Towing

WE ARE thinking of changing to a Toyota Hilux or Nissan Navara 3.0-litre turbo-diesel. Would you suggest an auto or manual, and what consumption can we expect? We intend touring with a caravan and want the most economical method.

WHEN I proposed towing a caravan with my automatic Jackaroo I wrote to Holden asking about supplementary oil cooling. They told me it wasn't necessary and I've since towed for 40,000km out of a total 185,000km with no problems. I was told by my mechanic that to fit an extra oil cooler could affect the operation of the engine computer. Is there a rule of thumb about when an extra transmission or engine oil cooler is advisable? Do manufacturers make these coolers?

I'm a lawn-mowing contractor looking to buy a diesel ute to tow a trailer six days a week. My budget is $35,000. Would you recommend a two-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive?

WE OWN a 2001 V6 Ford Escape which we use to tow a caravan with a tare weight of 1080kg. Though it pulls quite well on the flat, it struggles on hills. We are going on a trip around Australia soon. Do you think we will make it without trouble?

Try as we might — and we did try — we couldn't shake the deceptively comfortable home-away-from-home camper trailer we'd hitched to our wagon, a 100 Series Toyota LandCruiser.The heavy-duty offroad camper-trailer is the ultimate camp follower, as tough as the full-blooded four-wheel-drives it's designed to follow — maybe tougher, if our test at the Melbourne 4x4 Training and Proving Ground at Werribee is anything to go by.John Spence, of Geelong Prestige Jayco, looks a little nervous as he descends into the Valley of Mechanical Death, his spotless Jayco Flamingo Outback in tow.Pop-up camper trailers are the lightweight convertibles of the caravan world. Only slightly bigger than a trailer, they become full-sized caravans when set up. Creature comforts are impressive: fridge, four-burner stove, sink, microwave oven, fold-up mini-wardrobe, sleeping room for seven.There is an Outback version of all Jayco camper trailers — whether Doves, Hawks, Eagles or Swans. They have extra protection underneath, heavy-duty suspension, electric brakes and a 250mm higher ride.The kit adds 90kg, bringing the Flamingo up to a still trim 1120kg.Proving ground chief instructor Rob Emmins is impressed."There's strength where you need it and decent shock absorbers, which is important," he says.Emmins is happy with the ride height, too: "You need clearance but you can't have them too high or they get unstable. This one is pretty good."The Werribee River is the first obstacle. We nervously take the 'Cruiser through the water and scramble up the bank. The Flamingo follows faithfully. We then do a quick lap (the camper trailer doesn't help in a tight turning circle), then splash through again.Emmins chuckles. "You did it the hardest way possible, really."A good start, but now it's test two: the formidible Suspension Twister. Spence looks anxious.The Twister, or articulation test, is a series of deep ruts — first left, then right — designed to belt the heck out of the shock absorbers. Metal bangs earth as we enter. But it's the 4WD bottoming out, not the Flamingo. Spence owns the LandCruiser. He doesn't look happy.Further in there's another bang, this time on the other side of the 'Cruiser as it lurches right. The Flamingo is on an awkward angle, but otherwise handles the whole test with ease.After crunching our way through, we think about doing it again.Spence says he's happy to, but the look on his face says otherwise. We proceed to test three instead — a scramble up a steep slope, complete with wet, greasy logs.We get halfway, but hit our limit. Wheels spin, the diesel engine grumbles, but we go nowhere.Is the extra weight the problem?Emmins says it would be a tough task even without towing. "It's simply too slippery."We give up and go back down.Overall, Emmins is happy to give the Flamingo a tick, and so are we. Anywhere we're likely to want to go, the Flamingo will happily wing its way too.The Jayco Flamingo Outback, from $22,500, will be at the Melbourne Caravan, Camping and Touring Supershow.

IN THE past it was suggested that when towing you should always use a lower gear to avoid premature failure of the car's gearbox. But it now seems it's considered better to use a higher gear. My outfit consists of an H6 Subaru Outback towing a Jayco camper trailer with a loaded weight of about 1000kg. What is your view?

Grey nomads and other motoring travellers are choosing to change their destination rather than the type of rig they tow or tow with, according to Recreational Vehicle Manufacturers Association of Australia (RVMAA) president Tony Bellamy.He says the previous petrol crisis in the 1970s did enormous damage to the recreational vehicle industry, but that is yet to happen this time."We won't know for certain the effect of high prices on trip length until next season, but the industry guess is that people who used to go all the way up to Cairns might be going only as far as Townsville," Bellamy says. "The fuel situation isn't deterring people from going north, but how far north."There's some evidence that travellers are thinking differently, but the reality is petrol might cost $50 extra for a trip and that's not a lot really."Anyway, a lot of RVs (recreational vehicles) such as motor homes and a lot of towing vehicles run on diesel and gas."Last year sales of small cars increased while sales of largercars and some four-wheel-drives declined.But industry spokesman Norman Faye says 4WDs and traditional Aussie sixes and V8s are still favoured for most towing duties."Towing does increase fuel consumption but a new four-wheel-drive is more efficient than a big six of 30 years ago," Faye says."Some people are looking at alternatives, but for practical reasons they usually look at diesel or gas instead of changing the type of vehicle."It's levelled out at 50-50 between 4WDs and six-cylinder Australian sedans/station wagons."One of the reasons for that has been the growth of the 4WDs as a suburban vehicle, but a lot of people don't realise they don't need a 4WD to tow trailers of less than 7m. A properly fitted-out six-cylinder vehicle is perfectly capable."By properly fitted-out, I mean with a level-ride (weight distribution hitches) and anti-sway devices, which cost $500-$750 to fit."A lot of caravans are streamlined and, with a pop-top and a 4WD, or a camper trailer and a sedan, the air is just going over the top, so it's not that inefficient."The RVMAA supports gas conversion as a good alternative for those who do long-distance touring because there is no loss of torque using gas and it can pay for itself in only a couple of years." THE HIT PARADEThe pop-top caravan is top of the pops. Tony Bellamy says the pop-top is a hit mainly because it fits under a carport or in a garage."Full caravans are mainly for couples doing the long trip."Camper trailers suit families because the sleeping area outside the main superstructure makes a larger living area."But the popularity of pop-tops is universal," Bellamy says.

I AM considering buying a Ford Explorer to tow a 1600kg caravan around Australia next year. I won't be going off-road with the caravan, but will be doing some trips off-road. I'd be interested to know if the Explorer has any problems.

It generates more than the usual amount of caravan traffic to destinations further north.Caravans have made a big comeback as a means for people, many of them retirees, to do "the big trip" or to escape the winter chill.Towing a caravan has a number of advantages including being able to unhitch the tow vehicle for transport when you arrive at your destination.And modern 'vans are like a five-star hotel room on wheels.But towing a 'van demands a different mindset and a different driving technique compared to simply driving a car and there is also more to take care of in maintenance terms."Patience" is arguably the key word when you are talking about towing a 'van.But before you hit the road and leave all us plebs to freeze, the 'van, in particular the tyres, need a thorough inspection.Chances are the 'van has been sitting around unused for six or more months and the tyres could have developed a flat spot or the rubber perished.If that's the case, the tyre could fail out in some remote location, just where you don't need the grief.Caravan tyres have thicker plies than passenger car tyres and are more susceptible to flat spotting if left in the one place for a long time.There are different tyres for different 'van applications, too, so if you haven't been all that fastidious and didn't put the van on blocks with the wheels and tyres protected, take the wheels off and have the tyres professionally inspected. While they are off, it's a good time to regrease and retension the wheel bearings and also ensure the brakes work including the parking brake.It is essential to use the right type of tyres for your 'van specifically, its weight and size. Weight is definitely the biggest issue for motorists who own caravans.A caravan manufacturer will supply the tare weight of the caravan, but with extras like the gas bottle, topped up water tanks, the bike and everything else packed aboard, it may add another 500kg. Obviously the tyres need to be able to handle this weight.Depending on the size of the caravan, tyres might have to carry loads of between 1000 and 3000kg.The easiest way to check the weight of a fully laden caravan is on a weighbridge.When the weight is determined, a certificate is issued which should be taken to your tyre centre to ensure the tyres fitted are able to carry the load and if not they can recommend an alternative.It is also highly advisable to carry a spare for the caravan so ensure it is fully inflated and in good condition.Tyre pressures can impact on the handling of the vehicle and caravan. Most tyre problems on caravans and trailers are the result of overloading, or not increasing tyre pressure to compensate for the load.

MY WIFE and I have recently retired and are looking for a four-wheel-drive to go beach fishing, tow a caravan to national parks, and to act as a general vehicle around town. We could pay up to $30,000. A 2002/3 Nissan Pathfinder or a Holden Frontera seem to be the smallest that could comfortably and safely tow a van with a weight of up to 1600kg laden. Your opinions of these vehicles would be greatly appreciated because we are novices with 4WDs.