When shopping for camper trailers, one of the most essential considerations is whether or not your existing vehicle will be able to tow the camper you buy. Otherwise, you may need to invest in another vehicle, which will be an added expense. Then again, it could be an opportunity to buy a SUV or truck.
First things first…safety
It’s important that you buy a camper from providers that comply with Australian Design Rules, which dictate how vehicles must be made to make them roadworthy.
- Most manufacturers and importers do comply with the rules, but some may not. Make sure to check that a vehicle has all the safety features in terms of structure, lighting, braking, and other features.
- The vehicle used to tow a camper trailer or caravan must have the correct towing capacity to ensure safety.
- In addition to towing capacity, it’s also important to check gross combination mass, wheelbase and stability, and torque and power output.
How to Choose the Right Towing Vehicle
Important terminologies to remember
- Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM): the maximum weight of a camper trailer once it’s fully loaded, plus the tow ball mass.
- Tow Ball Mass (TBM): Also known as the hitch weight, TBM refers to the weight a loaded camper trailer applies to a vehicle’s tow ball or rear.
- Gross Trailer Mass (GTM): the rating when a fully loaded camper trailer is hitched to the towing vehicle.
- Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM): Usually set by the manufacturer, GVM is the permissible weight of a vehicle when loaded, taking into account not just passengers and cargo, but also fluid, brake suspension and the like.
Important formulas to remember:
- ATM = weight of the trailer + maximum load + Tow Ball Mass
- Gross Combination Mass (GCM) = GTM + GVM
Assess Your Towing Needs
Towing a camper trailer is just one of the things a vehicle can do as long as it meets the legal weight capacity and payload limit.
- Determine the heaviest trailer you want or need to tow.
- Decide whether a vehicle is just for towing or use in other tasks.
- Consider towing frequency, whether daily, weekly or monthly.
- Take into account terrains, inclines and other road conditions that will put a heavier toll on a towing vehicle.
Calculate the Towing Capacity
- Refer to the manufacturer’s handbook to identify the maximum recommended tow rating for your specific vehicle. If not available, there are other ways to calculate the tow rate.
- A good rule of thumb to remember is that a vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of no more than 4.5 tonnes must not tow over its GVM capacity, including load. If your current truck has the same GVM, the camper you buy must not exceed the GVM when loaded.
- The weight of a camper and the vehicle towing it must be within regulations.
Know the Trailer’s Tongue Weight
- Check your towing vehicle’s axle rating. It can be heavy and adds up when attached to the hitch. For safe and efficient towing, you must exceed the weight rating.
- The hitch receiver has its own weight that, when combined with the axle’s weight, can be significant, adding to the overall weight you need to consider.
Gas or Diesel
- Diesel-powered vehicles are known to handle higher payload at optimum towing capacity. It can also eat through inclines, even with a loaded fifth wheel.
- On the downside, diesel vehicles are more expensive to maintain, although this is slowly changing as new engines are developed.
- Gas-powered vehicles have lower towing capacity and higher maintenance costs.
Choosing a towing vehicle may not be straightforward, but doing your homework can help. You can also ask for professional advice from providers of camper trailers like Opus Camper to ensure your camper and towing vehicle match.
