EL towing capability.

MK120C · 22-04-2006, 10:55 PM

What sort of weights a people towing with there auto EL'? I need to tow about 1900kg, and what type of mods have you done to tow heavy loads[car has 2300kg tow bar].

NZ · 22-04-2006, 11:06 PM

Make sure it has a decent transmission cooler. The factory ones are pretty marginal for towing.

LUXO_8 · 22-04-2006, 11:12 PM

decent rear shocks, the biggest trans cooler that you can fit if you plan on towing with the car a lot, load distributing hitch / load leveling bars to keep the trailer and car level.....

EL_futura · 23-04-2006, 01:08 PM

and make sure the trailer has decent brakes!

MK120C · 23-04-2006, 09:38 PM

So it can be done, the trailer has the double axle [4 wheels] just drive safely I guess. Anyone else offer there advise or experiance on towing? I guess towing a car trailer with a car on it adds to about the same load.
Thanks for the replys.

LUXO_8 · 23-04-2006, 10:39 PM

allow WAAAAY more brakeing distance.... WAAAY more room if you HAVE to overtake .(try not to if you dont really need to.....)

just take your time and you'll get there...dont overstress your car.... you'll get a feel for what speed you car likes to do (usually somewhere between 80 - 100kph is a nice sweet spot)...... dont push it or you'll use heaps more fuel

MK120C · 23-04-2006, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MADNC_8

allow WAAAAY more brakeing distance.... WAAAY more room if you HAVE to overtake .(try not to if you dont really need to.....)

just take your time and you'll get there...dont overstress your car.... you'll get a feel for what speed you car likes to do (usually somewhere between 80 - 100kph is a nice sweet spot)...... dont push it or you'll use heaps more fuel

Thanks for that advice I was worried that the car could not handle towing around 1850kg. I just dont want to lash out for a Territory yet.[lashed out on a boat instead]

tango07 · 25-04-2006, 05:12 PM

Over here in SA we have to put brakes on our boat trailers by 30 december 2006.
went and got a price from a trailer manufacturer they quoted 800 dollars. no pensioner can afford that.

LUXO_8 · 25-04-2006, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tango07

Over here in SA we have to put brakes on our boat trailers by 30 december 2006.
went and got a price from a trailer manufacturer they quoted 800 dollars. no pensioner can afford that.

any trailer thats over about 450kg - 500kg loaded requires brakes...... thats a pretty national law..
maybe they're just making it "compylsory" now....

it might be more cost effective for you to sell your trailer and buy a seccond hand trailer with brakes fitted.....

**Polyal** · 25-04-2006, 06:12 PM

well bugger me..I never knew trailers had brakes....lol

MK120C · 25-04-2006, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tango07

Over here in SA we have to put brakes on our boat trailers by 30 december 2006.
went and got a price from a trailer manufacturer they quoted 800 dollars. no pensioner can afford that.

Is that for electric brakes?

niko · 25-04-2006, 11:03 PM

nah, it works on weight, wen u slow down the trailer pushes against the car, thus engaging the brake.

i wouldnt advise towing to much with later model cars, thiner body designs= more stretching, ie, look at the rear doors after u do plenty towing and see yourself.

LUXO_8 · 25-04-2006, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niko

nah, it works on weight, wen u slow down the trailer pushes against the car, thus engaging the brake.

there are both hydraulic brakes (what you're talking about) and electric brakes for trailers....... electric brakes have a controller inside the vehicle and are much more commonly found on boat trailers as they
A dont stuff up as much with water and
B dont engage as you reverse the trailer....

Quote:

Originally Posted by niko

i wouldnt advise towing to much with later model cars, thiner body designs= more stretching, ie, look at the rear doors after u do plenty towing and see yourself.

using propper towing systems, they can tow just as easily as an old car with a full chassis.... its when people use dodgy cheap towkits and or tow too heavy for the car, that cars stretch

NZ · 25-04-2006, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niko

nah, it works on weight, wen u slow down the trailer pushes against the car, thus engaging the brake.

i wouldnt advise towing to much with later model cars, thiner body designs= more stretching, ie, look at the rear doors after u do plenty towing and see yourself.

That only happens in holden ads.

niko · 26-04-2006, 08:34 AM

i was refering to old xa-xc, what a towing shell they have :P

NZ · 26-04-2006, 09:13 AM

Maybe if falcons were FWD they might!

gthofan · 26-04-2006, 08:18 PM

i would reccomend getting a v8. towing 1900 kg often, will kill the 6 cyl engine quick

niko · 26-04-2006, 08:23 PM

how does it kill the engine, i reckon the transmission takes more of the blow..?

LUXO_8 · 26-04-2006, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niko

how does it kill the engine, i reckon the transmission takes more of the blow..?

agreed, the V8 will just do it easier cos it has more torque.

niko · 26-04-2006, 09:08 PM

trannies are differently geared to tho?

tango07 · 27-04-2006, 10:35 AM

in SA if what you are towing is over 750kgs then brakes must be fitted.

LUXO_8 · 27-04-2006, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tango07

in SA if what you are towing is over 750kgs then brakes must be fitted.

absolutley fair rule too......

MK120C · 30-04-2006, 07:58 PM

Thanks for all the advice, tomorrow I will be picking up my ship so I hope all goes well. I have spent a few $$$$ on the car to get it ready, new Bridgestone b530, PWR trans cooler 280x255x19mm, trans service [that was a rort] Rees towbar, [its about 30kg on its own] 4 x cross drilled and slotted disks + pads, new HD radiator 3 core. Total towing weight is about 1720 kg so not as much as first thought anyway I will let you know how it feels to drive.

LUXO_8 · 30-04-2006, 08:00 PM

excelent....good to see someone with a little bit of sense, actually getting their car set up to tow with...

no good trying to tow like this
http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...ghlight=morons

another little towing hint.
please dont let your chains drag on the ground... actually, the chains should be crossed over, to form a cradle to catch the trailer incase it happens to come off the tow hitch....... this will stop the trailer from digging into the road surface and flipping / spearing off ino other traffic, etc...

MK120C · 30-04-2006, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MADNC_8

excelent....good to see someone with a little bit of sense, actually getting their car set up to tow with...

no good trying to tow like this
http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...ghlight=morons

another little towing hint.
please dont let your chains drag on the ground... actually, the chains should be crossed over, to form a cradle to catch the trailer incase it happens to come off the tow hitch....... this will stop the trailer from digging into the road surface and flipping / spearing off ino other traffic, etc...

Thanks for that, I wont be taking any chances with my shiny new boat the only thing that has me worried is, will it sit properly[level] once hooked up to the hitch the car has got lovells springs and pedders shocks that ride fairly firm so I hope it will sit right first go.

LUXO_8 · 30-04-2006, 08:20 PM

it should sit just fine - especially if the weight has been well balanced throughout the boat and the trailer is propperly matched with the boat....... but if it doesnt, get yourself some levelride bars.... or better yet talk to the guys at pedders and see what shocks and springs they reccomend... it really comes down to what percentage of time the car will be towing or not as to weather you change your suspension to compensate for it

my aunty has had the rear of her NC set up for full time towing, (heavy duty shocks and springs) and it looks so funny compared to my car.... but she tows horses just about every day and i dont so....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...baltNC2005.jpg

RepSpec · 30-04-2006, 09:11 PM

just a thought, if u are towing a boat (going by what u said) and i u do intendto use this car to to it with, rember that if you intend to launch and retrive the boat from the water, there will be a lot more load put on the engine/trans when pulling up a steep ramp.

my old man reckons with the i6 boxes, to tow in 3rd so it cant go into overdrive, dunno if its true or not, but seems to work for his au3

1TUFFUTE · 30-04-2006, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MADNC_8

any trailer thats over about 450kg - 500kg loaded requires brakes...... thats a pretty national law..
maybe they're just making it "compylsory" now....

it might be more cost effective for you to sell your trailer and buy a seccond hand trailer with brakes fitted.....

trailers in qld only need brakes over 1000kg...an i tow about 800 every day

MK120C · 01-05-2006, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XG-PanelvanMan

just a thought, if u are towing a boat (going by what u said) and i u do intendto use this car to to it with, rember that if you intend to launch and retrive the boat from the water, there will be a lot more load put on the engine/trans when pulling up a steep ramp.

my old man reckons with the i6 boxes, to tow in 3rd so it cant go into overdrive, dunno if its true or not, but seems to work for his au3

I know what you mean about the ramp, the pressure will be on for about 30 seconds but then again your not pulling the total weight of 1700kg up the ramp I guess the load would vary according to the pitch or angle of the ramp. I think its best to tow with the ECON switch in off that way the auto can build the right amount of oil pressure before selecting the next gear. I used the cruies control today and it worked fine. The Transmission bloke says these boxes are fairly tough if cooled right and oil changes are not missed.Apart from that it towed very well with power to spare.

MacGyver · 02-05-2006, 06:53 PM

In my wagon set up for heavy loads I have coil springs with airbags running inside my leaf springs as well as electronic trailer brakes. Tows like a dream even with 2+ tonnes.

cheers
Scott