Thread: D4 3.0 TDV6 Caravan Towing

I have a friend who used to own a 3.0 D4 and towed an 18” Urban Extreme off-road van. His feedback is that he found the car very capable but he noticed that the van used to get a converging sway up when he got passed by road trains. He’s full time touring so he bought a 1500 Ram and hasn’t noticed any sway now. He feels much safer and feels that the extra money for the Ram was worth it

Originally Posted by DIS4

Greetings! I'm contemplating the purchase of a 22'6 offroad caravan weight at 2950 kg, along with two water tanks add nearly 200 kg. This would leave me with a payload of 350 kg on the van, within the 3500 kg towing limit. While I've previously towed using the capable D4 3.0, I'm uncertain about its suitability for long-range touring, particularly on corrugated and dirt roads. I'd appreciate hearing about your experiences with towing a 3.5-ton fully load over extended distances. Be mindful that my D4 already has a bull bar, roof rack, and long-range tank, further reducing its towing capacity with GCM 6740. Although the caravan is designed for off-road use, I don't plan on tackling difficult tracks, except for the Gibb River, and I'm open to leaving the caravan at a camping ground in Cape York if necessary. Additionally, I'd like to inquire about your experiences with the air suspension and any potential performance restrictions imposed by the ECU. I do have an IIDTool diagnostic tool with me, but it has occasionally left me unsure about embarking on outback tours with a fully loaded caravan.

Cheers,

Gary

We are in the process of selling our 3.5T Royal Flair Piazza with independent suspension and hence slightly lifted, so a semi off road.
We have done the Great Central Road and Dampier Archipelago using our D4 - and also quite a few single bitumen lane Queensland cattle roads.

The best bit was fitting antisway (ALKO in our case). Can't speak about the Ram, but we were pretty happy with the D4 (basically unmodified/unaccessoryised) performance - especially after initially towing with a slightly modified D2a.

Having said all that I usually drove well below the speed limit and always with an eye to the prevailing road conditions (ex truck/bus driver, so hopefully had some clue as to what i was doing).

I have an MY13 D4 TDV6 but with the "Cambo Tune" which gives it more hp and torque. I regularly tow a 21ft JB Dreamline c/van which weighs 2,960 kg with full water and gas.
Nudges just over 3.0T with the 2 electric mountain bikes and food/clothing etc.

The van is fitted with ALKO anti-sway, but possibly has never engaged as the air suspension of the car ensures a nice ride and correct levelling once I got the initial level/towball height correct.

The D4 does it easily and very comfortably. Last time I checked it returned 15.1 lphk with the van.

In two weeks time I'll be heading to Cairns from Tas, for 9 weeks on the mainland, and the first day is planned to take us at least from Geelong to Junee and more likely further which will be around 700 klms. I have to be in Airlie Beach on June 30th.

Couldn't do that in my old 2004 GXL turbo diesel L/cruiser as I'd never be able to get out of the car due to chronic back stiffness. Toyota seats/seating position/ergonomics are rubbish.

186,000 k's on the clock and no failures/breakdowns, although I have replaced some items for preventative failure reasons. (Inlet manifolds, oil cooler/filter assy and rotary gear selector). Never uses a drop of engine oil between 8-10,000 klm services.

Simple: Load it properly and Send It.

It’ll be perfect, better than the other vehicles in this class.
Certainly no less reliable. See plenty of the “best” being recovered, especially as they get a few years on them.

Dis4, is the 2950 the ATM? Because that is the limiting factor into what your van can weigh, not the car towing capacity.
That being said, I tow 2.5 ton Jayco Sterling with my D4 and it does it easily.
Also, I'd tow it anywhere, within reason ie. not along the Tele Track, even though it is not classified as off road or semi off road. For instance its been to most of the classic places via corrugated roads without major issue.
Just be sensible. For instance, when we went to Cape York we left the van at Bramwell Station and did the rest by car camping. Not because the van couldn't handle it, but because it would have been impossible to visit some of the best places, ie Tele Track.
But, personally I believe what my old man told me. Don't tow anything that weighs more than the tug!
For a 3.5 ton van, get a truck or a yank tank, but preferably, get a lighter van.

Regards
Trevor

As above i'd reconsider the size/weight of the van so you have some room to move with gear or passengers etc.
Personally i wouldn't want anything heavier than 2.5T.

Originally Posted by ytt105

Dis4, is the 2950 the ATM? Because that is the limiting factor into what your van can weigh, not the car towing capacity.
That being said, I tow 2.5 ton Jayco Sterling with my D4 and it does it easily.
Also, I'd tow it anywhere, within reason ie. not along the Tele Track, even though it is not classified as off road or semi off road. For instance its been to most of the classic places via corrugated roads without major issue.
Just be sensible. For instance, when we went to Cape York we left the van at Bramwell Station and did the rest by car camping. Not because the van couldn't handle it, but because it would have been impossible to visit some of the best places, ie Tele Track.
But, personally I believe what my old man told me. Don't tow anything that weighs more than the tug!
For a 3.5 ton van, get a truck or a yank tank, but preferably, get a lighter van.

Regards
Trevor

Hi, Trevor. 2950 is tare weight, 3.5t ATM. However, it will have to add up 3 water tanks up to 250kg. I know D4 is capable, but don't like to push to its limit, I will do the same to leave the van behind and allow me to visit those challenged tracks. Getting a yank truck, but less place you can go as well.

Originally Posted by Discodicky

I have an MY13 D4 TDV6 but with the "Cambo Tune" which gives it more hp and torque. I regularly tow a 21ft JB Dreamline c/van which weighs 2,960 kg with full water and gas.
Nudges just over 3.0T with the 2 electric mountain bikes and food/clothing etc.

The van is fitted with ALKO anti-sway, but possibly has never engaged as the air suspension of the car ensures a nice ride and correct levelling once I got the initial level/towball height correct.

The D4 does it easily and very comfortably. Last time I checked it returned 15.1 lphk with the van.

In two weeks time I'll be heading to Cairns from Tas, for 9 weeks on the mainland, and the first day is planned to take us at least from Geelong to Junee and more likely further which will be around 700 klms. I have to be in Airlie Beach on June 30th.

Couldn't do that in my old 2004 GXL turbo diesel L/cruiser as I'd never be able to get out of the car due to chronic back stiffness. Toyota seats/seating position/ergonomics are rubbish.

186,000 k's on the clock and no failures/breakdowns, although I have replaced some items for preventative failure reasons. (Inlet manifolds, oil cooler/filter assy and rotary gear selector). Never uses a drop of engine oil between 8-10,000 klm services.

Good to see D4 performing well and providing the comfort that other vehicles like the Land Cruiser lack. I'm familiar with the issues related to sensors and ECU faults, as I personally experienced them as we had been on the tow truck from the border track, SA back to Melbourne due to restricted performance at the early ownership. At one point, I was considering selling it, but thanks to the iidtool, my vehicle was salvaged for now. Here's to hoping we can enjoy many more years together.