Toyota RAV4 V6 3.5l towing Jayco Expanda

Wow, thanks. That's a fair bit to get my head around but appreciate the tips. Was going to do an RACQ towing workshop before we go too, as I've never even towed a trailer in my life! Kids are 5 and 8. thanks for the tips.

At least 165 on the ball 200 would be better

Would think 4 persons woud exceed 200kg as well

Im not fat and weigh 90kg wife is about 57. so kids would have to be light.

Yes would need a oil cooler if auto and a WDH.

Personally I think you are asking a boy to do a mans job and something bigger would make you more comfortable.

Also will only have car tyres on when LT's are much more durable but whether they make them in your size may be debatable.

Overloading will kill the thing eventually and maybe you as well should something go wrong.

Remember if overloading can be attributed to an accident your claim may be denied

Also if they have a small fuel tanks you may have problems in the north and west as it can be a long way betweeen drinks and the fuel figures can quite often be doubled when towing.

EG my Cruiser does 10.4 kpl on its own but only 5.5 when towing.

Give you a bit more to consider



So you may have to carry extra fuel Where?????

Good points.

from here... http://au.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=17333

.. snip ..
Jayco Swan weighing around 1200kg ... averaged around 17 to 18l/100ks travelling at 85km/h. Up to 19l/100 if we tried 95 to 100.
.. snip ..

Fuel tank of 60 liters does not give much range. Are you going places where fuel is hard to get?
Another problem I can see is the ball weight of the 1900kg Hayman Reece hitch is only 150kg.

I read that thread in the link and all I can say is that few of them will learn the hard way about towing in OD and overloading both car and van.

Seemed they were a rather uninformed lot.

Seems a few forgot the ball weight is part of the cars load..

Oh well

And any suggestions on WDH? this is all like learning a new language.

I would be doing a lot of research around the fuel availability in that part of the world. Some quick googling and someone rekonds 306km is the longest (who knows tho). You will have to fill up at every petrol station/road house and only travel when they are open. You will not have much leeway to do any sight seeing. A couple of jerry cans is good insurance, but... thats more weight to consider.

D

A WDH is a Weight distribution hitch and may or may not be able to be used on your vehicle.

As for fuel get a head wind in the west and fuel consumption can double from what we have suggested.

It does blow Its not the windsurfing capital of Aussie for fun.

We were coming back up to Norseman from Esperance and the side wind was so bad it pulled the van and the rear of the car across bad enough to scrub the inside of one tyre on the inside and the opposite one on the outside.
Head winds on the Nullarbor can be a real experience as well

I would say 300k a tank would be very marginal in some places even keeping speeds at no more than 90kph

Prices at roadhouses will make you cry .

We have a 145litre capacity and even then carried 40 L extra. $1.85 for diesel at Wycliffe Well and Erldunda

With your weights and lack of room it will be difficult.

lots of places well over $1.40 $1.64-70 in places.

We tried to get between larger or in fact any town without filling at roadhouses.

Eg Coober Pedy to Erldunda is about 500k Only roadhouses in between We made it with a bit to spare.

We did 55,000k and I reckon we spent $12,500 on fuel alone The trip cost AT LEAST $1 per K in total , stayed in van parks every night though.

That was for 2 only. Sightseeing some days we did in excess of 500k at Geraldton looking for wildflowers and at Kalgoorlie looking for ???? but we did it.

I would think long periods in a small vehicle will make for a most unpleasant trip and unnecessary worry as to loadings of both vehicles. Some thinking for you but a larger vehicle would be much better and safer.

Just my thoughts but others will no doubt rubbish this.

Just as an aside to this about fuel consumption.

One day when weather was bad, raining and a strong headwind we got barely 4 kpl or 25L per 100km

2 days later wind had turned around and we got nearly 7 KPL
or just over 14L per 100km

Something to be considered as well