Good Tow Cars?

[260DET]

Stock air intake on the Challenger, which you think would be the same on a Triton, is at the middle behind the gap under the front of the bonnet. Tried my Challenger on cruise control at 100kph, absolutely rock steady. Sequential shift is handy, auto is smooth, engine is willing but it drones at 1700rpm in a high gear which I suspect is because that is just below the best torque range. Overall, so far so good

[boxheadmr]

Stock air intake on the Challenger, which you think would be the same on a Triton, is at the middle behind the gap under the front of the bonnet. Tried my Challenger on cruise control at 100kph, absolutely rock steady. Sequential shift is handy, auto is smooth, engine is willing but it drones at 1700rpm in a high gear which I suspect is because that is just below the best torque range. Overall, so far so good

Fantastic news, have you towed with it yet.?

You might have found the best compromise tow vehicle (apart from the falcon - lol )

[260DET]

Won't be doing any towing for a while so can't comment on that. But the auto is detuned to 350nm whereas the manual is not, around 400nm I think so the auto is not going to be too spectacular. See that MRT offer a retune service to get them cracking, would bugger the warranty though for sure.

[boxheadmr]

What's the would be the amount of difference to the power to the mrt tune?

[Dale FZ1]

the auto is detuned to 350nm whereas the manual is not, around 400nm I think so the auto is not going to be too spectacular. See that MRT offer a retune service to get them cracking.

Got any plans to plumb in a decent trans cooler? Most modern multi speed autos seem programmed to shuffle down gears pretty quickly as soon as you hit a rise or hill. Generally keeps average road speed up but can increase temp loadings on the transmission while the torque converter locks/unlocks.

Interested to hear how the Challenger gets on for chassis stability and fuel consumption once you have a few towing miles under the belt.

[260DET]

It's funny there is not much mention of towing in the handbook, no mention of not using fifth gear (auto) for towing. There is some mention of using a lower gear if the coolant temp rises when going up a hill and that's about it., No tow pack option except for a towbar, no mention of an extra cooling device. Sounds like MrBitchy think that towing is no big deal. My idea would be to keep engine revs in the peak torque band whatever the terrain.

Plenty of people using Challengers for towing, from what I've read the vehicle is basically very suitable for the job, keeping in mind that there are bigger more powerful tow cars around. It's a bloody truck, it has to be able to tow

On towbars, the bloody ripoff prices around. Ended up with a Hayman Reece 3 tonne rated for ~$465, bitch of a thing to fit but a nice peice of work.

[fatz]

Ohh. Check engine light on the q7 today

Turns out some intake manifold flaps are only opening to 92%( variable intake track), which throws a check engine light

150 to fix my flaps

Lol

Flaps

[MBS206]

Ohh. Check engine light on the q7 today

Turns out some intake manifold flaps are only opening to 92%( variable intake track), which throws a check engine light

150 to fix my flaps

Lol

Flaps

Lucky it isn't the flange that died... You wouldn't be able to keep a straight face while talking to the dealer

And isn't it under warranty?

[iplen]

I would think flaps would be a regular wear and tear item, like rubber.

[Jasonr31]

Looking at either a ba or au wagon (or maybe ute) for like ~5k... what would people reccomend? A bit better condition au or an average BA? Know they're similar but hoping someone knows a bit more about fords than me...

[dampachi]

I'm looking into a holden adventura wagon as my next towcar.

Anyone had one or any idea how they are?

[mad082]

Looking at either a ba or au wagon (or maybe ute) for like ~5k... what would people reccomend? A bit better condition au or an average BA? Know they're similar but hoping someone knows a bit more about fords than me...

BA

[Hank Scorpio]

Looking at either a ba or au wagon (or maybe ute) for like ~5k... what would people reccomend? A bit better condition au or an average BA? Know they're similar but hoping someone knows a bit more about fords than me...

Just came back from a decent towing session down south in the work AU Sedan (4L, 6-Banger, 225k kms) towed my FC RX7 so nothing crazy. Ate some fuel with the weight in the back but didn't mind the trip home with only the trailer and no car on it. In saying that I wouldn't reccomend it if you wanted to tow every other weekend.

if given the limited option though I'd go the BA wagon, leaf springs will take the tow ball weight nicely and the slightly newer engine would be preferred. You also get the advantage of locking your shit in the boot and rear seats

Edited November 18, 2012 by Hank Scorpio

[NYTSKY]

Towed my 33 with a 2001 AU gas Falcon, also on board were tools, trolley jack, extra fuel and spare wheels, 400kms combined. Used one tank of gas.

Will probably replace the 180,000km old rear shocks and springs next time around for a bit of extra height.

Apart from that it did it pretty well.

[famous33]

I'm looking into a holden adventura wagon as my next towcar.

Anyone had one or any idea how they are?

my old boy bought an adventura when they first came out, the v8 model thinking itd be a good idea to tow the wakeboard boat, dirt bike trailer and camping trailer, it didnt mind the lighter trailers but it struggled with the boat, and as for the car itself, super UNcomfortable and really not all that crash hot to drive ..

my brother has a BA series 2 xr6 falcon ute, which we use to tow the new 3 bike trailer and it struggles a little up the big hills like Mt Sugarloaf but only the striaghts and small hills it tows it just fine ..

if i had a choice, i would buy a 100 series Landcruiser, we go to Fraser Island yearly and tow a fully packed camping trailer and it has no troubles what so ever, and the seats and ride quality are great, especially in the v8 auto's !!!

[boxheadmr]

Won't be doing any towing for a while so can't comment on that. But the auto is detuned to 350nm whereas the manual is not, around 400nm I think so the auto is not going to be too spectacular. See that MRT offer a retune service to get them cracking, would bugger the warranty though for sure.

What's the would be the amount of difference to the power to the mrt tune?

Was curious as to the power increase expected with the mrt tune?

[260DET]

There is some info on the MRT site but no specific power outputs mentioned, unless that has changed.

Reading the driver's manual I see that there is a auto trans overheat light which is handy. After crawling underneath it to fit a tow bar etc it is definately a truck, no doubt about that

Edited November 21, 2012 by 260DET

[260DET]

Apparently the auto trans overheating light is part of a partial shutdown system, once it is triggered it blocks the use of higher gears so I'm told. But I have not heard of anyone towing triggering the light yet.

[boxheadmr]

Might be best to add on another cooler if it starts to become an issue, I have been thinking of putting one on the falcon just for piece of mind

[260DET]

Plenty of chips around for Triton/Challenger eg Chip It http://www.ebay.com....=item43a55b3d6a

Going off the Triton dyno sheet there torque is calculated at 396nm @ 2750rpm, 216 @ 3750, at the rear wheels. Stock manual puts out about 400nm at the flywheel so say a 30% improvement over that. 520nm by my dodgy calcs, wonder if the auto box which is limited to 350nm would stand up to chip power? Might need an extra cooler for a start, 520nm is not bad for a 2.5 liter engine eh .

Edited December 7, 2012 by 260DET