Caravan Towing 150 Series

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

My 2010 150 had the tranny light come on at just 3000 k's towing a 1500 kg boat & trailer up brown mountain Sth coast nsw. 1st service saw a software upgrade on the tranny, had no issue since.

Always tow in "S" mode and only use 5th for level going, new boat tips the scales at 2400kg loaded and fueled, so as I intend to keep the vehicle for several years I try to be nice to it.

If the light came on the oil overheated. If you read up on it you'll find that after that it's properties are stuffed so should consider changing the oil.

For that sort of towing $500 for an oil cooler is cheap insurance,. my DIY only cost 200.

[katrx7 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close katrx7]

Agree with all the trans issues and certainly towing in s4 is he way to go, and certainly changin entrants oil more regularly is better long term, but I'm still baffled by the wdh setup. As far as I was advised by Toyota the prado is not meant to use wdh setups, and thus advised if in the event of an accident insurance might void any claim if they see you have the wdh on at the time?
I don't want my 60k toy to be written off if they learn I'm using wdh, so hence went with airbags??
I agree wdh gives better foot prints on the road, and yes if airbags fail it could be fun towing to next city to remedy, but it don't want an insurance issue, especially as we all know insurance companies don't like paying out if they don't have to........
Someone pls correct me if I'm wrong???

[Fred63 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fred63]

Katrx7

I had a look at current Toyota accessories for the Prado.
Genuine Accessory: Load Distribution hitches
Is this the same thing just different terminology?
Weight Distribution Hitch VS Load Distribution hitch

Fred

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

When I asked Toyota about the auto their first response was, it doesn`t need oil changing it lasts the life of the car. When inquiring further and checking in the manual under severe operating conditions it mentions to do an oil change of auto at 80k.

I have done about 10000km of towing the van out of 45000km, when I think back about those 10000km most of it is sitting around 95-99km/hr often less as you are stuck behind cars, there is n`t realistically a lot of real heavy duty work. When it is its only for short section of a few km here and there.

Its not like I am towing a twin axles work trailer with some sort of machinery on the back every day. That is severe Conditions.

Basically I am not worried about an extra auto transmission cooler, just adds something else that can go wrong. I am not into flogging the car, in particular on very hot days when towing, but I am going to get the oil changed at 60k. Oil is cheap.

[ptnlinda Member Find all posts View Profile Close ptnlinda]

When I asked Toyota about the auto their first response was, it doesn`t need oil changing it lasts the life of the car. When inquiring further and checking in the manual under severe operating conditions it mentions to do an oil change of auto at 80k.

I have done about 10000km of towing the van out of 45000km, when I think back about those 10000km most of it is sitting around 95-99km/hr often less as you are stuck behind cars, there is n`t realistically a lot of real heavy duty work. When it is its only for short section of a few km here and there.

Its not like I am towing a twin axles work trailer with some sort of machinery on the back every day. That is severe Conditions.

Basically I am not worried about an extra auto transmission cooler, just adds something else that can go wrong. I am not into flogging the car, in particular on very hot days when towing, but I am going to get the oil changed at 60k. Oil is cheap.

Spend a little bit of money and buy a Scan Gauge where you can then really see what your Auto oil Temps are doing both at the Torque Converter and in the Transmission. You will be somewhat surprised I believe as what you think is only light towing work is having a dramatic effect on those oil temperatures especially at the Torque Converter.

[katrx7 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close katrx7]

gday fred,

I stand corrected, only went by what my dealer told me 4 years ago when I bought the car, nice to know thou as I would rather use LDH/WDH over airbags

[Jaje Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Jaje]

Hi All
I am towing a single axle Jayco with an ATM of around 1600 kgs using a 2013 upgrade Prado GXL diesel. I have done about 5000 k towing and it goes OK but defininitely sags at the rear when hooked up. The owners manual recommends a WDH and I am considering getting the Toyota Genuine Load Distribution Hitch. Has anyone used the Toyota one and does it interfere with opening the rear door on the Prado?
Thanks

[Racketsports Member Find all posts View Profile Close Racketsports]

Hayman Reece WDH

Hi All
I am towing a single axle Jayco with an ATM of around 1600 kgs using a 2013 upgrade Prado GXL diesel. I have done about 5000 k towing and it goes OK but defininitely sags at the rear when hooked up. The owners manual recommends a WDH and I am considering getting the Toyota Genuine Load Distribution Hitch. Has anyone used the Toyota one and does it interfere with opening the rear door on the Prado?
Thanks

I use a Hayman Reece WDH/LDH towing a 2.4t van loaded and it definitely makes it safer and more stable. You just have to remember to take it off prior to parking the van as the torsional load on the chassis when backing over gutters etc can cause damage under the wrong conditions. Well worth the money in my opinion.

Cheers
Racketsports

[Checkers Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Checkers]

Hi, just back from a 5000km holiday to Alice and return from Adelaide. I am extremely happy with the towing performance of my Prado. Car tyres were set at 45psi rear & 42 psi front (cold). 2.2 tonne tandem axle full height van tyres set at 50 psi. I towed to Alice mainly in 4s occasionally in D on the long downhill sections.Return I used 4s exclusively (nearly all uphill to Pt Augusta!). Sat on 90kmh all the time when towing (sorry to those overtaking) and returned an actual fuel average of 13.58 L/100km over the 5000km. Stoked.
ps Prado is standard other than dual battery. ie no bullbar or larger tyres,suspension etc.

[Checkers Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Checkers]

I will add to my above post some negatives. The barn door is a pain in the arse when hitched up and from now on that spare tyre turtle shell and backing plate will be removed when touring. Rotten, heavy dust trap that is the first thing to touch the hitch!
C.

[snapper49 Member Find all posts View Profile Close snapper49]

nearly all uphill to Pt Augusta!).

Actually down hill
Just north of Alice Springs just out of town is the second highest point in Australia

from now on that spare tyre turtle shell and backing plate will be removed when touring

took mine off eons ago and now just have a vinyl spare wheel cover

[Checkers Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Checkers]

Actually down hill
Just north of Alice Springs just out of town is the second highest point in Australia

I didn't know that. I didn't go north of Alice Springs though. The run from Kulgara to Range view rest stop nth of Pt Augusta is nearly up hill all the way.
Remember youre climbing up to the Coober Pedy/Pimba mesa with the Breakaways down below.

[Jaymboze Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jaymboze]

I will add to my above post some negatives. The barn door is a pain in the arse when hitched up and from now on that spare tyre turtle shell and backing plate will be removed when touring. Rotten, heavy dust trap that is the first thing to touch the hitch!
C.

Totally agree, I miss the flip up door of my Pathfinder when towing.

[120D4D Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 120D4D]

Totally agree, I miss the flip up door of my Pathfinder when towing.

Having dumped an R51 Pathy for a Prado I agree - but that's the ONLY thing I have missed!!