P38 and camper trailer?

[Discotd5fan]

Hey guys,

How many of you tow, or have ever towed a camper trailer with your P38? How did it go? Have you towed offroad?

My wife's parents have an offroad Jayco camper which weighs approx. 1800kg when fully loaded which we will be taking away after I have brakes fitted to the P38 and just wondered what I should expect in terms of performance, economy etc.

Just can home from our first trip in rangie (only owned it for a couple of weeks) about 750km round trip to a friend's property and I am amazed at how effortlessly it cruises. We weren't towing anything though. Very happy with the fuel consumption. Prob going to be around 13ltrs per 100km but haven't filled her up yet.

Cheers

[davidsonsm]

I've towed a 2 tonne caravan with mine, the car fully loaded (4 adults, dog and baby with all paraphernalia that accompanies babies and females).

Whilst it always felt safe and in control it sure drank the fuel and could hardly be accused of being sprightly up the hills. Which is why I'd want a camper trailer to be <1500kg fully loaded.

[davidsonsm]

Why not take it for a test drive. See how it feels/goes. Assume you have brake controller fitted.

[Discotd5fan]

Forgot to add, its a 2000 4.0 S.

I haven't added a brake controller yet. Does anyone recommend a particular type? Can you put up photos of where you attached your brake controller? I have one on the hilux but its an ugly looking thing and not keen to have one the same on the P38 haha

[rc42]

We just ordered a camper trailer to be used with our P38, for a family of 4 the amount of stuff that we want to take with us for even just a couple of days away was at or above the GVM for the P38, plus loading it all in was quite a logistics exercise.

We don't do any extreme off roading and have never pushed the P38 to anything near its abilities so we're hoping that the extra drag of the trailer won't cause too many problems. It has a tare of 750Kg so will likely be no more than 1200Kg loaded.


We have the Tekonsha P3 brake controller already, it has electronic devices that detect the level of deceleration so it knows how hard you are pressing on the brakes and changes the trailer braking to match. they can be picked up from ebay for around $150, maybe less.
Brake Controllers - Tekonsha (http://www.tekonsha.com/content/products.aspx?lvl=3&parentid=0&catID=1435&part=90195)

[Hoges]

x2 for the Tekonsha P3 brake controller... excellent product. Re. towing in general... make sure your cooling system is in tip top condition. Tow with the EAS switch depressed so that it's "locked" in at normal height and don't, under any circumstances, attach those load equalising bars...they're not compatible with the EAS. It's also helpful to use the "sport" setting on the auto transmission when towing. Depending on your GVM etc, expect around 16-17.5 L/100 km. 90 -95 kmh probably a comfortable cruising speed depending on the conditions. Happy camping!!

[Keithy P38]

I'm not sure how the 4.0 goes, but I towed over 3.5t for 350km-odd today with my 4.6 Bosch, sat very comfortably at 80kmh, in fact, we slowed down as we caught up to a 100 series cruiser towing a 2t Jayco and I didn't feel comfortable overtaking when I had a fully loaded vehicle attached to me via snatch strap!

Keep the roof height as low as you can, wind drag sucks more fuel and power than weight above 80kmh.

[benji]

Drove my brothers 4.0 disco the other day. Not the torque of the 4.6, but a really sweet engine. Not an issue in the world towing that weight, especially as it'll lock up the torque convertor in 3rd.

[Discotd5fan]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I am loving owning the P38 (it's only been about a month) and can't see me ever wanting to own anything else! Yes it certainly isn't a speed machine, but I am amazed how well it cruises/accelerates effortlessly on the highway. You get out to pass someone and the speed just climbs without you noticing!!!

I can't wait to hook up the van and take it away into the bush or up the beach! Sounds like the 4.0 sounds handle it ok.

[whisky_mac]

I have just got back from a trip up to the Port Douglas and a bit beyond. When up the inland route through Roma and Charters Towers and down the coast route on return. Towed a 2005 Track Trailer Tvan. Tried to keep the revs around 2000 – 22000 and returned on average 17.5km per 100 running a 4.0 litre Gems in my poverty pack 1998 Rangie. Probably did about 7 or 8 thousand ks on the trip, have not worked it out yet.

I am not sure that the Jayco Outback are really strong enough to do hard offroad trips but that's just my opinion.

[wayneg]

x3 on the Tekonsha brake controller, mine is fitted just in front of where my right knee sits. There is a thread I started about wiring it up if you search, you have to take the trigger feed direct from the bulb area, not the brake light switch.
My trailer probably goes no more than 1000kg`s when loaded. I dont even notice its there most of the time, its only on long hills that the car changes down earlier but no loss of speed.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/08/761.jpg

[mtb_gary]

I don't tow a camper trailer, but I do tow a large (just under 2 tonne) boat. The long hills can be testing, but still return an average 17.5-18 l/100k. The car is a 1996, 4.6 HSE. As a matter of interest my company car is a current model Nissan X-Trail, it has a 2 tonne towing capacity, when towing with the X-Trail the 2.5 litre 4 cylinder petrol motor drinks around 22 l/100k! I guess by comparison, the Rangie is not that thirsty after all :o.

Also second Keithy's comment re the height. On a long trip last year removal of the roof racks to the inside the car once we had eaten our way through the food supplies managed to reduce fuel consumption by almost 2 l/100k

Gary

[Discotd5fan]

Thanks for all the details guys! Really appreciate it. I'm loving learning more and more about my rig everyday!

Whisky_Mac how heavy do you think your Tvan is?

[whisky_mac]

Thanks for all the details guys! Whisky_Mac how heavy do you think your Tvan is?Unloaded it is 750kg and should take 500kg although I doubt if I have ever had that much in it. This last trip I also had a Hobie Mirage Sport on the roof of the Rangie so 17.5 litres per 100 was not to bad.

[Discotd5fan]

Does anyone have photos of where they mounted their brake controller in their P38? If so, would you mind uploading a pic or two for me to have a look at?

Thanks

[wayneg]

Does anyone have photos of where they mounted their brake controller in their P38? If so, would you mind uploading a pic or two for me to have a look at?
Thanks

I put it there as you should be able to use the trailer brake independently of the cars brake. I can easily reach down to operate it with my right hand



https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/08/492.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/08/493.jpg

[Hoges]

Same model, same position... works well.

[benji]

Towed my hse back from melbourne with that brake controler in the classic - absolutely brilliant.