Largest practical van V6 150 Series

[rjstokes Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close rjstokes]

G'day all,

We all know the tow limit of the Prado is disappointingly 2500 kg with 250 kg on the ball. I have a 2011 V6 150 series with OME, HD spring and airbags and I'm sure it can handle our van of 2380 ATM and 250kg on the ball (at best). That said, I'm starting to wonder if I'm the only one out there towing a 2000kg+ van with a V6 Prado. Sure the D4d would do a better job as far as economy and a more practical TQ range spread. I find ours is fine until la hill approaches when it will suddenly drops into 2nd and revs its guts out to maintain 90km/hr. Were towing at 24l/100 on 91 octane, 19l/100 on 98 octane. As much as I love our Prado and it's superb handling around town and without the van, I'm fearing a change may be in order to a diesel vehicle with a decent tow rating. The LC200 is out, but a Dmax, MUX, Bt50 or Ranger could be a goer.

Is anyone else pulling a near 2500kg boat/van with a Petrol Prado? Anyone done remote (heavily corrugated tracks) travel and have feedback on economy with tyres let down on the car and tow vehicle? If an new sub $55k vehicle was on the cards that can tow 3-3.5t economically - any suggestions?

Cheers!

[awwricecracker Member Find all posts View Profile Close awwricecracker]

I sold my v6 120 2 months ago, I live in the kimberleys and hit corrugated dirt roads super regularly. With the hot winds, corrugations 95ron and towing 1t, the absolute best I could do was 20l/100, worst was towing a 3.5t trailer and only got 380kms before it took 160L - 42l/100. Given the motor can torque so much, I went through 3 exhausts, and had to replace the engine mounts. It still did it, but imo the prado just isn't built tough enough for this application.

I'm now in a 2.8d4d hilux with 3.5t tow capacity. It pulls my 1t trailer very well and handles the 3.5t better than expected. You can feel the trailers as it is such a lightweight vehicle. imo, the 2.8d4d pulls harder in stock form than the single turbo 4.5v8 in stock form. This opinion comes from getting behind the wheel of troopies that simply run out of steam in the same situation where I've been towing as the hilux, where the lux has slightly better pickup and similar torque

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

G'day all,

We all know the tow limit of the Prado is disappointingly 2500 kg with 250 kg on the ball. I have a 2011 V6 150 series with OME, HD spring and airbags and I'm sure it can handle our van of 2380 ATM and 250kg on the ball (at best). That said, I'm starting to wonder if I'm the only one out there towing a 2000kg+ van with a V6 Prado. Sure the D4d would do a better job as far as economy and a more practical TQ range spread. I find ours is fine until la hill approaches when it will suddenly drops into 2nd and revs its guts out to maintain 90km/hr. Were towing at 24l/100 on 91 octane, 19l/100 on 98 octane. As much as I love our Prado and it's superb handling around town and without the van, I'm fearing a change may be in order to a diesel vehicle with a decent tow rating. The LC200 is out, but a Dmax, MUX, Bt50 or Ranger could be a goer.

Is anyone else pulling a near 2500kg boat/van with a Petrol Prado? Anyone done remote (heavily corrugated tracks) travel and have feedback on economy with tyres let down on the car and tow vehicle? If an new sub $55k vehicle was on the cards that can tow 3-3.5t economically - any suggestions?

Cheers!

Just to clarify the ATM of a trailer includes the towball weight? So really you can tow a 2.5t ATM caravan legally. I have gone from V6 petrol to D4D and there is a noticeable difference in economy. There is however only a small dif in towing though. I would say the 2.8 pulls the van as hard as a v6 to about 80km/h and thats when the v6 would still have more acceleration. I tow a jayco 16.49-3 and used to get 19-23l with the v6 and now 12 to 14l with the diesel.

If I had the money I would have bought a 200 series but thats a lot more coin.

Thanks
Doug

[GEEEXL Member Find all posts View Profile Close GEEEXL]

[QUOT If an new sub $55k vehicle was on the cards that can tow 3-3.5t economically - any suggestions?

Cheers![/QUOTE]


IMHO have a look at a second hand 200 series, 650nm is just heaven !! Also the sheer mass of the 200 makes sure the car is in control of the van not vice versa

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

Rj,

I have a petrol auto 150, 2010 model, with TJM suspension, airbags, steel bar, 2.5 inch exhaust with a small straight through muffler and tow a van with 2270kg ATM and about 200 kg ball when loaded.

On the flat country roads, tow at 90 to 100 Ks, up to 110 to overtake slower vehicles on freeways then drop back. At times on a flat freeway, have to keep an eye on the speedo, as the speed will creep up over 100.

The hills do kill it, but just have to accept that the speed will be slower uphill than a diesel, so no need to push it hard.

Have towed the van on dirt and stoney roads (not big stones) but not on corrugations. Just reduce the speed, no problems so far. Towed across the Nullarbor last year to S/W W.A., some dirt roads included.

As for fuel consumption, don't know, don't care, just fill up when the gauge indicates it's getting thirsty. (have a Clarion unit in place of the small useless screen that was standard)

[rjstokes Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close rjstokes]

Thanks Yowie,

How do you find the exhaust mod? I've looked into headers and the like but figured the improvement in performance wouldn't be worth it? Anyone chipped or re-flashed a V6? In honesty, our experience is similar to yours, tows OK on the flat but struggles on the hills a bit. Only occasionally have to stop and drill for oil with the fuel burn! Tows straight and safe though, it's a pity Toyota under-rate them so much. As for the 200 series, I'd love one but cant bring myself to spend $60k on an 8 yr old car with 100,000km+ . Maybe one day I'll buy a new one when I hit that oil!

Cheers.

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

With the exhaust mod, the mid range acceleration is a bit quicker. On the country roads, driving around 80 to 90 and wanting to overtake a slower vehicle, push the accelerator down and the engine kicks back to 2nd gear and takes off a bit quicker than before. (that is without the van) With the van attached, if I push the foot down too hard, it will also kick back to 2nd, so I have to ease the foot up a little.

The only downside is a bit of noise under hard acceleration.