So... what car do you guys drive when not flying?

[jb747]

@jb747

How’s the Rangie towing characteristics now that you have had some time on the road?

Did you have to install an electric brake controller and was there any issues with wiring the the trailer plug?. Was that an issue with all the Rangie electronics?

Arrived home a couple of days ago, after 9,500kms over to WA and back.

The combination of the van and Rangie was very good. Tons of power/torque. Fuel consumption for the entire trip (with only about 500 km without the van attached) came in at 11.5 lt/100km.

You will always need to install an electric brake controller (if your van is over 750 kgs). Mine is a remote Red Arc unit. All that is on the dash is a tiny rotary knob/button. I had occasion to heavily brake because of some 'roos, and it all worked as advertised.

The RRS trailer plug is a 12 pin, and the wiring of power/lights etc all just works. But, there is an issue with most European cars and vans that have LED lighting, in that the van doesn't draw enough power for the car to reliably sense it. So, you either add resistors to the lights (how handy are you electrically?)..or just buy a box that plugs in between your car and van. Mine is permanently attached to the A frame.

 

[Quickstatus]

What was your combined weight and weight on towball?.

Did the extra weight change the air suspension characteristics?

Wow at 11.5 L/100km your Cost Index must have been very low. Maybe your friendly tailwind on your way back across the Nullarbor?

 

[jb747]

What was your combined weight and weight on towball?.

I put the entire rig over a scale early in the journey. Car and van separated.

RRS was 1200kg on the front axle, and 1220 at the rear.

Van has a ball weight of 80kg, and an overall weight of 1820 (with the load we took). So, overall, 3240kg.

Did the extra weight change the air suspension characteristics?

Nope. It would just jack itself back to normal height. 80kgs isn't much load, given that the limit is over 300kg.

Wow at 11.5 L/100km your Cost Index must have been very low. Maybe your friendly tailwind on your way back across the Nullarbor?

I understand the rules of drag. Don't drive fast. 90 kph worked just fine. 100 kph would give in the order of 25% more aerodynamic drag. Let the idiots find the kangaroos.....

We had one day with strong headwind, and one with strong tail, but mostly it was crosswind. Consumption in both directions was pretty similar.

It was amusing talking to Toyota owners, who would generally lead with a smart cough comment about the RRS. Just had to ask their consumption.

The number of vehicles towing vans that were above their legal limit was astounding. Why that isn't policed, I don't understand.

 

[tgh]

Brilliant consumption (by a thoughtful driver) that may just trump a similarly loaded eg.
Tonka-t owners have an image to maintain and probably burn a lot of fuel with the right foot in the process.

I have load boxes on all the trailers from the old eg.
The new truck is loaded with led's and the trailer pack may not need the resistors

O/t .. but I remain extremely happy with my Wolfsburg Touareg… understated excellence...

 

[Quickstatus]

O/t .. but I remain extremely happy with my Wolfsburg Touareg… understated excellence...

You have a hideous PIUY (pump it up yourself) bright orange coloured spare in the back...

 

[Quickstatus]

I put the entire rig over a scale early in the journey. Car and van separated.

RRS was 1200kg on the front axle, and 1220 at the rear.

Van has a ball weight of 80kg, and an overall weight of 1820 (with the load we took). So, overall, 3240kg.



Nope. It would just jack itself back to normal height. 80kgs isn't much load, given that the limit is over 300kg.



I understand the rules of drag. Don't drive fast. 90 kph worked just fine. 100 kph would give in the order of 25% more aerodynamic drag. Let the idiots find the kangaroos.....

We had one day with strong headwind, and one with strong tail, but mostly it was crosswind. Consumption in both directions was pretty similar.

It was amusing talking to Toyota owners, who would generally lead with a smart **** comment about the RRS. Just had to ask their consumption.

The number of vehicles towing vans that were above their legal limit was astounding. Why that isn't policed, I don't understand.

My LC200 weighs 3000kg, evenly divided between both axles (due to ladder truck frame) The horse float and 3 horses come to 3300kg (weighbridge) with 300kg on towball. This technically leaves 200kg before hitting max vehicle weight. It does not leave much room for driver, passenger, luggage and fuel in the car.
Last trip I got 19L/100 km diesel between Sydney and Wagga @80km/h


It’s interesting you don’t much weight on towball. Some pundits recommend 10% of trailer weight on towball apparently because it it’s best compromise with stability.

 

[tgh]

You have a hideous PIUY (pump it up yourself) bright orange coloured spare in the back...

Indeed.. and in 11 years of owning these things, it has been used.. once..
I did intend to buy a set of 17's with toyota style tyres with the new truck , but I haven't because the need is not there.
I expected the low profile tyres to be a pain , but it handles like it's on rails and that will do.
IF.. ( and it's a big IF) I started regularly hauling nags again , I would just add a fast repair kit AND if going inland a spare eg tyre and rim on the float.

Towball weight and towed mass are a retirees mcas, as the issue of balance doesn't mater until you need it and then it's too late

 

[Quickstatus]

Have you had a look at the new Toureg @tgh

 

[tgh]

Have you had a look at the new Toureg @tgh

Not in the flesh, but as I keep my cars for at least 5 years it's academic.
I suspect that it isn't really any better dynamically although the old cars archaic electronics needed an update.
It's quicker to use the phone to navigate around town in mine as the nav is very slow and clunky to initialise
Wonder if it still has a 240v outlet like mine...
My truck feels a bit lazy to drive and only comes to life in sport ; the new model will get an update in a year or two to 250kw which would be nice….

 

[JessicaTam]

It’s interesting you don’t much weight on towball. Some pundits recommend 10% of trailer weight on towball apparently because it it’s best compromise with stability.

10% is the max allowable I believe. A bit tricky on a horse float, but if you can get that down you will take some strain off the rear suspension of the LC and help your handling. I.e. move some weight back behind the rear axle of the trailer.

 

[Aus ATC]

Again, somewhat late to the party - we currently we have a VW Golf Mk 6 2.0 Diesel, a Merc B200, and a Suzuki Bandit 1200S. History will show me with a somewhat more (modest) eclectic collection including a Mini Cooper S (a real one), Mini Moke (with Cooper S mechanicals), Holden HZ Premier 5.0l, Mazda RX5 and a Falcon XR6 Turbo (I won't mention the less interesting ones along the way). Quite happy with the current selection - travel keeps us from upgrading too far.

 

[CaptainPersia]

a 2016 BMW X1, and I really love this car!

 

[Quickstatus]

10% is the max allowable I believe. A bit tricky on a horse float, but if you can get that down you will take some strain off the rear suspension of the LC and help your handling. I.e. move some weight back behind the rear axle of the trailer.

It’s seems to be less stable with that scenario.
(3 horse angle float - the middle horse is directly over the dual axles)
Tare is 1200kg /TB80kg
The big horse goes in front and the 2 smaller ponies behind.
With this combo it’s 3300kg and TB300kg and rides very well
With big horse in the middle TB reduces to 280kg and 250kg if the big guy is at the back.
(The weighbridge guy thought I was a crazy horse person)

I find that the ride is less comfortable with anything less than 300kg. The landcruiser also has trailer sway control and it has activated on a couple of occasions when I was experimenting with anything less than 300kg at the TB with that loading config.

In any case the Max TB is 350kg on the LC200

I have added airbags to the springs for this situation so the LC200 does not sag.

It’s critical in a Float and perhaps any towing situation to have the Moment arm as short as possible when in an emergency situation. Can’t change the length of float and A-Frame but can adjust the mass so more of it is in front of the dual axles.
The other way to reduce the Moment is to travel like an L plater so that any angular acceleration caused by braking is minimised

 

[tgh]

Horses are a live load, like built in sway generators , so the greater towbar weight tends to damp it out a bit.
Minimising ball weight is a new age feature to facilitate lighter build vehicles and a Cruiser remains the heavy weight champ as a towmaster.

 

[Quickstatus]

I’ve seen some “SUV” with ridiculously low max TB weights but very high towing weight. They won’t do for serious towing. I reckon it’s a bit misleading

The Rangies vary between 300-350 depending on the model.

The downside with a 350kg towball weight is that that weight eats into the payload that can be legally carried.

Lc200 = 3000kg but with full fuel tanks
Add Tb 350kg
= 3350kg = GVM
This means the driver weight cannot legally be added. Or the driver can get in but with no fuel.

My LC200 was purchased with additional suspension (airbags) which allowed a GVM increase on the rego (via an engineering certificate) otherwise no one can drive the vehicle.

Yes @tgh the big horse does not like to travel in a float and will periodically let us know his feelings by kicking the float. It shudders down the A Frame, up the towball and into the car

 

[Drakecula]

We're looking to buy a new car and downsize at the same time. Do you think we could try and trade in two cars for one? I'm not sure we'd have much luck selling privately, in fact one car has been up on Carsales for a month or so with only a couple of enquiries. I don't mind the Mazda 3 or the Hyundai Kona.

 

[JohnM]

I can't see why not. All you can do is put it to the dealer and see what the response is.

 

[Jurahn]

A 2001 Subaru Impreza WRX (yep, it’s the bugeye. ). I love my little car, have had her for 12 years, drove across from Perth last year when we moved to Tasmania, she passed her inspection for re-registration here with flying colours. Loves tackling the ups and downs, twists and turns of the country roads here, and still has less than 90,000km on the clock.

 

[Deleted member]

We're looking to buy a new car and downsize at the same time. Do you think we could try and trade in two cars for one? I'm not sure we'd have much luck selling privately, in fact one car has been up on Carsales for a month or so with only a couple of enquiries. I don't mind the Mazda 3 or the Hyundai Kona.

I suppose it depends upon what you have to sell / trade

 

[buenavides1]

An old BMW X3, I am happy that this car still works fine.