Not all Australian Touring Caravans weigh 8000lb, there are lightweight single axle models, like this 4,200lb , 22ft version that can be easily towed by a car.

A mid sized truck would have a hard time with this. So no a car can not tow these.

I think they must make very powerful cars down under. Either that or the philosophy regarding towing is radically different. I personally would not pull any 4000# trailer with a car. Small popup maybe (been there done that) but did not really like it, even where the popup was under 1500#.

gates59 wrote:A mid sized truck would have a hard time with this. So no a car can not tow these. You would be in for a shock to the system if you came here or went to Europe. Cars do happily tow these at a 60-70mph cruising speed. In Europe they are generally smaller and have a set speed limit of 60mph on freeways., but you get 24ft one that are toed by Volvo's, Mercedes etc. You maybe right about NA midsize pickups, but cars are towing these and similar lightweight PopTop Caravans the length and breadth of Australia.This European Caravan is 26ft long and has a max weight of 4,400lb.wmoses wrote:I think they must make very powerful cars down under. Either that or the philosophy regarding towing is radically different. I personally would not pull any 4000# trailer with a car. Small popup maybe (been there done that) but did not really like it, even where the popup was under 1500#It sounds like you would have equally the same problem. I wonder if your pickups have that much use as tow vehicles if they struggle with these lightweight things?

Robert - I take it Australia is pretty flat where caravaners typically travel ...?

wmoses wrote:Robert - I take it Australia is pretty flat where caravaners typically travel .No. You see them climbing fairly steep hills with the above combinations and they are not in many cases changing down.Heavier Caravans , yes need substantially more capable tow vehicles , but not these.

You can tow it with a car | Good Sam Community

Slownsy
Explorer
Oct 19, 2013
As Robert wrote many Australian sedans used for towing with no problem but most use a 4+4 pickup or station van. most vehicles are limited to 3500kg tov capasety or les and no more than 10% on towbar. I don't think it is anymore dangers using a car than a truck as long as u stay witin its ratingd. not everybody neds a diesel dually so grow op.
RobertRyan
Explorer
Oct 19, 2013
MontanaCamper wrote:
UK's cars have a lot more spunk then the US that's for sure...I'm sure the Ozzy's are the same...

made this disbeliever...believe....

Except the Station Wagon towing the Bailey European Camper is the Wagon version of your "Chevrolet SS' or Holden Calais.. Yes it was only a v6, but you can get a 400hp V8 version.
What you said about tbe European diesel cars applies though,.
MontanaCamper
Explorer
Oct 18, 2013
When we were over in the UK visiting my wifes brother and his family. Their neighbor had a boxy square diesel wagon that towed a 22' single axle trailer..he said he towed it up to Ireland, we were in Edinburgh. I asked him how it towed, he said we didn't set any land speed records, but were not the slowest either...they don't push it. He had 14" brakes (metric of course..I measured with a US dollar bill. I told him what I towed with and what I towed (pic below) he said hop in..we will take it for ride and get a nip...soon as we got in the country he let me drive...Man, that boxy square wagon was snappy...lots of horse power. Was a 4 banger with a turbo and a 5 speed. Felt a lot like my friends supra when I was shifting through the gears.

UK's cars have a lot more spunk then the US that's for sure...I'm sure the Ozzy's are the same...

made this disbeliever...believe.....
gmw_photos
Explorer
Oct 18, 2013
RobertRyan wrote:
gmw photo wrote:
Those lucky folks down under, in this same truck ( Navarra there ) get the 3.0 V6 turbo diesel, with 400 ft-lbs of torque. Oh man....if Nissan had that here, with my excellent six speed manual gearbox, I would be all over it.

Yes very big difference in capabilities to the Frontier. Here they pull
27-30ft lightweight 5vers. Imagine doing that with a Frontier?

Actually, we have a fella up here in Canada that is pulling a "Escape 5" ( nineteen and half foot fifth wheel ) with a Frontier and he says that it pulls nicely.

Send us that turbo diesel please for my Nissan ?
RobertRyan
Explorer
Oct 18, 2013
RoyB wrote:
think I will stick with my F150 size truck towing my off-road trailers. Then when I finish up my AUSSIE WARWAGON lookalike with my 12-foot box OFF-ROAD POPUP TRAILER with lots of batteries and solar panels then I won't have any worries.

They have Diesel SUV's here. Pull better than a F150(closer to a F250) and vastly better off road
RobertRyan
Explorer
Oct 18, 2013
md2lgyk wrote:
Sorry, but I do not believe there is any car sold in America (vans and SUVs excluded) that's rated to tow 4,000 pounds.

Cars in the US are underrated and Pickups overrated. OEM's make a lot more money out of selling pickups. So they do not want you to use a car for towing even if it would be suitable to do so.
RobertRyan
Explorer
Oct 18, 2013
Francesca Knowles wrote:
n my opinion, comparing Australian/European trailers to those built here is apples-to-oranges. Design-and-build-wise, about the only thing they have in common is that they all have tires.

No Francesca. About two years ago I posted photos of a family that took their family sedan to the US and towed a US built Hybrid Travel Trailer all over the US. There was 4 in the car.
RobertRyan
Explorer
Oct 18, 2013
dadmonth wrote:
I can watch "The Long, Long Trailer" with Luci and Desi and get sweaty palms I know "back in the day", but we also didn't have seat belts then or air bags or lots of other things that have proven themselves. Think we'll stick with the F-150 with the factory tow and our 26' TT that comes in with appropriate numbers, just for the heck of it.

The car pictured would be a better bet than a midsize pickup. It sounds like "Midsize Pickups" have a deficit as far as towing goes.Towing with a suitable car is NOT a "sweaty palms" exercise far from it.For lightweight European Caravans they use Diesel cars i.e Mercedes /Volvo in Europe.These are restrictd to 60mph but have no problems exceeding sped limit towing i.e 80mph.
RobertRyan
Explorer
Oct 18, 2013
gmw photo wrote:
Those lucky folks down under, in this same truck ( Navarra there ) get the 3.0 V6 turbo diesel, with 400 ft-lbs of torque. Oh man....if Nissan had that here, with my excellent six speed manual gearbox, I would be all over it.

Yes very big difference in capabilities to the Frontier. Here they pull
27-30ft lightweight 5vers. Imagine doing that with a Frontier?
Bucky_Badger
Explorer
Oct 18, 2013
RobertRyan wrote:
Not all Australian Touring Caravans weigh 8000lb, there are lightweight single axle models, like this 4,200lb , 22ft version that can be easily towed by a car.

I guess that's fine down under

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