Soon to be owner of 17.56-2 OB

gspy4u

gspy4u

Active Member
Apr 27, 2012
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Ipswich
Well we went and did it. Our first ever van and we managed to get a great old new van for a great price. 12/2010 model 17.56-2 OB in mint condition.
Pick up the beastie next week and have already worked out a Cairns trip for June and Perth trip for October. Can't wait, hopefully it will be smooth sailing but shall see.
 
gspy4u

gspy4u

Active Member
Apr 27, 2012
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Ipswich
Was about to buy privately but found one just traded in at a dealer the same age (1 mth older) and got it for $1,500 less. So real happy with that.

Yep, counting the days down to picking it up. Already changed over the towbar to a HR one, doing the suspension next week and ready to do a quick overnighter for a test run :)
 
R

rickwagupatrol

Member
Apr 15, 2012
43
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Perth W.A.
Congrats, we just got ours as well and are doing an overnighter this weekend.
Its nice to see it sitting on the front lawn waiting to be hooked up...:)
Now you can look forward to going through the forum and finding all those great little ideas that make camping so much more enjoyable.

rick
 
gspy4u

gspy4u

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Apr 27, 2012
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Ipswich
van.JPG

Well picked it up yesterday and after spending ages getting it in the driveway and trying to get it in the right spot gave up and took it up to the in-laws place for now to store it. Extremely happy at how the Prado towed it.
 
S

SPARKI

New Member
Mar 3, 2012
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Kooralbyn Qld
gspy4u said:
View attachment 7693

Well picked it up yesterday and after spending ages getting it in the driveway and trying to get it in the right spot gave up and took it up to the in-laws place for now to store it. Extremely happy at how the Prado towed it.
Click to expand...

Hi, we pick our new 17;56;2 in 2-3 weeks....We will be towing it with a 2011 FJ Cruiser...was wondering if you guys towed with or without the Hayman Reece stabilizer bars.....have you upgraded your suspension?

Thanks
Grant
 
gspy4u

gspy4u

Active Member
Apr 27, 2012
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Ipswich
SPARKI said:
Hi, we pick our new 17;56;2 in 2-3 weeks....We will be towing it with a 2011 FJ Cruiser...was wondering if you guys towed with or without the Hayman Reece stabilizer bars.....have you upgraded your suspension?

Thanks
Grant
Click to expand...

Yes towed it with standard suspension and it drives fine. No wobbles, no buffeting when semis pass or bad roads. yes it did drop the prado some and raised the front a little but not that much.
Have now upgraded the suspension (we were going to anyway) and it's heaps better. Front and rear almost level, van level, front only raises about 5 - 10mm so very happy with that. I guess it all depends on how you load the van as well.

Not convinced we need wdh as the van is well balanced.
 
Cougz & Aj

Cougz & Aj

Member
Nov 14, 2011
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Adelaide
Im also looking at a Prado to use as a tow vehicle. But im thinking that and the FJ would be right on the knocker for gvm to tow that van. (have the same van). Whats the tow mass on a Fj as the vans gvm is 25-2700kg from memory.

The Prados only have 2500kg towing mass and thats whats holding me back from purchasing it.

while on the subject what sort of milage you getting from it towing.

Thanks

Lindsay
 
gspy4u

gspy4u

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Apr 27, 2012
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Ipswich
FJ only has a 2250kg towing I think so that may be an issue and having a tiny 72 ltr fuel tank won't help you with and kind of distances.

If you can get a 3 door 150 series Prado they are up to the 3000kg for those.

Our van comes in as 2350 ATM. So it's not a problem for the Prado. Basically if you don't go to a dual cab like BT50, Isuzu Dmax, Ford Ranger etc you are limited in what you can get to 3000kg towing.

We wanted an 18.57-6 OB to start with but it's just too heavy and each year they seem to make them heavier.

The thing with our Prado, being a D4D diesel we normally average get 9-10 ltrs/100k all the time without anything and have never seen it go over 13/100 with our 2tn boat. Yet to know about the van, should know after this weekend as we are doing a short 3 day trip to try it out but i would guess 15 would be the most unless I'm really pushing it. Shall see. And with 180ltr fuel tanks no probs about running out of fuel.
 
gspy4u

gspy4u

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Apr 27, 2012
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Ipswich
Well just got back, 1038klm's all up, 300 without the van all the rest with the van. Most was up and down mountains and back roads with highway speeds and suburban traffic and speeds. Sat on or just above speed limit, overtaking when needed and had no dramas at all.
Yes you know it's behind you but unless it's a steep long hill it doesn't bother yo at all. Totally surprised how well the Prado and the Van went to be honest.

Used 144ltrs for 1038k's so that's around 13.9 ltrs/100 so am also very happy with that. Both the wife and I are not gentle drivers and I couldn't be bothered sitting on 90kph. Would of saved fuel of course but couldn't be bothered.

Van went really well apart from the new drinking water hose made all the water taste like it was plastic, yuck can still taste it. Ended up just buying same bottled water for the kids drinks and used that. Oh and will avoid the miss's washing fatty stuff from the barbie down the sink as it solidifies in the end of the waste hose. Newbie mistake I guess.

Kids had a ball, now just have to wait till June for our Cairns trip.
View attachment 7791View attachment 7792
 
zerosecta

zerosecta

Active Member
Sep 27, 2011
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Melbourne
Nice work on the van mate, Glad to hear your prado handles her well,

I got a 150series 5 door v6 petrol and I will be very supprised is I get anything under 19ltr/100 towing, this would be from what I was getting towing a loaded swan outback camper trailer, that said, anyone thinking about getting an fj to use as a tow vehicle better have deep pockets and always make sure there is a petrol station nearby given they don't have the long range tanks that the 150's have..

I am still on standard suspension so just sticking a set of airbags in this coming week for when we pick up our van on the 29th

Happy travels mate
 
G

Geoff

Member
Mar 29, 2012
42
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Ipswich, QLD
Great to see another Ipswich expanda owner, and a 17-56.2 as well.
Pleased to hear your trip went well. Btw, I would still consider the wdh. I use the HR hitch and found it worked a treat when I had the patrol. Spreads the load over the 4 wheels instead of just the rear suspension.
Go for a B.E.S.T filter, easy to connect and same clean taste in water wherever you are.
 
gspy4u

gspy4u

Active Member
Apr 27, 2012
235
112
43
Ipswich
Was a bunnings Food Grade water hose, light blue in colour and absolute crap taste. Will be going to the Van show in june and pick up a new hose as well as other goodies.
 
expanda

expanda

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Dec 22, 2009
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Trick with the hose.....

Fill the hose up with hot water, cap each end of or hang each end up so the water can't get out and let it sit till cool.

Rinse and do it a couple more times.

If you want to get rid it of quicker chuck some bicarb in.

Should fix it up....
 
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