Hitch a load
South Africans love to travel and quite often have loads that they tow behind them. Whether it’s a caravan, a boat, a jet-ski, a motorcycle or just your small Venter trailer, towing is the easy way to bring everything and the kitchen sink with you. Knowing if your car can tow a load safely and securely is the first step in deciding what you can and can’t take with you.
It goes without saying that the load you want to tow should be proportional to the tow car's power output and technical capabilities. We have taken the hassle out of this exercise by compiling a list of the best vehicles for towing based on capacity and factory-fitted assistance in each segment.
Related: What are the Best Used Cars to Buy in South Africa?
Hatchbacks
Hatchbacks generally aren’t the best tow vehicles and don’t have the torque or braking to pull heavy loads. Most hatches aren’t fitted with tow bars as standard from the factory, and a tow hitch must be retrofitted. Our favourite hatchbacks that are suitable for towing are vehicles such as the Mazda 3, Kia Rio, VW Golf, Ford Fiesta and Hyundai i20. Most of these vehicles can easily tow up to 750kg and manage the load quite well.
Sedans
Sedans are quite well-suited for towing, with longer wheelbases and a better rear overhang for the tow rig. Sedans also offer slightly better braking under load, and more often than not, the engines offered are bigger and more powerful, thus making towing that much easier.
Some of the best tow vehicles come from German stables, such as Audi’s A4, BMW’s 3 Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Many of these come with tow rigs fitted as standard and often hidden behind the rear bumper for aesthetics. Towing capability changes here, with smaller sedans able to tow 750kg while others are able to pull 1 tonne with a braked trailer.
Mid-size SUVs
Midsize SUVs follow very closely on the heels of sedans when it comes to towing capacity, with vehicles such as the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro, Volvo’s XC40, Hyundai Tucson, Haval H6, Nissan X-Trail, Kia Sportage and Mazda’s CX5 all being able to handle 850kg and higher, and many being fitted with assistance packages like Trailer Sway Control
Bigger turbocharged engines and torquey diesel engines also allow for a greater towing capacity, and with a higher seating position, it lets one feel in much better control of the tow.
Full-size SUVs
Full-size SUVs are the lifestyle toys of the elite and come with tow rigs fitted as standard. These vehicles have big engines, luxurious interiors and a host of electronic systems that are interconnected with the tow rig to make towing safer, easier and more convenient.
Vehicles like the Land Rover Defender, Range Rover, Jaguar F-Pace and BMW X5 all have intelligent tow hitching systems and Trailer Sway Control, and in most instances, you can tow up to 3.5 tonnes on a braked trailer. Some (like the Toyota Fortuner) don’t have the connecting systems but are equipped with TSC and can tow unbraked trailers.
Double-cab bakkies
The double-cab bakkie is a perennial favourite amongst South Africans and is the most common tow vehicle you’ll see on our roads; it just goes with the lifestyle the owners have. If you’re towing a caravan or a boat, there will be equipment that goes with it.
Motorcycles require fuel and gear that may not fit on the trailer, and if you’re going camping, there has to be somewhere besides the trailer for all the beer. Most of the double cabs available can tow 1.5 tonnes unbraked and, in some instances, 3.5 tonnes unbraked, with most of them easily towing 750 kg upward with relative ease.
The evergreen Ford Ranger, Toyota’s Hilux and the Mitsubishi Triton are firm favourites, as are the VW Amarok, Nissan Navara and now, the GWM P Series are all more than capable of towing just about any load you can throw at them.
MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle) vans
The MPV van may not be as popular as the double cab, but as far as towing goes, it is more than capable of taking on a caravan, boat trailer or holiday camper. These vehicles not only allow for a larger group of people to be carried but longer trips can be done in relative comfort while all the baggage and gear of the occupants can be relegated to the trailer.
The go-to vehicle here has long been the Ford Torneo Custom but you will also find Hyundai H1's , newer Hyundai Staria models, Volkswagen Caravelle's, Mercedes Benz Vito's and, as every holiday season reveals, the Toyota Hi-Ace Sesfikile.
