Is there any way that you can improve the towing performance of petrol engines as I test towed a new caravan yesterday and I really felt the weight of the van, it did weigh around 3000kg but I have towed a 2500kg van previously and it was a breeze. This one I felt and it turned me off buying the caravan and it is the van that I want too buy.
I do have a V8 Landcruiser, love the vehicle and don't want to change it.
-- Edited by Wizardofoz on Friday 11th of October 2013 07:25:01 AM
-- Edited by Wizardofoz on Friday 11th of October 2013 07:25:39 AM
No I didn't but the caravan has ESC and was perfectly level and towed beautifully straight and true, I was flat out getting ito past 60kph up the climb to Lapstone from Penrith although it is a fairly steep incline. Overall it towed terrific but the weight was always noticeable.
would a WDH make much difference to this scenario?
Hi, I tow a 3 tonne van, been on the road for 18 months. You really feel the weight on the hills.
You could perhaps supercharge the v8. Has the cruiser been serviced, perhaps get a dyno tune to check if its putting out correct power.
Just for interest, this year I experimented with the different grades of petrol, i.e. ULP, Premium and Ultimate, over 7,000km journey.
Results: Makes absolutely no difference, in fact ULP often gave better results.
As for a WDH making any difference to performance? The easy answer is NO! In some instances it could make a difference in the ride.
I found when we had our Toyota AWD and the numerous sedans we have had, that Toyota tend to underpower there vehicles.
As you have found out, once you reach a certain limit, they crash and burn quickly, when it comes to performance. The quoted figures for capacity, tend to be the maximum limit for even basic performance.
I was so disappointed in our Prado Diesel that I got rid of it quick smart.
Have you checked to se if you can have the cars computer remaped or fitted with a power chip. I assume it can be done to petrol motors as well as diesels. I had the computer in my Land Rover remaped and it upped the power by about a 30 %. Landy
-- Edited by landy on Friday 11th of October 2013 09:15:13 PM
-- Edited by landy on Friday 11th of October 2013 11:43:39 PM
-- Edited by landy on Friday 11th of October 2013 11:45:08 PM
__________________
In life it is important to know when to stop arguing with people
and simply let them be wrong.
Mate has a 2006 V8 Cruiser on Duel fuel, he tows around the 2700 kg mark, without to much problems, People who say ?? '' You would not even know a van was on the back' !! are kidding themselves, No matter what vehicle you have?? Put 1 Tonne behind it, and you will know it is there, ???? put 3 Tonne behind it, ? and you will no for Bl--dy'' sure that it is there. !!
When you did the ''climb'' what gear were you in ?? whilst trying to maintain that 60 Kph, and is your Cruiser Manual or Auto ?? Also remember that when you were towing around 2500 Kgs The Van was not much heavier than the Tug'' But when you tow 3000 Kgs, that puts the weight factor well into the Vans favour ?? and that will throw around any Tow Combo ??
Just for interest, this year I experimented with the different grades of petrol, i.e. ULP, Premium and Ultimate, over 7,000km journey.
Results: Makes absolutely no difference, in fact ULP often gave better results.
As for a WDH making any difference to performance? The easy answer is NO! In some instances it could make a difference in the ride.
I found when we had our Toyota AWD and the numerous sedans we have had, that Toyota tend to underpower there vehicles.
As you have found out, once you reach a certain limit, they crash and burn quickly, when it comes to performance. The quoted figures for capacity, tend to be the maximum limit for even basic performance.
I was so disappointed in our Prado Diesel that I got rid of it quick smart.
Ken
Hi Ken ,just wondering what weight you were pulling with the Prado ,and what speed,I have a 2003 Prado diesel pulling 2.160 tonne Jayco Westport and mine pulls that ok,you won't break any records,tows beautiful at 90 KMH.and will do better if I push the right pedal a bit more.
Lance C
-- Edited by Olley46 on Friday 11th of October 2013 09:29:14 PM
That is a big heavy van. I thought it would be a Nova when you mentioned Penrith. We are looking at a smaller length Nova Terra Sportz. I have only read good reports re towing with the 200 series cruiser - Diesel though. A lot more torque for towing. Maybe what you are experiencing is the drawback with towing a heavy van with a petrol. By the way nice looking and well built van the Nova's. Cheers.
Tow vehicle 2009 LANDCRUISER V8 petrol auto and towed in 4th gear max...caravan 23'6" external Nova Pride Platinum ATM 3400(approx) tare 2875.
Recently changed from a V8 petrol Cruiser to a new 200 turbo diesel and the performance towing 2,800 kgs, particularly in hilly terrain, is chalk and cheese.
Is there any way that you can improve the towing performance of petrol engines as I test towed a new caravan yesterday and I really felt the weight of the van, it did weigh around 3000kg but I have towed a 2500kg van previously and it was a breeze. This one I felt and it turned me off buying the caravan and it is the van that I want too buy.
I do have a V8 Landcruiser, love the vehicle and don't want to change it. -- Edited by Wizardofoz on Friday 11th of October 2013 07:25:01 AM-- Edited by Wizardofoz on Friday 11th of October 2013 07:25:39 AM
A trailer is a ship's anchor to any vehicle, despite what some say.
If the dry weight is 3000kg, what will the van be fully loaded? What will be the gross mass of both units, vehicle and trailer, laden? At the same time, consider the maximum load on the tow ball and add to the likely mass carried in the vehicle including passengers.
- Easy to exceed legal requirements, and the dictates of comfort, common sense and safety in towing (think of encountering high cross winds for instance).
However I reckon you have already sorted your priorities and problem.
Just for interest, this year I experimented with the different grades of petrol, i.e. ULP, Premium and Ultimate, over 7,000km journey.
Results: Makes absolutely no difference, in fact ULP often gave better results.
As for a WDH making any difference to performance? The easy answer is NO! In some instances it could make a difference in the ride.
I found when we had our Toyota AWD and the numerous sedans we have had, that Toyota tend to underpower there vehicles.
As you have found out, once you reach a certain limit, they crash and burn quickly, when it comes to performance. The quoted figures for capacity, tend to be the maximum limit for even basic performance.
I was so disappointed in our Prado Diesel that I got rid of it quick smart.
Ken
Hi Ken ,just wondering what weight you were pulling with the Prado ,and what speed,I have a 2003 Prado diesel pulling 2.160 tonne Jayco Westport and mine pulls that ok,you won't break any records,tows beautiful at 90 KMH.and will do better if I push the right pedal a bit more.
Lance C
-- Edited by Olley46 on Friday 11th of October 2013 09:29:14 PM
Hi Lance,
We had 2005 (pre CRD) Grande, towing a 21.6" Jayco Heritage full van. From memory the weight was 2.3t
The van was a disaster and we got rid of it after 18months and purchased our current van which weighs in at 1700kg.
Even towing this it was well below what I would accept as reasonable performance. Fuel figures was around 17l/100, if you wanted to pass someone, you needed ten kilometres of straight road and a tail wind. Long hill were a real problem.
The vehicle itself was beautifully finished and a joy to ride in, just needed more performance.
I believe the common rail one's are better, but they apparently have injector problems.
I now tow with a Falcon XR6Turbo, which gives me the same fuel economy and power to burn.
