What aftermarket products do you need in order to tow?
After owning your four wheel drive for a few months, you are probably eager to explore its capabilities. Many people who purchase a large 4WD vehicle often end up wanting to use the strength of the car to tow. Most big four wheel drives are capable of towing camper trailers, caravans and small cars, making them a perfect excuse to getaway or get practical.
Before you get into the business of towing, it is vital that you read up on the specific figures relating to your vehicle. Most cars have a weight maximum and a maximum towing capacity. If you exceed this allowance, you could permanently damage your vehicle. By researching and investigating your capabilities, you will be able to safely tow.
Even if your vehicle has unlimited or extensive power to tow large amounts, there are some aftermarket products and accessories that may assist your car on its journey. As off-roading specialists and 4WD aftermarket experts, we have listed a few items that you might like to consider before you get towing. You can also speak to our friendly four wheel driving specialist team to understand what products may be necessary for you.
1. Suspension Kit.
Naturally, towing something heavy on the back of your vehicle may cause the back-half of your car to droop downwards. It is important that your 4WD remains perfectly horizontal (without any droop) to allow for peak performance.
If the weight of your trailer is causing your backend to sag, a suspension lift is a suitable solution. This type of modification raises the ride height and provides more ground clearance. A suspension lift kit is a package that contains all of the tools and parts necessary to complete a suspension lift. The actual pieces that are included will depend on what brand of lift kit it is. Typically, it could include items like lift blocks, spacers, axles, and coil springs. Certain vehicle makes and models may also need specific materials to complete the suspension lift.
2. Recovery gear.
In most cases, you will probably leave your camper trailer at the campground and only take your vehicle out and about on questionable tracks, however that is not always possible. If you need to cross crazy tracks in order to get to your destination, you have to accept that the camper trailer is now part of your off-roading fleet.
If you plan on towing a trailer off-road, it is important that you always carry appropriate recovery gear with you. Getting out of a sticky situation in your 4WD is difficult enough, but when you have an extra tonne behind you, it can become even more challenging. In the middle of the outback, you can’t rely on somebody else happening to drive past and help you. Some of the recovery gear we recommend carrying includes high lift jacks, kinetic recovery ropes, snatch straps, and some form of recovery track device. Cheap 4WD recovery gear is available in our online aftermarket store.
3. GTurbo upgrade.
Carrying a large weight behind you will most likely slow down your vehicle and reduce your overall power. GTurbo are known for creating high-performance diesel turbochargers that essentially amplify your vehicle’s potential in every way. The extensive GTurbo range is available for competitive prices in our online 4WD store. These particular upgrades can often be challenging to install, so our team also provides tuning and installation.
4. Trailer Brake Controller.
Brake controllers are essential if you plan to use your four wheel drive for towing. They help to control the movement of your trailer and assist with your ability to drive smoothly and stop/slow safely. Trailer brake controllers are often mounted to the internal dashboard area and allow the driver of the vehicle to manually engage a trailer’s electrical braking system. RedArc are one of the most popular brake controller brands in Australia.
5. Reversing camera.
Reversing with a trailer in tow is extraordinarily difficult – especially when you cannot see what is behind you. Dash cameras and reversing camera are a crucial tool that can help you to reverse neatly and safely. Many reversing camera attach to the back of your trailer and the live footage can be watched from inside the vehicle.
6. Towing mirrors.
When you are towing a wide and long trailer, you will notice that vision out of your side mirrors is obstructed by the load. In order to still see the traffic behind and beside you, you will need special towing mirrors. Clearview towing mirrors extend out further than standard side mirrors, meaning you can have solid vision of all that is happening around you. Find mirrors that suit your particular make and model of car in our 4WD digital shop.
