Will my AU wagon be safe towing another falcon on a car trailer?

[private9]

Hi All,

I'm a bit fresh when it comes to towing, so just wondering if my AU wagon will be capable of towing another falcon on a car trailer?

It has a trans cooler fitted so that part of it is ok, but I'm more worried that the load will be too heavy for the AU. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Justin.

[Casper]

It will tow it easily so long as the trailer has brakes. Falcons were designed to tow, think of all the people cruising around with 2 tonne caravans on their annual Xmas road trips.

[LUXO_8]

the load shouldnt be too heavy, but please get a bit of experience towing before you slap a car trailer on and tow another car.......
it can be quite dangerous..

[rynostation]

just take it easy and make sure the car is attatched to the trailer VERY securely.

[GCFordChic]

Should be fine, just watch your suspension. If you feel you are sitting low on the rears when you are towing, seriously think about getting a different suspension setup. Also, dont skimp on safety, get the best brake pack on the trailer that you can afford. A good quality towpack rated for 2300kg is needed.

However, remember to check with your state roads authority as to the legality of the load you will be towing.

[smally289]

Yes, make sure you are not exceeding the towing capacity of your set up.
If its an auto, manually select 1st gear when taking off, this applies the rear band and is kinder to the trans. Do not use over drive either!

[parker]

Originally Posted by GCFordChic

However, remember to check with your state roads authority as to the legality of the load you will be towing.

Good point... I've heard there are some states that say you cant tow more weight than you are towing with, and a wagon will not weigh more than a sedan + trailer. The reason isn't about stopping, but about the ability of the trailer to start to move the tow car.

[TwistedEL]

I tried to hire a trailer to tow a falcon once and the hire place refused to lend it to me, said I needed to come back with a 4WD

[LUXO_8]

Originally Posted by TwistedEL

I tried to hire a trailer to tow a falcon once and the hire place refused to lend it to me, said I needed to come back with a 4WD

yeah?...never had that one before!

[private9]

Hmmm, I'm not quite sure about the towing capacity of the setup I've got, hadn't even thought about that. As for the trailer, I was just going to hire one from a servo, but not sure whether they'd have brakes or not.

It sounds like it might be safer for me to just drive the other car back, was just reluctant to do so as it's fitted with a mini-spool!

[TwistedEL]

I've got a 1600kg tow pack. Add the weight of the car trailer (600kg or more) and the weight of the car being towed (around 1200-1300kg?) and you easily are towing more than you should

[AU2PWR]

No Drifting wiht the Trailer in Abandoned Industrail Estates with Wrecked cars Either ,

[private9]

Originally Posted by SR_AU

No Drifting wiht the Trailer in Abandoned Industrail Estates with Wrecked cars Either ,

I'll keep that one in mind! Will be hard to avoid though with the 1500+kw I'm pulling at the wheels thanks to an exhaust, CAI and K&N LOL!

[xr8ute]

Originally Posted by TwistedEL

I tried to hire a trailer to tow a falcon once and the hire place refused to lend it to me, said I needed to come back with a 4WD

Yep, I've had that as well. Had to borrow a mates 4WD so I could go and save an old Valiant one day...

[WizBang]

If you have the heavy tow pack you wil be fine ,most places that hire car trailers should know what you can and can't do plus most of their trailers are fitted with trailer breaks if that the trailer is able to fit a falcon on .
But if you feel you have to ask ,yer maybe you should try driveing it home and have ago at towing when you have time to learn rather when you have to

[GK]

Originally Posted by SR_AU

No Drifting wiht the Trailer in Abandoned Industrail Estates with Wrecked cars Either ,

Hmmmm, I wonder what Daniel's favourite pastime is?

GK

[blackers10]

all servo car trailers should have a slip joint in the hitch thingy..

it will push back as you brake and applies the trailers brakes.. just remmeber to flick the spacer over when reverseing otherwise it applies the brakes while you reverse LOL

we have towed a few cars from sydney to brisbane on hired cartrailers..
an R31 shape pintara wagon
an XF falcon 4 speed manual
my uncles NL fairlane V8
NA fairlane I6

all managed fine
the pintara was the worst trip as the engine was blowing/blew the head gasket or somthing due to the owner driving it like a bat outta hell..

just take it easy and remember a car trailer is like 8 feet wide.. so dont cut corners!!

[kooky]

Whatever you do please place the car on the trailor properly, the amount of cars I see towing other cars where the car on the trailor is too far forward. The car towing has it's ar$e on the ground with the nose 3 feet in the air whilst they struggle to turn the nose of the car around a round about........

[Casper]

Originally Posted by kooky

Whatever you do please place the car on the trailor properly, the amount of cars I see towing other cars where the car on the trailor is too far forward. The car towing has it's ar$e on the ground with the nose 3 feet in the air whilst they struggle to turn the nose of the car around a round about........

: I like to call that "The XF Launch!" So many times I've seen it.. always makes me cringe.

[LUXO_8]

as kooky said, but i'll add.....if your car is sitting like that, your steering and braking is drastically reduced, and the whole rig will sway like mad at speed

[V8falcons]

yep .mine is my tow car bought for towing cars (mainly anyway),have towed gtrs,commodores, utes and heaps of escorts BTW,I only have a 1600kg bar and no cooler although ,I going for a 2300kg bar and cooler when one comes up.

Manuals get hot and destroy 5th gear if worked too hard from towing, hence the 1200kg tow limit.and why I sold my xr6 manual ute.

[private9]

Originally Posted by Casper

: I like to call that "The XF Launch!" So many times I've seen it.. always makes me cringe.

Ha ha, I had an XF a few years back that had that exact look! Sexy!!

[private9]

After everyone's replies, I decided to drive the car home rather than tow it - seemed like the safer bet given my limited towing experience.

As a side note, the car I bought has a mini spool fitted, and I must say I am a confident driver, but a mini spool is without a doubt the stupidest, most dangerous tight wad modification I have ever come across! Yeah it would be awesome for burnouts and circle work, but driving around on the streets it is downright dangerous.

[AWD Chaser]

Good to hear that you made a sensible desicion... I twoed back my old HZ on a car trailer in the AU with a 1600kg towpack, and lowered rear... end result:

EDIT: Note the giant concrete scrap marks near the front wheel from backing the trailer up over the kerb... lol...

[OzJavelin]

Originally Posted by TwistedEL

I tried to hire a trailer to tow a falcon once and the hire place refused to lend it to me, said I needed to come back with a 4WD

One of the latest RACV mags had a comparison of 4WD utes a few months ago .. the only one which could tow more than my AU 1-tonne (2300kg) was a Navara (2800kg) .. all the others were the same or less (eg Rodeo, etc). The only 4WDs which would do any better would be the land barge Patrols or 'Cruisers ..

BTW: I towed this about 100km with my ute .. thru the Macedon ranges and along the Calder

.. no worries

[LUXO_8]

i was actually trying to find this thread when you asked the question, but couldnt find it

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=36068

please have a read of that....theres good info in there on towing..