I'm probably out of step here, but you really are jumping in, boots and all. I can understand your enthusiasm, and I apologise if I seem as though I am trying to dent it. As first time caravanners, you've chosen a large van and planning on towing it with a vehicle that will be marginal once you load the van up. The van weighs 2.2 tonne, then you'll have to add 140? litres of water (140KG) - 2 x 9kg gas bottles (40kg) - fridge contents (20kg) - perishables (80KG) - clothes (60kg) - books, TV, microwave, sheets, pillows .......you'll be well over your maximum tow limit before you leave. Odds on that the ball weight would be well over as well. This is not an ideal scenario. Additionally I'd reckon that even if you were using a 200 series Landcruiser to tow with, I certainly do a caravan towing instruction course with a large caravan. Again I stress that I'm not trying to dent your enthusiasm. Good Luck.
EDIT.....sorry I missed the question - which car to tow with........you want something reliable,solid, dependable, powerful and proven. Despite loving my Territory, if I had the cash I'd go for a 200 series Landcruiser - the one with the V8 diesel and twin turbos. That would give confidence IMHO.
Regards
Denis
-- Edited by hako on Monday 18th of November 2013 04:31:02 PM
I've been an avid follower of this website and have got many top tips in preparation for our big trip commencing in Jan. Thank you!
We collect our first ever caravan next week, its a 22 foot Option RV tornado family series (2.2tonnes unloaded)...v excited!
We currently have a company car.....BMW X5. It has a tow bar plus the electrics have been adjusted in preparation for the big trip. The dealership info states it can tow 2.72 tonnes (interestingly it was manufactured in Germany where it has a 3.5 tonne tow capacity!) Our X5 has 20 inch low profile alloy wheels with run flats. The rear tyres are 315mm and the front 275mm. They are apparently the biggest wheels /tyres the car can take and Bridgestone's advised us today that we cannot change them.
We were happy to take the X5 as its a great car and should be pretty good with fuel consumption and we'll just lose a fair bit of money if we sell it now etc. However, we've met a couple of people recently how have strongly suggested we change it
So, I welcome your thoughts!
Is anyone out driving towing with an X5? If so.....how are you going, any advice?
Has anyone any suggestions ( incl an alternative car if necessary) or can reassure us we'd be most grateful.
Many thanks Bob and Denis.....all sound advice. We did a towing course last week with Tony @ Gympie.....v informative and dare I say enjoyable!
I was going to take winter donnas etc ready for the change in season but reading your comments I think I'm best to buy them as we need them to keep weight down.
Hope to see you on our travels.
Thanks again,
Sue
My data base info says the X5 has a max tow capacity of 2700Kg and a max ball weight of 270Kg with the HD tow bar, but the X5 (E53 model)) only has a 120Kg ball weight.
The Tornado van with a TARE of 2200Kg (If correct) will when load for a family come pretty close to the max of 2700Kg (2700 Kg payload), but could quite possibly be higher. Check the vans VIN Plate for payload allowance. i.e. ATM (Max legal weight) less TARE = payload allowance. With the ball weight added to the rear of the X5 I would be concerned about the suitability of the Low profile tyres on a vehicle that was designed primarily as an Urban SVU.
Cheers, ozjohn.
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Retired Engineer, Ex Park Owner & Caravan Consultant. Holden 2.8 Colorado - Roma Elegance 17'6" Pop Top. Location: Mornington Peninsula Vic.
I would not like to be driving a vehicle, loaded up for touring with a van on the back with up to an extra 270Kg on the rear, with run flat tyres, that were flat. How long will they run flat with the loaded vehicle and van in some hot weather. A friend had 2 flats going across the Nullabor this year.
I would find out the GCM as well but if in Europe the X5 can tow 3500Kg this will probably be OK.
Re Company vehicle towing, been there done that, it saves on petrol/maintenance/insurance but with inconviences eg waiting for special tyres/wheels to be shipped over, its all right if you have tons of time and Sat TV/books etc and like exploring in a small town, did it for a couple of years then we bought a Landcruiser and left the company vehicle at home.
And with X5 tyres of different sizes, carrying 2 different spares is just that much more weight, we carry 2 spares for the van and at least 2 for the tug, depending on where we are going.
I different way to look at what tug I should buy for TOWING. Lets look at a Holden Colorado dual cab and a v8 Landcruser which both tow3.5 and as the Toyota is a v8 I have added a chip to the 4 cylinder Colorados performance.
I have calculated the power and torque used to move each kg of gross kg of each. Colorado 3150kg 184w, 625 nt, Landcruser 3350 195w, 650nt
watts per kg Newtons torque per kg Cost
Colorado 17.8 5 $80k
Landcruser 17.2 5.2 $40k
Just looking at the towing ability if I purchased the Colorado I would save $40k and if I invested that at say 4% this would give me $1,600 or 1000Lt diesel or around 10,300 kilometers of travel each year.
Thanks everyone...I've passed your comments and wise words to my 'techie hubbie'.
Think we'll give the X5 a whirl on our first trip to Rainbow Beach next week and take it from there....might see you there!! We'll be the ones fraught after the drive and first parking experience....must pack the gin!!!
AdventureB4Dentures wrote:We currently have a company car.....BMW X5. It has a tow bar plus the electrics have been adjusted in preparation for the big trip. The dealership info states it can tow 2.72 tonnes (interestingly it was manufactured in Germany where it has a 3.5 tonne tow capacity!)
Vehicles in Europe typically have high towing limits and ball weights that are less than 10% of their towing weight. Their European tow capacity is possibly 3500/270 kg which would be about a 7% ball weight. As our vans have a 10% ball weight they probably set the maximum towing weight to suit a 10% ball weight as they were not prepared to allow more than 270 kg ball loading (no point in having a higher towing weight for Oz in any case.)
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
One nice feature the BMW may have is an electronic stability control setting for towing. My brother has a 1-series with "Trailer Stability Control" that I saw while flicking through the owner's manual, so presumably the X5 has it too. I don't know whether it activates automatically when the trailer electrics are connected or if it needs to be manually activated.
Thanks moblet.....yes, the X5 has some great safety and stabilty features (as do so many of the cars now). We've decided to go with the X5, mainly as its a Company car and we'd loose too much by trading it in plus hubbie had recent back surgery so the comfort aspect is quite important (plus he's bought loads of gadgets and a fridge that fits the X5!) Hope to see you around!
Oops...just posted a general update to your message...didn't realise I could send one directly to you...apologies! Can you tell I'm new to all this?!!!
