RV FEATURE
SELECTING THE TOW TUG
There’s no question that you can see
an amazing amount of this country by
sticking to the blacktop, but if you want to
experience some of the best, most remote
areas of this country, you will need to
venture off the beaten track and have a go
at offroad caravanning.
But venturing off the asphalt is more than
just dragging your van down a dirt road and
hoping for the best. There are many traps
for the uninitiated just waiting to bite your
pride and joy where it hurts, costing you
hundred or thousands of dollars in recovery
and repair costs.
In this series, we will take you through the
very basics of offroad caravanning. We will
look at vehicle selection and preparation, both
tow vehicle and caravan, driving techniques,
dos and don'ts, essential equipment and, at
the end of it all, a look at the places you can
go to test your new-found skills to experience
the best parts this remote country has to offer.
I don't want to start a debate about whose
tow vehicle is better. Rather, these are the
features I would recommend you look for
if you're in the market for an offroad tow
vehicle, or you want to assess the offroad-
towing suitability of your existing vehicle.
1. You will need a 4WD. It probably goes
without saying but it’s a simple fact that
4WDs are built for traversing miles and
miles of rough, corrugated roads. Large
wheels and tyres, high ground clearance,
heavy-duty suspension and the ability
to engage low range 4WD are all assets
in the rough stuff and will ensure your
tow vehicle can survive the relentless
punishment it will likely endure.
2. Stick to the popular brands. No matter
how prepared you are or how capable
your vehicle is, there will be times when
things wear out or break down. You will
want access to an extensive dealer service
network. Toyota, Ford, Holden and Nissan
all have service centres in every part of
the country. The last thing you want to be
told is that your tow vehicle will need to be
trucked back to a capital city just to change
a busted shock absorber.
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