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Re: First Caravan Tow with the Exy
Dave,
Can you please post this information in the T31 suspension thread as it is quite handy indeed.
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16/Jan/2009, 6:58 pm
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Re: First Caravan Tow with the Exy
We bought our T31 in December 2008 and have recently done a trip for a week towing a 14ft pop-top at approx. 1300 kgs and returned some interesting consumption figures. Getting used to the CVT was a challenge as I find it quite different to other automatics.
As a rule we kept the speed between 80 and 90 kph and kept the tacho between 2k and 3k revs. When going uphill I didn't let it go over 3k revs and just let it find its own level. There always seemed to be plenty of power left if I wanted to go faster - even up the hills - and didn't hold up any traffic going through Yarra Glen and Yea (Vic). I used the manual shift to control the speed going downhill.
On the flat, the car settled down to around 2.2k revs and it was a very pleasant trip - the freshess of the early morning, sunroof back - you get the picture. Our fuel consumption was an impressive 12.8 l/100k.
On the return trip I decided to push the vehicle a bit harder to see what consumption I would get at a steady 90 to 100+kph on the highway. It was also very hot (above 40 deg) and the A/C was working hard to keep us cool. As expected the consumption increased but only to 15.1 l/100k.
Some observations... 1300kgs seems to be a good weight for the exy to tow; There is minimum depression on the rear suspension with the van attached without a wdh; towing at moderate speeds has a positive impact on fuel consumption; The CVT (although different) handles the towing quite well.
I share this because it may help others if considering using an exy to tow a van. I would also be interested to hear how other drivers are finding the CVT for towing.
Cheers, David
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David & Meryl
2008 XTrail (Petrol) CVT
Tow a 14ft Pop-Top
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3/Feb/2009, 8:27 am
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 Re: First Caravan Tow with the Exy
Hi, I have been towing a caravan with my exy for the last 18 months. My last trip of 3500 km's was from Adelaide to Port Stephens and Port Macquarie.Going ther traveliing 680 km's the first two days.
The extrail tow bar is rated at 1500 kg and should not be exceeded. The ball weight should be about 10% of the GTM of the caravan. My caravan weighs 1480kg when loaded up and I always get a ball weight of 150kg. I have been on many roads that are bouncy and uneven and have no troubles. If your caravan has a GTM of more than 1500kg and a ball weight of less than 150kg it will certainly bounce around.
I load heavy items into the exy so that the exy is heavier than the caravan. This stops the exy being pushed around. This apllies with all caravans and tugs.
I do not have a transmission cooler and travel with O/D off except when going down long slopes. I run with cruise control on and cruise at 90kph.
My exy is a 2005 TI with a Hayman Reece load balancer. when the car is empty the distance from the top of the front tyre to the under edge of the front guard is 72mm. When the caravan is loaded and connected to the exy and the Hayman Reece loaded this distance goes down to 70mm.
I use Shell VPower and my fuel comsuption while towing was 14.3l/100km.
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31/Mar/2009, 3:56 pm
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 Re: First Caravan Tow with the Exy
Interested to read your experiences when towing with your exy.
I have done a couple of trips between Adelaide and Streaky Bay towing an old 12ft lightweight Millard. All went well.
I have noticed that many contributors have fitted a Transmission Cooler. Before my first trip I contacted Nissan to ask about fitting a transmission cooler and was told that it was not necessary and that my exy would tow upto the maximum with no need for a cooler.
I would like to have some feedback on the topic. Where did your advive to fit a cooler come from?
Thanks
Cuts
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2/Apr/2009, 10:11 pm
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Re: First Caravan Tow with the Exy
Cuts,
Dave said that he does NOT have a transmission cooler fitted.
More on the subject of transmission coolers for the T30 model can be found HERE
Please use any of the existing transmission coller thread to post follow-up questions.
Last edited by jalalski, 2/Apr/2009, 10:19 pm
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2/Apr/2009, 10:18 pm
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Re: First Caravan Tow with the Exy
T30 Why have a transmision cooler.
As stated in my last post I have travelled many Km's with my caravan. On the trip Adelaide to Port Stephens the distance from my place is 1582Km's.
There some big hills and some very flat terrain . I went via Hay, Dubbo and the down the Hunter though Dunedoo and Jerry Plains etc. As I always travel with the overdive off the exy does not change gear unless the cruise determines the speed has dropped to much.
The first day we travelled 682Km, the second 630km and an easy 200 odd on the third day.
Transmision oil heats most when many gear changes are made. If the O.D is on there is an extra gear change between OD and drive.
On gently rolling country this can make 20 gear change in 5 to ten minutes. This will heat the transmissin oil rapidly.
With the OD off I do not need a cooler. The exy is doing about 3300 revs at 90K with OD off. My fuels consumption when towing is most pleasing.
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3/Apr/2009, 10:44 am
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Re: First Caravan Tow with the Exy
I took my T31 CVT for its first tow over easter, with interesting results. My caravan is tared at 1450, plus I had a kayak on the roof. The CVT seemed to be happy enough reving at just over 3000 rpm @ 100kph. The esky was very stable assisted by the airbags inside the rear coils I fitted and the haymanreece wd bars. Economy was a bit concerning at 20litres per 100klms @ 100kph. Slowing down to 90kph increased to 17.5 litres per hundred. I didn't try holding it manually in 6th or 5th, maybe next trip.
Through some rugged bush tracks without the caravan I managed to rip the rear edge of the rear bumper off, modification required.
Last edited by electric blue, 28/Apr/2009, 9:23 pm
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28/Apr/2009, 9:14 pm
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Re: First Caravan Tow with the Exy
Hi Electric Blue,
I have also fitted airbags (Airbagman brand) to the rear suspension along with a HR hitch to help with towing.
I have picked up my new van and only towed it 100km straight home though city traffic and freeway driving. No trips as yet. (1178kg unloaded tare weight, 150kg ball weight and would like when we load it,-to be a 1400kg ATM)
We averaged 12.4L on the trip home -your 20L sounds high compared to others in this thread. The kayak woudn't help, but that much difference?. However my van is a very low pop top which may help.
It towed well on the trip home with the airbags although when a very large truck passed us on the freeway when doing 80km/hr we experinced a fair bit of movement of both car and caravan.
So thinking of putting on a HR sway control (also as the van is quite long -5.1m and single axle)
Have you (or anyone) thought about a HR sway control device? Trying not to use a HR WD bars at this stage (as they are not recommended by Nissan- although I would really like too) is why I fitted the airbags.
Did you find the WD bars made a difference (even though you had the airbags fitted)?
Did the airbags reduce the tension of the chains of WD hitch so that it did not put as much pressure on the X Trail chassis ? (asking as T30's have had cracked chassis due to towing, while T31 has been OK so far ?-as it is much better design, but Nissan still won't support WD hitches)
David
Last edited by Bluedog53, 30/Apr/2009, 7:53 pm
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David
T31 ST CVT
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30/Apr/2009, 7:17 pm
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