Another towing question. Stay with Prado or upgrade to a 200 series Cruiser

[mat-with-one-t Member Find all posts View Profile Close mat-with-one-t]

The first post in this thread mentioned larger wheels.
Larger diameter wheels for towing larger loads will mean the vehicle will lose torque performance. I would recommend against the larger diameter wheels if you are going to be towing.

My understanding is that I could go up to 275/70/r18 over my existing hoops? Is that correct? I current have Falken Wilpeak A/T 265/70/r18. Clearance should be ok with a 50mm lift (which I need to improve towing anyway, as my offroad camper sits quite high).

Would that difference in outer diameter (max 826.3mm by my calculations in terms of legal sizing) make a large gearing difference? If so, is a change in diff ratio a silly idea (assume crazy expensive for not much benefit)?

Mat

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

For the past 6 years, I towed a 2.5T ATM hybrid caravan with a 2017 GX. I've weighed both the Prado and Caravan when heading out on an extended trip, so I know the following weights are typical and valid.

Prado GX with full fuel tank, loaded with small fridge, tool boxes, chairs and folding table: 2460kg + 2 adults 160kg + TBW 270kg = 2890kg
Caravan loaded with 240L water, food,clothes, bedding: 2490 kg

Apart from the TBW being 20kg over, we come in under the limits.

We've recently upgraded to a 2023 GXL (with 3 Tonne ATM limit) but I haven't put the new rig over a weighbridge yet.

[mat-with-one-t Member Find all posts View Profile Close mat-with-one-t]

That’s helpful Whizz. Out of interest, assume to have a transmission cooler added. Do you use a torque locker as well? Mat

[gunda Member Find all posts View Profile Close gunda]

I think that a GX makes it easier to tow and live within the GVM limit as it's the lighest of the variants. I've got a speadsheet doing the same calculations as GeeWhiz for my MY21 Kakadu, and by golly it's a near-run thing, and that's with the third row of seats removed. The local weighbridge agrees.

[mat-with-one-t Member Find all posts View Profile Close mat-with-one-t]

I think that a GX makes it easier to tow and live within the GVM limit as it's the lighest of the variants. I've got a speadsheet doing the same calculations as GeeWhiz for my MY21 Kakadu, and by golly it's a near-run thing, and that's with the third row of seats removed. The local weighbridge agrees.

Yeah we have a 2015 VX. Payload is pretty lean. I think that, whilst I'd kinda love to put together a "big rig" (twin cab 79 with portal axles, 4200kg GVM, bells and whistle), I find that the cost of building one easily starts to nudge $200k, and for that, I'd rather a known Prado and lighter setup than a farm truck that costs as much as our 1st house.

So that said, I'm thinking I'll sort a 3500kgGVM for the VX (all up about $5K - dobinsons/airbagman/50mm lift), maybe change from 18" OEM to 17" alloys with bigger MT or AT tyres (about 265/70r17) then at least I can add some stuff and be well within. Extra tyre weight perhaps 20kg?
If I get an AFN (full front replacement) bar, that's about +80kg. Add lights & winch, maybe a Rhino platform, that's another 50+kg. Two peeps about 150kg. 140lt fuel. Ball weight hopefully around 220kg (thus the rear bags). Dual battery/Onboard compressor/maxtrax/recovery gear/cargo barrier and shelf/rear seats out (minus ~25kg) & drawer in and a fridge on basic slider = maybe about another 50kg, Some sort of water tank (maybe 75kg).

-So that's about 810kg before a few bags, maybe a swag,and so on (maybe another 30kg). We get close to 850kg all up as a stand-alone tourer.

Thus, factory GVM 2990kg (kerb weight I think is 2425kg). Payload bugger all.

So I think (more or less) I get a total of about 3100kg. A GVM of 3500kg will cover that.

Also rumour has it that the same GVM plate will allow for a max towing load of 3tonne (up from 2500kg). I think this would be limited by max ball weight (250kg) anyway, and I have no intention of going higher than about 2200kg, but it'd be nice to be well short of legal GCM.

We shall see......

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

That’s helpful Whizz. Out of interest, assume to have a transmission cooler added. Do you use a torque locker as well? Mat

Three things I have (or do) for towing. 1) I always tow with the gearbox in 4S. This keeps the torque converter locked for most of the time. 2) My OBD monitor displays the ATF temperature and lock-up status and 3) After monitoring the ATF temperatures while towing, I added a Davies Craig/Kaon ATF rediator. This drops the transmission temperature by around 15 to 17 degrees C.

I'm considering a TC lockup kit but they cost around $800 DIY. Not a cheap option - I think I'm on top of the controlling the ATF temperature.

[gunda Member Find all posts View Profile Close gunda]

My MY21 locks in any gear in the right conditions. I can see that from the Scangauge. No need to drive in S4 in the late 2020 upgrade of the 150. You still need to downshift early to S5 or S4 when needed.

I have recently fitted a TC, but it's not clear to me that it's really needed unless you do a lot of hilly towing. Still, it provides peace of mind and stops me agonising about the ATF reading.