Fincham
New checklist highlights risks of ‘tail wagging the dog’ when caravan weighs substantially more than tow vehicle
While complying with the law, inexperienced caravanners using heavy-duty four-wheel drives to tow big caravans are still taking unnecessary risks, warns the Caravan Council of Australia (CCA).
The RV consumer advocacy group has released a tow vehicle selection guide that recommends a fully laden tow vehicle should weigh at least 30 per cent more than any fully laden caravan it’s towing.
The formula means that even highly-regarded, heavy-duty tow vehicles like the Toyota LandCruiser and Land Rover Discovery are not of sufficient mass to safely tow up to their recommended maximum limits of 3.5 tonnes.
For example, the 200 Series LandCruiser GXL with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of 3350kg, can safely tow 2570kg – well short of the manufacturer’s 3500kg rating. While the top-spec Discovery 4 with a GVM of 3240kg and similar towing capacity, is even less.
The tow vehicle’s GVM refers to its ‘dry’ weight plus any accessories, fuel, passengers and cargo.
However, both the diesel-powered Discovery 4 (183kW/600Nm) and LandCruiser (195kW/650Nm) have more than enough grunt to comply with the guide’s mathematical formula regards power -- kW/GCM (tonne) should be more than 25-- and torque -- Nm/GCM (tonne) of more than 65. GCM, or Gross Combined Mass, is the maximum allowable weight of both car and trailer combined.
While the Caravan Council of Australia’s Colin Young admits the recommendations are primarily aimed at inexperienced caravanners, including those who relieve the ‘main’ driver on longer trips, they also applicable to anyone who wants to reduce the risk of the “tail wagging the dog”.
“If you’ve been test driving caravans and been a journalist for 40 years, it’s a bit different to someone who drives a Mini around town for 50 weeks, then suddenly gets four and half tonnes behind them,” he said.
“They’re only recommendations for safety, and there’s certainly no doubt the big (vehicles) can tow a lot more. But still on the roads there are way too many Patrols and ‘Cruisers that have (sway) problems, particularly with the new, heavy rear kitchen type (caravans), where there is so much inertia at the back of the vehicle.”
He said the checklist was compiled after consultation with a number of “highly experienced engineers and vanners”.
“There are way too many incidents on the road, partly because the tow vehicle doesn’t have the power and the mass, also of course because the person doesn’t know how to load the vehicle (properly), or has it horribly over-loaded.”
The guide also aims to clear up some common misconceptions, such as the blanket rule that ball loading should be 10 per cent of the caravan’s overall mass.
“(In regards to) ratings and masses, even some of the major (caravan) manufacturers don’t get it right. They still think the ball loading is the ATM (Aggregrate Trailer Mass) rating minus the GTM (Gross Trailer Mass) rating, which is absolute rubbish and even some of the major publications put that out. No wonder people have accidents...”
Those considering any of the latest crop of three-tonne-plus tow tugs, including dual cab utes, to tow a big caravan should also do their homework.
“There is a real concern that in order to sell some vehicles including 4x4s and twin cabs, it would appear that they’re given ratings for towing and tow ball downloading way above what they really should have,” he said.
The CCA next plans to put out a guide on safe tow ball loading, while it continues to push for the introduction of a compulsory licence for towing heavy trailers.
For a copy of the tow vehicle selection guide visit the CCA website.
