Towing

[Luke Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Luke]

Does anyone out there have any thoughts on how a Prado performs while towing?
How would a Prado handle towing a camper trailer or pop top caravan around Oz?

[Damien Parker Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Damien Parker]

Check out the trip reports forum and look for chippy's thread on his trip round oz. It has a lot of info on how the prado performs on his recent trip.

[Chippy Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chippy]

Apart from the fuel gauge moving quicker than usual I found 16,000 odd Kms of my recent trip to be really quite pleasant.

The Trak Shak is plated at 810 Kg dry and 1380 Kg loaded (and, Shhh, I may have been an ounce or two over) and I hardly knew it was there.

The Petrol V6 had no problems with handling, overtaking, cornering etc ... I just allowed a bit of extra room when slowing, and when I thought someone in front of me was about to do something dumb - towing does increase your stopping.

I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

Cheers
Chippy

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

Must agree with Chippy, we just came back from 5000k trip to Darwin RV2.7 towing a Camprite performed well could of done with a little more power thats why we are upgrading to a D4D.

Chippy whats and ounce? :wink:

[telcab Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close telcab]

Towing

G`day Luke, I had a 02 petrol Prado, towing a Jayco camper van, absolutely wonderful to tow. I now have a 06 Prado Diesel, and must say absolutely wonderful to tow. I have a 7x5 trailer with 4 foot sides when fully loaded do not even know it`s there.

[Luke Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Luke]

I was looking at buying a new turbo diesel Prado. I took a mate's 07 Prado TD for a spin on the weekend and was very impressed with its performance compared to my old Discovery - but was not sure if it would have the guts while towing a trailer.

Thanks for your responses all - any others would be greatly appreciated.

[Chippy Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chippy]

It's got the guts alright. Just make sure you can see the trailer in the mirror - otherwise you won't know it's there

Cheers
Chippy

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

Just finished an 1800km trip up the Peninsula Development Road to the Cape towing a 7 x 5 high sided off road trailer with tinny on top. Performed great, sat on the road well through the dust holes, and returned 11.2 litres per 100km over the trip. That's the second Cape trip, and no dramas.

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

I tow my camper trailer everywhere and like the others do not even know its on behind. The only thing I can say about the PRE D4D 3 litre diesel is she could do with the Dtronics chip and big exhaust for the hills and head winds. The D4D has no such drama. Go 4 it :!: :!: :!:

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

I have to keep checking the mirror to see if the boat is still there, especially when I overtake on the highway. But I spose the boat is only about 5/600 KG or about 14 tonne on the sand bar.
Fuel economy is magic, when towing.

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

My caravan is 1700KG unloaded, around 2000KG loaded. Prado D4D pulls it with ease. It surprises me how on uphill stretches I pass much smaller vans, attached to Patrols.

[Chippy Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chippy]

... attached to Patrols.

I think that's spelt ... Pootrols :lol: :lol: :lol:

Cheers
Chippy

[Guest Close Guest]

Just returned from a 9000km trip in my D4D towing an 18ft poptop. Towed beatifully and passed several vehicles with ease. Fuel economy was good too.

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

Midge,
you are a tease, tell us more.

Where did you go? How long where you away? Just how good was the fuel economy? (D4D we all know it will be good)

Waiting :wink:
Fazza

[Guest Close Guest]

Fazza, we crossed the nullabor and checked out alot of the murray river in SA, Vic and NSW as well as the great ocean road. Took us about 5 weeks but the Prado got a rest for 1 week while we were on a houseboat.

About 7,000kms was towing the van and averaged around 14L/100km (towing only), and we weren't going slow either. Without the van I'm averaging around 10L/100km, so I reckon with the size (18ft tandem) and weight (I'd say at least 1.5T loaded) of the van, the economy is pretty good. The range with the 180L tank was awesome, meaning I got from Penong to Norseman (over 1100km) without getting ripped off at roadhouses in between.

Was a good trip and the Prado performed well as expected. I haven't experienced the V6 but for someone looking for a towing vehicle, I can definitely recommend the D4D!