Thread: my big tow test

Just don't drive up Mt Ousley Road, I've heard Mt Ousley and D4s with trailers can be incompatible!

The trick would seem to be to tow in sport mode and definitely do not tow with cruise on - even in low load situations.

Change points etc seem to suit towing in sport mode and from my own experience and others on here I think the software to tell the engine what to do in high load situations when cruise is on is not quite right and the engine will have issues ranging from "hey I have a little issue" to "I don't like this and am going into limp mode" to 'I don't want to play and shut down".

In my experience all is fixed with a restart but others have found the errors remain.

So I would recommend to tow in sport mode, though not absolutely necessary and definitely do not tow with cruise control on.

Garry

Thanks guys, will do.

I have just been away for the weekend and towed my 18' fibreglass centre console boat loaded with bikes and luggage etc. Not sure what it weighs with trailer but would be less than a tonne I would think.

I towed in Sport mode as recommended previously. I did use CC and it seemed to drop gears perfectly on the hilly section of Sue's Road.

I would normally have 9.x l/100km when not towing and returned just over 12 for this trip of some 800km.

I was under the impression that Sport Mode did not use top gear but I am 99.9% sure it does as clicking between Sport and Normal caused no revs change at stable speed on a flat road.

At 100kmh the TDV6 revs around 1900rpm and has a lower gear for around 2200 and then another around 2600. Quite impressed at the subtle rev changes available (which you would expect with a 7 speed).

Originally Posted by PerthDisco

I was under the impression that Sport Mode did not use top gear but I am 99.9% sure it does as clicking between Sport and Normal caused no revs change at stable speed on a flat road.

At 100kmh the TDV6 revs around 1900rpm and has a lower gear for around 2200 and then another around 2600. Quite impressed at the subtle rev changes available (which you would expect with a 7 speed).

Sport mode does use top gear but it hangs onto 5th gear (7th gear) for a lot longer. Once speed and load has stabilised it changes up to 6th.

You haven't mentioned what engine/gearbox combo you have - have you a new 8 speed with 3.0l SDV6 9hence your 7 speed comment)

Garry

Sorry sorry - I might have the number of gears mixed up after reading so many forum topics talking of 7 and 8 gears. I have but the simple 2007 SE TDV6 with whatever amount of gears that has - I will reguess at 6!

Whatever, Sport does give top gear which is good to know. The CC seems to waste no time in dropping a cog or two. It's actually a lot harder to maintain the speed driving manually as the speed drop off on a hill catches you and then you plant the boot and off she goes again.

I do find the CC a handful when not towing in winding / hilly country. After a decent it will crank on the power when going up the next hill and then you find yourself flying around a bend. It really opens the throttle to keep the speed. The trailer seemed to dampen its enthusiasm just enough.

Tows beautifully and averaging around 15.5l/100 according to the dash, but will do actual Maths (receipts / kilos travelled) when I get home.

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Just don't drive up Mt Ousley Road, I've heard Mt Ousley and D4s with trailers can be incompatible!

Did you get to find out what went wrong?