Anyone towing a Caravan

[boof Member Find all posts View Profile Close boof]

I did a search and couldnt really find what I was after, if I have just missed it then just let me know 8)

After our latest trip north over Christmas I have decided to sell our camper trailer and my much loved yet hated Hilux for a small caravan.
We are looking at a Jayco Expanda 16ft and I have been told its around 1800kgs with water etc on board, I know most will say that a diesel tows better yada yada yada. However I am a pig headed buggar and like my petrols :P so it will be getting towed with our V6 120 series, my concern is that ours is only a 4 speed auto and I am having people tell me I shouldnt tow it in 4th? To me that means it will be ringing its ring out on the highway, I also know that the earlier TDs were only a 4 speed so was wondering what do others do when towing similiar loads? I have seen plenty of Prados getting around (both petrol and diesel) with a lot bigger vans behind them so I dont feel the car cannot do it, I am just after some opinions and experience from others who have done it or are doing it. Thanks in advance.

I intend on using a set of stabiliser bars when towing it and will be getting some tuition from my Grandfather and father (experienced) before taking to the road with it for the first time. I dont wish to be one of the many death traps waiting to happen I have seen in my own travels.

[stelz Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close stelz]

Re: Anyone towing a Caravan

I have a Petrol 5sp Auto and 16ft Outback Expanda and it tows great. Not exactly sure how much difference the 4sp would be as I can't find the gear ratios for each. If the final ration in both is relatively similar, then should be fine.

I find that when towing it kicks down to 4th a lot and I like to keep it there while climbing a hill by slipping the gear selector over to 4th. So you might want to check the ratio of both boxes for 5/4 and 4/3 to see if the 4sp gap is similar. If it much larger it will rev more on downchange.

I don't know if that helps you much :|

[lippa Member Find all posts View Profile Close lippa]

Re: Anyone towing a Caravan

i tow a 2.25t boat with petrol 5 sp auto.
pulls it really well. i use 5th all the time, the vvt cuts in and gives me another 250 odd rpm.
i would assume the 4 sp would also tow well in top cog, just using a few more rpm.

[boof Member Find all posts View Profile Close boof]

Re: Anyone towing a Caravan

Cheers for the responses, I will have a look at the difference in final drive ratios between the 4sp and 5sp.

[QUICKY Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close QUICKY]

Re: Anyone towing a Caravan

i tow a 21ft full van with a 4 sp auto and it does the job well for a 3lt i find if i can cruise on the flat at over 90 it will hold top but below that band it wants to keep hunting around the box on hills i tend to nock kit back to 3rd because it is a little easier on the box if you climb a hill in top it will rev freely but drop it back to 3rd and the revs will drop about 300 revs and still hold the same speed i think the tourque converter locks up mmore if you drop back a gear and give a more direct drive hope this helps a bit

[mildew Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mildew]

Re: Anyone towing a Caravan

Mate of mone has been towing a 2 1/2 tonne Jayco Sterling with his 2004 4 speed petrol Prado and is more than happy. I tow a similar van with a 2005 petrol Prado without issues although I tend to knock it into 4th when I encounter hills.

[mumstruk Member Find all posts View Profile Close mumstruk]

Re: Anyone towing a Caravan

One would think the main issue is the strength of the top/ overdrive gear and bearings. The O/D gear is usually smaller (by necessity) than the 1:1 gear. I may be wrong but maybe someone could enlighten us as to the pros and cons of heavy towing in relation to the manual and auto gearbox.

We always use a weight distribution hitch (which is what i think you are talking about - stabiliser bars)with our van, even when towing the car trailer with an all up weight of 800kgs. This simple device redistributes some of the weight to the front axles making for safer driving. The ball weight should be 10% of the gross weight of the van. If you are towing a properly loaded van that weighs in at 2.5 tonnes then you should have 250kg on the ball. It's like having two 1976 Elviss standing on the rear bar. If you use a weight distributing hitch then the same weight is still there its just that more of it is transferred the the fronts.

Should be made law for vans/trailers over 1000kgs and those that travel with the arse end dragging on the road and the headlights aimed sky high should be fined and defected.

Please please get yourself a decent set of towing mirrors. The benefits are obvious.

Happy towing.

[boof Member Find all posts View Profile Close boof]

Re: Anyone towing a Caravan

Cheers for the comments, we have put the money into the house instead of a new van at the moment. I have however being using the Prado to tow my Hilux around and am extremely impressed at how well it does it. 8)