Top-5 unusual tow vehicles

You don’t have to be a farmer to enjoy tractors, according to the Chamberlain 9G Tractor Club whose members regularly head out on treks around the country, pulling a variety of camper trailers and caravans.

The WA-based club started around 1999 and membership has grown as the appeal of these vintage tractors, which were made in Australia from 1947 to 1977 before bought out by John Deere, grows.

They try to keep off the main roads for obvious reasons, although they’re hardly slugs with a cruising speed of of 50km/h or more, while the four-cylinder Perkins engine slurps fuel at around 18L/100km.

Going a bit slower has its advantages, explains one of its members: “You get to see so much more, and we do stop and start quite a bit so if you see something you want to take a look at, you can.”

The old tractors have also been modified with UHF and headset systems and in some cases a full cabin added including better seats, a stereo and air-conditioning.

Caravanners are often accused of holding up traffic, but you’d have a good excuse if behind the reins of one of these horse-drawn rigs from Victoria-based Colonial Way Caravans.

Giving new meaning to ‘slow travel’, the business was operating until recently in the Victorian goldfields town of Rheola and offered family-friendly holidays using old-style gypsy caravans pulled by Clydsdale horses.

The ‘real’ horsepower-driven timber caravans feature a truck-style dog trailer set-up – four wheels in each corner – for stability.

With one double bed and three bunks, each cara-wagon can sleep five, plus there’s a gas stove/grill, gas lantern, barbecue plate, and a basic bush toilet and shower.

Road tripping motorcyclists usually have to choose between loading up the bike with extra storage compartments for camping gear, using a sidecar or staying in motels.

Or they can hitch up a lightweight camper trailer that’s been specifically designed to tow behind a motorbike.

We spotted this neat rig in Tasmania a few years ago, with two up on a comfy Honda Goldwing towing a decent-sized, Elite single axle camper trailer.

Elite is one of few motorcycle camper specialists in Australia, with a number of models with GVM ratings of between 300 and 450kg.

The come equipped with a queen bed and storage areas, with options to fit an awning and annexe walls, fridge, 12V battery system, solar panels, picnic table, and fuel tank, depending on model.

One of the best things about these campers is they take up little room and feature a removable drawbar for easier transport and storage.

Top tips for motorcycle camping

You'll never have a problem keeping fit on holidays with one of these micro-light vans or trailers. While rare in Australia, they're increasingly common in Europe where push bikes are more acceptable as everyday transport.

Some of these micro-vans manage to squeeze in fixed beds, kitchens and bathrooms, and are narrow enough to be pulled down sidewalks. Lazier types could use a battery-powered bicycle or mobility scooter to tow one.

For some people, one RV is not enough, and towing a trailer behind a motorhome to carry more gear or another vehicle becomes an option.

You see a few motorhomes on the highways towing trailers carrying a small car or 4WD, fishing boat, or other recreational plaything, but few pulling a caravan.

But that doesn’t mean it never happens, with one high-profile example a few years' back when ex-Olympic swimmer Lisa Curry hit the road with a big Jayco toy hauler caravan towed behind a 28ft luxury Jayco motorhome with 3000kg tow rating.

All up, the caravan road-train provided up to 10 sleeping options for Lisa and her travelling companion!

Top-10 crazy caravans

Top-10 tow vehicles