Towing dynamics
On a recent road trip for AutoTrader Bikes, we drove the new Volkswagen Touareg 3.0 V6 diesel with a trailered motorcycle from Johannesburg to Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape and back. During this road trip, we paid special attention to the fuel economy to see how much pulling the trailer would affect the powerful German SUV's economy figures.
Related: Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI R-Line (2024) Review
The route encompassed roughly 3500km with varying traffic, weather and road conditions. During the drive, we tried different speeds, driving styles, and vehicle modes to see which combination would return the best figures. Ultimately, we found the most comfortable speed and settings and settled in for the long haul, so to speak.
8 Best Large, Used SUVs for Towing a Caravan or Trailer
It's all in the numbers
It’s pretty well-known that the more weight you need to move, the more energy it will take to move it. That energy is your fuel in a vehicle, so a heavier load will mean you are getting a lower fuel economy. Estimates say that every 50 kg of extra weight in a vehicle decreases its fuel economy by 2%. So, it’s not hard to imagine that towing a large trailer will create a much larger drop in your fuel economy.
Towing can significantly reduce your vehicle's fuel economy, often by 10–30%. This is because towing increases your vehicle's weight and length, putting more pressure on your engine and other components. An overloaded trailer can increase fuel consumption by 2–5%. Our trailer and motorcycle combo weighed in at roughly 580kg, and although the Touareg barely felt the weight, it was still there and did affect the fuel economy.
On top of that, there is aerodynamic drag to consider. The wind resistance a vehicle and trailer create will also lower fuel economy. Diesel engines are more efficient and powerful than petrol engines and easily overcome the drag, as they actually perform better when under load than petrol engines. The motorcycle strapped to the trailer presented very little aerodynamic drag and cut through the air, so it was not much of an issue, as it also sat neatly in the slipstream created by the Touareg.
The speed at which you travel also needs to be considered, as the faster you try to go, the more fuel you will burn to maintain that speed with the trailer in tow. We opted for the national limit of 120km, using adaptive cruise control.
It seems like a losing battle, but it’s not all bad. There are some ways to lessen the impact on your wallet these holidays.
Saving money
No matter which way you slice it, towing a trailer will cost you extra money, but you can mitigate the worst of the effects by following a few handy tips to reduce those extra costs.
- Stay in motion as much as possible; having to start and stop constantly will drain your fuel economy
- Travel at a slow and steady pace
- Keep up with routine maintenance on your vehicle and trailer
- Don’t overload your vehicle and/or trailer
- Choose a lighter trailer (often made from aluminium), if possible.
- Try to pack your load within the slipstream of the tow vehicle.
- Use your vehicle onboard Tow mode software (if equipped)
Top tips for safely towing a trailer or caravan
Mission accomplished
After the first leg of our journey, we averaged 10 L/100km over 1 250km, which is remarkably good for the drive due to heavy traffic and road works, as well as a blustery side wind. The second leg of the journey saw these numbers drop to 9.2 L/100km, descending into the Karoo region. As something of a surprise, our return journey yielded 11.2l/100km due to the addition of a second motorcycle and an extra person in the car, but we were expecting much heavier figures.
If you are hitting the road this festive season and are towing your favourite package, whether a caravan, boat, or camp trailer, we'd love to hear what figures you manage to return.
