Towing off-road – but what exactly does ‘off-road’ mean? - Ezytrail Camper Trailers PTY LTD
Towing off-road – but what exactly does ‘off-road’ mean?
Article by: RV Daily Words and Images Mark Allen
I was given no instructions, no limits, no idea… so, naturally, I just went for it.
Mum, on the other hand, thought I’d just go running around the yard, maybe get a little dusty and a simple hand wash would suffice before dinner.
My opinion, given the sheer weight and size of any off-road caravan, is that they cannot and will never be able to be towed where an off-road camper-trailer can. Take a long, hard think about what you really hope to do ‘off-road’ with a caravan. I own both an off-road caravan and a camper-trailer. Both have their pros and cons. The van weighs in at 2.5 tonnes, sports dual axles and is wider than my vehicle, while the single-axle camper tops a tonne fully loaded and runs in the same wheel tracks as my vehicle; that makes a huge difference to what a typical 4X4 can accomplish off-road.
Forget about on-road caravans altogether – they won’t cut the mustard off-road. Instead, look for at least a semi off-road van to tackle graded gravel roads, or a dedicated heavy dutyoff-road van that will see you negotiating low-range tracks, sand and all manner of harder 4X4 pursuits.
Do keep in mind though, no matter how good your van is suited to off-road travel, it is akin to towing a huge anchor and will see you bogged much faster than not towing anything. Sand will knock the wind out of your sails, as will long stretches of sloppy mudand boulder-strewn tracks. Watch for low hanging trees too, they do a hell of a lot of damage to protruding awnings and high-mounted air conditioners.
Tyres – as much as there is plenty of conjecture as to whether you need mud tyres or if an all-terrain pattern is sufficient, at least make sure you use an LT (Light Truck) designated tyre. These will providebetter resistance to punctures, are generally higher load rated and will see them far outlasting a P (Passenger) rated tyre. Do keep an eye on tyre pressures and remember to adjust up and down to suit the terrain, just like you do on your tow vehicle.
Choosing an off-road hitch should be high on your list too; specifically, one that not only returns maximum articulation, but is also easy to hitch and unhitch as well as being adequately rated to the weight of your van. If you intend on using load levelling bars, note that not all off-road hitches cater for them.
When it comes to rubber, some vans’ tyres, including mine, are inflated from new with nitrogen – denoted by the green (instead of black) valve stem caps. While nitrogen offers some benefits, the chance of finding any out in the bush is akin to finding rocking horse poo, so best stick with plain ol’ air – plus, it’s free. You might consider fitting a tyre pressure monitoring system too.As soon as tyre pressures alter from a setamount, a warning goes off on your dash-mounted screen, letting you know to pullover to avoid a total blowout or further damage.
Sooner or later, you will get stuck, bogged or will be “no longer able to proceed”… call it what you will.
There is no shame in it, but every vehicle, with or without a caravan, should be equipped for self-recovery. 12V winches, recovery boards, jacks, bull bags and even a simple shovel should be carried. The more remote off-road you venture, the more gear you should carry; don’t rely on potentialpassers-by to help out.
Safety while using recovery gear is paramount; don’t chance injury or death by irresponsible use. If you’re not sure how to use a certain bit of recovery equipment, or not even sure about driving off-road with a van, book yourself into a course that is dedicated to off-road towing.
One of the main things that will put a stop to forward travel is lack of ground clearance. Check both approach angles (the longer the drawbar the more chance it’ll scrap going over a mound) and departure angles (upward sloping rear ends offer much less chance of dragging or scraping over the mounds). Weight is the biggest drawback of towing off-road; hauling a couple tonne of square home on wheels is no easy feat through soft sand especially, so ensuring your tow vehicle has plenty of power and torque is vital. So too is knowing how to drive the vehicle in any given scenario with the van on. Losing momentum in the wrong spot will see plenty of use of your recovery gear!
You’ll also want your van’s braking system to be up to scratch.Appropriate electronic braking systems are great off-road and can be a huge help in the right circumstances. Forget about using override brakes on heavy vans; not only are they illegal for use over twotonne, you’ll find the weight of your van has a terrifying ability to push you past your intended stopping point.