Achieving A Safe Towing Combination; Trailer Tyre Pressures; Tow Vehicle Tyre Pressures - MDC AUSRV XL13E MkII 2023 Owner's Manual

Achieving a Safe Towing Combination

Ensuring a camper or caravan is safe and easy to tow is generally an easy thing to achieve, this doesn't mean it's
always the case and sometimes, a vehicle and trailer combination may need some tweaking to make it ideal.
There are a number of aspects that need to be correct in order to maximise towing safety and handling. It is
important to use this information in conjunction with the maximum weight limits applied by your tow vehicle's
manufacturer as well as ensuring you stay within the maximum specified ratings of your caravan or camper.
These can be found in the vehicle's owner manual. This summary will address the main aspects, these aspects
include, but may not be limited to the items listed in the following diagram:

Trailer Tyre Pressures

Tyre pressures have a large effect on the handling and performance of any vehicle, be it a towed vehicle or
motorized. The tyre pressure on your camper or caravan will indeed be a major contribution to how well it tows
and resists instability. Due to how much a camper or caravan may vary in weight depending on the cargo, it is
important to have your tyres at the pressure recommended by the trailer manufacturer, for the actual weight of
the trailer when loaded. You should follow the tyre pressure guide in this manual for on road/highway tyre
pressures.

Tow Vehicle Tyre Pressures

Equally as important as trailer tyre pressure is the tyre pressures in your tow vehicle. The added weight of the
trailer ball weight should be factored into calculating the tyre pressures in the rear of the car. What should also be
factored in is the effect the distance of the hitch from the axles plays in leverage. A load on the tow bar of 250kg
may well have the effect of 300kg or more on the vehicles rear tyres meaning additional pressure must be
applied. This will limit sidewall flex and sideways movement of the rear of the vehicle, limiting unwanted
movement that can cause instability in the trailer.
I
I I P a g e | 14
www.marketdirect.com.au Ph: 1300 494 494 ©Copyright