Towing With 2.0 Petrol

[jimbouk]

I have a 52 reg 2.00 petrol ,5door Rav4, Has anyone got any experience of towing a caravan with this vehicle?

[Taylor6971]

I have a 52 reg 2.00 petrol ,5door Rav4, Has anyone got any experience of towing a caravan with this vehicle?

Hi There

I used to tow a Bailey Pageant (about 1100kgs) with a 2002 VX 2lt petrol and had no problems at all. It drove nicely and could sit at 60mph quite happily. If you hit a long steady climb there was no spare acceleration, but overall you felt it had enough power. Braking was never any issue, nor was snaking although I do always have a stabiliser fitted.

If I had a criticism it is only about the clearance I had at the tow bar which at times could be a bit too low, meaning that you occasionaly gave speedbumps a good thump with the jockey wheel.

Regards

Richard

[bothwell_buyer]

I've used my 3 door RAV for towing caravans and car transporters trailers. Never had any problem apart from when I was pulling a trailer with a Jaguar XJS on it - the weight of the Jag and the fact it was reversed onto trailer meant it was unbalanced and snaking was bad....but then the weights were all wrong!

With a 5 door I'm sure you won't have a problem, and a stabiliser is always a good idea!

[pmb]

Never towed my 1230kg max weight van with mine but the kerbweight is not great at 1275-1385kg for a petrol manual. Practical Caravan ran a diesel as a towcar around that time and looking on Caravan mag website I see they have test reports for a Rav4 from 2002 and 2003. It's unfortunate they don't say whether it was petrol or diesel otherwise I would order it .