Tyre Pressure Advice - Towing 2.5T

[SandRunner Member Find all posts View Profile Close SandRunner]

Hi everyone, I have a GXL TD 150 series and have just bought a caravan.

So, my question is....... When loaded to capacity, what tyre pressures should I be running? I have fitted old man emu suspension bit still running the factory tyres. I have had a look in the book but can't find anything there.

Suggestions anyone, or can someone point me in the right direction please.

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Check your trailer first, they will need to be high!
Check the load capacity & work it out from there.
Maximum load capacity is at maximum pressure.
Higher pressure = cooler tyres.
On the vehicle, same thing, what the weight on the rear axle? Is it set up correctly? Or overweight? MAXIMUM 250kg download!
Get to know your tyres, it's easy to have to much weight on the rear of the Prado.
Maximum load requires about 80psi for LT tyres, but cannot remember what factory tyres can handle, you might need to upgrade tyres. Perhaps you should check with your local tyre expert

[snapper49 Member Find all posts View Profile Close snapper49]

My van 200kg ball weight run 45lb rear 42lb front

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

I do an annual trip up north with a bunch of mates. We all tow a variety of campers loaded up with 3 weeks of supplies and water. I'm sure the ball weight is up around 250kg despite best efforts to balance it.

Working on pressure and temp increase from cold me and my mate with a GX run Front 45-48 psi and Rear 50-55 psi. The campers are also run at 50+. Don't underestimate how much work the caravan tyres do. As #### said tyre temp is everything, heat kills tyres and also means that you are losing fuel consumption.

It is really important to check how much the tyre pressure increases from cold to hot. It shouldn't be more than 10-15%. The old 4psi rule is a bit to generic as a 4psi increase from 20psi is 20% while from 40psi it is only 10%.

I bought a laser temp probe for $40 which I use on the camper wheel bearings. I also use it occasionally to check the tyre temps and you can use it on the gearbox to get an idea of the tranny temp.

By the way if you have an auto, I would definitely fit a tranny cooler. May also be beneficial for a manual, my mate blew the rear seal o his manual tranny after some particularly hard towing. Costs $500 and takes a lot of stress from the transmission.

[SandRunner Member Find all posts View Profile Close SandRunner]

Thanks for the advice. I am running the van tyres at 50psi but was not sure how hight I should run the vehicle tyres. Might have to look onto the cooler also. I am running an auto in my tug.

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

I just sold my Prado, but did about 20000km over the last two years towing a atm 2500kg van. I run around 50-54 psi in the van tyres.

The front on the Prado was typically 40-41 and rear 43-44. I also always towed in S4 and typically run the same speed as the trucks around 98-102 depending on road and conditions. I don`t think you need an auto transmission cooler, towing in S4 keeps revs up and if apply a bit of mechanical sympathy the car handled it well. In particular with Bilsteins and Dobinson springs.

[SandRunner Member Find all posts View Profile Close SandRunner]

Thanks for your input maxjj. That helps me out heaps.

[electron Member Find all posts View Profile Close electron]

I tow with a 150GX auto diesel a 2200kg van with a tow ball weight of 220kg. I only run 38 in the van and 26 front and 28 rear on the Prado. I have the same wheels and tyres fit to car and van, 245/70/17 BFG Mud Terrains on the standard GX 6 1/2 rims. I did use the 5psi rule to arrive at these pressures. Everyone says that the pressures are to low, but I get a comfortable ride and at least 90,000km tyre life.

[M3R Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close M3R]

I tow with a 150GX auto diesel a 2200kg van with a tow ball weight of 220kg. I only run 38 in the van and 26 front and 28 rear on the Prado. I have the same wheels and tyres fit to car and van, 245/70/17 BFG Mud Terrains on the standard GX 6 1/2 rims. I did use the 5psi rule to arrive at these pressures. Everyone says that the pressures are to low, but I get a comfortable ride and at least 90,000km tyre life.

Make sure you post up your travel plans, so I can ensure I'm in a different state..

Those pressures are way too low my friend. Accident waiting to happen.

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

I tow with a 150GX auto diesel a 2200kg van with a tow ball weight of 220kg. I only run 38 in the van and 26 front and 28 rear on the Prado. I have the same wheels and tyres fit to car and van, 245/70/17 BFG Mud Terrains on the standard GX 6 1/2 rims. I did use the 5psi rule to arrive at these pressures. Everyone says that the pressures are to low, but I get a comfortable ride and at least 90,000km tyre life.

I think that you'll find your tyres getting very hot. Tye heat comes from tyre flex, mainly sidewalls, and you'd be getting a lot of that. For the amount of load at higway speeds you are also giving up a lot of control in corners and braking.

[snapper49 Member Find all posts View Profile Close snapper49]

I agree 38 is far too low a pressure
If you look at the ID plate in your van most will give you the tyre pressure to run at

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

Is he talking about driving on Gravel? Or bitumen?

[electron Member Find all posts View Profile Close electron]

Driving on bitumen, off road lower.
Use the 5psi rule, tyres don't get over hot. I check pressure and tyre temp regularly.
The tyres are BFG Mud Terrains. They don't bag much.
I get 90,000kms out of them on the Prado as well.
The tyre plate on the van only states max pressure.
I had Prado tyres and rims fitted to the van when I had it built.
Travelled in excess of 50,00kms around Australia on these pressures and never had a flat tyre.
It works for me, comfortable ride and long tyre life and no handling issues.

[snapper49 Member Find all posts View Profile Close snapper49]

The tyre plate on the van only states max pressure.

disagree my van says recommended pressure 300kpa and gives the tyres specs as well

[Jaymboze Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jaymboze]

Remember to drop your pressures way down on both the car and van if you head into the sand.
I ran 18psi on my old pathfinder and camper at Fraser Island 2 years ago with no problems.
We got through tracks that other guys were struggling with even without a trailer, because they were running high street pressures.
I usually run 48 psi on the road all round which works for me, but I do have Hancook offroad tyres which are much stronger than oem.