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Click here for the Grey Nomads website -> The Grey Nomads Forum -> Techies' Corner -> What do I really need to do to my 2012 Sahara for travelling and towing a 3.5 t full off road Majectic Navagator 22.6.
Post Info TOPIC: What do I really need to do to my 2012 Sahara for travelling and towing a 3.5 t full off road Majectic Navagator 22.6.
Scott V


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What do I really need to do to my 2012 Sahara for travelling and towing a 3.5 t full off road Majectic Navagator 22.6.
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I would like to hear what really is necessary to do to the suspension, (air bags, lift kits, up grade suspension etc) 

Also i would like some recommendations on buying Bull bars, winches, and accessories etc. From where or who and what. 

I am from Sunshine coast area. 



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rockylizard


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RE: What do I really need to do to my 2012 Sahara for travelling and towing a 3.5 t full off road Majectic Navagator 22.
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Gday...

You ask the question =- "What do I really need to do to my 2012 Sahara for travelling and towing a 3.5 t full off road Majectic Navagator 22.?"

If the van is 3.5tonne then the only recommendation I would suggest is you trade the Cruiser in on something like this -

Chevvy.jpg

And that recommendation is before you further reduce the Cruiser's ability to cope with that load with the addition of bull-bars etc hmm

Cheers - Johh



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macka17


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What do I really need to do to my 2012 Sahara for travelling and towing a 3.5 t full off road Majectic Navagator 22.6.
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NO Australian reg'd off showroom floor veh can safely tow 3.5 ton.

All cars in this country. on paper figures from MFG's, can tow a lot more than they capable of long term
or when things go wrong.


If you have to tow that weight. get a late model troopie.full body.
or a small dual cab truck Isuzu etc.
Your car suitable to around 3.2 ton max. 3 ton better.



If you do use it.

Chip on engine. stronger susp springs/coils?.
with shockers to suit. Catch can.
and a smaller van.
Enjoy.

PS. A lot will come back on this who are towing more than safety allows.
One day. They will realise why we say this.



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Dickodownunder


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RE: What do I really need to do to my 2012 Sahara for travelling and towing a 3.5 t full off road Majectic Navagator 22.
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Hi Scott V

If your van comes in at 3.5 tonne then as the others said....you are on the limit.

I have a 200 series set up for towing a van and this is what I have done to it.

Richards Torque Converter Lock Up Kit.

Firestone heavy duty air bags to rear suspension

An extra fuel filter fitted before the OE filter with a water sensor.

A Provent oil catch can.

Clearview mirrors.

A TJM alloy bull bar....(I just luv polishing alloy)biggrin steel one more practical but is heavier.

Set of drawers in the rear ...2 small rearmost seats removed.

Auxilliary Battery fitted in rear TJM local fit up.

60 litre fridge in rear.

Hema 7 navigator..

If you go onto the LCool forum and go to the 200 series sub forum you will get all the information you will need relating to tricky bits and pieces. You will be reading for months. biggrin

I have set mine up for mainly highway cruising and towing. I have no intention of going off road. Because you are off road with the van choice, you may want to look at suspension, wheel and tyre modifications as well as protector bars etc

I would have that Chev in the pic above if I had to tow something that heavy.



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Yuglamron


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Check this out this site.

 

http://caravanbuyersguide.com.au/tow-vehicle-caravan-weight/



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OwenK


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What do I really need to do to my 2012 Sahara for travelling and towing a 3.5 t full off road Majectic Navagator 22.6.
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Hi Scott ,

I have a 100 series sahara, tow a 22'6" Traveller  which when loaded is just on 3.5 tonne. I have air bags on rear and a hayman reese weight distribution hitch,  an alloy bull bar, a Kaymar duel spare wheel carrier,  a draw setup in the back, 40 liter engel and Clearview mirrors. I've had no problems  (touch wood ). I always tow in 4th (5 speed auto ), it's done 542000 kms and still going strong. 

Cheers Owen. 



-- Edited by OwenK on Thursday 1st of September 2016 05:48:04 PM

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kezngaz


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Kwik question to the OP.
What data do you have that says your van is 3.5t?
The reason i ask is that it is a figure that gets thrown around a lot both as a van weight and also a tugs towing capacity.
Kezngaz.


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kezngaz


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RE: What do I really need to do to my 2012 Sahara for travelling and towing a 3.5 t full off road Majectic Navagator 22.
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OwenK wrote:

Hi Scott ,

I have a 100 series sahara, tow a 22'6" Traveller  which when loaded is just on 3.5 tonne. I have air bags on rear and a hayman reese weight distribution hitch,  an alloy bull bar, a Kaymar duel spare wheel carrier,  a draw setup in the back, 40 liter engel and Clearview mirrors. I've had no problems  (touch wood ). I always tow in 4th (5 speed auto ), it's done 542000 kms and still going strong. 

Cheers Owen. 

 Hi owen. Id be interested to hear what you rig weighs in at, both Atm gvm and Gcm.

 Cheers 

 Kezngaz.



-- Edited by OwenK on Thursday 1st of September 2016 05:48:04 PM

 



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PeterInSa


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What do I really need to do to my 2012 Sahara for travelling and towing a 3.5 t full off road Majectic Navagator 22.6.
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I would check your GCM and if close forget about the Bull bar/winch. To me you have around 750Kg to meet the vehicles GVM 3350kg?, unless upgraded ie ( 2 adults 150Kg, Fuel 130Kg, Caravan towbar load 350Kg, second under bonnet Battery 35Kg? ++). Re the caravan does that 3.5t include a Air Heater/roof top sat dish/grey water tank/3rd water tank and/or sola added after manufacturer by the dealer.

Welcome to the Forum

Peter

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OwenK


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RE: What do I really need to do to my 2012 Sahara for travelling and towing a 3.5 t full off road Majectic Navagator 22.
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Hi Kezngaz,

The tug loaded 2920 tare is 2500 GCM is 6370. Took it over the weighbridge last week after having a grey water tank fitted. 

Cheers Owen. 

 

 



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Moonraker


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What do I really need to do to my 2012 Sahara for travelling and towing a 3.5 t full off road Majectic Navagator 22.6.
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Hi Scott,
What I would be recommending from my experience of 200 series tug and 3.5t van would be as necessary items only. Not including like- to-have items of your choice.
1.GVM upgrade, either ARB or Lovells, note Lovells are soon to introduce a 4t towing pack for the 200 series which will include their GVM upgrade so look out for that in the next couple of months.
2. The other item I would recommend is a Scangauge 2 set to read transmittion temp. When towing travel in S4 with 3.5t van at about 90kms for best fuel consumption and best for your tug. TFT stays in the safe zone!
3. Clearview mirrors although others are much cheaper Clearview are the best.
4. For long outback travel a bullbar and CB radio would be good secondary items to have.
Just to note the 200 series is a great tow vehicle its 3.5T tow capacity is more to do with Aus vechile limits. In other countries the 200 series has a great tow capacity so here in Aus. with the GVM upgrade towing 3.5t is fine. Plus your are never far from a Toyota service centre all over Aus.

Happy and safe travels
Moonraker

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Scott V


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Thanks for the feed back everyone.

regards
Scott

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Bruce and Bev


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Be careful what mods you do to your tow vehicle is it is still under warranty. Any motor or suspension mods will invalidate your warranty unless it is approved on the manufacturers website or you get it in writing

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RobandFlip


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Hello Scott V,
I have to agree with rockylizard. By the time you upgrade your Sahara including a bull bar and a winch, to have the capabilities to tow 3.5t, you could have a truck suitable for towing 3.5t without having to undertake the costs and time to upgrade. An F250, 2500 Silverado, a 2500 Dodge Ram, all will do the job very comfortably. We love our Ram 2500, the costs to run the Ram are comparable with the Sahara but the towing safety with the Ram far outweighs the Sahara.
Cheers,
Robyn

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macka17


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Yea Flif.

Mate has the dual rears 3500.
Same Engine/running gear as 2500.
Just bigger tray and cab.
He town a 42 ft fifther with his. Legally.

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