Towing Advise Please

[My Car]

Could someone tell me what a comfortable weight would be to tow behind a RB30 VL Auto.Berlina Wagon,it has a std. tow bar and std. gear at back to my knowledge.Thanks guys.Martin

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

The towbar is rated at 1200kgs for a VL so that would be the limit. As for comfortable, it depends on what you are towing. I have towed a furniture trailer that towed better than a box trailer.

[Rhino Racing]

Towing is quite easy if you stick to a couple of basics.
1. do not exceed your rated towing capacity. You may have a towbar fitted that says that you are capable of towing 2000kgs, but that does not mean stuff all if you have a vehicle with a manufacturers recommended towing capacity oy 1200 kgs. ( do not exceed vehicle towing capacity)

2.Most importantly is ensure that the load being towed has its weight distributed correctly on the trailer. You must have more weight towards the front of the trailer (approx 60-70%) in front of the axle of the trailer. this will maintain weight on the towbar and elliminate the chance of the trailer starting to steer the car around at high speeds by giving you the "high speed sway effect" that attributes to many towing related accidents. ( eg. cars should not be loaded backwards on a car carrying trailer if they have an engine fitted!)
But i would not imagine you will be towing another car and trailer with yours as you will be exceeding its recommended capacity.

3. Any trailer with a GVM of over 750kg must have brakes.If brakes are fitted to the trailer ensure they work correctly.

4. Allow extra time to slow down due to your extra combined weight and when cornering ensure you do not allow the trailer to "cut the corner" as it will take a smaller scribed arc than the tow vehicle!

Hope all this helps! What is the weight of the item you want to trailer?
Also i would check your insurance for any exclusion clauses etc for towing.
Recently some members here have had issues with insurance companies and what is considered to be covered when towing!

[STEALTHY™]

As with above, no commodore should be towing a car trailer long distances.

I towed a VC 600k's with my VL, and didn't have a problem (was abit sketchy on the way back with nothing on the trailer)

Around the city, like to your mechanics or picking a car up, you should be fine. But you really need a large 4WD (not those sporty crap things) to tow safely.

[My Car]

Thanks guys,all is clear as to whats required and capabilities of my car when towing, you have all been very informative.Thanks again for all help. Martin

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

As with above, no commodore should be towing a car trailer long distances.

With all due respect, this statement is totally incorrect.

A Commodore with the correct towing package can tow a car trailer around Australia. A towbar with the highest rating for the car, a weight distribution hitch, a decent trailer, and a trans cooler if it is an auto, and a GTM that doesn't exceed the towbar's capacity and you will have no problem.

[STEALTHY™]

With all due respect, this statement is totally incorrect.

A Commodore with the correct towing package can tow a car trailer around Australia. A towbar with the highest rating for the car, a weight distribution hitch, a decent trailer, and a trans cooler if it is an auto, and a GTM that doesn't exceed the towbar's capacity and you will have no problem.

I'm looking from a legal side of it.

I can't remember it exactly, but the car towing needs to be a certain weight, to counter what it is towing. You are towing (with an average commodore) 1500kgs, plus 800kg or so for the trailer. Thats on top of your cars weight.


The exact requirements were in another thread (i think minux knows what they are) and if i remember correctly, no commodore was able to tow a normal running car on a trailer.

[HoldenMan7]

Hey

This may sound liek a stupid question, though when towing, someone was saying that you should use top gear, cause it stuffs something up not sure what thou, is this correct ??

This is with a VY 5 speed manual commo V6

[STEALTHY™]

never heard that before.


I personally wouldn't be wanting to put that much load on your over drive gear. I'd stick with 4th (1:1 ratio) as that will get your most torque (also the reason when doing power runs they use this gear to give an accurate measurement)

[HoldenMan7]

never heard that before.


I personally wouldn't be wanting to put that much load on your over drive gear. I'd stick with 4th (1:1 ratio) as that will get your most torque (also the reason when doing power runs they use this gear to give an accurate measurement)

ok thanks for that mate

[Bax]

I'm fairly sure my parents tow a caravan on their car that weighs around 1600-1700kg, on the car that has a rating of 1500kg's.

They were unsure if they were allowed to do this, but they got trailer brakes fitted, airbag suspension in the rear, some linkages to do with the suspension and apparently it was fine. Upgraded towbar aswell of course.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

The ratio of towing vehicle to trailer weights only applies when the manufacturer hasn't specified a capacity. If they have which GMH has, then the capacity applies as long as the trailer meets the legal requirements.

[STEALTHY™]

I see you've already had all these discussions with commodorenut, which is what i was basing my info on (he hasn't been wrong yet)

The towing capacity varies from state to state due to different laws, so even a 2100kg towbar may not allow you to tow a 2100kg trailer.

In NSW it used to be 1.5 times the tow vehicles weight (up to the towbar rating) so if you had a 1300kg commodore it could tow 1300+650 = 1950kg maximum, even if the towbar was rated at 2100kg

However, if you only had a 1600kg towbar, you could only tow up to 1600kg.

Going by that, depending on the trailers weight, you couldn't tow a commodore unless you have a heavy commodore as the tow car , such as a VT, or an earlier model Stato.

[harry3]

the rear body and floor of the VL is said to be weak, requiring a towbar that goes well forward under the floor to strengthen things,for heavy towing

Ive seen such a towbar and it had about 8 bolts on the 2 rails that went forward to the start of the rear axle tunnel
I assume this applies to all other early commodores

its said the RB30 uses a lot more fuel when towing anything as the computer over compensates for the extra work, making the mixture too rich

towing with the RB30 auto, the power mode that locks out 4th is recommended