10 Best Cars in Australia for Towing Caravans 2025

Aussies are some of the most adventurous new-car buyers out there, with our appetite for tough, tow-ready cars, wagons, utes and 4x4s showing no signs of slowing down.

With so many options at your disposal, though, it can be difficult to know exactly what your best options are for towing a large caravan, boat or trailer.

Let’s take a quick look over the basics of towing and then map out ten of our favourite vehicles currently on sale, best suited to the task of towing your caravan around the country, so you're prepared for anything.

What to Look for when Choosing the Best Tow Vehicle

There are five major things to look for when choosing a vehicle specifically for the task of towing a caravan, boat or heavy trailer.

Power & Torque

You want a vehicle that has a healthy power figure and tonnes of torque to give you that push off the line and up to speed. Typically, turbo-diesel engines are best suited to the purpose of towing.

Towing Capacity

Manufacturers break down the towing capacities of their vehicles, otherwise known as an aggregate trailer mass (ATM) on the spec sheet, but it remains imperative that you do not overload the vehicle, even if it's advertised to tow up to a certain amount.

The general rule, here, more commonly known as the 85% rule, recommends that buyers stick within 85 per cent of a vehicle's listed towing capacity, which gives you some flexibility and added confidence when towing over a long distance.

Gross Vehicle & Combination Mass

Manufacturers map out exactly how much weight that vehicle is capable of driving safely - and legally - while fully loaded and towing. These are known as the gross vehicle mass (GVM) as well as the gross combination mass (GCM) figures, arguably two of the most important pieces of data on the whole spec sheet.

This gives you a figure of just how much your caravan, boat or trailer can weigh before it overloads the GCM and you're no longer street-legal. The best advice here is to leave a buffer of several hundred kilograms spare.

Towball Weight Capacity

Manufacturers also provide a specific number for the vehicle’s towball weight capacity, otherwise known as the tow ball download or TDB. Typically, this is 10 per cent of the vehicle's gross vehicle mass.

Active Safety Features

Pieces of tech that fall under the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) umbrella can make a huge difference on a long haul around the country. Features like trailer sway control, lane-keep assistance, blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control are a great way to prevent common accidents and should be considered a must-have for any modern towing vehicle.

Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series

The 300 Series carries on with an old-school tradition and certainly isn't afraid to get its hands dirty when it comes to towing, with massive GCM figures bolstered by some recent tech upgrades that make it more appealing than ever before.

• Engine: 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel

• Power & Torque: 150kW / 500Nm

• Kerb Weight: 2,230kg

• Maximum Towball Weight: 350kg

• Braked Towing Capacity: 3,500kg

• Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM): 3,510kg

• Gross Combination Mass (GCM): 7,010kg

Ford F-150 LWB

The all-American Ford F-150 stands ready for the challenge of pulling your caravan thanks to its monstrous 4.5 tonnes of pulling power, high-flying combination mass figures and healthy torque figures from a twin-turbo V6 petrol engine.

• Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol

• Power & Torque: 298kW / 678Nm

• Kerb Weight: 2,471kg

• Maximum Towball Weight: 450kg

• Braked Towing Capacity: 4,500kg

• Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM): 3,265kg

• Gross Combination Mass (GCM): 7,765kg

Nissan Patrol Warrior

While the Y62 generation Patrol is getting a little long in the tooth, Nissan's hardcore 4x4 wagon ticks all the important boxes for those looking for a capable, adventurous and comfortable towing vehicle with an outstanding V8 soundtrack.

More specifically, Nissan's Patrol Warrior picks up a 120kg GVM upgrade, revised suspension hardware with a 50mm lift kit a wider track over the Ti variant, giving it a solid footing on the ground.

• Engine: 5.6-litre naturally-aspirated V8 petrol

• Power & Torque: 298kW / 560Nm

• Kerb Weight: 2,884kg

• Maximum Towball Weight: 350kg

• Braked Towing Capacity: 3,500kg

• Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM): 3,620kg

• Gross Combination Mass (GCM): 7,000kg

RAM 2500

The RAM 2500 is another proudly American creation that can lug around 4.5 tonnes worth of caravan thanks to its large, sturdy platform and immense power from a 6.7-litre six-cylinder Cummins diesel powerplant that produces a monstrous 1,152Nm worth of torque.

• Engine: 6.7-litre six-cylinder turbo diesel

• Power & Torque: 276kW / 1,152Nm

• Kerb Weight: 3,609kg

• Maximum Towball Weight: 450kg

• Braked Towing Capacity: 4,500kg

• Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM): 4,495kg

• Gross Combination Mass (GCM): 12,695kg

Toyota Tundra

Toyota’s introduction of the Tundra marks the third, full-sized American pick-up truck on our list and stands as the company’s biggest, most powerful and most appropriate option if you're towing a big, heavy caravan around the country.

• Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol mild-hybrid

• Power & Torque: 290kW / 649Nm

• Kerb Weight: 2,792kg

• Maximum Towball Weight: 450kg

• Braked Towing Capacity: 4,500kg

• Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM): 3,536kg

• Gross Combination Mass (GCM): 8,030kg

Isuzu MU-X

The Isuzu MU-X offers a great blend of adventure-ready abilities, family-friendly practicality and strong towing figures that make it a one-stop shop for Aussies looking to hit the road with a caravan in tow.

• Engine: 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel

• Power & Torque: 140kW / 450Nm

• Kerb Weight: 2,140kg

• Maximum Towball Weight: 350kg

• Braked Towing Capacity: 3,500kg

• Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM): 2,800kg

• Gross Combination Mass (GCM): 5,900kg

Ford Ranger Super Duty

Ford has given its almighty Ranger platform a major overhaul, upgrading its GVM, GCM and towing figures, the latter of which jump up to 4,500kg, representing a one-tonne increase over the regular lineup that lands it with the title of Ford's most competent Ranger.

• Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder diesel

• Power & Torque: 154kW /600Nm

• Kerb Weight: TBD

• Maximum Towball Weight: 450kg

• Braked Towing Capacity: 4,500kg

• Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM): 4,5005kg

• Gross Combination Mass (GCM): 8,000kg

Chevrolet Silverado 1500

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is a beast of a pick-up, with its sturdy, wide-tracked platform and ample power from a 6.2-litre V8 engine enabling towing for a boat, trailer or caravan that weighs up to 4.5 tonnes.

• Engine: 6.2-litre naturally-aspirated V8 petrol

• Power & Torque: 313kW / 624Nm

• Kerb Weight: 2,552kg

• Maximum Towball Weight: 450kg

• Braked Towing Capacity: 4,500kg

• Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM): 3,300kg

• Gross Combination Mass (GCM): 7,160kg

Volkswagen Amarok TDI 600

The latest-generation Amarok range continues to impress when it comes to towing power, with all three variants, including the TDI405, TDI500 and TDI600, offering braked towing figures up to 3,500kg, though the range-topping versions take the cake when it comes to gross combination mass.

• Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo diesel

• Power & Torque: 184kW / 600Nm

• Kerb Weight: 2,406kg

• Maximum Towball Weight: 350kg

• Braked Towing Capacity: 3,500kg

• Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM): 3,190kg

• Gross Combination Mass (GCM): 6,300kg

Land Rover Defender 110

The Land Rover Defender range offers three different body shapes and a wide range of engine options for the rock-solid, adventurous platform, all of which hit the road with braked towing power up to 3,500kg.

• Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder diesel

• Power & Torque: 258kW / 700Nm

• Kerb Weight: 2,361kg

• Maximum Towball Weight: 350kg

• Braked Towing Capacity: 3,500kg

• Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM): 3,200kg

• Gross Combination Mass (GCM): 6,700kg

Can a Hatchback Tow a Caravan?

A hatchback can absolutely tow something like a caravan, but your pulling power is significantly less than something with a larger engine. This means that your braked towing capacity is significantly less than other types of cars, which means the weight of the caravan should not exceed a relatively modest number. 

For the majority of hatchbacks, braked towing capacity is rated anywhere between 1,000kg to 1,300kg, which is fine if you’re towing a compact folding camper, which typically weighs around 600-800kg. 

What Type of Vehicle is Best for Towing a Caravan

When it comes to pulling power specifically for towing a caravan around Australia, we recommend you stick to something like a dual-cab ute, or a 4x4 SUV that features a powerful and torque-filled power delivery to give you confidence on your road trip. 

As a general rule, the more power the engine produces, the easier your towing experience will be. As the vehicle itself grows, you have more space to accommodate extra people, or can have your belongings easily accessible as you’re driving. 

What are Some Common Mistakes When Choosing a Vehicle to Tow a Caravan?

The most common mistakes that people make when choosing a vehicle to tow a caravan include:

• Buying an underpowered towing vehicle

• Choosing a caravan that exceeds the vehicle’s gross combination mass (GCM)

• Overloading the towball capacity figure

• Not properly securing the towing load

• Failing to adjust driving style while towing

• Not purchasing extended mirrors

• Failing to check tyre pressures regularly

• Ignoring safety checks before long drives

What Cars Can Tow 3,500kg in Australia?

When a new dual-cab ute or 4x4 comes to the market here in Australia, 3,500kg is the benchmark that most manufacturers are aiming to hit. As a result, the majority of new vehicles on the market will come extremely close to the 3,500kg figure, while some sit around 3,000kg and other smaller or less powerful vehicles are rated at 2,500kg.

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