Can Electric Cars Tow Caravans?

Many modern electric cars have decent towing capacities, and with the right caravan, EV towing is entirely practical. The question isn’t really about whether EVs can tow, but rather how EV tow setups differ from traditional petrol or diesel tow vehicles.

The main consideration with electric car towing capacity comes down to range. When you hook up a caravan, expect your EV’s range to drop by roughly 40 to 50% compared to driving solo. An EV that might do 450km on a single charge could see that drop to around 200 to 250km when towing, depending on the caravan’s weight and wind resistance. This doesn’t make EVs impractical for caravanning, but it does mean you’ll need to plan your trips with charging stations in mind.

Understanding an Electric Vehicle’s Towing Capacity

Before you hitch up any caravan to an EV, you need to understand the same weight calculations that apply to any tow vehicle. Your EV will have a maximum towing capacity (usually listed in the owner’s manual), and you’ll need to make sure your caravan’s Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM) sits well within that limit.

If you’re not familiar with how to calculate towing weights and ensure your setup is legal and safe, we’ve got a detailed guide on understanding caravan towing weights that walks you through ATM, GTM, GCM, and all the other acronyms you need to know.

The key numbers to check are:

Your EV’s braked towing capacity
Your EV’s maximum tow ball weight
Your caravan’s ATM (total loaded weight)
Your combined Gross Combination Mass (GCM)

One advantage EVs have over traditional vehicles is excellent low-end torque, which makes them quite good at getting a caravan moving from a standstill. The challenge is range management and charging logistics rather than raw pulling power.

Can an EV Tow a Small Caravan? A Real World Example

Yes, an EV can tow a small caravan, and if you don’t believe us, let’s look at a real setup that’s been tested over thousands of kilometres.

One experienced Fantasy owner recently completed a 3,500km trip from Redland Bay to Sydney, Yass, Albury, Port Macquarie, and back, towing a Fantasy Mystic 12F with a 2024 Tesla Model Y SR. After decades of caravanning with traditional vehicles, they wanted to see how an EV would fare for serious touring.

The Setup

Tow Vehicle:	2024 Tesla Model Y SR
Caravan:	Fantasy Mystic 12F
Modifications:	Electronic brake controller, quick-connect safety chain clips, magnetic wireless reversing camera

The Tesla Model Y has a braked towing capacity of 1,600kg, making it suitable for our lighter caravan models like the Mystic series. The Mystic 12F sits comfortably within this limit, even when fully loaded with water, gear, and supplies.

The Results

Over the 3,500km journey, the owner reported:

Stable towing with no sway or handling issues
Around 130 to 140km range per charge while towing
Easy setup and pack-down at each campsite
Comfortable travel thanks to the Mystic 12F’s compact size and fixed bedding

The trip proved that with proper planning and the right caravan, electric vehicles tow just as effectively as traditional vehicles for weekend trips and even extended touring. The key is finding the best electric car for the caravan you want to tow, matching your caravan’s weight to your EV’s capacity, and being realistic about charging stops.

What to Consider When Towing with an Electric Vehicle

If you’re thinking about towing with an EV, you’ll want to keep a few things in mind.

You’ll need to factor in more frequent charging stops compared to driving without a caravan. Map out charging stations along your route before you leave, particularly if you’re heading to regional areas where chargers are less common. Australia’s charging infrastructure is expanding rapidly along major coastal routes and popular tourist corridors, which makes planning easier, but we’re still a long way from universal coverage, so don’t get caught out because you didn’t plan your route.

Stick with lighter caravans that sit well below your EV’s maximum towing capacity. Our Mystic series, Nano series, and Cubby series are all designed to be lightweight and easy to tow, making them good matches for EVs with moderate towing capacities.

EV charging stations are not like petrol stations in terms of size and space, and many will require you to unhitch your caravan to access the charger. Check ahead to see what facilities are available at your planned charging stops, and whether they’ll work with your planned setup. Quick-release hitching systems can make this process much faster and help prevent you from being the one to cause a traffic jam at the charging station.

Towing with an EV doesn’t prevent you from taking longer trips, but you’ll need to allow extra time for charging. For that reason, EVs are best suited for weekend trips and regional touring, while long trips through remote areas with limited charging infrastructure may require more careful planning, or even necessitate waiting a few years. Rest assured, though, with the rate at which EV infrastructure is being built out across Australia, it won’t be long until you can charge to your heart’s content throughout the country.

Which Fantasy Caravans Work With EVs?

Not all caravans are suitable for EV towing due to weight restrictions. Here are the Fantasy models that work well with most electric vehicles. Always check your specific EV’s towing capacity and compare it against the caravan’s ATM before making a decision. If you need help working out which model suits your vehicle, find a dealer, and they’ll help you match your EV to the right caravan.

Mystic Series

Our lightest range, with a tare weight between 1,050kg and 1,270kg, the Mystic Series caravans are perfect for electric vehicles with towing capacities around 1,500kg to 1,600kg. If you want to recreate the journey we mentioned above, the Mystic 12F small family caravan is a great way to see the country with an EV.

Nano Series

The next in our small caravan range, the Nano Series of lightweight hybrid caravans have a tare weight between 1,247kg and 1,620kg, and offers more features while still staying within the towing limits of many EVs.

Cubby Series

With models ranging from 13 to 17ft and tare weights between 1,420kg and 1,710kg, the Cubby Series range of tiny caravans blends lightweight design with a modern aesthetic, and suits EVs with higher towing capacities.

Getting Set Up for EV Towing

Before you tow a caravan, you’ll need to ensure your EV is properly equipped to handle it. Most EVs come with a tow bar as an optional extra, so you’ll need to have one fitted if yours doesn’t already have one. You’ll also need:

An electronic brake controller (required by law for anything over 750kg)
Correct wiring for caravan lights and brakes
Proper safety chains rated for your caravan’s weight
A tow ball rated to your vehicle’s maximum tow ball weight

If you’re new to hitching up a caravan, we’ve put together a guide on how to hitch a caravan that covers the basics and helps you get set up safely.

Don’t Let an Electric Vehicle’s Limits Keep You at Home

The results speak for themselves, and it’s clear that towing with an EV can be just as good as towing with an internal combustion engine vehicle when you choose the right setup. The key is understanding your electric car’s towing capacity, choosing a caravan that sits comfortably within that limit, and planning your trips with your battery pack and charging in mind.

The owner who completed the 3,500km journey in the Tesla Model Y put it simply: after decades of caravanning, switching to an EV didn’t mean giving up their favourite pastime. With the right caravan and a bit of planning, it opened up a new way to explore Australia.

If you’re considering EV towing and want to see which Fantasy models suit your vehicle, find a dealer or explore our range of tiny caravans and compact caravans online. At Fantasy, we’re here to help you work out the right match for your setup and get you on the road.