This big island we live on features without a doubt some of the most wild and remote locations on the planet. For many of us, the remoteness of Australia is the reason we own 4WDs and camper trailers like the Kings MT1 Camper Trailer – so we can get to those spots where 99% of people have never been, and will never go.

The very nature of remote adventure touring means that there’ll often be hundreds of kilometres between servos, and you’ll often encounter a situation where a track is closed due to poor weather conditions, meaning you need to backtrack for 100s of kilometres. When it comes to touring with a camper trailer, let’s face it – getting out there is one thing, but getting back is priority number one.

So what can you do to go further? In this article, let’s take a look at 15 ways to increase your touring range while towing your camper trailer. From fuel additives to load carrying and engine upgrades, we’ve left no stone unturned in the hunt for greater touring range! This is a must-read for all soft floor camper trailer and hard floor camper trailer owners alike.

JERRY CANS

The first tried and tested option is to carry jerry cans. Jerry cans are an affordable option to increase your fuel capacity for those longer legs on your trips, but they also mean that you need to make space to carry them. This is ideal for those who tow a camper trailer as the trailer often gives the perfect location to mount your jerry cans while you’re travelling, on the drawbar.

Weight distribution is a big factor when it comes to carrying jerry cans. 20L of diesel weighs 17.5kg, and 20L of petrol weighs 14.6kg. When you consider that most 4WDs have a maximum roof load limit of around the 100kg mark, then a 45kg roof rack and three 20L jerry cans pretty much have you at the limit of what you can carry. Pretty easy to see why it’s such a good idea to mount your jerry cans on your camper trailer drawbar!

One benefit of carrying jerry cans is that you always have back up, so even if your long range or sub tank cops a leak you won’t lose all your fuel. Any container you carry fuel in needs to be compliant and marked with the AS/NZS 2906:2001 standard for portable plastic and metal fuel containers. Make sure you carry spare seals and lids with you in case you damage or lose one.

DRIVING FOR ECONOMY

The simple fact is that driving technique plays a big part of touring range when towing a camper trailer. One way to look at it is when it comes to fuel efficiency driving off-road while towing, you need to drive like there’s a rusty nail sticking through the accelerator pedal. Anything other than gentle and smooth, and the nail will stick into your foot and cause you a world of pain. The only difference between the analogy and the reality is that the pain will hit your hip-pocket, not your foot!

If you’re looking for a permanent solution to extending your touring range while towing a soft floor camper trailer, then having a long-range fuel tank installed is the best option. While it may be more of an expensive investment initially, it’s far safer and more convenient than using jerry cans. It also allows you in most cases to greatly increase the amount of fuel you can carry.

There are a few options when it comes to installing a long-range tank. If your 4WD doesn’t already have one, then supplementing your main tank with a sub or auxiliary tank is the common choice. Replacing either your factory main or sub tank with a larger unit will boost your touring range considerably, and eliminate the need to carry jerry cans.

If you have the space to install two smaller tanks rather than one big tank, then it gives you a bit of an insurance policy against losing all of your fuel should your tank get a puncture. Whatever way you choose to extend your ability to carry fuel while towing a camper trailer, you’ll be setting off on the right foot.

PERFORMANCE CHIPS AND TUNES

Performance chips and reprogrammable ECUs are designed to change the factory tune of your 4WD’s engine, in order to provide a combination of more power and better fuel efficiency. There are two types of chips on the market: pre-programmed chips with a “one size fits all” tune, or a reprogrammable chip. This is a huge benefit when towing a hybrid camper trailer – even a lightweight one will be noticeable on the back of your vehicle.

Custom tuned performance chips cost a little more, but they offer the greatest increase in both power and economy. This is due to the fact that a custom tuned chip is tuned specifically to your vehicle’s modifications and your driving style. Chips and tunes are a camper trailer owner’s best friend on the road!

TYRE PRESSURES

When you’re touring long distances in the outback, you encounter a large variety of different terrains and surfaces. It’s no secret that running the correct tyre pressures will give you better off-road performance, but it’ll also improve your fuel economy. This is absolutely true of your camper trailer’s tyres too – you can’t neglect them and expect to get decent fuel economy.

Simply put, running lower pressures off-road will allow you to drive rougher terrain with less effort, and means you’ll take fewer attempts when you tackle soft dunes and other difficult sections. The reverse applies when you’re back on the black-top, so make sure you’re carrying both a tyre deflator and air compressor to adjust your pressures accordingly.

WHAT PRESSURE IS BEST?

For low-range tracks or soft sand, run your tyre pressures between 14-18psi. For high-speed touring, running pressures between 20-26psi is recommended. For blacktop driving, running between 32-36psi will give you a good combination of comfort and tyre life depending on your specific tyre size. And once again, it’s a good idea to lower your camper trailer tyre pressures to the same as your tow vehicle.