Shorty SX - What are you towing?

[blucifer Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close blucifer]

Hi there Shorty lovers. My wife & I are looking for a caravan/hybrid to take off in and are looking to see what you are towing with your shorty. With the 3000kg towing capacity, we can take lots of options, but just how do longer ones travel behind a shorty?

Thanks for your feedback and photo's.

8lucifer

[DirkZ Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close DirkZ]

We decided to get something smallish after camping for 18 months with a very light camper trailer (under 759kg). Also we camp on the beach a lot and I'd rather be too light than too heavy.
So we got a 14ft Jayco Starcraft Outback pop top. Tare 1424kg and ATM 1724kg. Must say it's a pleasure to tow and easy to maneuver. The fuel consumption went up about 25 percent but that includes beach driving and some mountains.
I think the weight of the car and the van is important as far as I've read. The tow vehicle should be at least 10 percent heavier than the van for controll and stability. The tow capacity of the SX is based on the power to weight ratio of the car I think. That is not to say a big rig of 3000kg behind the shorty wil be very stable. Just my opinion.
On the photo the Shorty looks bigger than the van but they are about the same length.

[blucifer Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close blucifer]

Thanks for that DirkZ

[PradoJim Member Find all posts View Profile Close PradoJim]

Very delayed response but this is an 18' 6" Elite which has a Tare of 2400 kg. I've towed as high as 2700 kg with it loaded for a trip and both water tanks full.

Sitting a little high at the front but with the WDH you can get it level. I was just relocating from one spot to another in the same town so hadn't taken too much care.

We haven't done a lot of towing, only around 8,000 klm but have had no issues. We've also experienced moderate gusty winds and don't find the shorty any problem but having said that, never towed with a LWB. Semis whizzing by in the opposite direction cause a small amount of movement but that may be normal Long or short.

The best I could get going up Bulli Pass was 60 kph, probably one of the steepest extended climbs in the country. I sit on 90 kph but find the car sneaking up to 100 if I'm not paying attention so it handles it easily and 110 is possible if you really want. Consumption is usually 16 to 17l/100 but for some reason sneaks up and as high as 20 to 21/100 inland. I can't find a reason for it. Not wind, slope or altitude. Returns to the lower figures when I'm along the coast.

[Bassett Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bassett]

I have towed my Nova Pop-Top for about 30,000 klms over the last 10 years and have not had any problems. The van, when loaded for travel with full water tanks etc, weighs 2550 kgs. Fuel consumption goes up to between 15 litres per 100 klms and 19 litres per 100 klms depending on the terrain and winds. I have a transmission cooler fitted and only tow in 4th gear sport mode at speeds of about 90 to 95 klms per hour most of the time.

[DirkZ Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close DirkZ]

PradoJim

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PradoJim Quite a decent setup you have there. It definitely looks like you had some suspension work done on your shorty, not so?

[DirkZ Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close DirkZ]

Bassett

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Bassett Nice setup. We plan to upgrade to a pop-up with ensuite in the future, similar to yours. Prices are just very high at the moment!

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PradoJim

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PradoJim Quite a decent setup you have there. It definitely looks like you had some suspension work done on your shorty, not so?

Yes mate. Had a 40mm lift with heavier springs and shocks a month after I bought her new. Makes towing much more comfortable as it stops the front to back wallowing.