First trip around Oz

Eaglefree, I have a v8 cruiser ute. The temp gauge on the ute sits just under half way. I also have a scan gauge hooked up as well. Usually when towing the scan gauge will read around 83 to 85c and the Toyota gauge is just under half. Up a long steep hill on a hot day, Toyota gauge still happily sitting just under half, the scan gauge got up to 98c. Not sure how hot it has to get to move the Toyota gauge off just under half.

Cheers

Might see you between Broome & Kununurra, although we will be also going to the Dampier Peninsula, Wolfe Creek, and 5 days on the Gibb.

2000 revs; I would not hesitate to run it all day at that except for steep hills.
You would save nearly 20% in fuel. Check it on the car computer.
My car is a tiptronic auto and wants to change into third at 60kph and into top at 80kph. On the flat I change it into third at 50 and into top at 60kph (1200revs & 4.5l/100k), (the 1400 revs that I said before is 70 kph going up Lapstone Hill). I have checked with my mechanic and he said to work it hard at low revs, that is what a diesel does best,-use the torque. Only change down on hills when its flat to the floor and starts to lose pulling power, keep an eye on the tacho.

I can understand the Hyundai club talking the way they did about a petrol car, but not a diesel, UNLESS there is another problem, eg with the gear box or clutch, and I doubt that. Without a heavy load your car should be able to cruise at 80kph on the flat. The torque curve on a diesel drops off quickly at low revs, but your engine still should be happy at 1600 revs on the flat.

We are leaving the 505 behind this time. My wife wants the C5 comfort and quietness, and I think we should achieve 7.5l/100k with the rack, tyre, pod and commode frame on the top. The pug is warmed over and uses 95 premium and uses 13l/100k. We have done some trips in it; including the old Ghan track from Oodnadatta to Alice Springs, the Western Desert of Victoria twice, and the "longest shortcut" being Cairns to Busselton through the Sandover, Mereenie Loop and the Great Central Rd including a bit of the Anne Beadell Hwy.

just an introduction to our trip with follow up as we proceed. And I haven't travelled around Oz before nor seen economy results from a i30 diesel towing a small caravan. Think many would be interested in that. Tony

Thanks 9900Eagle,

I did have a neighbour once that had a Jackaroo diesel that towed a one ton tradesmans trailer with his overdrive on a long trip and it needed a gearbox rebuild upon return, the mechanic claiming 5th gear shouldn't have been used.

However, as previously stated it isn't strictly an overdrive. I think a mix of both really. If the engine is showing no signs of labouring on the long flat outback tar roads 5th would be ok. But the slightest sign of a head wind or gradient 4th is the go.

My car though its done 304,000km has had an easy life with cruise control at 108kph on the Hume Highway.

I'll keep you all poste don economy.

It will be an overdrive. Anything that has a gear ratio under 1 to 1 which is straight through, is an overdrive. If you look in your manual it should show your gearbox ratios. What I think they are saying is the overdrive gear is just an add on at the end of the gear line which can make it weak. Landcruisers and Patrols suffered from this and after a while they would need a box rebuild. Note. I am not picking on either of these vehicles, it is just the fact as they are a yard stick.

Have a think about what the vehicle was designed for, it was most likely only designed to tow a box trailer short distances around the place at higher load limits. The weight your are towing iand you have also introduced windage making the vehicle work much harder.

I have no doubt the engine will love the work, it is just the box. If you contact your local Hyundai dealer that should then forward your query to Hyundai for an answer.

Just looked up your gearbox ratios and in fact you have a double overdrive, 4th and 5th are overdrives.


CRDi
1 gear 3,636
2 gear 1,962
3 gear 1,189
4 gear 0,844
5 gear 0,660
Reverse 3,583
Final drive 3,941

They are a very good vehicle with few problems so,
Happy travels.

thankyou for going out of your way.
Yes, I see your point. We owned a motorcycle camper trailer prior to this van. It weighed 320kgm loaded. It would much easily cruise at 110kph in 5th. But the van at 600kg loaded and the wind resistance is much more.
Didn't know that 4th was an OD also. Rather unusual.

On the subject of towing in 5th with manual cruisers prados patrols etc, most vehicle manufacturers add 5th gear almost as an afterthought typically 4th gear is a straight thru shaft allowing engine torque to run straight thru the gear box, 5th gear on the other hand utilizes other gears (normally 3rd) and other shafts in the gearbox to get the overdrive affect, many more components working within the gearbox creating more heat which is why its ok when cruising when your not needing much power but not good when towing.
reading the above spec sheet indicates that 4th gear does not transmit power straight thru, unusual, but for what i can see, there would be no real gain in using 4th or 5th in this circumstance in my opinion, just use what ever"feels" right

Thanks Robyn. Yes miss Rosie is our lure bred mini foxy...our shu roo.

Hi Mark

Yes, I've recently joined the i30 owners club and they have heaps of information on all sorts of topics on our car.

There is a guy that hauls a 19 foot caravan over the European alps every year with his CRDI. So it will tow well.

Our van has a tiny ball weight of only 18kg. Reason being it was meant to be towed by a VW trike but ended up too heavy at 450kg tare 600 loaded. I was initially concerned with the lightness of the van so installed a friction type stabiliser unit and it is really stable now even when semi's pass. A camper trailer weighing up to 800 kg would be fine IMO because unlike my van there will be less wind resistance. I'm sure it would be capable in towing more. At 600kg I find the braking acceptable without van brakes but any heavier and brakes should be installed, anyway over 750kg you should have them by law.

As an indication, we had a motorcycle camper trailer called a Detour at 180kg tare and 320kg loaded and the i30 barely felt it. The car is really stable for towing.
Cheers

I'd like to Bruce but I had severe burnout 3 years ago. Unfortunately I'm not the most reliable in so many ways. Hence not working and mind in black clouds.

But I might post the odd update here.

Gotta smell the roses.

Tony.

Tony, you have done so well with your forum posts and so prolific.
The blogs are not so different and can be easily edited at any time.
However you do it, we look forward to your trip reports.

Have a look at our blog "Around Oz 2016". We will be putting new info/stories/photos at the top each time so that it is easy and quick to see if there has been an update.

Bruce