What makes a good tow vehicle? There are a number of factors, but a high tow rating, a heavy body, long wheelbase and a relatively short distance from the rear axle to the towball are all important. Here are Without a Hitch's top five 4WD tow vehicles of 2016.
Here, we’re looking at ‘conventional’ vehicles with the maximum 3500kg tow rating (as opposed to the big US trucks that can, with appropriate towing gear, haul up to six tonnes).
Most of the vehicles below are quite pricey – the best doesn’t necessarily come cheap. Join us as we count down to number 1.
Here, we’re looking at ‘conventional’ vehicles with the maximum 3500kg tow rating (as opposed to the big US trucks that can, with appropriate towing gear, haul up to six tonnes).
Most of the vehicles below are quite pricey – the best doesn’t necessarily come cheap. Join us as we count down to number 1.
5th – JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE OVERLAND 3.0 TD
RRP: $81,000
Maximum towing capacity: 3500kg
Towball maximum: 350kg
Jeep.com.au
The Grand Cherokee was developed in the USA, where such vehicles are designed with towing in mind. The Jeep feels very stable with a van behind and while the Overland’s air suspension does not feel quite as compliant as it does when there is no load, it is very stable and predictable in its response to wind buffeting and road surface changes.
The 3L turbodiesel V6 is a strong performer when there’s a caravan hooked up – its assertive mid-range response makes overtaking more confidence-inspiring and only the steepest highway hills will peg back the Grand Cherokee’s touring speed. Engine braking is fairly good while the eight-speed auto is a smooth shifter and seems to have a ratio for every occasion.
The Grand Cherokee is pretty good when the road turns to tracks, especially with its air suspension that lifts the body out of harm’s way offroad. The Jeep also has a comfortable interior and its controls are very easy to use.
There’s a fair wedge of up-to-the-minute standard equipment, too, with heated/cooled front seats and active cruise control among the highlights.
Maximum towing capacity: 3500kg
Towball maximum: 350kg
Jeep.com.au
The Grand Cherokee was developed in the USA, where such vehicles are designed with towing in mind. The Jeep feels very stable with a van behind and while the Overland’s air suspension does not feel quite as compliant as it does when there is no load, it is very stable and predictable in its response to wind buffeting and road surface changes.
The 3L turbodiesel V6 is a strong performer when there’s a caravan hooked up – its assertive mid-range response makes overtaking more confidence-inspiring and only the steepest highway hills will peg back the Grand Cherokee’s touring speed. Engine braking is fairly good while the eight-speed auto is a smooth shifter and seems to have a ratio for every occasion.
The Grand Cherokee is pretty good when the road turns to tracks, especially with its air suspension that lifts the body out of harm’s way offroad. The Jeep also has a comfortable interior and its controls are very easy to use.
There’s a fair wedge of up-to-the-minute standard equipment, too, with heated/cooled front seats and active cruise control among the highlights.
4th – FORD RANGER WILDTRAK
RRP: $60,090
Maximum towing capacity: 3500kg
Towball maximum: 350kg
Ford.com.au
The Ford Ranger Wildtrak was also on our list of last year’s best tow vehicles but a late-2015 upgrade has made a good tow vehicle even better.
Adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and lane keep assist are all available on Wildtrak as an option for just $600. This is one ute with a rock-solid chassis, and that doesn’t change even with a van hooked up. The Ford, together with the Mazda BT-50, has the longest wheelbase and shortest rear axle-to-towball measurement of the one-tonne utes, and the 3.2L in-line five-cylinder diesel makes for a relaxed vehicle when touring on the plains but has strong reserves of power and torque when hill-climbing or overtaking is called for.
Engine braking is also very strong, and the smooth six-speed auto has an excellent easy-to-use manual mode when you need to hold gears on descents.
The Ranger’s safety suite includes trailer sway control which, hopefully, you won’t ever need to use.
With its 230mm ground clearance, up to 800mm fording ability and locking rear diff, the Ranger is a strong offroad proposition. The interior is one of the most car-like of the utes, too, with plenty of comfort and convenience features such as the SYNC3 infotainment system.
Maximum towing capacity: 3500kg
Towball maximum: 350kg
Ford.com.au
The Ford Ranger Wildtrak was also on our list of last year’s best tow vehicles but a late-2015 upgrade has made a good tow vehicle even better.
Adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and lane keep assist are all available on Wildtrak as an option for just $600. This is one ute with a rock-solid chassis, and that doesn’t change even with a van hooked up. The Ford, together with the Mazda BT-50, has the longest wheelbase and shortest rear axle-to-towball measurement of the one-tonne utes, and the 3.2L in-line five-cylinder diesel makes for a relaxed vehicle when touring on the plains but has strong reserves of power and torque when hill-climbing or overtaking is called for.
Engine braking is also very strong, and the smooth six-speed auto has an excellent easy-to-use manual mode when you need to hold gears on descents.
The Ranger’s safety suite includes trailer sway control which, hopefully, you won’t ever need to use.
With its 230mm ground clearance, up to 800mm fording ability and locking rear diff, the Ranger is a strong offroad proposition. The interior is one of the most car-like of the utes, too, with plenty of comfort and convenience features such as the SYNC3 infotainment system.
3rd – RANGE ROVER SPORT SCV6 HSE
RRP: $128,900
Maximum towing capacity: 3500kg
Towball maximum: 350kg
Landrover.com.au
Last year, we nominated the turbodiesel Range Rover Sport SDV6 SE. This year, however, we’re going to do something controversial and nominate the supercharged petrol Range Rover Sport SCV6. Hear us out…
When it comes to towing, this is a fantastic vehicle. It’s also a very good vehicle in just about every other way.
With a caravan hitched up, the Sport’s air suspension automatically adjusts for the load and, with its good dimensions and solid kerb weight, it doesn’t easily get pushed around by a caravan.
As with the Land Rover Discovery 4, the manufacturer doesn’t recommend the use of a weight distribution hitch with this vehicle, which for some caravanners is a disappointment.
Nonetheless, the Sport’s supercharged petrol V6 offers incredible performance, with or without a caravan behind. There will not be many hills you’ll be forced to slow down for when climbing in the Sport. With its 280kW/450Nm outputs, the Rangie also makes quick work of overtaking, which is important when you need to pass a slow B-double when an overtaking lane opens up.
This petrol Sport does have a big thirst when towing, but with a decent 105L fuel tank, range won’t be a problem.
Maximum towing capacity: 3500kg
Towball maximum: 350kg
Landrover.com.au
Last year, we nominated the turbodiesel Range Rover Sport SDV6 SE. This year, however, we’re going to do something controversial and nominate the supercharged petrol Range Rover Sport SCV6. Hear us out…
When it comes to towing, this is a fantastic vehicle. It’s also a very good vehicle in just about every other way.
With a caravan hitched up, the Sport’s air suspension automatically adjusts for the load and, with its good dimensions and solid kerb weight, it doesn’t easily get pushed around by a caravan.
As with the Land Rover Discovery 4, the manufacturer doesn’t recommend the use of a weight distribution hitch with this vehicle, which for some caravanners is a disappointment.
Nonetheless, the Sport’s supercharged petrol V6 offers incredible performance, with or without a caravan behind. There will not be many hills you’ll be forced to slow down for when climbing in the Sport. With its 280kW/450Nm outputs, the Rangie also makes quick work of overtaking, which is important when you need to pass a slow B-double when an overtaking lane opens up.
This petrol Sport does have a big thirst when towing, but with a decent 105L fuel tank, range won’t be a problem.
2nd – LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 4 SE SDV6 – SCV6
RRP: $84,900
Maximum towing capacity: 3500kg
Towball maximum: 350kg
Landrover.com.au
With its 3L SDV6 engine, the Land Rover Discovery 4 tows very well. The big Disco, like most on this list, has plenty of kerb weight to keep almost any van from shoving it around, and it also has a natural stability with a relatively lanky wheelbase and rear axle-to-towball dimensions.
This is a very comfortable and luxurious hauler with plenty of performance on offer. Fuel consumption is not bad, and the twin-turbo diesel has a lot of get up and go, thanks to its 183kW and stonking 600Nm of torque.
Land Rover doesn’t recommend the use of a weight distribution hitch for its vehicles, so for some that might be a deal-breaker.
The Disco 4 is getting long in the tooth, though, being based on the 2005 Discovery 3, but it remains thoroughly up to date in terms of its technology
Maximum towing capacity: 3500kg
Towball maximum: 350kg
Landrover.com.au
With its 3L SDV6 engine, the Land Rover Discovery 4 tows very well. The big Disco, like most on this list, has plenty of kerb weight to keep almost any van from shoving it around, and it also has a natural stability with a relatively lanky wheelbase and rear axle-to-towball dimensions.
This is a very comfortable and luxurious hauler with plenty of performance on offer. Fuel consumption is not bad, and the twin-turbo diesel has a lot of get up and go, thanks to its 183kW and stonking 600Nm of torque.
Land Rover doesn’t recommend the use of a weight distribution hitch for its vehicles, so for some that might be a deal-breaker.
The Disco 4 is getting long in the tooth, though, being based on the 2005 Discovery 3, but it remains thoroughly up to date in terms of its technology
1st – TOYOTA LANDCRUISER 200 GXL TDV8
RRP: $87,000
Maximum towing capacity: 3500kg
Towball maximum: 350kg
Toyota.com.au
The LandCruiser 200 Series wagon has been on the market for 10 years and it still is the best all-round tow tug money can buy. Without A Hitch nominated it as one of its best tow vehicles last year and we still can’t go past its uncanny ability to hitch up almost any caravan and barely feel the weight – it really is outstanding.
Sure, performance begins to drop off once you’ve got 2.5 tonnes or more behind it, but it takes a very poorly balanced van to upset the LandCruiser’s inherent stability.
It has good towing dimensions, with a decent wheelbase and fairly short distance between the rear axle and the towball, and its hefty 2.6-tonne kerb weight helps to keep the rig firmly planted to the road.
With a minor update last year, the Cruiser now has 200kW of power (up 5kW), new front sheetmetal and some spec changes.
The LandCruiser has a large interior capable of swallowing a lot of gear – including up to eight occupants – and comfortable seats. The Cruiser is also a fantastic offroader and, with Toyota’s extensive parts and service network, you won’t have far to go to a Toyota dealer when on tour.
Click here to read about what you need to know about 2WD, AWD and 4WD towing vehicles
Maximum towing capacity: 3500kg
Towball maximum: 350kg
Toyota.com.au
The LandCruiser 200 Series wagon has been on the market for 10 years and it still is the best all-round tow tug money can buy. Without A Hitch nominated it as one of its best tow vehicles last year and we still can’t go past its uncanny ability to hitch up almost any caravan and barely feel the weight – it really is outstanding.
Sure, performance begins to drop off once you’ve got 2.5 tonnes or more behind it, but it takes a very poorly balanced van to upset the LandCruiser’s inherent stability.
It has good towing dimensions, with a decent wheelbase and fairly short distance between the rear axle and the towball, and its hefty 2.6-tonne kerb weight helps to keep the rig firmly planted to the road.
With a minor update last year, the Cruiser now has 200kW of power (up 5kW), new front sheetmetal and some spec changes.
The LandCruiser has a large interior capable of swallowing a lot of gear – including up to eight occupants – and comfortable seats. The Cruiser is also a fantastic offroader and, with Toyota’s extensive parts and service network, you won’t have far to go to a Toyota dealer when on tour.
Click here to read about what you need to know about 2WD, AWD and 4WD towing vehicles
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