Does Towing Caravan Damage Your Car?

Towing one vehicle using another is an endeavor that requires a careful approach to many things. For instance, both the two vehicles involved must-have features that are compatible with each other.

For one, the capacity of the towing vehicle should be such that it can withstand the weight and size of the vehicle to be towed and vice versa. Similarly, you must not drive at any speed other than that which is recommended while towing.

In addition, you must not carry any load or cargo that will subject the car to more strain than they can ordinarily bear. The terrain across which you drive is also worthy of consideration too. So, does towing a caravan actually affect the car. 

Certainly not. The towing of a caravan does not damage your car provided you go about it with due recourse to all the necessary conditions, which includes respect to the maximum allowable weight which a vehicle can tow conveniently.

In addition, you can prevent damage by removing the rear driveshaft so that it will be possible for you to tow the car with its rear wheels on the ground. Also, you can equally shift into the 2 wheel drive, which will enable you to safely tow the car at even speeds meant for the highway.

Whenever you are towing a car, you must know what actions can limit damage to the vehicles involved. For instance, you should know whether you can tow it with its emergency brake on.

So, finally, there is little or no chance of your car becoming damaged because you tow a caravan, provided you do everything exactly as it ought to be done.

Read Also: Can You Stop Your Car From Being Towed?

Why does towing car damage your car?

The safety of both the towing vehicle and also the vehicle being towed is of primary concern to most car owners since there is a great tendency for that to happen.

Several reasons can be proffered with regards to why the vehicles involved in towing can come to some harm in the process. First, whenever you are towing a vehicle with another, there is a maximum speed that you are not expected to exceed while driving.

Secondly, you must not attempt, for whatever reason, to tow a vehicle with another whose capacities are not compatible with each other. Doing this will certainly portend great risk to the towing vehicle.

In addition to all this, you are also not supposed to carry any load in the vehicle being towed that is beyond the capacity of the towing vehicle.

Again, you must be careful of the nature of the road on which you tow. Finally, both the drivers in the two cars must be qualified and experienced in the art of towing. The moment any of these recommendations is jettisoned for any reason, there will be a tendency or likelihood of one or both cars getting damaged in the process.

Read Also: Can You Tow A Car Without Plates?

How can one tow a car without damaging the car?

There are many conditions involved in safe towing. One, if you must tow a car safely, it is highly advised that you should tow it in the neutral park position (or rarely even in the park), as long as you take the necessary precautions while doing it.

For instance, driving an automatic car in the park can break the mechanical lock of its transmission if it is towed while its wheels remain on the street. So, before you tow a car, make sure that it is in a neutral position.

Alternatively, you can tow your car on a sort of bed so that the car can lock safely in one place. For you to know the best possible way to tow your car, you can consult the user manual in order to prevent any damage.

Furthermore, make sure that both the vehicles involved have specifications and capacities that are compatible with each other. If one is more than the other, there are chances that damage can occur. Again, you must not carry any cargo that is beyond the towing vehicle.

If you check the user manual, you will likely see the speed at which you must drive while towing. Provided you tow at speeds not exceeding this, you stand a good chance of avoiding accidents. Finally, only drivers qualified for it should be allowed to tow vehicles.

So, yes, if you do all these, there is a reduced possibility that your car will come into any harm or damage.

What can I use to tow my caravan?

The Volvo XC60 was the overall winner in the 2019 Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the year award.

This car equally took the class win as well, in the  Caravan weights ranging from 1, 500 to 1, 700 kilograms and also won the Best Family Towcar category, which makes it perfect in towing caravans.  Certain conditions are necessary if a car would want to tow a caravan.

Read Also: Can A Honda Crv Tow A U-Haul Trailer?

For example, such cars must have excellent emergency movements, acceleration,  as well as braking runs to enable them to perform effectively in a variety of real-time road conditions. Fuel economy, practicality, and safety concerns are all very important considerations for tow cars too.

Other cars that can tow a caravan conveniently are Land Rover Discovery, Ford Focus Estate, Volvo XC 60, Peugeot 3008, Kia Sorento, Ford Ranger, Vauxhall Insignia, Nissan X-Trail, and lots more too numerous to mention in one go.

Is it safe to tow a caravan with a car?

Yes, it is very safe to tow a caravan with a car as long as the towing car is rated by the manufacturers as capable of towing a caravan. The user manual will furnish you with information as regards whether your car can tow a caravan or not.

If it cannot, desist from using it for obvious reasons. Furthermore, while towing, maintain normal and recommended towing speeds and also restrict your movements, as much as possible, to roads that are safe for towing. Again, do not carry any cargo that is beyond the capacity of the towing vehicle.

Finally, use only qualified drivers and ensure that your car is also good for what you plan to undertake. If you do all these, it is quite safe to tow a caravan with your car.

What type of tow bar do I need to tow a caravan?

Commonly, the most available sort of socket on the market is the 13-pin socket, which is very suitable for most of your towing needs. In order to power the lights on a caravan, trailer, or even a cycle carrier, a 13-pin socket can be used to supply power to the inside of the caravan.

Essentially, therefore, you can use the 13 pin tow bar to tow your caravan.

Frequently asked questions

Can I tow a caravan with a truck?

Yes, you can tow a caravan with a truck and very conveniently too, but it depends on the weights of both the truck and the caravan.

For example, as long as the weight of the caravan to be towed does not exceed about 85 percent or less of the towing truck’s kerbweight, it should be able to tow a caravan without any problems whatsoever.

On the contrary, if the weight of the caravan is between 85 percent and 100 percent, great care should be taken, such that only people who are very experienced in towing should get involved.

Furthermore, before you venture into towing a caravan, make sure that you are licensed for it because only licensed drivers should tow. All in all, if you want to tow a caravan with a truck, the truck must be, as a matter of fact, heavier than the caravan and not vice versa.

What tow bar do I need?

In order to tow a caravan, you will need a specific tow bar. For example, you need an integrated tow bar, and if you don’t have one, then, get it installed, which most satisfy EU regulations and should be designed for your car.

Also, note that type-approved tow bars have a sort of label with an approved number and other details of compatible vehicles. However, for any car used before 1998, your tow bar does not require any approval before use. It is also easy to know which tow bar you need for effective towing through your user manual.

Alternatively, you can enquire from an experienced auto specialist as to what kind of tow bar do you need for what car. This is necessary to avoid unnecessary accidents and mishaps while towing.

Conclusion – Does Towing Caravan Damage Your Car?

Towing is easy provided you know how and equally have the best equipment for it. However, before you venture into it, you must be absolutely sure of certain things first.

One, you must ensure that the towing car can indeed cope with the vehicle being towed. In other words, the car being towed must not have a weight bigger than the towing car.

Furthermore, you should drive as carefully as possible while avoiding bad roads and also being careful not to over speed too. If you do all these, chances are pretty high that you will enjoy a very memorable towing.