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Vehicle Tests > Tow Test: Part 1 - Large Wagons
Tow Test: Part 1 - Large Wagons
Haul Marques
Words by Glenn Torrens Photos by Mark Bean and GT
Towing is a huge part of the Aussie 4WD scene. In part one of Overlander's most comprehensive tow test, Glenn Torrens hitches two tonnes to the big guns.
For decades, it's been a familiar scene on the Australian landscape - the blurred white blob of a caravan forming around the dark nucleus of its tow car, windscreen flashing, as it rises into view from a bright shimmering Outback mirage.
During the 50s, 60s and 70s, these tow cars were often humble Holdens or faithful Falcons. But since then, we've seen a strong shift to 4WDs as tow cars, driven by the increasing comfort and sophistication of these town-and-country vehicles and the growing number of people wishing to enjoy the freedom they can provide.
Other leisure activities, too, have had a bearing on the popularity of 4WDs: water and jetskiing have grown in popularity and fishing is a pastime enjoyed by more than a million Australians. It's easy to understand why nearly three-quarters of new 4WDs are optioned with a towbar.
But how many of us ever tow a caravan around the block when we're shopping for a new 4WD? What are the features and characteristics to look for when buying a 4WD to tow a caravan, racecar, horse float or boat?
read on below advertisement
With this in mind, in late 2005 Overlander 4WD embarked on planning and designing a tow test that would answer these - and more - questions to provide a comprehensive guide for readers considering a 4WD for towing.
After months of planning, four weeks of full-time driving over 5000km, a fuel bill that would choke a home loan broker and reams upon reams of notes, Overlander's result is one of the largest international vehicle tests ever attempted and a new Australian vehicle-test benchmark.
What we did
A 165km test loop was designed to include a wide variety of bitumen terrain. As pioneered with Overlander's 4WD Of The Year awards, the route included several 'set piece' exercises to highlight towing strengths and weaknesses of the vehicles being tested.
• Steep urban hill start to challenge off-the-line pull and handbrake actuation
• Acceleration 0-60kph and 80-100kph to simulate merging and overtaking
• High-speed bumpy bitumen traverse to test van/vehicle stability
• Uphill freeway sprint for transmission calibration and cruise control authority
• Engine braking exercise to evaluate gearshift actuation and braking ability
next page »
Words by Glenn Torrens Photos by Mark Bean and GT
Towing is a huge part of the Aussie 4WD scene. In part one of Overlander's most comprehensive tow test, Glenn Torrens hitches two tonnes to the big guns.
For decades, it's been a familiar scene on the Australian landscape - the blurred white blob of a caravan forming around the dark nucleus of its tow car, windscreen flashing, as it rises into view from a bright shimmering Outback mirage.
During the 50s, 60s and 70s, these tow cars were often humble Holdens or faithful Falcons. But since then, we've seen a strong shift to 4WDs as tow cars, driven by the increasing comfort and sophistication of these town-and-country vehicles and the growing number of people wishing to enjoy the freedom they can provide.
Other leisure activities, too, have had a bearing on the popularity of 4WDs: water and jetskiing have grown in popularity and fishing is a pastime enjoyed by more than a million Australians. It's easy to understand why nearly three-quarters of new 4WDs are optioned with a towbar.
But how many of us ever tow a caravan around the block when we're shopping for a new 4WD? What are the features and characteristics to look for when buying a 4WD to tow a caravan, racecar, horse float or boat?
read on below advertisement
With this in mind, in late 2005 Overlander 4WD embarked on planning and designing a tow test that would answer these - and more - questions to provide a comprehensive guide for readers considering a 4WD for towing.
After months of planning, four weeks of full-time driving over 5000km, a fuel bill that would choke a home loan broker and reams upon reams of notes, Overlander's result is one of the largest international vehicle tests ever attempted and a new Australian vehicle-test benchmark.
What we did
A 165km test loop was designed to include a wide variety of bitumen terrain. As pioneered with Overlander's 4WD Of The Year awards, the route included several 'set piece' exercises to highlight towing strengths and weaknesses of the vehicles being tested.
• Steep urban hill start to challenge off-the-line pull and handbrake actuation
• Acceleration 0-60kph and 80-100kph to simulate merging and overtaking
• High-speed bumpy bitumen traverse to test van/vehicle stability
• Uphill freeway sprint for transmission calibration and cruise control authority
• Engine braking exercise to evaluate gearshift actuation and braking ability
next page »
