10 tips for buying a tow car...
 

Thousands of people own a caravan, trailer, boat or horse box – and if you’re one of them, you’ll need a car that can cope with the rigours of towing.

Our top 10 tips for buying a tow car will show you the main things to consider, and our best estate cars and best 4x4s and SUVs guides then give you the lowdown on the specific models we recommend.

Knowing the weight of what you're towing is crucial
 

1. What weight are you towing?

 

The first thing to establish is how much weight you’ll be towing. Small caravans can weigh below 750kg, but some big ones can weigh 2,500kg, so do your research. Don’t forget to add in the weight of any extra items you’re carrying, too, like camping gear. If you’re towing a horse box, the weight of a couple of horses can easily double it.
 

 

2. Find out how much your car can tow

 

Car manufacturers always publish towing capacities for their cars, so ask about this to make sure your intended purchase will be able to cope. However, the limits quoted are what a model is physically capable of pulling, not necessarily what’s safe. 

 

There’s no hard-and-fast rule, but many towing specialists recommend that whatever you’re towing doesn’t exceed 85% of your car’s weight. For instance, if your car weighs 1470kg, it would only be recommended to tow something weighing less than 1250kg. Generally speaking, the lower the weight ratio between your car and what it’s towing, the better.

What driving licence you hold – and when you passed your test – is also a factor in knowing what you can legally tow.
 

3. Braked or unbraked? There’s a big difference

 

Manufacturers always quote ‘braked’ and ‘unbraked’ maximum loads. The braked figure refers to trailers and caravans that are hooked up to the car’s braking system and have their own brakes that are activated when you press the pedal. If what you’re towing doesn’t have its own brakes, it needs to weigh much less than this to be safe to tow.
 

 

4. Considering noseweight

 

If you’re towing a caravan, you’ll also need to establish its noseweight (in other words, the weight bearing down on the car’s towball), either by asking the manufacturer or by using a noseweight scale, then check that this comes in under your car’s towball limit.

 

Got a big caravan? You're going to need a full-size 4x4
 

5. What cars are best for towing heavy loads?
 

Got something big to tow? If you need to transport a horse box, Sunseeker yacht or eight-berth caravan, you’re going to need something pretty serious to cope – and that means a full-size 4x4. We’re talking about cars like the Volkswagen Touareg and Land Rover Discovery, which can tow up to around 3.5 tonnes (braked).
 

6. What cars are best for towing medium loads?
 

If you need a practical everyday car that can also be pressed into towing a caravan or boat, a medium-sized 4x4 or estate car is ideal. That way you can avoid the typically very high running costs of a full-size 4x4. Examples of medium-sized 4x4s include the Audi Q5, Honda CR-V and Skoda Yeti. Many estate cars are well suited to towing, too, some of which – like the Skoda Superb – are available with 4x4.
 

7. What cars are best for towing lighter loads?
 

If you only have a small trailer or caravan to tow, you really don’t need a huge 4x4. Even medium-sized hatchbacks – like the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf – can do the job. The current Audi A3, for example, has maximum towing weights of up to 690kg / 1,800kg (unbraked/braked).

Volvo is one car maker offering trailer stability assist
 

8. What about Trailer Stability Assist systems?
 

Wallowing or jack-knifing can occur when you’re towing, which can be difficult to control. Trailer Stability Assist systems aim to mitigate this effect. These use the car’s stability control system, automatically braking one or more wheels and limiting torque, to bring the motion back under control. Car makers offering this facility include Honda, Skoda, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo.
 

9. What tow bar to use?
 

Most car makers offer their own bespoke tow bars, some of which have the advantage of being hidden away when not in use. However, you don’t necessarily need a manufacturer’s own tow bar – they’re normally more expensive than proprietary tow bars, which can be every bit as good.
 

10. Diesel or petrol power?

 

Diesel engines with their huge reserves of torque (pulling power) have traditionally been the engines of choice for tow cars, especially as fuel consumption is usually better with diesel. Some drivers prefer the instant response of a large petrol engine, but fuel costs can be prohibitive. Don’t discount petrol entirely, though – some of the latest engines, like Ford’s EcoBoost, are eminently suited to towing and fairly economical.

 

One power option that may not be open to you is hybrid. For example, Toyota’s Auris Hybrid and Prius are not designed to tow at all, but others (like the Lexus RX450h and Volvo V60 PHEV Plug-In Hybrid) can tow almost as much as a diesel.