Caravan towing

[Paul_G Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Paul_G]

Hi Guys,
I'm posting on behalf of my Father, he has a 150 series Prado and does a fair bit of caravanning (grey nomad).
He tows a single axle van weighing approx 1800-2000kgs, he suffers from light steering as he cant seem to level the whole package out even with the Hayman Reese tow kit.
Car is standard as he bought it new,
Question? Air bags? worth it?
If not what else can he do and still have a comfortable city car.
Thanks in advance
Paul

[snapper49 Member Find all posts View Profile Close snapper49]

I have exactly the same set up
Firstly I don't have light steering so I would be looking at your actual towball weight ie the weight of the van as it loads onto the towball Max should be less than 250kg Mine comes in at 220kg If too heavy this will give you light steering
It can be adjusted by the way you load your van

I do have airbags fitted in the rear run them at 5 psi without van 15 psi with van

Hope that helps

[snapper49 Member Find all posts View Profile Close snapper49]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Towsafe-T...item27e57df3f6


I bought one of these to weigh towball weight

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

There are plenty of other posts on this subject.

Generally, for better towing, your father will need to upgrade the suspension to give a better ride and handling of the van. The standard suspension is a bit soft for towing.

I have upgraded the shocks, coils, and added Poly air bags to the rear. Hayman Reese weight distribution set-up as well.

Have a single axle van, similar weight, towball download over 200 kgs, and with the suspension upgrade, the rig is stable, even at 110k/h when overtaking on an expressway. General towing speed is near 100k/h. If you father is new to towing, a lower speed until he gets use to the set-up.

Have your father hook up the van on a level surface, look from the side at a little bit of distance, to see it the rig is level. If the rear of the Prado sags when the van is attached, suspension modification is needed.

[Paul_G Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Paul_G]

Thanks Guys for your help, He's going out this week to look for new rear suspension, He's had the Prado for a couple of years now after towing around the country numerous times in an old Commodore, that plus a new van will take time to sort out.
Thanks again,
Paul

[Kev7762 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kev7762]

I'd definitely be looking at the ball weight, but I have standard weight springs and airbags, never had a problem, pump them up to 25 with the dual axle bike trailer ( no weight distribution hitch), from memory had them at about 15 towing mum and dad's dual axle full size van with weight distribution hitch and drop them to 5 unloaded( need to keep some air in them to hold their shape.
For me it gives the best of both worlds , constant rate springs will be harsh when unloaded.

[Dabeanian Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dabeanian]

Air bags make all the difference ,blow them up first but installer will go through it,
Alan.

[ss--ss Member Find all posts View Profile Close ss--ss]

I put in some standard height king springs & BILSTEIN shocks on the rear. Seemed to tow a lot better after that.

[Paul_G Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Paul_G]

Thanks for all your help guys, my Dad had air bags fitted last week, he spent all day Saturday setting up the van and he's very happy with the results, everything now sits level, him and Mum are off in a few weeks for yet another adventure, I know I cant wait to retire.