Tow car tips
� The unbraked tow weight is often 750kg for 4X4s , but that ’ s a legal maximum . For smaller vehicles it can be much less .
� The braked tow weight can vary across models . The Nissan GU Patrol could tow 2500kg , 3200kg , or 3500kg depending on whether it was the 3.0 or 4.2 , manual or auto . Weights of any type ( GVM , tow , GCM ) can be very specific to a certain model , year , engine , driveline and trim level ;
� TSC is trailer stability control . This is a variant of stability control that is designed especially to deal with trailer sway . One of those things you may only need once in your life but it kind of pays for itself right there and then . However , as with any electronic aid , consider it an aid , not a free pass to just add more weight .
� A good tow car will have a GCM that is the sum of its GVM and maximum braked tow rating .
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It will be all wheel drive , diesel , automatic , powerful and have TSC ; The maximum tow rating can only be achieved if the towbar is rated appropriately . Not all towbars are rated so .
� Always go for a tow vehicle that is rated well in excess of your trailer ’ s weight . For example , a 3000kg rated vehicle for a 2000kg trailer . It ’ ll do the job much more easily and safely . And you tend to avoid complications as described here .
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If you tow offroad , as in low-range territory , then reducing the trailer load by about 1 / 3 is a good idea . For example , a 3500kg car would then tow a trailer with an ATM of no more than 1200kg . Modern automatics can be pretty much left in Drive when towing . The electronics are smart enough to use the correct gear out of the 6 to 10 they use , and will not overload the vehicle in any particular ratio . Short wheelbase vehicles are not necessarily bad towcars . They have a very short distance between the rear axle and the towball which is good for trailer control . The Defender 90 is rated to 3500kg , same as the 130 , and the shortie Toyota Prado , when it was available , had a higher rating than the long-wheelbase version .
Comment
Towing figures are the new power figures . We used to obsess over kilowatts and torque , and to some extent we still do , but the manufacturers need another headline figure and now it ’ s tow ratings . The bigger the number the better , and even if you don ’ t tow an impressive rating , it gives an impression of capability , strength , and power .
So that ’ s why manufacturers are driven to go for higher and higher tow figures – it ’ s all marketing , and we can expect to see more of the same with the new utes . When Ford shifted the Ranger from 3350kg to 3500kg shortly after it was launched , I suspect that was mainly done to combat Colorado ’ s 3500kg rating .
Realistically , the amount you can tow in a Ranger rated at 3350kg is the same as one with 3500kg , such are the caveats around the higher figure . Once you start pushing the limits of a vehicle like