Towing with a Prado - factory suspension OK?
- Thread starter InnerCityBoy
- Start date
Hey @InnerCityBoy agree with the above we tow a 17:56-2 OB with a Prado 150 3.0L have done heaps of stuff to it but for a trip on the school holidays you will be fine.
Not sure if someone has mentioned already but if you are hiring it you can also usually hire a WDH (Weight Distribution Hitch) which can level it out a bit more if you are concerned, also have you got a brake controller fitted as you will need one of these, I know some places have portable ones (I think)
Good luck with the towing and the Expanda, I am sure you will enjoy the freedom and extra space it can provide over the tent etc
Not sure if someone has mentioned already but if you are hiring it you can also usually hire a WDH (Weight Distribution Hitch) which can level it out a bit more if you are concerned, also have you got a brake controller fitted as you will need one of these, I know some places have portable ones (I think)
Good luck with the towing and the Expanda, I am sure you will enjoy the freedom and extra space it can provide over the tent etc
Hi all
Thought I'd let you know how I went in case it helps anyone else. With the factory suspension the Prado sat low but not too low to be a problem ... have uploaded a picture. The ball weight of this particular Expanda was just over 180 kg.
I didn't have this problem but on reflection I had already inverted my towbar (ie. to raise the towball for my camper trailer) and the Expanda I had was an Outback model which has a raised tow height over the standard model. Perhaps the combination of this helped work for me.
Cheers - ICB
Thought I'd let you know how I went in case it helps anyone else. With the factory suspension the Prado sat low but not too low to be a problem ... have uploaded a picture. The ball weight of this particular Expanda was just over 180 kg.
I didn't have this problem but on reflection I had already inverted my towbar (ie. to raise the towball for my camper trailer) and the Expanda I had was an Outback model which has a raised tow height over the standard model. Perhaps the combination of this helped work for me.
Cheers - ICB
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Thanks burnsie. Interesting to see you're towing a 17-footer with your Prado, when we went to the caravan show (Rosehill, Sydney) in April the Jayco rep told us the 17-foot Expanda was not an option based on the Prado's 2.5 tonne tow limit. That said I have seen a number of 17-footers being towed by Prados so I'm guessing you just watch how much you pack in to the van.
Comic genius :biggrin-26:
You have summarised the differences well, bigcol. I have to say I was both impressed and slightly disappointed with the Expanda ... loved the extra storage, big fridge, oven, quicker set-up and being able to jump in to the van for quick road-side stops. But the beds were the biggest let-down, they were uncomfortable for the person (ie. me) who got relegated to sleeping on the side with the fold, you had to unmake / remake them and the overall time to open / unfold / make took about as long as pulling out the beds in the Swan. And although it towed well, the extra weight, drag and wobbling about was very noticeable for the driver (ie. me) compared to the Swan which towed like a dream (but admittedly had a Trigg hitch and independent suspension vs. standard ball and leaf springs).
Overall my wife and I enjoyed the Expanda experience, but if I was to do a touring holiday in a van of this size again I think I'd probably look for a StarCraft pop-top to save even more on the set-up time ... or have I just committed blasphemy
ahhhhh, see now this is where experience with the expanda helps me @InnerCityBoy
our beds are pre-made before we leave home, the quilt is folded and lays between the mattress and the edge of the bed (tent side - not open side)
when we pull up
pop the bed out - put in the centre bar
undo the 2 clips holding the mattress to the base
fold over 1/3 mattress
roll quilt over
beds made
I would post a piccie (as I always ask for them) but its dark and cold outside
our beds are pre-made before we leave home, the quilt is folded and lays between the mattress and the edge of the bed (tent side - not open side)
when we pull up
pop the bed out - put in the centre bar
undo the 2 clips holding the mattress to the base
fold over 1/3 mattress
roll quilt over
beds made
I would post a piccie (as I always ask for them) but its dark and cold outside
there was a thread a far while ago (I dont recall who's build up it was in.......she was in NSW I remember, and they had to park the van out side on a small street, about all I can remember, but she was a very busy person with the mods they did )
they modified the beds so there was not the 2 thickness mattress - raised the top of the cupboard underneath
and got a 2 piece mattress from a bedding place
a job I am still to scare to tackle just yet
they modified the beds so there was not the 2 thickness mattress - raised the top of the cupboard underneath
and got a 2 piece mattress from a bedding place
a job I am still to scare to tackle just yet
sure am,
havent got out of my Jammies since this morning
plus I would have to find the keys for the Van
open the lid
put the bed down
take a photo or 2
put the bed back up
close the lid
lock the van
and com back,
then
find the plug for the phone to computer
download the picture
hunt for it in downloaded folder
post it
way too much effort at this time of night I am afraid
Good memory @bigcol ... we did do the bed mod and it was the best thing we did. It was really quite simple (for Baz)!!!
I remembered I had written it down with the pic's that Lara and yourselves had done it
my father was going to help me do this Mod
- but he passed away unfortunately -
as he knew, I am to wood like Andres Segovia is to house painting
I will attempt it one day
sorry for the Hijack, but
for @MDS69 ,I was out in the cool this morning getting the Van ready for next weekends sojourn with the Great Australian Camp Oven Cookup
http://www.campovencookup.com.au/
I know some of you guys had a small shot at it with your Qld meetup - good on you guys
have to try again this weekend coming
any how as you can see, even with the mattress toppers and such, it still folds, and the dooner is at the back
for @MDS69 ,I was out in the cool this morning getting the Van ready for next weekends sojourn with the Great Australian Camp Oven Cookup
http://www.campovencookup.com.au/
I know some of you guys had a small shot at it with your Qld meetup - good on you guys
have to try again this weekend coming
any how as you can see, even with the mattress toppers and such, it still folds, and the dooner is at the back
We had a 2013 prado towing a 17 ft expanda and we ran a weight distribution hitch . It really helped with rear sag and to level up . Cheers
Hi,
We tow a 16.49-3 OB with a 2012 Prado 150 TD3.0. First few outings were only short(ish) at around 500km round trip, and while it towed with ease, but I found it wallowed a little on bumpy roads with the standard suspension. I put a set of airbags in the rear and it is greatly improved, and does feel much safer. We don't use a WDH with the airbags, but I have no doubt they would help if you're not up to putting in a set of airbags.
I also did the bed/mattress mod and now have a 50/50 split, single thickness mattress and it has made a massive difference to our sleep. I had the mattress made by the same company that supply the mattresses to Jayco, even has the Jayco name on the fabric
BR Paul
We tow a 16.49-3 OB with a 2012 Prado 150 TD3.0. First few outings were only short(ish) at around 500km round trip, and while it towed with ease, but I found it wallowed a little on bumpy roads with the standard suspension. I put a set of airbags in the rear and it is greatly improved, and does feel much safer. We don't use a WDH with the airbags, but I have no doubt they would help if you're not up to putting in a set of airbags.
I also did the bed/mattress mod and now have a 50/50 split, single thickness mattress and it has made a massive difference to our sleep. I had the mattress made by the same company that supply the mattresses to Jayco, even has the Jayco name on the fabric
BR Paul