Commodore ute for towing
Submitted: Thursday, Aug 16, 2007 at 17:22
ThreadID:
48766
Views:
6013
Replies:
3
FollowUps:
5
This Thread has been Archived
Dave Thomson
Hi All, mates after a ute preferably Commodore petrol/gas as he can service that his self and he needs that as he's a tradie, anyone know what thier towing capabilities are he's looking at getting a 1.5 tonne van, whats thier bad/good points all info appreciated,
thanks in advance,
Dave
Reply By: Member - barry F (NSW) - Thursday, Aug 16, 2007 at 18:40
Thursday, Aug 16, 2007 at 18:40
Dave, click onto topics at the top of the page & you will find some helpful info.
A commodore
Sedan has a legal capacity of about 158 Kg tow ball weight, not sure about the ute. Is the 1.5 Tonne tare weight ? By the time his wife finishes loading it, maybe an extra kg or so which will need to be considered. If that's the case, you are probably getting up near the max. towing capacity?
I have been told that a Falcon is a better proposition for the work/towing requirements, but have nothing realy to support this. Best wishes
AnswerID:
257546
Follow Up By: Exploder - Thursday, Aug 16, 2007 at 19:03
Thursday, Aug 16, 2007 at 19:03
yeah, the Falcons have leaf Rear and live axles on the utes,
and the
RTV comes with lifted
suspension and a Diff lock and has a 2300kg towing capacity.
This guy took his around Aus.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbW-CT7qUys
Cheers.
FollowupID:
518821
Follow Up By: Member - barry F (NSW) - Thursday, Aug 16, 2007 at 19:14
Thursday, Aug 16, 2007 at 19:14
Exploder, I have some mechanical knowledge, but have to admit I have no idea what a live axle is? Thanks
FollowupID:
518826
Follow Up By: Exploder - Thursday, Aug 16, 2007 at 19:46
Thursday, Aug 16, 2007 at 19:46
Live Axle. AKA, Solid axle or beam axle I.E a NON independent
suspension like on 4WD’s.
The commodores when you load em up have very bad camber due to the IRS
suspension so you can basically have the inside of the rear tyres bald, with 80% tread still left on the outside edge.
My mates a carpenter and his VY Commodore ute is a shocker for this. Got so fed up with that and some other issues that he went and got a Patrol as the work Ute Now.
FollowupID:
518830
Reply By: chardthechippy - Thursday, Aug 16, 2007 at 22:34
Thursday, Aug 16, 2007 at 22:34
I have had two Falcon utes 96 XR6 and then a 02 XR8. Both of which were very reliable and could handle the weight of my
tools quite easily. I have now seen the light and drive a LC100 and tow my trade trailer. Other tradies I work with have Commy`s and load them up without to many hassles except for the IRS troubles, most have put camber kits in to try and stop the obvious camber. Others just tow a trailer and put all the weight in that.
I bought the Handbrake a 02 Acclaim wagon auto and it tows my trailer from time to time.The Commy can tow 1600kg if its auto and only 1200kgs if its manual (thats for a 02 S pack V6)
If he wants a Gen III it is the same.
You can check it out on redbook.com.au
They can handle the pulling part of towing easily, provided it has an aftermarket transmission cooler and never tow in overdrive. The stopping part leaves a bit to be desired but am sure electric brakes must be fitted if pulling a van.
Hope this helps Chard.
AnswerID:
257586
Follow Up By: mattie - Friday, Aug 17, 2007 at 06:47
Friday, Aug 17, 2007 at 06:47
i had a vt commodore station with the heavy duty tow pack and i thought it was rated to 2100kg or 2300kg the latter seems to be the weight that i remember it was a great tow car never got hot even on 40+ days towing the boat and all loaded up to go skiing/
camping, i think that the manual tow weight was a fair bit less maybe 1800kg?
These weights may have changed in the later models.
The heavy duty tow pack had a different tow bar set up and an oil cooler and came with its own weight distribution bars, also heat tape around where the exhaust is close to the body work etc.
MATTIE
FollowupID:
518881
Reply By: marcus - Friday, Aug 17, 2007 at 09:07
Friday, Aug 17, 2007 at 09:07
Hi Dave,
I used to have a commodore ute and it drove beautifully whilst empty but the coil springs in the back didn't like too much weight and even 750kg would make it wallow around corners.My newer BA ford is a better proposition with the stronger leaf springs ,all the creature comforts and can't fault the dedicated gas engine.
Cheers Mark
AnswerID:
257624