My Wife and I are planning on towing a 750kg box trailer across Australia from Perth to Rockhampton one way.
We Have a 2005 BF Falcon Sedan and I would like to know peoples thoughts on the following:
Will a transmission oil cooler be necessary for this trip?
Would you recommended installing airbags in the rear or would this not be needed?
Do you tow in sports manual or just leave in drive?
We will be sitting on 100km the whole way conditions pending of course.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
This is a one way trip and we will not be using the car for further towing after that so I would like to avoid spending money if I don't need to.
Tony Bev said
06:40 PM Mar 13, 2017
I had a 1993 EB Falcon, which had the more or less same size 4 litre engine as your 2005 BF Falcon
In 2013/14 I used the Falcon to tow a 1400 Kg pop top caravan around Australia, it already had a transmission oil cooler fitted I would have purchased one for the trip, due to towing a caravan, which was much higher than the vehicle
I am not a mechanic, but in my opinion
Will a transmission oil cooler be necessary for this trip? If the vehicle is in good mechanical condition - If the load is no more than 750 Kg - If the load is lower than the height of the car Then no you will not need a transmission cooler
Would you recommended installing airbags in the rear or would this not be needed? I fitted new shockies, but did not have airbags, I also adjusted the load so that there was no more than 100 Kg on the towball Then no you will not need airbags, if you can adjust the load to have less than 100 Kg on the towball
Do you tow in sports manual or just leave in drive? I left it in drive on the flats, but picked a lower gear while going up, and more important while descending the hills
Be aware that the BF Falcon has an Aluminium engine sump If you drive over rocks, or a high curb, you could damage the sump and become stranded, until the sump was replaced
If you wish to avoid spending money, then travelling at 90 KPH on the flat (providing you are in top gear), will cut your petrol bill
Hope this info is useful, and I hope that others who have towed with a BF Falcon will give their input, and correct me if I am wrong
Dougwe said
07:26 PM Mar 13, 2017
Welcome to th gang mathew46, enjoy here and out in the playground.
I would think your Falcon would handle 750kg box trailer with eeze and with no mods. IMO.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
blaze said
09:33 PM Mar 13, 2017
mathew46 wrote:
Hi All,
My Wife and I are planning on towing a 750kg box trailer across Australia from Perth to Rockhampton one way.
We Have a 2005 BF Falcon Sedan and I would like to know peoples thoughts on the following:
Will a transmission oil cooler be necessary for this trip?
Would you recommended installing airbags in the rear or would this not be needed?
Do you tow in sports manual or just leave in drive?
We will be sitting on 100km the whole way conditions pending of course.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
This is a one way trip and we will not be using the car for further towing after that so I would like to avoid spending money if I don't need to.
Give it a good service (including the sealed for life transmission, oil and filter), bit more air in the tyres all around and off you go. Havea good trip
cheers
blaze
beej said
10:15 PM Mar 13, 2017
Hi Mathew,as a retired Ford mechanic I agree with everything you've been told especially about getting the trans serviced ect but don't forget the trailer,if tyres and bearings are more than 5 or 6 years old I would replace them as running great distance like that puts a lot more strain on them compared to the odd trip around town.the Nullarbor has plenty of trailer wrecks across it.I also carry some spares including 2 fuel filters after having a bad time with contaminated fuel across the Nullarbor a couple of years ago,At least if you need it someone will be able to fit it for you.Have a safe trip
macka17 said
10:37 PM Mar 13, 2017
As above.
TRLR Bearings I'd change anyway. for a set of TIMKEN or similar.
They'll probably only have chinese ones in there. Plus get a hub set pack too.
Bearings and seals.Get full mechanical service\oil changes
"LIFETIME Transmission Fluids. AREN'T.....
Get the whole thing "flushed". NOT just plug out and top up.
Take usual belts. filters. and sparefluids to get you to next place if you get a leak.
I always carry a ltr of brake\steeringetc.5 of engine and 5 of coolant.
Justin' case.
If only towing one way and concerned about suspension.
I took a '98 model round Aust (in '99) with lady and 2 girls on a one off trip with van on back.
I fitted a pr of "Pump up" shocks on there to give extra stability with van on. and normal for afterwards.
They worked well. and took an hr or so to fit. Incl drilling a hole inside boot for inflating valve.
Transm Oil Cooler.
If coming to live here. It's a hotter climate.
A cooler will never go astray..
Enjoy the trip.
and come up to Yeppoon and enjoy our beaches and WARM Rain.
Desert Dweller said
06:06 AM Mar 14, 2017
We towed a 17ft fiberglass half cabin boat full of camping gear (around 1600kg) with a BF Falcon for many years. It did it with one leg in the air.
1. The BF already has an extra large capacity oil cooler fitted. We had to get one fitted to our previous two Falcons.
2. The Jaguar designed rear end doesn't sag at all with a reasonable ball weight.
3.We towed in DRIVE through all types of terrain including mountainous areas.
Relax & enjoy the drive.
mathew46 said
11:50 AM Mar 14, 2017
Thanks everyone for the replies, I will change the transmission fluid. And I may do the bearing or at least buy a spare set.
Will tow in drive and change to sports for any really hilly areas.
With regards to the trailer bearings I am capable of doing these myself but I was actually questioning if they needed doing. I drove the trailer from Mandurah to Denmark around 400km and back and didn't have any issues I felt the bearings a few times and they were not hot. So my question would be is it necessary to change them or just lift the wheels up and check for movement?
Thanks Again
Mathew
macka17 said
01:08 PM Mar 14, 2017
HEY.
Old school mechanic.
You going to have a new set of bearings.
HAVE them on trlr and carry pregreased\checked. old set in boot.
You can GUARANTEE. if one going to go. It'll go in MOST inopportune place.
If a usual local bought trailer. It WILL have chinese bearings. Fine for short "dump" runs.
But you've got away with one trip already. I wouldn't push it.
Stripping bearings out of axle of a loaded trailer sitting propped up on a jack
on side of highway with trucks hauling past at 110 is not my idea of fun.
(You do have axle stands don't you?.)
That's where it'll happen.
Make room for fluids hoses. belts and oils. Usually you end up NOT needing them then.
And you will use them further down the track.
I've travelled\towed for 50odd yrs.
It's the times you DON'T have the parts you need, that you do NEED them.
Be warned.
mathew46 said
01:27 PM Mar 14, 2017
No worries thanks Macka I will replace the bearings clean and repack them as the spares. I may also get a spare HUB just in case
El Gringo said
03:51 PM Mar 14, 2017
I think the biggest concern is trailer balance.
I towed a pretty big trailer behind my BA falcon from Rocky to Brisbane and needed new rear tyres by the time I got there.
The trailer was very nose heavy and the independent rear suspension was near bottoming out the whole trip.
I should have repacked the dam thing.
Other than that though the Falcon is a brilliant tow car, much better than the Holden as the torque of the big six is unmatched.
I have also towed car trailers for long distances and have never bothered with a trans cooler, and certainly wouldn't bother for your trailer.
All the best.
Aus-Kiwi said
10:14 PM Mar 14, 2017
One maintenance thing .. The cooler is also a heater.. It heats up coolant in cold conditions faster.. The cooler can leak if not serviced or maintained with correct inhibitor . Any coolant leaking into auto, just smashes the friction material off the bands, clutches etc.. An after market separate air trans cooler takes away the issues of coolant contamination.. When you disconnect the std cooler.. It'll be the 6 speed ZF auto you'll be fine heat wise..
-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Tuesday 14th of March 2017 10:15:56 PM
Hi All,
My Wife and I are planning on towing a 750kg box trailer across Australia from Perth to Rockhampton one way.
We Have a 2005 BF Falcon Sedan and I would like to know peoples thoughts on the following:
We will be sitting on 100km the whole way conditions pending of course.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
This is a one way trip and we will not be using the car for further towing after that so I would like to avoid spending money if I don't need to.
I had a 1993 EB Falcon, which had the more or less same size 4 litre engine as your 2005 BF Falcon
In 2013/14 I used the Falcon to tow a 1400 Kg pop top caravan around Australia, it already had a transmission oil cooler fitted
I would have purchased one for the trip, due to towing a caravan, which was much higher than the vehicle
I am not a mechanic, but in my opinion
If the vehicle is in good mechanical condition - If the load is no more than 750 Kg - If the load is lower than the height of the car
Then no you will not need a transmission cooler
I fitted new shockies, but did not have airbags, I also adjusted the load so that there was no more than 100 Kg on the towball
Then no you will not need airbags, if you can adjust the load to have less than 100 Kg on the towball
I left it in drive on the flats, but picked a lower gear while going up, and more important while descending the hills
Be aware that the BF Falcon has an Aluminium engine sump
If you drive over rocks, or a high curb, you could damage the sump and become stranded, until the sump was replaced
If you wish to avoid spending money, then travelling at 90 KPH on the flat (providing you are in top gear), will cut your petrol bill
Hope this info is useful, and I hope that others who have towed with a BF Falcon will give their input, and correct me if I am wrong
Welcome to th gang mathew46, enjoy here and out in the playground.
I would think your Falcon would handle 750kg box trailer with eeze and with no mods. IMO.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Give it a good service (including the sealed for life transmission, oil and filter), bit more air in the tyres all around and off you go. Havea good trip
cheers
blaze
TRLR Bearings I'd change anyway. for a set of TIMKEN or similar.
They'll probably only have chinese ones in there. Plus get a hub set pack too.
Bearings and seals.Get full mechanical service\oil changes
"LIFETIME Transmission Fluids. AREN'T.....
Get the whole thing "flushed". NOT just plug out and top up.
Take usual belts. filters. and sparefluids to get you to next place if you get a leak.
I always carry a ltr of brake\steeringetc.5 of engine and 5 of coolant.
Justin' case.
If only towing one way and concerned about suspension.
I took a '98 model round Aust (in '99) with lady and 2 girls on a one off trip with van on back.
I fitted a pr of "Pump up" shocks on there to give extra stability with van on. and normal for afterwards.
They worked well. and took an hr or so to fit. Incl drilling a hole inside boot for inflating valve.
Transm Oil Cooler.
If coming to live here. It's a hotter climate.
A cooler will never go astray..
Enjoy the trip.
and come up to Yeppoon and enjoy our beaches and WARM Rain.
We towed a 17ft fiberglass half cabin boat full of camping gear (around 1600kg) with a BF Falcon for many years. It did it with one leg in the air.
1. The BF already has an extra large capacity oil cooler fitted. We had to get one fitted to our previous two Falcons.
2. The Jaguar designed rear end doesn't sag at all with a reasonable ball weight.
3.We towed in DRIVE through all types of terrain including mountainous areas.
Relax & enjoy the drive.
Will tow in drive and change to sports for any really hilly areas.
With regards to the trailer bearings I am capable of doing these myself but I was actually questioning if they needed doing. I drove the trailer from Mandurah to Denmark around 400km and back and didn't have any issues I felt the bearings a few times and they were not hot. So my question would be is it necessary to change them or just lift the wheels up and check for movement?
Thanks Again
Mathew
Old school mechanic.
You going to have a new set of bearings.
HAVE them on trlr and carry pregreased\checked. old set in boot.
You can GUARANTEE. if one going to go. It'll go in MOST inopportune place.
If a usual local bought trailer. It WILL have chinese bearings. Fine for short "dump" runs.
But you've got away with one trip already. I wouldn't push it.
Stripping bearings out of axle of a loaded trailer sitting propped up on a jack
on side of highway with trucks hauling past at 110 is not my idea of fun.
(You do have axle stands don't you?.)
That's where it'll happen.
Make room for fluids hoses. belts and oils. Usually you end up NOT needing them then.
And you will use them further down the track.
I've travelled\towed for 50odd yrs.
It's the times you DON'T have the parts you need, that you do NEED them.
Be warned.
I towed a pretty big trailer behind my BA falcon from Rocky to Brisbane and needed new rear tyres by the time I got there.
The trailer was very nose heavy and the independent rear suspension was near bottoming out the whole trip.
I should have repacked the dam thing.
Other than that though the Falcon is a brilliant tow car, much better than the Holden as the torque of the big six is unmatched.
I have also towed car trailers for long distances and have never bothered with a trans cooler, and certainly wouldn't bother for your trailer.
All the best.
One maintenance thing .. The cooler is also a heater.. It heats up coolant in cold conditions faster.. The cooler can leak if not serviced or maintained with correct inhibitor . Any coolant leaking into auto, just smashes the friction material off the bands, clutches etc.. An after market separate air trans cooler takes away the issues of coolant contamination.. When you disconnect the std cooler.. It'll be the 6 speed ZF auto you'll be fine heat wise..
-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Tuesday 14th of March 2017 10:15:56 PM