What do you tow?

[tims Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close tims]

I am considering getting a camper trailer but unsure what a realistic weight to tow offroad is. I have a D4D with a chip. I am interested in understanding what sort of weights people are towing and where? For example is it reasonable to tow something like a Kimberly Kamper or Aussie swag that have a tare weight of about 1500kg, plus say 300kg load up steep hills in Vic High Country or Bendethra or should I be looking at something much lighter.

cheers,

Tim

[Hpycmpr Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hpycmpr]

Tim. I tow a camper that would weigh about 1000 kg. Both pulling and stopping is no problem at this weight, certainly steep descents are interesting, especially if traction is an issue, such as lose gravel or clay.

I think they would pull more without any great issue, more stopping will be your consideration.

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

I tow a Challenge Meridian. Good quality but heavy. I Have a d4d chipped. Your concern should be electric brakes, especially in the High country. It's the one thing I still need to do.....

mlc

[PradoGXL08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PradoGXL08]

Hi Tim

I have a 2008 D4D Auto GXL, No Chip and tow a Track Trailer Tvan that weighs approx 1400kgs loaded.
I have no problems what so ever. That also includes Vehicle being loaded with Firewood (approx 120kgs or 8 bags of 15kgs) for a weekend away

I use my Tvan Everywhere. On Hwy Fuel Economy is excellent 13L/100kms, and it easy to tow and you don't even know its behind you.
In the High Country not a problem. Been to Sheepyard Flat and arround the Thompson Dam area.

It all gets back to what sort of camper do you want? A Hard Floor enclosed camper like the Tvan or a Canvas Tent Camper.
There are several second hand Tvans around at the moment, and resale value to good.

Stuart

[voyager Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close voyager]

Tim

I tow a Kimberley Karavan which would be close to 2,200kg by the time we load it up.

I have had no problems towing it on the bitumen (including across the Kosciuszko National Park last summer) and have just completed a trip to the Flinders returning to Brisbane via the Strzelecki Track, Merty Merty and Cameron Corner with no dramas at all.

Sat on 95-100 on the bitumen and a comfortable 80-85 on the good unsealed roads - slower where required.

Returned an average of 14.9l/100k for the trip.

My Prado - 2008 D4D Auto - is not chipped so I would think that you would have no problems with the 1800kg campers - the only thing I would suggest is electronic brakes for the camper.

Harry

[Mickyduck Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Mickyduck]

Hi Tim, why buy a kimberly or aussie swag when for the same money you van have a Robust camper. I was going to buy a Aussie swag until i saw the Robust camper, it is much lighter and in my opinion better built.
Cheers Mick.

[Trevc Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Trevc]

Tim

I have had no problems towing it on the bitumen (including across the Kosciuszko National Park last summer) and have just completed a trip to the Flinders returning to Brisbane via the Strzelecki Track, Merty Merty and Cameron Corner with no dramas at all.

Harry

C'mon Harry, where's the trip report ??

[ondaboat Coopers Pale Ale Find all posts View Profile Close ondaboat]

Camprite TL8s

Howdy Tim

I tow a Camprite TL8s with a tare 0f 950kg & AGTM of 1350kg behind the Prado



The back of the Prado is pretty much chockas as you can see, with crap on the roof as well but it handles it.
To say I don't know its there I'd have to be lying as it's heavy but it deals with it.
As far as fuel economy I can get as bad as 30l per 100km sitting on 130k's, 20l per 100km sitting just under 120k's or about 15l per 100km sitting on 100k's and at a guess probably 10l per 100km if I was to sit on 80's
(nope not for me "have diesel will burn it" "carbon footprint the bigger the better")
The unit is fitted with electric brakes (using a TEKONSHA P3 PRODIGY) and stops really well.
As far as suspension I have OME medium springs front & rear but will be putting poly airbags in at some point in time.
The unit tows really well and for us with 2 kids it was the best setup hardtop camper we could find on the market.
You can be set up for an overnight stay in 5 mins with no canvas touching the ground.

[discoveraus Member Find all posts View Profile Close discoveraus]

Hello Tims,

I have a 150 auto D4D GX and tow a Kimberley Kamper RV. I have no trouble towing on outback roads whether bitumen or dirt ( including mud and sand ) but I dont visit the Victorian high country with it.

My previous car, a Landrover Disco 2 was rated at 750 kg unbraked, 3500 kg braked on road but only 1000 kg braked off road. Toyota do not list an off road rating but using the disco as a guide I would not push much over 1000 kg gross trailer weight in steep tight rough terrain.

It does not matter what you tow on the flat, keep the load down, off the roof rack and out of a trailer if steep tight hills and sharp turns are your scene.

regards

Ross

[tims Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close tims]

Hi Roo - I use a rooftop now - it was great on a trip to the Cape last year. My thinking was that eventually I would move onto a camper, so why not do it now and get more value/use out of it

[tims Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close tims]

I tow a Challenge Meridian. Good quality but heavy. I Have a d4d chipped. Your concern should be electric brakes, especially in the High country. It's the one thing I still need to do.....

mlc

Hi Mic - I had planned on the electric brakes. My reading is suggesting that drums are a good option but the reality iss that I would probably take what comes on the selected camper

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

Hi Mic - I had planned on the electric brakes. My reading is suggesting that drums are a good option but the reality iss that I would probably take what comes on the selected camper

electrics are the only way to go, unless you can go electric over hydraulic.

[tims Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close tims]

Hi Tim

I have a 2008 D4D Auto GXL, No Chip and tow a Track Trailer Tvan that weighs approx 1400kgs loaded.
I have no problems what so ever. That also includes Vehicle being loaded with Firewood (approx 120kgs or 8 bags of 15kgs) for a weekend away

I use my Tvan Everywhere. On Hwy Fuel Economy is excellent 13L/100kms, and it easy to tow and you don't even know its behind you.
In the High Country not a problem. Been to Sheepyard Flat and arround the Thompson Dam area.

It all gets back to what sort of camper do you want? A Hard Floor enclosed camper like the Tvan or a Canvas Tent Camper.
There are several second hand Tvans around at the moment, and resale value to good.

Stuart

Hi Stuart - I am interested in the TVan, can you tell me how stuffy are they in the heat - I currently love the ventilation my rooftop

[tims Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close tims]

Tim

I tow a Kimberley Karavan which would be close to 2,200kg by the time we load it up.

I have had no problems towing it on the bitumen (including across the Kosciuszko National Park last summer) and have just completed a trip to the Flinders returning to Brisbane via the Strzelecki Track, Merty Merty and Cameron Corner with no dramas at all.

Sat on 95-100 on the bitumen and a comfortable 80-85 on the good unsealed roads - slower where required.

Returned an average of 14.9l/100k for the trip.

My Prado - 2008 D4D Auto - is not chipped so I would think that you would have no problems with the 1800kg campers - the only thing I would suggest is electronic brakes for the camper.

Harry

Harry, that is comforting from a power perspective, I certainly will do the electric brakes. I suspect given your trip to Kosciuszko that provided traction was ok, then the power is fine on hills. HAve you any issues with erosion mounds and bottoming out the drawbar/hitch? Are you able to fully open your rear door ?

[mcgonical Member Find all posts View Profile Close mcgonical]

We've just upgraded to a Tvan that is towed with our 2003 GX 1KZ - towed it home around Lake Hume and via the Alpine Way with some trepidation but it went fine over the mountain. We had a long weekend's worth of kit and full tanks in it at the time. Last weekend we were out on the coast and had to drag the camper up Clyde Mountain and again it went fine.

Previously we had an Ultimate Camper that was lighter than the TVan and we travelled in this for six months. Steepest hill we were confronted with was on the Bloomfield Track where we ran out of puff in 1st gear going up a paved road - had to drop it back to low range to get up the hill but that worked fine (one side of the car off the edge of the track to allow some wheel spin). Later on the Old Tele Track we were stuck in mud and on creek exits because of the camper behind but that's what the max trax and winch are for. Got stuck on plenty of beaches with the camper too but again the max trax, shovel and lower tyre pressures to the rescue.

Going from the Ultimate to the TVan the ventilation was a key concern for us - it's a cooler climate down here and overheating hasn't been a problem for us since we collected the van. There is an economical and quiet fan installed in our TVan if we get too hot.

mcgonical.