What’s best for towing a caravan: automatic or manual? It suffices to say that there’s no definitive answer to this question, because there are arguments for both.
Before we go all in with an in-depth comparison, let’s look at the pros and cons of both, starting with towing with an automatic transmission vehicle.
Now let’s take a look at the pros and cons of towing with a manual.
That’s the pros and cons covered. But there’s more to these pros and cons than meets the eye, so I’m going to look in more detail. Let’s start with automatic transmission.
Pros And Cons Of Towing A Caravan With An Automatic
It’s easy to reason that towing a caravan with an automatic transmission vehicle is possible and potentially ideal.
I’m going to go through the pros and cons of towing with an automatic now. Then it’s down to you to decide how significant these pros and cons are and decide whether or not you want to tow using an automatic transmission car.
Pros Of Towing A Caravan With An Automatic Transmission Vehicle
A lot of people assume that towing a caravan is easier with a manual transmission vehicle. However, it can be easier with an automatic vehicle.
No Changing Gears Up And Down
As you’ll already know, you don’t manually change gears up and down in an automatic transmission vehicle, unless you’re using the manual override functionality.
Depending on the way you look at it, this is an advantage of towing a caravan with an automatic vehicle. When you’re towing, your car works differently. To give an example, moving off takes much longer and you may have to change gears at different times. Using an automatic transmission car, you needn’t get used to changing the gears at different times, or worry about working the clutch pedal.
The main point here is that automatic transmission makes your life easier. Setting off is easier; you don’t need to worry about your clutch control. Gearing up is easier; you don’t have to worry about it as it’s done for you. Everything’s easier! You simply worry about two pedals, rather than three.
Hill Starts Are Easier
If you’re anything like me, you dread having to stop and start on hills! I hate hill starts regardless of whether I’m towing a caravan or not.
Hill starts are difficult at the best of times, but they’re way worse when you’re towing a 1500kg caravan! If you’re driving a manual transmission car, that is. If you’re driving an automatic transmission car, it’s much easier to set off on a hill. There’s no messing around with the clutch, the brake, and the accelerator. You simply release the handbrake and accelerate – and off you go!
When you’re towing with a manual transmission vehicle, hill starts really are an absolute nightmare. Driving an automatic vehicle, you just use the accelerator as normal and you’re off. It really is as easy as that. And that’s why I consider the easier hill starts to be a major advantage of towing a caravan with an automatic.
Maneuvering Is Typically Easier
When you are towing a caravan with an automatic transmission car, maneuvering can be easier. It’s by no means a fact that maneuvering is easier; it’s open to opinion. However, it’s commonly believed that performing maneuvers is easier because you don’t have the clutch control to worry about.
When you’re maneuvering a caravan in a manual transmission car, there’s plenty to worry about: clutch control, the accelerator, and the brakes; the list goes on. It’s different in an automatic car; there are just two pedals to worry about.
That just about covers the reasons that you might benefit from towing your caravan using an auto. Unfortunately, there’s also drawbacks too. Let’s take a look.
Cons Of Towing A Caravan With An Automatic Transmission Vehicle
It would be very remiss of me to discuss the benefits of towing in an auto without also discussing the detriments. So let’s look at the cons of towing a caravan with an automatic transmission vehicle.
Less Control Over The Vehicle
The clue’s in the name, so it goes without saying that you have less control over an automatic transmission vehicle than a manual. Depending on your standpoint, this could be a con. Why?
An automatic car shifts gears for you, as we all know. While that’s the point of an auto, those who favour manuals argue this makes towing harder at times. For example, when you’re driving down a hill. In a manual transmission vehicle, you can gear down as you drive down a decline to take advantage of engine braking. Engine braking is actually very useful when towing a caravan as it aids stability. In an automatic, your car may not shift down and up the gears as you’d like. And that’s the basis of arguing that towing in a manual is better.
On the other hand, most automatic transmission vehicles have a manual gear override that allows you to make the gear changes. Those that favour autos argue that this means you have the best of both worlds: the luxury and comfort of an automatic without sacrificing ultimate control over your vehicle.
That’s the main criticism of automatic transmission vehicles. It is a valid point, but perhaps it’s not so significant these days with most cars having a manual override. Moving on, now I’ll explain the pros and cons of towing a caravan with a manual transmission vehicle.
Pros And Cons Of Towing A Caravan With A Manual
Now let’s review the other side of the argument. Many insist that a manual transmission car is the best for towing a caravan. You’ll see why that is when we take a look at the benefits of doing so.
First, the pros of towing a caravan with a manual transmission vehicle.
Pros Of Towing A Caravan With A Manual
There are good reasons that many assume a manual transmission car is necessary if you intend to tow a caravan.
Cheaper To Fuel
As a rule of thumb, manual transmission vehicles are cheaper to fuel than autos. Some modern autos negate this point, but it’s accurate the majority of the time.
In the past, automatics would cost significantly more to fuel. In fact, according to greencarguide.co.uk, autos could use up to 10% more fuel than their manual equivalent. This gap isn’t so big now, but autos still tend to use slightly more fuel.
If you’re bothered about fuel efficiency, it’s wise to tow with a manual. However, you won’t save a great deal of money.
More Control Over The Car
This is the basis for any argument against using an automatic transmission car to tow a caravan. And, in fairness, it’s not a point you can easily argue against. In a manual transmission car, you control the gears yourself. Simply, you have full control over the vehicle’s gears; there’s no automated system handling gearing up and down for you.
There’s logic in this argument, as the driver can shift up or down throughout gears as they judge best. For example, gearing down at the bottom of a hill. An automatic car may not gear down when it would benefit your control over the car and the caravan.
The argument against this point is that most automatic transmission vehicles now come with a manual override. The manual override essentially gives you the same control you’d have in a manual transmission vehicle. So is this point still valid if you have an auto with a manual override? That’s down to you to decide.
Higher Towing Limits
Here’s something I didn’t know until researching this blog post: manuals and automatics often have different towing limits. It’s more common for manuals to have higher towing limits, which is a big advantage.
The difference in towing limits can be quite significant at times. We’re talking differences of over 400kg in some cases. If you choose a manual car with a towing capacity of 1400kg, the automatic version could have a towing capacity as low as 1000kg. Now, this isn’t always the case. The difference is sometimes much smaller. In fact, automatics sometimes have higher towing limits. But as a general rule, manuals have higher limits.
It’s essential that you get the right vehicle for your caravan, as matching your tow car with your tourer is very important. That’s why you should consider whether a manual might be a better option because of the potentially higher towing limit.
Cons Of Towing A Caravan With A Manual
Inevitably there are cons to towing a caravan with a manual transmission vehicle. The main con of towing with a caravan rather than an auto is it’s typically a more difficult experience. I’ll explain what I mean by that now.
Setting Off & Hill Starts Are More Difficult
When you’re towing a caravan using a manual transmission car, setting off and hill starts can be a little difficult – to say the least! How you use your clutch and control your vehicle when towing is completely different. I would say it’s difficult to get used to. And that’s why automatics are perhaps better for towing a caravan.
There’s more to worry about when you are towing a caravan in a manual transmission vehicle. You have to worry about your clutch control, gearing up and down, and so on. In an automatic, you have to handle the accelerator and the brake and that’s it.
Auto Or Manual?
After looking at the pros and cons of towing with autos and manuals, it’s evident that there’s no factual answer to which is best. You just have to look at the pros and cons and decide which is the best for you.
Hopefully this blog posts helps you to pick the right one for you anyway. Thanks for reading!