Caravan advice

[chook]

Hi
I was hoping some of the D2 TD5 owners out there might be able to answer a few questions in regards to caravan size, fuel economy and towing ability of a TD5 manual.

Currently I own a Cub drover 007 that has an ATM of 1200kgs and when car/camper fully loaded with kids bikes and roof top tinny I get around 13 - 15litres per 100 kms sitting on 100kmh. Love it however am getting a little tired of setting up and packing away if moving on a daily basis. The family is looking at traveling around Australia so I am now looking a buying a family off road van (nowing that I wont be able to tow it to the same places we currently go with the camper). The van size I am looking at is approx 16 - 18 foot in length and most I've looked at have an ATM of around 1600kg.

My question is from those that tow something similar what type of fuel economy can I expect (I was thinking may 15 - 18 litres per 100 km depending on how I drive). I have heard to avoid going over about 1800kg ATM as something that big will have a huge increase in fuel usage.

Next what are the pros and cons of a tandem or single axel van. I have seen a few vans within the size I am looking at made by the same company and model fitted with either of axels types.

Lastly with regards to towing a caravan am I better off towing in 4th (manual gear box) or is 5th strong enough to tow a van.
Any advice would be great as I've only every towed boat or camper trailers and given the cost of a good van I am trying to get as much info as possible.

regards
Chook

[StephenF10]

I tow a 17'6" tandem pop-top with a TD5 Disco (but it's an auto). Fuel consumption at 80-90 km/hr is 14-15 l/100km. I prefer a tandem at that size as there is less weight to carry by each tyre/wheel/bearing.

Stephen.

[harryw]

I changed from an Avan cruiseliner to a Avan Eurostar , approx 2 tonne and boxlike, and the consumption has soared to around 19L per 100 K.

Am in the middle of converting to gas infusion system which when first working gave me around 15L per 100K. long story still being resolved.

[mousie]

After upgrading from a D1 V8 towing to a TD5 2000 (sorry auto) I found with a swan outback loaded approx 1.4t that the vehicle continues to travel at similar and respectable highway speeds and locks easily into 4th, only the hills require disengaging and getting the hat on the head as opposed to reving the guts out for no real gain. I guess the point being that if I had a TD5 manual on the highway, it should be a hoot with 3, 4 and 5 on tap, but take offs I suspect will be a tad difficult. I did a 2K trip most recently sitting on the 100 but conservative on hills etc and basically I am guessing roughly the 12-13k +/- 1.5 is the ball park from most posts around here and I will agree depending on loud pedal usage.

My D1 1991 has now 233K on original clutch and gearbox with 60K of towing with my first caravan at 1200K, so 5th gear is okay so long as good oil, no abuse and don't drop it in to early and you will be fine, Discos are not that fragile. MR Automotive told me years ago never to enter 5th before 80K given failures but oops sorry guys, I still drop in early and no failures here and 60K is a lot of towing over the years as a test.

[John W]

I still have the Windsor Rapid that we went around Australia in with 3 kids. D2 TD5 Auto. This included a fair amount of dirt; Gulf track, Lawn Hill, Kakadu, Kimberley, Karijini to name a few. I think it is 13'6" but with the beds out was big enough for us.

It is tall for a pop up with off road. I just cruse it and normally let it slowly build momentum when driving but don't hesitate to pass slow traffic and full boot up hills. I would always sit on 100-110 depending on legals. Only in a really stiff head wind would slow down and keep in 3rd.

Average consumption for the trip 14 L/100k.

[John W]

Forgot to mention that the rapid is compact enough to get into quite a lot of tight spots like camp along rivers etc. You would need more than a Disco to pull some of those 3 ton monsters out up a steep hill with a loose surface.

Single or tandem will not make much difference to economy. Tandem obviously for a heavier caravan and a little less ball weight but I notice that most tandems still only have brakes on one axle.

[chook]

Thanks for the info, it gives me a little more to go on when looking at a van

regards

Chook

[Blknight.aus]

depending on how you drive and what you turn on....

IVe done not much more than normal fuel consumption with a 2t+ trailer on the back of big red. But I was doing absolutely everything known to man to eek the Ks out of it + I had a freaking great crane in front of me to help out as a mobile wind break.

even then with my green tandem on the back fully loaded (2.5t total) I still get 14-13 l/100 reliabley and can get that down if theres no rush or its a long flat straight run.

[Stue 3 doors down]

:DI just got my first LR 8 weeks ago and LOVE it. Its a 91 3 door 3.5 which has no issues other than power/ fuel usage plus it has been fully resprayed and in great cond so I dont want to sell it. My issue is towing my 16 ft caravan and long distant touring with my family (they all love it even with 3 doors). Would I be better to put in 4.4 inj (not 4.6 inj that is too expensive) motor then fit gas injection and sill tanks for petrol or fit a cummins or Mitsunishi diesel as my last cruiser had a turbo diesel which was fantastic at towing and touring but not happy with its reliability 4wding, yep I converted to the fun side. My only other realistic option is to sell my newly acquired fun toy and buy a defender with a 3.9 diesel (prefer turbo but that can be added). All advise on this would be appreciated as I havent seen a older disco look as good as mine which is why I would like to keep it due to the professional respray. I do get it very dirty and it gets used often but well loved.:cool:

[BradM]

2,500 kg van fully loaded. Any where from 15 to 25 litres a 100klms depending on headwind.

[chook]

Thanks for the input that I have received so far, another question that I was would like to throw out there is about towing in 5th gear (manual gear box). I have read somewhere along time ago that when towing larger vans/boats trailers ect it should only be done in 4th because 5th is not strong enough for the job. Any advice would be great.

Regards

Chook

[slug_burner]

I would second the advice to tow heavy stuff in 4th not 5th. If you examine the inside of the gbox, 4th goes straight through. 5th goes onto the laygear etc. I had my R380 rebuilt after it chewed the input gear and the matching gear on the laygear. When it let go I was not towing, did have a bit of a load in the vehicle but I think the damage had been done previously with the towing of a boat.