Towing

luke1501 · 16-12-2005, 12:59 PM

hey guys i need some advice.
A friend is going to be towing a caravan soon.
They have an au 2 xr6. What needs to be added so it is able to
tow the van. Bigger breaks? etc
any advice would be great
thanks

Steffo · 16-12-2005, 01:07 PM

Is it auto or manual?

A stock auto with the heavy duty pack can tow 2300kg.

A stock manual with the heavy duty pack can tow 1600kg.

Don't need any sort of modifications.

16-12-2005, 01:08 PM

Full service, bleed brakes and new pads at least.

Transmission cooler! If it already has one get a aftermarket cooler attached. Transmission may also need a service depending on how many k's done.

aquahead2001 · 16-12-2005, 01:17 PM

First step is to learn how to tow and back a trailer/caravan. It's not just as simple as hitching up the car and going. Find out the weight of the caravan, how much drawbar weight it will be imparted on the tow bar, what type of brakes it has, such as mechanical override, hydraulic or electric brakes. Does it require a load leveling tow bar system?

IMHO you can't find a better "car" to tow with than a Falcon, they absolutely beat the pants off anything else around in that size etc. I've been towing caravans and trailers for many years and Falcons have always been great for the role.

From experience, I've found AUII Auto's like to tow in 3rd gear and not in drive (1200kg cavaran) where the EF/EL's quite liked to be left in drive. AUII's came with a transmission cooler (Well ours has one but it has a factory 1600kg tow bar.)

whiskieboy · 16-12-2005, 02:53 PM

The Xr's arent really geared for towing as such, but ok if you dont mind them using a little bit extra fuel. If it was possible for them to do a swap,that would be better, depending how far there going etc. and as long as they realise they will use a lot of fuel they will have a good time.

HOON69 · 16-12-2005, 03:18 PM

word of advise be kind on the gbox if its a manual
seen many a clutch blow from towing trailors/caravans...

luke1501 · 16-12-2005, 03:54 PM

thanks guys.
She asked me for advice but i have never towed a caravan
only boats.
Its an auto she has been given differnet advice about breaks and things like
that. i told her about the towing in gear 3 we got told it helps tp keep the trans cool.
But she wasnt sure if the cars breaks had too be changed or the caravan breaks.
The van is average size so my guess would be a large boat (for weight)
between 1.6t- 2.4t but she was unsure and i havent seen the van.
thanks for the advice.

**Mechan1k** · 16-12-2005, 07:36 PM

Brake booster box needs to be installed in the car so the trailer/van brakes can be activated when braking ... actually this needed to tow anything over 750kg BY LAW ... you tow anything over that without this box .. it's ilegal ... and dangerous.

rodderz · 16-12-2005, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

Brake booster box needs to be installed in the car so the trailer/van brakes can be activated when braking ... actually this needed to tow anything over 750kg BY LAW ... you tow anything over that without this box .. it's ilegal ... and dangerous.

Hell yeah... they will need the fitment of the brake adjuster inside the car so that the caravan's brakes will be applied as the car brakes, otherwise the thing will be pushing foreward still under braking, would be very dangerous in the wet

**Mechan1k** · 16-12-2005, 08:30 PM

I towed the Horsefloat just after I got my ute (just before I got the brake booster adjuster installed in the ute) ... and hell ... I scared the 5h1t out of myself trying to pull up at traffic lights ... I was getting pushed that hard ... I nearly locked the fronts up (even more dangerous when towing) ... could have been very nasty indeed ... I could have been dead too.

Needless to say I got the brake booster installed literally the next day.

Quicklier · 16-12-2005, 11:54 PM

I though most horse floats had hydraulic brakes on them.
The ones that are on the a-frame in front of the hitch. They're great!
Surely you don't need an brake booster then?

WizBang · 17-12-2005, 12:03 AM

Our float has hydraulic breaks and I tow it with my XH just fine the only thing you must remember is that in your case or when towing a caravan is that it weights about 1.2-2.3 tons so yeah of couse it will be hard to stop thats why trucks don't like when cars push in front as they are stopping at lights .

chevypower · 17-12-2005, 01:15 AM

been towing horsefloats in our family for years. When we had the Grange 5 litre, it hunted around a lot for gears, and worked best with the power button on. Now with the 5.7L Caprice, it's best with power mode off, as it has plenty more torque (despite what the mags say about it) and pulls really nicely in 4th, doesnt hunt around - thats with a heavy load on. With the Hayman Reece sway bars and electric brakes, if there is no horse inside moving its weight around, you can barely feel the load. So if it's a modern V8, dont leave it in 3rd - also dont use the tranny to slow you down, you will ruin it. Rely on the car brakes, and the trailer brakes, make sure they are balanced right for the load. So make sure... Hayman Reece tow package, including anti-sway bars and electric brakes is definately preferable. With a 6 cyl, Power mode on definately

**Mechan1k** · 17-12-2005, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quicklier

I though most horse floats had hydraulic brakes on them.
The ones that are on the a-frame in front of the hitch. They're great!
Surely you don't need an brake booster then?

Mine runs on electric/power assisted (and I think they are 4-wheel drums by the looks of things too) ... it's a new float ... plus has the break-away braking system on it.

If for some reason the float comes unhooked (unlikely) ... the cable tightens (when hooked up correctly) and the breakaway system pulls the horsefloat up on it's own.

I know some of the older floats went on weight distribution changes to apply braking ... if weight REALLY shifted forwards it would apply the float brakes.

**Mechan1k** · 17-12-2005, 03:13 AM

I've gotta get pics off the camera with the float hooked up to the Territory.

outback_ute · 17-12-2005, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whiskieboy

The Xr's arent really geared for towing as such, but ok if you dont mind them using a little bit extra fuel. If it was possible for them to do a swap,that would be better, depending how far there going etc. and as long as they realise they will use a lot of fuel they will have a good time.

I disagree, the XR will have a 3.45 diff ratio which will make it easier to tow as there will be a few extra revs involved. Fuel usage - well that is a bit unavoidable. As stated, a Falcon is one of the best tow cars you can get.

Electric brakes are the best way to go, also make sure you have the extra mirrors and a good weight distribution tow hitch. The car itself should be fine with a Hayman Reese hitch and trans cooler. If they are new to towing vans, make sure they do a bit of practising before they go, especially reversing and parking as some caravan parks can be pretty tight to get into your site, and vans are especially tricky as they block so much of your vision.