NISSAN NAVARA 2,5 DDTI PRO-4X 4X4

About a year ago, I became the third owner of an immaculate 1988 Sprite Swift caravan. Sadly, it has subsequently been gathering dust as the very reason it was purchased in the first place (an extended family camping trip) became null and void after I inherited a motor home. That, and the vehicle I had planned to use to tow the caravan, a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee, has been plagued with electronic gremlins.

Imagine my unbridled joy when I was handed keys to the Navara after I rejoined the CAR team. I immediately checked to make sure it had a tow bar. In my mind, it was the perfect towing vehicle to haul my dormant caravan. However, between all the test vehicles and helping a buddy move using a rental trailer, the opportunity had yet to present itself.

One morning, post-deadline, I dropped down the corner stands, dusted off the Sprite and hitched it to the Navara to take it to a roadworthy station. Unfortunately, the Nissan doesn’t register if a caravan has been plugged in and hooked up, so there’s an incessant beep when you’re in reverse. Those parking sensors will let you know when you’re getting uncomfortably close to something.

What is quite a plus is the ability to switch on the camera using the infotainment system even when you’re not in reverse, so you can choose between a bird’s-eye view, a view of the kerb on the passenger side, and right behind the bakkie to help you manoeuvre. With a caravan in tow, it is a real bonus.

Out on the road, the Navara towed with very little trouble. Overtaking the slower traffic on the freeways around Cape Town proved as simple as a flex of the right foot as the Navara’s 450 N.m made light work of the Sprite’s 650 kg tare weight.

What the little shakedown did make a dent in, however, was the Navara’s average fuel consumption, which I had managed to get down to the low nines. Unfortunately, all the traffic lights and stop/go movement with the caravan in tow pushed it up a little. I can’t wait to hit the open road with the Navara and Sprite fully laden for a camping trip.