SUV for Towing
Submitted: Monday, Dec 31, 2007 at 08:45
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Member - John F (NSW)
Could any members who have had experiences towing a 1600kg Pop-Top caravan with a SUV (soft roader such as X-Trail) please give me some input as to the pros and cons of your tow vehicle.
My Tribute is apparently not a good tow vehicle and I'm trying to descide what to upgrade to.
John F
Reply By: Go Fishing - Monday, Dec 31, 2007 at 11:45
Monday, Dec 31, 2007 at 11:45
I presume 1600kg unladen. 2 - 2.2T loaded with gear?
I'd be going Prado, Pajero, Hilux, Triton.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Stu-k - Monday, Dec 31, 2007 at 14:48
Monday, Dec 31, 2007 at 14:48
Yeah what Mr Fishing man says
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Reply By: Gerhardp1 - Monday, Dec 31, 2007 at 11:56
Monday, Dec 31, 2007 at 11:56
Your Mazda has a rated tow capacity of 1600kg braked, 750kg unbraked, so it is not really suitable for towing your 1600kg van.
A quick trawl of the web on the Mazda auto transmission will reveal why you probably wouldn't want to tow anything with it. The engine is pretty powerful and that part would have no issues.
The question of what to upgrade to depends largely on what your budget is, whether you want new or used, petrol or diesel, manual or auto.
$120,000 or so will get you a V10 Touareg which will tow your van with ease :)
AnswerID:
279045
Reply By: garrycol - Monday, Dec 31, 2007 at 13:39
Monday, Dec 31, 2007 at 13:39
If you want a SUV in Australia you will need something like a Commodore SS ute or a Falcon XR8 - they are the only sport utility vehicles I know of in Aust.
I do not believe there are any 4wd or awd SUVs sold in Australia. If you want one of these you will need to go to the USA where any 4wd is called an SUV - we do not have these in Australia because we call them 4wds, softroaders or AWDs but not SUVs.
Garry
AnswerID:
279052
Follow Up By: Jim from Best Off Road - Monday, Dec 31, 2007 at 14:18
Monday, Dec 31, 2007 at 14:18
I refer you to a leading Australian 4wd magazine, Overlander, which lists SUV sales in it, referring to 4wd's.
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Follow Up By: Member - John F (NSW) - Monday, Dec 31, 2007 at 15:34
Monday, Dec 31, 2007 at 15:34
Sorry Garrycol,
I'm really up s---
Creek for refering to AWD and Softroaders as SUV's.
That's a Yank expression I don't like myself, so why I used it in the context of my problem, only goes to show how wrung-out I am, trying to come to grips with my whole situation.
John F
FollowupID:
543244
Follow Up By: garrycol - Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 20:31
Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 20:31
I am a person hates the americanisation of our language - not having a go at you.
I know these magazines use the term - but that does not make it right and we should all be challenging the mags when they use this term.
Maybe that is a reason I do not but Overlander magazine. The first softroader in Aust was probably the first 4wd subaru - it was marketed as an all road vehicle and not a SUV.
Lets kill off this obnoxious term.
Garry
FollowupID:
543400
Reply By: Jim from Best Off Road - Monday, Dec 31, 2007 at 14:23
Monday, Dec 31, 2007 at 14:23
For similar money to an X Trail you can get into an Hyundai Terracan Diesel which is an excellent and economical tow vehicle.
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279056
Reply By: Member - Frank M (QLD) - Monday, Dec 31, 2007 at 15:54
Monday, Dec 31, 2007 at 15:54
Hi John.F,I have a Jayco J Series Pop Top,which I tow with our Ford B.A.Falcon,we fitted a trans cooler $320.00.A Hayman Reese tow bar and adjustable load distribution hitch.The van is around 1700 / 1800 kg,s loaded.The Falcon handles it all with ease,we averaged 16.8 l /100 klms on our last trip up to Hervey Bay.
I have looked at all types of 4x4,s,with the price of diesel steadily climbing the Falcon will do for now.
Have a look at the Ford Territory another great tow vehicle.
regards Frank.M
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Follow Up By: Member - John F (NSW) - Monday, Dec 31, 2007 at 17:49
Monday, Dec 31, 2007 at 17:49
Thanks Frank M for your reply.
Your set-up sounds pretty solid to me, and maybe that is the way I should be heading instead of trying to get into the 4WD or AWD scene. It would be cost effective as
well.
I assume your Falcon has the 6 cylinder, 4 litre engine?
John F
FollowupID:
543269
Reply By: GC04 - Monday, Dec 31, 2007 at 17:45
Monday, Dec 31, 2007 at 17:45
FWIW,
I'm doing a trip to NT in a CRV towing a jayco dove.
It has a towing capacity of 1500kg with electric brakes (standard on a CRV). A dove only weighs around 900kg, so shouldn't be a problem.
GC
AnswerID:
279080
Reply By: Philip A - Monday, Dec 31, 2007 at 18:06
Monday, Dec 31, 2007 at 18:06
Watch out for X-
Trails.
My son's outlaws had a manual Xtrail. Burnt the clutch completely manouvring their van at about 20K. Switched to a Falcon Wagon and are happy..
The X -Trail also has
well known auto trans overheat issues in sand, which causes the car to refuse to go after a short time. I would think that this may also apply to towing, but I have no direct evidence of this.
Regards Philip A
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Follow Up By: Member - John F (NSW) - Monday, Dec 31, 2007 at 18:20
Monday, Dec 31, 2007 at 18:20
Thanks Phillip A,
The more info I receive the better.
John F
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543274
Reply By: Member - Frank M (QLD) - Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 07:47
Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 07:47
John F ,
yes my Falcon is a BA Model 4.0 litre Six four speed auto,doubles as a town car from home.
I also fitted a Tekonsha prodigy brake controller,and Polaris camera system on the car and van,works like a dream,along with Aussie Truck mirrors,best on the market in my opinion.No problems in the towing department at all.Cheers Frank.M.
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