RV FEATURE
In terms of accessories or upgrades to your
tow vehicle, my mantra is ‘less is more’.
Everything you add to your tow vehicle is
weight and, the more weight you have, the
harder your vehicle has to work to move it.
Towing offroad is hard enough without having
to lug around a lot of accessories you may not
need. In my opinion, these are the accessories
you really need for offroad towing…
1. Good all-terrain tyres. Don't be fooled
into thinking that the tyres fitted to your
tow vehicle by the manufacturer will go
the distance in harsh conditions. They
may be fine for the vehicle on its own but
put a heavy offroad caravan on the back
and it becomes a whole new ballgame.
The extra weight, especially on the rear
wheels, means your tyres will be going
through hell. Weak or old rubber simply
wont survive.
Personally I would avoid the no-name tyre
brands and stick to the recognised brands.
BF Goodrich, Cooper and Bridgestone
are all names synonymous with tried and
tested offroad tyres.
Do your 4WD a favour. Fit a suspension lift.
Good all-terrain tyres
are essential.
2. Upgraded suspension.
While it’s not an absolute
necessity, there's no question that a
suspension lift will give your tow vehicle
extra clearance over rough ground and
make it better able to traverse deep
washouts. Bigger shock absorbers contain
more oil and are able to withstand the
constant pounding of corrugations.
Heavy-duty springs on the rear will mean
your vehicle is better able to carry the
extra load of a caravan's towball weight.
3. Fit a snorkel. Almost all vehicles have a
Let your engine breathe easy...
standard air intake position such that
they draw air into the engine from the
inner front wheel guard. It’s probably the
worst possible position to source air for
your engine when travelling along endless
miles of dusty roads. Air filters will clog up
in no time. A snorkel allows the air to be
drawn from high above the ground where
it is cooler and cleaner.
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