The importance of regularly checking your tyre pressure
Regularly checking your tyre pressure is crucial to your vehicle’s safety, fuel economy and optimal driving.
How to calculate your towing capacity
Regularly checking your tyre pressure is crucial to your vehicle’s safety, fuel economy and optimal driving.
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Find out which SUVs are best for your next family holiday adventure.
With summer well and truly here, there’s no better time to dust off your caravan, boat or camping trailer and hit the road. But before you do, it’s essential to know your vehicle’s towing capacity for both safety and legal reasons. Towing capacity is not a one-size-fits-all metric, and it’s important to consider the various factors that can affect how much weight your vehicle can haul. As responsible drivers, it falls on us to understand the limitations of our vehicles, safeguarding ourselves and others when out on the open road.
Towing capacity can be described as the maximum weight a vehicle can tow without compromising performance or safety. There are many components within a vehicle that contribute to its towing capacity; most notably the engine, which produces power, and the transmission, which directs this power to the wheels. The suspension system and brakes contribute to stability and control (crucial for towing heavy loads), and a robust frame ensures structural integrity, even under immense stress.
Some of our favourite vehicles for towing include the Toyota Landcruiser, Nissan Patrol, and Ford Ranger. With plenty of capable options to choose from, we suggest doing your research to find a vehicle that best aligns with your specific needs and budget.
Understanding your vehicle’s towing capacity is essential for anyone planning on hauling caravans, boats or trailers safely. Primarily, this information can be found in your vehicle’s owner’s manual, where detailed specifications, including towing capacity, are outlined. The owner’s manual also provides insights into critical factors such as engine power, transmission capabilities, suspension systems, and chassis strength, all tailored to the specific make and model of your car. Locating your car’s vehicle identification number (VIN) is also beneficial as this can be used to gain further insights into your vehicle’s factory specifications that influence towing capacity.
Understanding the weight of what you’re towing is essential when calculating your towing capacity. The Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) represents the total weight of your trailer and its contents. The Gross Combination Mass (GCM) is the maximum weight of your vehicle and trailer combined. Understanding these factors is vital to ensure that you stay within the prescribed towing limits of your vehicle.
It’s also important to remember that not all trailers are built equal. Camper trailers, boat trailers and utility trailers (amongst others) all have unique weight distributions and handling characteristics. Familiarising yourself with what you’re towing enables you to tailor your approach based on the specific demands of your cargo, ultimately ensuring a smoother and more secure towing experience.
Vehicle modifications are a popular way to enhance your vehicle’s towing capabilities. One such modification is boosting your engine’s performance to improve towing efficiency. This is useful as a more robust engine can provide increased torque and horsepower, translating to improved towing capabilities. Alternatively, aftermarket towing packages provide solutions such as improved cooling systems, reinforced frames, and enhanced transmission components that bolster a vehicle’s towing capacity. Whilst it might be tempting to purchase all the upgrades, it’s crucial to approach modifications carefully, considering the manufacturer’s guidelines and ensuring that any changes align with safety and legal requirements.
In order to prevent pushing your vehicle to its absolute limits and causing preventable damage, we suggest considering the following:
By calculating towing capacity with these factors in mind, you create a comprehensive picture of your vehicle’s capabilities, ensuring that your towing activities not only comply with guidelines but prioritise safety for you and other road users.
In order to avoid creating a potentially hazardous situation or damaging your set up, we recommend avoiding these common mistakes:
To stay safe, secure and stress-free on the road this season:
Empower yourself to make informed decisions the next time you need to tow something by carefully considering your vehicle's capabilities and not overlooking the legal limits. Consider incorporating safety mechanisms and adopting a mindset of caution every time you hit the road. And remember, regardless of whether you’re taking the trailer out for the 1st time or the 100th time, it’s never too late to form some good towing habits.
Going away? Click here to check out our ultimate summer road trip guide!