Opinion: Tow Ratings Are Rubbish
In the world of 4X4s, numbers are everything. Manufacturers love to throw around figures like 3,500kg towing capacity, trying to convince you that their mid-size Utes can pull anything you throw behind them. But dig deeper, and you’ll find that those numbers are more about marketing hype than real-world capability. Some may go as far to say they’re an outright exaggeration. Me personally? I’d just say they’re bullshit. If you’re towing heavy loads, it’s time to start knocking a chunk off from the claimed capacity to get a more accurate idea of what your vehicle can actually handle. The reality is, if you’re hauling something more serious than a hybrid camper or lightweight van, you’re going to need a serious towing vehicle. Despite what the brochures say, most dual cab 4X4s aren’t up to the task when fully loaded. Let’s take a closer look at the Toyota HiLux GR Sport, mainly because it’s comical how bad it is. Toyota advertise it as rated to tow 3,500kg, with a Gross Combined Mass (GCM) of 5,850kg. Now, let’s say you’re towing the full 3,500 kg. Subtract that from the GCM, and you’re left with 2,350kg. That figure has to cover the vehicle’s weight (its kerb weight is 2,270kg), which leaves you with a measly 80 kg of payload. Oh yeah, we need…
