Do I need a heavier and more powerful car?

[TV200]

I'd appreciate your view as to whether my car is likely to survive towing my caravan. Its a 2010 CR-V, however being in New Zealand its a 2.4 petrol auto.

My caravan is a single axle Bailey Pursuit with a MTPLM of 1441kg. The car has a braked capacity of 1500kg https://www.carsguide.com.au/honda/cr-v/towing-cap... It should therefore just be suitable?

New Zealand is however very hilly and I've noticed the car struggle on its first run with the caravan. I'm not in a rush, but don't want to kill the car/transmission either. Am I worrying unnecessarily, do I need a transmission oil cooler added, or do I just need a bigger and torquier car? Ideally I wouldn't buy another car as I may return to the UK in the next 6 months, but I'd like to do a reasonable amount of touring first!

Appreciate your views. Thanks.

[Douglas Quaid]

Even without the caravan the answer to your question is always yes.

[Crafty_]

Your URL errored, but for the 2.4 model I found these specs:

https://www.autoblog.com/buy/2010-Honda-CR_V-LX__4...

kerbwieght 3503lb = 1592kg. In the UK the recommendation (and it is only that) is that you tow around 85% of the kerbweight, which would be 1353kg.
So the MTPLM of the van is 90kg over, but you may not be loading the van up that much, but even so you're probably up on the 85%.

This review noted the low tow limit, even on a diesel which apparently heaver : https://www.practicalcaravan.com/reviews/honda-cr-...

If the roads are especially hilly maybe the diesel (more low down torque) would be better suited ? I came across this page with lots of content owners of the 2.2 diesel with vans similar to the weight of yours, albeit probably not in such hilly areas? https://towcar.info/reviews.php?merk=Honda&ser...

I doubt its worth changing cars for 6 months though

[TV200]

Thanks - interesting reviews - a number of people are using the 2L cr-v for similar caravan, so mine should have a little more punch. I think I'll just change the transmission oil, take it slow and see how things go.

[loggo]

I believe the 85% rule is centred on the ability of the driver to control the "rig" rather than the ability of the vehicle to pull the weight.

[GreatGranny]

loggo said:

I believe the 85% rule is centred on the ability of the driver to control the "rig" rather than the ability of the vehicle to pull the weight.

It's a guide really for safe towing. Preventing the tail wagging the dog as it were.

[anonymous-user]

GreatGranny said:

It's a guide really for safe towing. Preventing the tail wagging the dog as it were.

I think the 85% guide is a little outdated nowadays with the advent of ESP etc. My cayenne weighs 2 tonnes 2.3 tonnes wet, its homologated to tow 3500KG and have never had any issues pulling close to that weight. The caravan club guide would mean i should only be pulling 1700KGs which is less than half of what the manufacturer has tested and type approved the model for.