RV FEATURE
“GENERALLY, THE HEAVIER THE
TOW VEHICLE, RELATIVE TO THE
WEIGHT OF THE VAN, THE BETTER.”
new 3000kg-rated Prado you’ve got your eye
on could, theoretically, tow a 3000kg ATM
van with a maximum of 300kg on the towbar. But
is that wise?
Generally speaking, the heavier the tow vehicle,
relative to the weight of the van, the better. Not
everyone will agree, but I prefer a margin of at
least 500kg between the tow vehicle’s maximum
towing capacity and the loaded weight of the van.
The heavier the van, the more difficult it becomes
to find a tow vehicle that will provide this margin,
I realise. But I also realise that to ‘lighten the load’
pays off not just in towing stability but in fuel
usage and reduced engine wear and tear.
My own rig is a Goldstream Wing III wind-up
camper (ATM: 2000kg) towed by an Isuzu MU-
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