What is a good towing car?
No car is specifically designed as a towing car for a caravan. But fortunately, most cars can indeed drive with a caravan. Of course, the car must match the caravan. There are a number of characteristics you need to consider.
The best towing car doesn't really exist. Different situations and which characteristics are most important to the user always lead to a compromise. The routes to be driven, the type of holiday, the characteristics of the caravan, and the cost determine which towing car is best suited. And that varies for everyone. Moreover, most people drive more kilometers without a caravan than with one, so daily driving characteristics are also important.
Unladen weight of the towing car
The heavier the unladen weight of the car, the better the car performs as a caravan tow vehicle. A loaded caravan should ideally not be heavier than the empty car. And for a comfortable journey, the empty car should even be much heavier than the caravan. In fact, a high car weight is the most important characteristic for safe and comfortable travel with a caravan.
Towing capacity
The car and the caravan also have a legal rule. The allowed maximum towing weight must therefore be at least as much as the caravan actually weighs. This includes the load. A higher allowed towing weight than necessary does not make the car a better caravan tow vehicle. However, the costs will then be unnecessarily high, both in purchase, maintenance, and consumption, as this would be an unnecessarily large car.
Train weight of the towing car
The driving license you need to drive a certain combination has a lot to do with the train weight. That is the sum of the car plus load and the caravan plus load. There are three types of driving licenses that are relevant here: B, B+, and BE. With a B driving license, the weight of the complete set as it is ready for departure must not exceed 3500kg. A B+ driving license raises that limit to 4350kg. With a BE driving license, you can tow 3500kg on the tow bar, without counting the weight of the car. If you managed to obtain BE before January 19, 2013, it gets even better. In that case, there is no restriction on the weight of the combination or caravan, as long as the tow bar and the car can handle it without exceeding the weights on the type plate or registration certificate.
Nose weight
The allowed nose weight of a caravan on the car must be at least 5% of the caravan's weight. A lower nose weight is not pleasant. Unless you enjoy your rear wheels lifting off the ground when hitting a bump. Too high a nose weight is also not good, of course. The car can then sag so much that the drawbar hits the ground. The type plate on the tow bar ultimately determines the maximum allowed weight on the ball.
Engine of the towing car
A car that delivers plenty of torque at low revs is the most pleasant for towing a caravan. An engine with a turbo, both petrol and diesel, usually provides a significant boost at low revs and is therefore a better tow vehicle than an engine with the same power but without a turbo. An exception to this are engines where the turbo kicks in later. At low revs, you then have turbo lag, which doesn't tow well. However, these are usually sporty models, and you don't mount a tow bar on those.
Usually, it's more pleasant to tow with a diesel than with a comparable petrol engine. However, the differences have become smaller and smaller in recent years. A hybrid car, thanks to its electric support, is also suitable for towing a caravan, provided the allowed towing weight is sufficient. With a 100% electric car, you have to be careful. A large part is not suitable as a towing car because there is no space for the hitch or because the batteries can overheat when a heavy Tabbert is hitched.
In terms of fuel consumption with a caravan, there is little difference between cars, and an economical car hardly consumes less than a thirsty one. A diesel generally consumes about 20% less than a petrol engine, but this is offset by a higher purchase price and more expensive road tax. In addition, diesels are in the doghouse with climatologists. With an older diesel, you cannot enter today's environmental zones.
Gearbox
Modern automatic transmissions can easily tow a caravan. Often, the automatic transmission itself knows which gear should be chosen, and otherwise, manual intervention is possible. Selecting a sport program is also an option. The engine then shifts up a gear, which somewhat compensates for the extra towing weight. Automatic transmissions with a short first gear and as many gears as possible are the most pleasant. Driving in traffic jams and hill starts are much easier with an automatic transmission. The disadvantage of an automatic transmission is that the costs can be higher for purchase and any repairs. Incidentally, a good old manual transmission also drives perfectly well.
Drive
Four-wheel drive has an advantage in winter conditions or on a muddy campsite, as there is much more traction. Under normal conditions, however, these advantages are negligible, and it also does not provide more stability. A 4WD is often a bit heavier, which can be an advantage in all circumstances.
Uphill, a car with rear-wheel drive has slightly more grip than a car with front-wheel drive. Driving up an unpaved road, for example at a campsite, is better, but in practice, many situations are also conceivable where front-wheel drive has advantages for the driving characteristics of the combination.
Chassis
If the car's suspension sags significantly with a heavy caravan on the hitch, the chance of the caravan hitting the ground at a speed bump is not imaginary. If automatic level control is not available, auxiliary springs or aftermarket air suspension can provide a solution. Stiffer suspension and low-profile tires with increased tire pressure also provide more stable handling. This also increases when the wheels are far back for a short overhang at the rear. A longer wheelbase also promotes this.
Interested in a towing car that suits you best? Then take a look at www.bynco.com
You can find a suitable caravan at www.camperscaravans.nl
