If you’re planning on getting off the beaten track and seeing what our country has to offer, the best kind of vehicle is a beefy four-wheel drive (4WD, or 4×4) with a tow capacity that enables it to effortlessly haul around a caravan, boat or camper trailer.
The good news is that there are several 4WD vehicles in Australia that vie for the title of ‘best 4×4 for towing’ (whether it’s a 4×4 that’s best for towing cars, a 4×4 for caravans or the best 4×4 for towing a horse trailer, if that’s your bag), meaning that finding the best 4×4 tow vehicle to suit your needs should be a relatively easy process.
Whether you’re going camping or want to take your boat somewhere new to set sail, modern 4x4s have also been specifically engineered to be extremely capable towing machines that work in all kinds of conditions, and they’ve been developed with certain features, like reversing cameras and powerful turbo-diesel engines, to make driving while towing a much easier process.
While the towing capacity of 4x4s can vary, the most capable of them are built to pull more than 3000kg without breaking a sweat, meaning they’ve got the grunt to pull almost any caravan, trailer or boat.
Here’s our guide to some of the best 4x4s available in Australia right now, both new and used.
6. Subaru Outback – 2015 onwards
Max towing limit (braked) – 1500kg to 2000kg
Max ball weight – 150kg to 200kg
The Subaru Outback is one of those 4×4 SUVs that functions just as well as an urban family car as it does as a rugged-off-roader up to the task of taking you on a wild weekend adventure.
The 2021 Outback has seen the towing capacity go up from 1800kg to 2000kg, which is more than enough if you’re hauling about a modestly sized 4×4 camper trailer.
The 2021 model has also had its engine upgraded, from 129kW/235Nm to a 2.5-litre four-cylinder Boxer engine offering 138kW of power and 245Nm of torque.
There’s also more room inside, whether you need it for camping equipment, or a multitude of children, should you have gotten a bit carried away in that department.
5. Ford Ranger 4×4 – 2011 onwards
Max towing capacity (braked) – 3500kg
Max ball weight – 350kg
The Toyota HiLux may be Australia’s workhorse ute of choice – and has been for some time – but the mighty Ford Ranger is quickly gaining on it in terms of popularity, chiefly due to its size, power and impressive performance. And, let’s be honest, because it looks great.
The Ford Ranger comes in a variety of flavours, but the dual-cab, 4×4 variants with diesel engines are the ones best suited to towing heavy loads (a 2.0-litre four-cylinder bi-turbo diesel engine, like the one that comes with the FX4 Max, will see to that).
The Ford Ranger FX4 Max also comes with load-adaptive stability and traction control with trailer-sway control, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera and roll-over mitigation – all a massive help when towing – and a ‘premium pack’ option gives you the choice of adding adaptive cruise control and semi-autonomous park assist.
4. Isuzu MU-X – 2013 onwards
Max towing capacity (braked) – 3000kg
Max ball weight – 300kg
The MU-X, as well as the Isuzu D-Max, which has a towing capacity of 3500kg, both have a 3.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, which gives them a level of performance and power that’s ideal whether you’re towing a motorcycle, a caravan or a boat.
With a reputation for being sturdy and reliable, the MU-X 4×4 SUV has proven its mettle as both an urban people-mover and an off-road adventurer.
3. Chevrolet Silverado 2500
Max towing capacity (braked) – 5890kg
Max ball weight – 450kg
The Americans sure know how to go big, and the Chevy Silverado 2500’s considerable towing power is certainly bigger than Texas.
The 332kW of power and 1234Nm of torque on offer mean you don’t have to fret if your caravan is on the heavy side, and it has the muscle to be a good fit for both work and any play that involves some serious towing.
2. Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series – 2007 onwards
Max towing capacity (braked) – 3500kg
Max ball weight – 350kg
The LandCruiser’s reputation as an off-road kingpin is well earned, and it will make a meal out of whatever it is you’re towing (within reason, of course – trying to shift a 747 might be a little beyond its reach).
The LandCruiser has come in many styles over the years – the traditional Troopy (78 Series), single and double-cab 79 Series, and the four-door wagon 76 Series – and any one of them makes an exceptional towing vehicle thanks to a powerful turbo-diesel V8 engine.
1. Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series
Maximum towing capacity (braked)– 3500kg
Max ball weight – 350kg
Another LandCruiser? Have we lost our LandCruising minds?!
Well, yes – but for good reason.
This iconic 4×4 also comes packing a V8 turbo-diesel engine, but a bonus turbo means you’ve got the grunt to go harder and farther, even when towing around a bulky caravan.
The LandCruiser 200 Series really does have it all: decent comfort, a hard-earned reputation for being reliable, and powerful torque – all solid reasons to easily make this a contender for best tow vehicle on the market.
By Stephen Corby
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