Diesel Prado towing capacity

[newbenomad Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close newbenomad]

Hi All
I am three months from retirement and about to embark on caravanning adventures with the good wife. We have just paid a deposit on a new 19' caravan with a Tare weight of 2.1 tonne and a loaded weight of just on 2.5 tonne. Currently driving a work car which I will be handing back shortly. We have our hearts set on a new diesel Prado but are concerned that the van is right on the limit of its towing capacity. Is there anyone out there in Prado point land who has a similar rig to the one we are contemplating? We need to know if the Prado can handle the van before we buy it, not after. Realise that the big Land Cruiser would solve towing problems but it creates other issues for us, particularly finance.

Thanks to anyone able to respond.

[gspy4u Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gspy4u]

Will handle the van fine, you just need to make sure you are legal that's all. Ours handles our 2.2t tandem van fine, you will notice on the hills but other than that it's fine. Yes you now it's there, but have never really struggled too much with it and am often over taking others anyway. Sit on the speed limit and am quite happy with ours.
And we still get 15's for fuel usage although that's with a manual, bullbar, lift kit, winch so a little heavier than stock.
Other choice would be one of the utes, if practical or a jeep I guess. Have heard good reviews about the later jeeps with heavy vans.

[rvator2 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close rvator2]

Hi newbenomad,

I feel you have not left yourself very much margin to be overweight.

There is a solution, as below. How this will effect a new car warranty, I will let others comment.

Toyota Prado 150 owners have had the limitation of 2500 kgs towing capacity and 250 kgs ball weight.

One of Kimberley Kamper Dealers near Newcastle who specialises in off road vehicles (Active 4x4), has the engineering approvals to upgrade the towing capacity of the GX and GXL Models (ONLY) to 3000 kgs.

The drawbar weight is also increased from 250kgs to 300kgs.

The result is an Engineers Certificate and a re-labeled towbar with capacity limits on it.

Website info below with more details:


http://info.kimberleykruiser.com/blo...ource=facebook

http://www.active4x4.com/contact.shtml

The work is in the range of $2200 to $2800 incl GST. There is an additional cost of $450 for the Engineers Certificate. This includes re-labeling the tow bar as well. A firm quote can be done by contacting Active 4x4.

We are currently considering this upgrade if we purchase a larger van.

Our current van has a tare of 2000kgs. No problem towing when van loaded to 2400kgs.

Cheers,
K&K

[Guest Close Guest]

If you don't need the interior room, the 150 shorty has a 3T towing capacity.

[Fred63 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fred63]

newbenomad
The Prado will tow it without a problem.
You will be right on the legal limit as previously mentioned.
I already have a Prado i am looking at a van 1980 tare manufacturer will derate gross weight from 2585kg to 2500kg
So I will be right on the limit if I go ahead.
some good info here from a recent post
http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...ht=towing+vans

Fred

[Green dog Member Find all posts View Profile Close Green dog]

My van fully loaded is close to 2.5t.
Prado pulls it with ease..
You just need to make sure you load the van up right wrt load distribution.
Standard suspension however is a bit soft in the rear and is prone to sag..
Easy fix though to just upgrade springs and shocks.. mine has little or no sag in the tail now

[Razorback81 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Razorback81]

i was at ARB a few months back and they had the 200 series in there for the army doing suspension and were re rating it before it went on the road
that was ARB at Regency park in SA
might be worth a call

or find an engineer and go through them with the details from the kimberly conversion listed above

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

If you do find someone to rerate the GVM and toeing capacity make sure it is legal in all states and confirm with your insurer. As far as I know you cannot change the factory rating up here. Happy to be corrected if that isn't the case.

[newbenomad Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close newbenomad]

Thanks very much to those that responded - everyone has an opinion on this subject but I was particularly interested in the views of diesel Prado owners who tow a similar weight van to the one I have signed up for.

What I learned from the responses (and studying other threads) is that :
- the Prado will safely pull 2.5 tonne
- not to exceed this weight or tow ball down weight of 250kg
- be very carefull with weight distribution
- stiffen up the rear suspension
- check weight on weighbridge before heading off

After considering all the information (and my wifes preferences!) I have taken the plunge and purchased a new GXL Prado diesel for delivery later next month. At this stage I am adding a pre filter, tow bar, air bags and the usual mats and protectors. May consider an alloy bull bar and second battery later but will see. how I go.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Congratulations! The whole towing capacity thing is skewed. We have a Colorado ute that is rated at 3t or 3.5t (cannot remember) and I have towed a dual axle trailer all up around 1800kg with both it and the 150. I know which I would prefer to use and that is definitely the 150. Whether it is because Toyota are protecting sales of the 200 or some other reason who knows but practically the 150 tows very well.

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

Thanks very much to those that responded - everyone has an opinion on this subject but I was particularly interested in the views of diesel Prado owners who tow a similar weight van to the one I have signed up for.

What I learned from the responses (and studying other threads) is that :
- the Prado will safely pull 2.5 tonne
- not to exceed this weight or tow ball down weight of 250kg
- be very carefull with weight distribution
- stiffen up the rear suspension
- check weight on weighbridge before heading off

After considering all the information (and my wifes preferences!) I have taken the plunge and purchased a new GXL Prado diesel for delivery later next month. At this stage I am adding a pre filter, tow bar, air bags and the usual mats and protectors. May consider an alloy bull bar and second battery later but will see. how I go.

I have a 150 Diesel Prado, and regularly tow EXACTLY (plus or minus only a few kg) 2,500 tonnes of boat and trailer (had to remove the spare wheel and spare wheel post from the trailer to stay under 2.5 tonnes. I have about 200kg (plus or minus 10kg) of towbar downforce, and the experts suggest that the downforce should be around 8-10% of the all up trailer weight...or something to that effect.

At first I was towing without airbags in the rear springs, and whilst that was ok"....the rear öf the car did sag noticeably, not dangerously, but I would not like to do any long distance the way it was....and my suspension already has a 40mm lift (dobinson coils and shocks), and so I got airbags installed in the rear springs. I run the car with 5psi in the airbags normally when the car is unloded, and then pump it up to 15-20psi BEFORE starting towing, and it is definately noticeably much better. I stress pumping the airbags up BEFORE towing, because it was explained to me that the airbags don't work by inflating and lifting as such, but rather by inflating and pressing outward on the spring coils, increasing the spring resistance, and the manufacturer stresses NEVER load up your tow bar first, and then inflate the airbag. Always do it the other way aaround. This was something I didn't know , and if it wasn't explained to me I could easily have loaded the boat onto the tow bar, and then driven the very short distance to the petrol station to put air in the airbags...apparently you can damage the airbags if you do it that way.

...but sounds like you have got it sorted, you will enjoy the Prado. When you go to the weigh bridge, they should give you an all up weight of what you are towing, a well as the downforce weight. There is no doubt that the standard toyota set up would sag noticeably towing these sorts of weights, and the airbags will definatly make it better, and when your shocks wear out, (which wont take too long unfortunately, maybe 20,00km) consider a suspension lift of about 40mm all round, especially if you drive off road. I used dobinson coils and springs...and its a different car, wether its loaded and unloaded, highway and offroad...it drives and rides much better than factory, especially once you have several thousand km on it, and the stock shocks start to wear and the springs start to sag....enjoy your travels

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

Surprised the discussion has focused on the weight of the van and not the GVW of the vehicle.

Mine weighs 2.5 tonnes with full fuel and all the extras. If I take the suspected but not tested yet trailer tow ball weight of 100 kgs off - this only leaves me with 300 kgs for passengers and baggage. We 3 weigh a total of 230 kgs which means I am just under the target. Add the dog and fill the fridge and I suspect I will be right on the 2900 kgs GVM.

BTW my Cub trailer has a loaded weight of about 1000 kgs. Wouldn't know it was there when being towed. I have upgraded suspension and a 2" lift.

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

Diesel Prado towing capacity

Exactly, towing at max rating regardless of vehicle almost always consumes all your vehicles carrying capacity. You generally can't fit a full load of passengers in most wagons with max load being towed. Let alone luggage, dual batts, fridges, roof racks, bash plates.... I suspect many people are over their GVM and GCM.

The discovery 4 is the best in class here followed by the 200 which both can carry near full GVM whilst towing a full 3500kg. The disco has a payload of 900kgs!!

This is why many Utes are used for max tow rates because they often have 750-1200kg payload.

The way to work it out is to take the max tow load from the gross combined mass of trailer and car, and take off the tow ball weight and the cars wet empty weight and you have the small figure left is what can go in the car.

Ford pulled this trick with the ranger which increased its tow capacity by 150kg to 3500kg but only increased its gross combined mass by 50kg thus reducing the Utes carrying capacity by 100kg. Sneaky. So really they only increased the capacity by 50kg overall. Marketing marketing marketing.

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Once you load it, you will be over & illegal.

With a Prado, stick to 2 tonne, that is plenty for the little 4 cyl.
The vehicle will be 3t loaded, so that's 5t. That's tonnes!

Try & keep the towed to 2/3-3/4 of the tower. That's safer.

You will like the 650nm of the 200. It craps all over Prado.

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

You will like the 650nm of the 200. It craps all over Prado.

Well it should - it's a V8. At 1.5 times the capacity and double the turbos what would you expect.