A Hefty Case

Hooking up a trailer or caravan behind a tow vehicle is not quite as simple as just hooking it up and towing it. There are numerous factors, rules and regulations to consider which may influence your experience.

Let’s kick this feature off with a popular myth: vehicle manufacturers’ claimed tow ratings.

Some manufacturers make a big song-and-dance about a vehicle’s claimed tow rating, but the reality, in South Africa at least, is that it’s simply a theoretical number and not legal to actually use. Some double cab bakkies boast a tow rating in excess of three tons. And, from a technical point of view, they may actually be able to (just) handle that weight.

However, the law states that the tow vehicle’s tare weight (so without any added weight like people or fuel) must be more than the gross vehicle mass (GVM) of the vehicle it is towing. In other words, if you drive a double cab bakkie with a tare weight of two tons, the GVM weight of the trailer may not exceed two tons.

This is where the waters become a bit murky. In the past, some caravan and trailer manufacturers quoted a ‘light’ tare weight for their products, which looked great on paper. However, as soon as basic amenities such as a fridge, gas cylinders and so on (things you’d really expect to be part of the tare weight in the first place) were added, the picture looked a lot different.

Then you add all your own gear like food and drinks, clothing and so on, and your previously legal caravan is much heavier than you envisioned.

Another number now comes into play: gross combination mass (GCM).

All vehicles have a GCM rating, and it is the maximum permissible weight of a vehicle and a vehicle being towed (caravan or trailer).