Buying a 2023 150 VX

[stevemac Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close stevemac]

Hi,

2007 Prado 120 TD GXL died (needs engine rebuild / replacement), so looking to replace it with 2023 VX. Will be used as daily drive with at least annual drive >5000km towing ~1900kg caravan

Hoping for some advice on accessories / mods.

• go with genuine Toyota towing package or go third party - e.g. Hayman Reese?
• worried about rear axel loading and rear end sagging when towing. Thoughts on GVM upgrade? Mechanic suggests GVM upgrade better than airbag helpers. I
• brake controller - Toyota supply Redarc with their towing package, I have only ever used Tekonsha. Are people happy with the Redarc?

Anything else to be wary of / recommendation

thx,

Steve

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

Regards the towbar really a personal choice, I went with Wynnum Towbars as cheaper than Toyota and does not require the bumper to be cut.
If your only towing 1900kg I wouldn't get a GVM upgrade as the ride will be a lot firmer (harsher), if you do some mild offroading consider a suspension upgrade otherwise I would stay with HD Airbags.

Redarc TowPro is excellent.

Lee

[Bluedog16 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bluedog16]

Hi Steve,
I had a 2013 GXL and now have 2022 built GXL picked up January this year and have towed with various cars and caravans and camper trailers over 40 years.

I have always used HR equipment because they are in my opinion are the best, strongest and far more flexible- ie you can use a Weight distribution hitch or not with their system (plus they have a life time warranty).

I currently tow a full size van which can weigh up to 2600kg with both water tanks full which then has up to 270kg tow ball weight on the back of the car. The car drops a bit naturally but not as much as you would expect with that weight but does 'porpoise' which makes towing unpleasant. However, I have always used a WD hitch (over 40 years) which fixes this problem and makes towing easy and restores weight taken of the front wheels.
This would be the maximum weight I would suggest despite the 3000kg allowed towing - although I think Toyota are always a little conservative. Previously Toyota had a 3000kg limit in England and New Zealand on my 2013 Prado which had a 2500kg limit here in Australia.

Be aware that Toyota recommend you use a WD hitch as per their manual.

Some people swear by using a WD hitch them others not so. WD hitches do have negatives ie lower your cornering ability and affect the steering slightly but it is recommended to lower the front tyre pressure and increase the rear tyres pressure to overcome this.

I have had rear air bags on a Nissan X trail towing a caravan as Nissan do not allow the use of a WD hitch. The air bags prevented sagging but do not restore the weight taken off the front wheels like a WD hitch will restore. I believe an air bag puts a lot of stress on a very small area of your suspension so they should only be pumped up a little not to maximum in my opinion.

Happy towing
David

[Not Enough Time Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Not Enough Time]

Whether you go for GVM Upgrade or Airbags depends on how often you have the van attached.
You won't actually need a GVM Upgrade for that tow weight, either different springs or airbags
No matter what you do is a compromise.
Just ask yourself how many kms I will be towing V not towing., I suspect mostly not towing.
I have used airbags for 15 years across 2 Pajeros & now a Prado
Airbags suit me over stiffer springs for towing a 2.2T van about 8000km pa and then 34,000km of mostly open road driving (not towing).

As to brake controller the REDARC Pro I currently use is miles in front of the Tekonsha unit I used from 2004-2008, can't comment about their more recent offerings.

[Looseunit69 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Looseunit69]

I have a GXL arriving within the week or so with a Dobinsons GVM upgrade. I had this done this because I will have a fair amount of accessories fitted in some time, to the point where if it stayed stock then I might not be able to pack the Mrs...

Can't comment much on the towing, but can let you know how ride quality goes when it arrives, as it will be quite bare on arrival

[stevemac Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close stevemac]

Thanks for the suggestions.
- went airbag helpers in the 120 series as occasional towing and to stop the porpoising. They worked great, but mechanic worried about the stresses they apply (as seen some breakages). at this stage will get the vehicle, connect the van and go for a drive / visit a weighbridge and then make a decision
- will most likely do the Hayman Reese bar with redarc controller

[amts Ninja Poster. Find all posts View Profile Close amts]

Thanks for the suggestions.
- went airbag helpers in the 120 series as occasional towing and to stop the porpoising. They worked great, but mechanic worried about the stresses they apply (as seen some breakages). at this stage will get the vehicle, connect the van and go for a drive / visit a weighbridge and then make a decision
- will most likely do the Hayman Reese bar with redarc controller

Is your mechanic confused about the airbags between wagons and leaf sprung utes? Airbags on leaf sprung utes are the ones breaking.

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

Get a different mechanic. The air bags are fitted inside the rear coils ie no added stress to mounting points unlike leaf springs. A good compromise for those times when you tow.

[Not Enough Time Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Not Enough Time]

I concur with the above comments that your mechanic is mistaken regarding Airbags, confusing leaf sprung utes and coil 4WDs.
The ARB dealership which use to prefers GVM upgrades, there's always 10+ LC78 waiting in their yard to have GVM upgrades for the local electricity distributor.
However, they have absolutely no qualms about installing them on Prados or Pajeros, they told me they have dozens and dozens on Prados. My previous two Pajeros did 300 000km each before I sold them, my father is still driving my last one now 350 000km. I've only done 90 000km in my current 2021 Prado without a problem.
Not knocking GVM upgrades where appropriate, but I think you mechanic is mistaken.

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

1) agree with airbag on coil not being a chasis breaking point - the mechanic is just reading the headline rather than understanding why?

2) GVM upgrade will void (or at least making your claiming warranty or consumer durability gurantee difficult ) if you have to claim anything to do with drivetrain/suspension/brake issue - mod exceed design parameters and components have not been tested to be able to handle it - I stay away from it if possible for at least the warranty period.

3) replace with firmer spring or use factory or not so firm spring for ride quality when empty- that would depend how often you loaded up - travelling around AU loaded- sure get a spring suitable to your load is the best and engineering sound solution - occassional tow heavy - airbag is probably an acceptable alternative - downside it will likely reduce your compression travel and flex if your do some serious off roading even if bag is deflated.