towing a camper trailer

Can't quote figures for the GQ EFI, I only ever had a GQ TD42T.

However, I have always run the same pressure in the trailer as the vehicle as long as the specs of the tyres were the same.

A little while ago I was surprised to learn whilst looking at a video of me pulling an offroad trailer through sand that it will help no end by lowering the pressures in your trailer tyres as well!

So as long as your trailer tyres are not a highway tyre, in my own opinion, run the same pressures.

Good luck buddy!

I run my CT tyres just slightly lower then the Tyres on the GU.

When towing , I use 38 and 40 psi. The trailer would be about 34 psi.

As for economy. I have a 4.5 Petrol Patrol , however our CT runs about 650 kg.

My normal economy is between 20 and 22 litres per 100k's , but have got it down to 18 at one point , with a high of 26/100 (that involved a bit of sand).

I would also point out , I sit on the speed limit.

Of course that is GU stuff, how it relates to the GQ , I couldn't tell. My understanding though is the GQ is thirstier still ?

Hey uppy i'm about the same as flappan (4.0 V6) in economy when towing and use similar tyre pressures camper is aprox 1.3t loaded bit heavy i know but strong less too worry about, the other thing when ever possible only fill your water tank and jerries if your not going to be able to fill them on the road try to keep the weight down whenever possible and do checks every day bearing springs hitch ect. Most of all have fun !!!!!

How heavy is your camper trailer and car?
What size tires?
what make of tires?

You wont get better than 20/100 with all that weight.

Uppy,

I tow a trailer and have done for years. On the black top my car runs 40psi and the trailer about 30psi. I find the trailer skips about a little if the tyres are too hard.

When I hit the gravel I reduce tyre pressure on the car to about 35psi but leave the trailer alone.

As the terraine gets rougher and/or softer I reduce tyre pressures on the car. Once the pressure in the car is below 30psi I move the trailer with the car, ie if the car has 26 then the trailer has 26, if the car has 18 the trailer has 18. I am currently running 265/75x16 BFG AT's on the car and the trailer has the same size Brigestone AT's.

As for fuel consumption what was said above about the difference if you keep below 100 is true of my GU 4.2 TD. But if there are a lot of miles to cover I find the speed comes up, especially as the afternoon gets long. What will your petrol use? I don't know I have never owned a petrol 4x4.

Hope you have a great trip
Duncs

Talking cold pressures - I run 35 on black top, 28 on rocky gravel where I might do more than 80kph, 25 if going slower, 22 on sand.

Can't help on fuel figures.

Gaz

I just ran the BFG's on the camper from Adelaide to Birdsville and back as 30 psi on the dirt and 40 on the blacktop (close to the car specs) - no problems. We cruise at a max of 70kph on the dirt but. The Camper is 800kg, plus 120L of water, 40L of fuel and the misc goodies - probably rolling at about 1050kg's. We ran 28 F and 32 R for the BFG's on dirt - up by 10 for the blacktop. I'm happy.

Uppy, how come you get to go camping and I don't!! :-(
Where you going?? How long for?
Bec said we can go camping with the new bub (when it gets here, not long now!!) if we hire a camper too. So might have to go have a few more beers with those blokes hey!?
I reckon the ol' school bus will pull the camper very happily, but you'll need those jerry's! LOL
We'll have to catch up for a beer again soon. Bec's only got until the 1st of November then their taking the bub out weather we like it or not, so I'll stock up on the cigars as well eh!

Dear Uppy
I dont know how relavant it is to you, but I tow a T-Van with a 100 series V8 Landcruser. I use 16-19 L/100Km (average 17.5). A typical trip is 3-400 Km @100 or 110Kph on sealed roads folled by a few Ks on steep dirt tracks followed by 10 mins finding the best camping spot.
Cheers John

Uppy
The few trailers I've built with a range of tyres on them including car trailers I've always adjusted the tyre pressure by letting the tyre down at the Garage then pumping the tyre up until the sidewall deflection (bulge) between the road and the rim looks the same as a correctly inflated tyre (on your vehicle) A tyre fitter (in the Pilbra) put me onto this. Up until doing it that way I had trailers that bounced, the aim is to get an even spred of pressure over the contact area this is a way of acheiving that and compensates for differing loads.
Dont be alarmed by the low pressure, the tyres need to have sidewall flex to act as suspension to assist the springs.
Stew

Hi Uppy,

As a general rule, we run same pressure on CT as we do for car. That's about 40psi on hardtop and average of 25-30psi on unsealed roads. If the track conditions call for it, we'll drop as low as 15psi. FYI, we're running Cooper AT's 265/75's on standard GU rims on both car and CT.

Can't help much with economy figures as we have a 4.5L petrol but for interests sake, when towing we get about 20L/100km on hardtop and between 15-18L/100km on dirt. The latter figure varies depending on the conditions with soft, sandy tracks being the worst. Also found that even on relatively easy 4WD where prolonged use of low range is called for, the fuel consumption goes up.

Our CT is heavier than yours when fully loaded with 100L of water and 4 jerry cans - weight is around 1T.

Just an aside...missed you at the Mawson Park get together???

:o) Melissa

Uppy,

What sort of Camper are you towning for the family. We are intereted in a camper for our family of 4 kids and 2.... Something to tow behind a GQ TD4.2.

I bumped into you at the top end of Oxford St in Leaderville during the kids Rugby season. We were in the Silver Maverick and you stopped to say hello, but was looking on the forum for Uppie.... Doh!!!

How was your long weekend away?

Heath

Hi all,

I'm a bit perplexed at the no. of people recommending trailer tyre pressures without any idea of the trailer weight and tyre size/rating.

To get the correct tyre pressures, first get the loaded weight of the trailer (or at least a realistic estimate). Let's say it's 1200 kg for example. Halve that to get the load on each tyre, = 600 kg.

Now get the tyre details. I'll use a tyre I'm familair with from caravan experience - 184R14LT 103/101P. This size has a maximum rating of 875 kg per tyre at 65 psi (single, (they have a lower rating if in a dual wheel configuration)). And it has a recommended pressure for any other load too, which is available from the manufacturer or the Tyre & Rim Association of Australia Standards.

Many reputable tyre brands have a 1800 number for technical enquiries and any decent tyre dealer should have the info too. Give them the individual tyre load and the tyre size/rating data from the sidewall and they'll tell you the ideal cold inflation pressure.