Oh I see. Thanks for that. 

Cheers Dianne 

Gday...

As suggested previously, if you need to lower pressures on the tug due to 'conditions' then you should also lower the pressures on the van.

You do need to remember that each motor vehicle has different needs. For the tug, check your owner's manual. It will give advice on what pressures to run in "normal" driving and the pressures to run when "loaded" ... there will be pressures for front and rear. There is usually a metal plaque inside the door which will also carry the same advice. 

For example, my Discovery manual (and plaque) states that 'normal' driving is 34PSI front and 32PSI rear - 'fully loaded' (including when towing) 36PSI front and 45PSI rear. If I am on good quality unsealed roads, I don 't change those pressures but slow down to allow for the lack of grip/control on dirt. However, when on corrugations I will drop the vehicle to 25PSI Front and 38PSI rear - van 40PSI (from 50PSI). Without the van and on '4x4' roads I sometimes drop the pressures to 20PSI all round - but only for and during the '4x4' conditions - I pump them back up when the road improves. Obviously sand can mean pressures down to 15-18PSI - but again dependent on the type of tyre fitted.

If you are running LT tyres on the van (which is always advisable) then it is a bit more difficult as there is no 'suggested' pressures by the manufacturer to guide you.

I run my van on 50PSI  for sealed and good unsealed roads ... but if on corrorgations I drop them to 40PSI .. occasionally 35PSI... BUT and this is important ... I drop my speed to 30-40kph to compensate.

The advice to check with a number of tyre dealers who supply the brand tyre you use on the van is good advice - and as suggested, ask more than one to see the range of 'advice' you receive. 

For instance (for my Discovery and van) -

Therefore check your vehicle's Owner Manual for tug and check 'knowledgeable' tyre dealers for van tyres.

Cheers - and good travelling - John

Gday...

I think you are running Cooper AT3's on the Colorado from memory. I run them on the Discovery.

The pressures I quote above are what I run on sealed roads - wet or dry  ... without van I run 34PSI all round - with van I run 36PSI front; 45PSI rear. [edit: on sealed roads, wet or dry, van tyres at 50PSI]

That is in line with the 'recommended' pressures stated by Land Rover in their manual and plaque inside door.

I 'experimented' early in my ownership of the Landy with slightly higher and lower pressures but the 'recommended' ones certainly seem to work well - for grip/noise/wear.

My usual advice is ALWAYS begin with the pressures the manufacturer recommends for the vehicle and try higher pressures for about 100km and lower pressures for about 100km. See how they feel/work and then make a decision.

However, bear in mind the manufacturer suggests 'softer' tyre pressures for ride comfort ... and the tyre manufacturer suggests higher pressures for better wear and grip. So you have to find a 'balance' that suits the tyres and YOUR vehicle and YOUR usage.

OOPS - that got a bit long-winded. I do really try not to ramble on ... sorry 

Cheers - John 

Gday...

... the only different pressure I use when driving on wet (low grip) roads is less pressure with the right foot

and treating it like there are eggs under the pedal and careful use of the big round thing I hang onto so I don't fall out

Cheers - John

Thanks for the info. I hadn't been back since the first reply saying do both tow vehicle and Van. This is Dianne, I'll pass info onto Stu in morning. We are planning trip to Cape York and savannah  way starting June from Melbourne for 5 months so want to be prepared. We got new tyres on the Bt50 after we got bogged twice in sand, once with van on, once off. Got a lot to Learn. 

Thanks