Who tows what, with what. ?

DUSTYRHODES · Veteran Member

Who tows what, with what. ?

rgren2 · Guru

Have you considered a reflash on your Dmax? Just one of many who do it.
www.hp-f.com.au/tuning/d-max-my08-11-ecu-remap

DUSTYRHODES · Veteran Member

Hi rgren2, Yes. Had a 'Remap' a few years ago by a very well known company. Thought it was very good untill I towed the Van. Just recently I splurged... New exhaust and Intercooler, then the Dyno tune. Very impressed. But the car still only has 130 kw.

Rodsvan · Veteran Member

I had a 2005 Pajero diesel which was not too far off the power/torque figures of the earlier Dmax. I was a bit naive and after reading reports from others (wouldn't even know the van was there etc etc) I bought a caravan of almost 2,500kg (fully loaded) which was maximum towing capacity. It managed but the engine worked hard & fuel consumption was very high. I think a caravan weight of what you're looking at would have been a much better match for the vehicle. Perhaps you could borrow or hire a caravan for a short time to see how it goes towing? Note, I find there's quite a difference between towing a full-height caravan to towing a similar weight trailer due to the wind resistance. Rod

Possum3 · Guru

DR, it is usual that pop-tops are heavier than full vans (and more costly). Ensuites in pop-tops are rarely satisfactory - consider building a higher than usual carport and getting the benefits of a full sized van.

valiant81 · Guru

Hi all; We have a 2012 Jayco pop top with a shower/toilet built in Model 17.33.5 Our only vehicleis a 1995 Pajero with the 2.8 ltr diesel.We have owner the Pajero for now on 15 years now. While we know the Jayco caravans are built to a priceand likeall caravans have there faults, we have been lucky with ours over the years and had no major problems ( so far )

As for the shower toilet combination, think of the size of a telephone both and it's limited space. This is the same for the shower in our caravan. I have to turn sideways to get into the shower, but it works for us and while a little more room would be nice and after 12 years of ownership can't complain. Just remember that with all shower vans you have extra water onboard ( we have 2 x water tanks ) + the ho****er heater and a extra gas bottle just to add to the over all weight. Our pajero handles this with out complaints and besides the general maintaince on the car it has been a good match.

While we would love a full size caravan ( not a pop top ), at the time our caravan had to go under our carport and through to the back yard. If you are seriously thinking of getting a pop top, have a talk with the caravan yard people and see if they can bring the caravan that you are interested in purchasing and see if it will fit into the space were you want the caravan to live while at home. We started of with a Jayco camper ( Swan ) and that fitted with room to spair . But when we upgraded a few years later to out first Jayco discovery, my wife said it would not fit through the caraport and this is were the caravan yard was most helpfull and bought the caravan around to our home and did a couple of test runs as to see if it would fit through the caraport . If it did't then there would be no sale. It fitted !! We upgraded that jayco discovery to the one that we have now and the main reason was that our current caravan has a toilet and shower. Good for the wifes privacy at night time too.

Craig1 · Guru

Pop top shower is a tight fit, but works for us. It is not too hard to measure heights, just do it three times, dont forget vents and aerials. Also facotr in if you want to pop it while at home.

Whenarewethere · Guru

Something with actual "Oh what a feeling!":

DUSTYRHODES · Veteran Member

Yes thanks all. I thought Hire Caravans were out of our $$$ but actually there is a couple around Adelaide at reasonable prises. We'd like to own a Jayco Journey Off road or Destiny maybe, or if I can find one a similar Coramal . We will hire one. Didn't know that Poptops are heavier than Standard . I will not buy a Van without towing it. Cheers all. DR.

Peter_n_Margaret · Senior Member

Don't buy anything without weighing it first either.
We don't tow often and when we do it is usually a boat.
06w04 (11).JPG

0804 (15)c.jpg

The second one (a "Mack" with 70hp outboard) probably weighs a couple of tonns with the extra fuel. The OKA is about 6.5T, so that is around 8.5T total (GCM is 9T).

We took the Mack from Brisbane to the Kimberley via Alice Springs, the Gary Junction Road to Marble Bar, then The Gibb River Road and The Kalumburu Road to Kalumburu.

The OKA has just 75kW from the 4 cylinder 4L diesel and does it easily.

Cheers,

Peter

ps... we returned the boat to Brisbane via the GRR, Kununurra, Mt Isa. Total distance 12,000km, fuel consumption 20L/100km.

-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Friday 16th of February 2024 08:45:54 PM

Dougwe · Chief one feather

20ft Chief Aluminium Tent set up for 'off grid' towed by a Duel Cab Colorado Ute with Genuine Canopy and genuine bull bar. Both 2014 flavour. I added an extra leaf to each rear spring for strength and raise it 50mm. A pre fuel filter added also to help stop dirty fuel causing a problem, hopefully, also fitted.

The Collie has been great for towing unlike the negative comments by a GN member about the Duel Cabs. The only thing I am disappointed in is the red colour has been severely sun damaged. Severely, in just 10 years. So bad It's going in for surgery (a respray) this week. It's in the harsh sun and weather all year non stop. I am so happy with the car it's worth the cost. It will be like a newbie this time next week.

Am I happy with a Duel Cab Ute? You bet ya!

Radar · Guru

We are a bit like Dougwe only we do not live in ours and spend around 5 months touring.

Both car and caravan around the year of 2014, a Nissan Navara STX V6 turbo diesel towing a 19'6" mid door, ensuite caravan with a gross combination weight of 5 400 kgs well under the utes 6 010 kgs GCM.

A beaut combination with a dual cab ute set up totally for off grid caravaning with comfort plus.

I have now removed the canopy with a good weight saving advantage and travel with very little in the ute tub.

And I am also happy traveller with my Dual Cab Ute, you bet cha.

yobarr · Guru

DUSTYRHODES wrote:
Hi rgren2, Yes. Had a 'Remap' a few years ago by a very well known company. Thought it was very good untill I towed the Van. Just recently I splurged... New exhaust and Intercooler, then the Dyno tune. Very impressed. But the car still only has 130 kw.

Stayed away from this for a while, but now have decided to have a say.

BRIEFLY. "Only has 130kw" you say. How much power do you think that you need to tow a lightweight van?

Your car would be quite capable of towing over 2500kg.

Waaay back I used to tow a 3000kg van with a beat- old Valiant, all 120kw of it. "No worries mate".

Just go for it. 130kw is heaps of power for towing a van.

Seems pointless spending money for no good reason. (Unless you have lots of money to spend!) Cheers

-- Edited by yobarr on Saturday 17th of February 2024 04:16:37 PM

DUSTYRHODES · Veteran Member

Yobarr.... Where did I say that I doubted 130kw would tow a light weight Van. It would be a much better Vehicle with at least one more gear instead of the useless 4 speed auto but alas that's what we've got. Drop out of Top gear and you drop 10 kph. I didn't spend senceless money, I spent money to get improvement enough to do the job. If I'd sold my cay and upgraded to a 2014 Ranger with more klms or similar with 150kw I would have spent at least $20,000 more than I did. I wanted to know that it will do the job. Hopefully it will. DR.

yobarr · Guru

DUSTYRHODES wrote:
Yobarr.... Where did I say that I doubted 130kw would tow a light weight Van. It would be a much better Vehicle with at least one more gear instead of the useless 4 speed auto but alas that's what we've got. Drop out of Top gear and you drop 10 kph. I didn't spend senceless money, I spent money to get improvement enough to do the job. If I'd sold my cay and upgraded to a 2014 Ranger with more klms or similar with 150kw I would have spent at least $20,000 more than I did. I wanted to know that it will do the job. Hopefully it will. DR.

Your comment "the car still only has 130kw" gives the impression that you would like more power, do you not think?

My comment merely suggested that 130kw is more than adequate for most towing situations.

Regarding your comment that "Drop out of Top gear and you drop 10kph" is interesting.

You are, of course, aware that using a higher gear to lower engine revs in an effort to improve fuel consumption figures is an exercise in futility. You need to select a gear where the car runs most efficiently .

This often means using a gear below top, 3rd in your case, where the engine will rev but have more power and use less fuel than it would in 4th.

The triple Roadtrain that I drove in the Goldfields had 700hp and 18 gears, but was happiest and most efficient in a gear below 18th, unless the road was slightly downhill, in which case 18th was fine.

You will likely be pleasantly surprised at the improvement in performance if you try 3rd gear. Cheers

P.S You also could consider a different diff ratio.

peter67 · Guru

Not to mention that if you claim warranty for engine or drive train issues, the minute the dealer discovers you have had the engine remapped your wallet explodes.