Vehicle and towing weights 2016 Toyota Prado Kakadu V6

[pradokakadudavid Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradokakadudavid]

Hi all.

A puzzling (probably disappointing) question re vehicle weights.

I have a 2016 Prado Kakadu V6.

Its current weight including fitted accessories and two people is 2650kg.

If its GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) is 2900kg, am I assuming correctly that this means I can only add 250kg of luggage to the Prado when traveling i.e 2900-2650=250?

Whilst this is probably enough storage capacity, my recovery gear, including second spare tyre, probably weights close to 100kgs which then only leaves 150kgs of luggage weight.

If I add a caravan with a tow ball weight of say 180kgs, am I correct in deducing that I am 30kgs over weight?

If so, I guess the Prado is virtually useless for towing anything except a box trailer.

Now I know from reading caravan forums that there are plenty of Prados out there towing caravans, mostly around 20 feet.

So, should I not carry a second spare?

Should I forget about caravaning until I get a V8 Landcruiser.

Do I assume that all those dinky toys out there like DMXs, Rangers, BT 50's etc are really kidding themselves re what their compliance says they can tow, given that I would think that my Prado is stronger and more powerful than any of these.

If there are any of you out there that has similar weights is there an answer other than no second spare or recovery gear (could leave the wife home I guess but then she does have her uses!)

Any advice, especially if I have got it all wrong, would be appreciated.

Cheers.

Disappointed Dave!

(should have bought that V8 Landcruiser GXL which would have been cheaper anyway!!!!

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

Hi all.

A puzzling (probably disappointing) question re vehicle weights.

I have a 2016 Prado Kakadu V6.

Its current weight including fitted accessories and two people is 2650kg.

If its GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) is 2900kg, am I assuming correctly that this means I can only add 250kg of luggage to the Prado when traveling i.e 2900-2650=250?

Whilst this is probably enough storage capacity, my recovery gear, including second spare tyre, probably weights close to 100kgs which then only leaves 150kgs of luggage weight.

If I add a caravan with a tow ball weight of say 180kgs, am I current in deducing that I am 30kgs over weight?

If so, I guess the Prado is virtually useless for towing anything except a box trailer.

Now I know from reading caravan forums that there are plenty of Prados out there towing caravans, mostly around 20 feet.

So, should I not carry a second spare?

Should I forget about caravaning until I get a V8 Landcruiser.

Do I assume that all those dinky toys out there like DMXs, Rangers, BT 50's etc are really kidding themselves re what their compliance says they can tow, given that I would think that my Prado is stronger and more powerful than any of these.

If there are any of you out there that has similar weights is there an answer other than no second spare or recovery gear (could leave the wife home I guess but then she does have her uses!)

Any advice, especially if I have got it all wrong, would be appreciated.

Cheers.

Disappointed Dave!

(should have bought that V8 Landcruiser GXL which would have been cheaper anyway!!!!

So, just for interest sake. Its not a kakadu V6 I know, but I have done the same exercise

My GX Prado Auto weights are as follows

Quoted "kerb weight" for the 2016 GX Prado Auto (without rear seats) is 2,230kg.

Full of fuel, new, no passengers and no accessories, our Prado weighed 2,225kg

But after the following modifications, we took it over a weigh bridge again
.

2,560 kg (no passengers, no food, no luggage or no tow ball down force)

Full fuel

TJM T15 Bull Bar, TJM winch (synthetic rope)

TNN Under body guards

Pioneer roof platform

Wynnum Tow bar

TJM side steps

Trektable & Rear Drawers & contents (but no food)

50L CFX Waeco Fridge (Empty)

Fridge slide

120 Ahr battery and charger

The quoted GVM limit of the GXL Diesel Auto is 2,990 kg - 2,560 kg = 430 kg margin for passengers and extras above the current fixed modifications

So that's 430 kg left for passengers, (180 kg for 2 people), food (30 kg), luggage (30 kg) drinking water, (20 kg), van tow ball down force (125 kg), shovel and high lift jack, spares, extra tools, recovery gear, firewood etc....loaded up with full fuel we are right on the GVM limit.

However, when we tow our 15 1/2 ft, 1,750 kg ATM caravan (which has a tare of 1,220 kg), and we usually have most of the food, luggage, water, tools etc in the caravan.
We get the van up to about 1,700 kg fully loaded, full water.

Of interest, with the current stock suspension the car is now about 20 mm lower at the front (its now 740 mm with fixed accessories) and about 30 mm lower at the rear (its now 765 mm with fixed accessories) compared to its new measurements.

So our next, and almost final modification, is upgraded suspension with a 40 mm lift (Courtesy of John Zordo) ...and fully loaded I expect we will be right on the GVM.

One of the reasons we went with the GX diesel is because the GVM is 2,990kg. (which is 90 kg more than higher models).

I am certain there are folk towing caravans with Prados who are over the GVM limit.

[Mr ok Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Mr ok]

Dave, is there anything about your new Prado that you do like?

An LC200 will give you an extra 1t of towing capacity over the Prado but the difference between kerb weight and GVM is really in the same ballpark as the Prado. The LC 200 GXL TD will give you 720kg, the Sahara capacity will reduce to 645kg thanks to the luxuries. The GX Prado gives you 760kg, GXL is 675kg and diesel and V6 Kaka's only give you 550kg thanks again to those luxuries. So the Sahara will only let you carry 95kg more than a V6 kaka and the GX Prado will actually carry a little more than a GX/GXL 200 series diesel. The difference is really only a couple of passengers, a few luxuries or a full tank of fuel. If you want to carry more on the car, you need a lower spec model or a 1t ute like the 70 series.

However, the problem with 4wd's with high GVM's and 3.5t towing capacities is the effect the GCM limits have on those towing and carrying capacities. For example, Ford Ranger's kerb weight is 2.25t, has a GVM of 3.2t so it can carry 950kg on its own. With a towing capacity of 3.5t means it can tow one tonne more than the Prado as well. Wow, looks good on paper but it has a GCM of 6t not 6.7t. So if you are towing around 2.8t - 3.5t, the car can only weigh 2.5t - 3.2t meaning there is only 250kg - 950kg of load capacity in the car depending on the trailer weight. In reality, the Ranger can only move a total of 500kg more than a Prado, depending on how you load the combination.

I own one and I think the V6 Kaka is perfectly capable of towing 2.5t. It just can't carry much weight! It struggles with 7 male adult passengers. When towing, it really can't carry any extra weight after putting 2 to 4 passengers in it. I do think it is perfect for a couple who are towing a small caravan or camping trailer because all the heavy gear should be on the trailer not in the car. It is definitely not the car for roof top tents, steel bars and heavy rear drawers full of heavy gear. You will mostly see 1t utes having that type of setup.

Sorry, but mass is mass and as long as it's on the Earth it won't change. My suggestion would be to lose any accessories that are not absolutely necessary like the 2nd spare and the heavy rear holder bar that goes with it. Instead, set the caravan up with the same tyres and store a couple extra on it. The original spare, a compressor and tyre repair kit on the car should be ample for when it is not attached near the van. To be able to tow you need to look at lightening the load you put on the car by putting movable luggage and equipment onto the trailer and putting it back into the car when the trailer is disconnected. Probably a lot safer to get the movable gear out of the wagon in any case.

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

Don't forget axel loads, a ranger at full GVM has only 110km left on the rear axle which means it can only tow a 1T trailer.


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

Don't forget axel loads, a ranger at full GVM has only 110km left on the rear axle which means it can only tow a 1T trailer.

Some vehicles can not tow anything at GVM because the axel load has very little left to allow for tow ball weight meaning no trailer at all.

The best performers in the market other the then 70 is the Triton and Dmax as the Utes are much lighter than the competition and their max towing is reduce enough to leave 600 or so Kgs of capacity at full tow.


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

So, should I not carry a second spare?

One solution would be to attach the second spare in the right place on the caravan, so the weight is off the vehicle.

Another solution would be to go down the GVM upgrade route for the Prado you already have.

[pradokakadudavid Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradokakadudavid]

Thanks OK.

Yes I do like the V6 Kakadu as it is a very competent off roader and of course very comfortable. It has plenty of grunt but dreadful fuel economy but I wanted the power and the diesel is just too slow for me.

I was just a bit concerned that it is so easy to exceed the 2.9 GVM.

I have never used the second spare (which is bloody heavy) but just seems like the right thing to carry when off road.

I don't do extreme off roading in the middle of nowhere and am rarely more than 50ks from civilisation and I do carry a tyre repair kit and tyre levers and on board compressor.

I was mainly interested to see if I have the numbers right.

Cheers for the advice.

David.