Pathfinder Tow Rig

[paulie484]

Hi All

Have noticed there are a few Pathfinder owners that are also Expanda owners

As someone looking at upgrading from a Swan to Expanda (seems to be the norm !! )what's peeps opionions on the tow differences ?? ie. is it a very big change to fuel consumption and 'feel' ??

cheers

ps - only towed the Swan once with the brand new Pathy (went a treat) - unfortunately it's time to say goodbye Swanny

 

[Pace]

Only got the R51 since we got expanda.towed swan with tarago.manual tows great.since were family of 6 seating good.were putting in rear withstand.have uprated towbar to be like D40 strength and we use level bars too.litres per hundred splashes hovers around 12l/h towing and 9 as daily drive.

 

[stuartcarr2002]

Ours tows it well. Yesterday we got up Mount Ousley with the auto locked in 3rd and it held it at 90 the whole way up except the corner, but once accelerated it pick up speed again. Our old 05 Patrol would have been 2nd gear doing 50...

Word of warning. If you have the Nissan towbar "DONT" use load levelers. It may end up ripping the towbar off the car. Get a heyman and Reese towbar and you will be fine. We also have airbags in the rear and this helps the rear end sag common on IRS vehicles.

Our fuel consuption only goes to 12 at worst from about 9-10 when not towing in city driving...

Enjoy the Pathy

 

[straydingo]

I went from a Swan to Expanda with the Pathy. However it is Series III, so the older engine and less power/torque than you have. Fuel use went up 20% (not unexpected, nor unreasonable), everything else was pretty normal. Yes the weight goes up 500kg or so, but the 'feel' didn't really change.

My only problem with the Pathy is the weight with the family and being setup for 4wdriving with steel bar/winch/suspension etc etc. It is too high for the towball weight of the van (see my whinges in other threads )

Overall, yes you'll find some differences, but as an unmodified vehicle, it will do the job just fine.

 

[paulie484]

Cheers everyone, I was pretty chuffed with the performance we got last weekend away

Sat on 2k rpm and around a constant 95-100kmh that didn't drop with any hills, so used my old fuel Pathy kicking into high revs and slowing down like a brick on the hint of a slight incline !

Even had to test the full torque/turbo a couple of times overtaking and didn't miss a beat

I'm certainly sold, just need the bigger brick on the back now !!

 

[expanda]

Hmmm interesting, my Auto R51 2005 Diesel averages 12 - 13litres not towing and 16 / 18 towing.....

I can only get roughly 400km's before needing to fill up towing and not towing 550 around town 600 or so not towing on the highway.

 

[straydingo]

my old fuel Pathy kicking into high revs and slowing down like a brick on the hint of a slight incline

know that feeling - flicking between 2000 and 3000 every 15 seconds

I averaged 19.5 l/100 heading up to Beechworth this week and 18.6 on the way back (actually one of my better results)

 

[Moto Moto]

Thats pretty damn good fuel figures from the new Pathy. I like the Mt Ousley explanation Stuart gave as i live near there and drive up it every day.

Hmmmm a Pathy hey..................................:decision:

 

[stuartcarr2002]

Thats pretty damn good fuel figures from the new Pathy. I like the Mt Ousley explanation Stuart gave as i live near there and drive up it every day.

Hmmmm a Pathy hey..................................:decision:

Yeah, We passed a Patrol going up the hill and he was towing a smaller Jayco and he sounded as if he was going hard...

The 140kw pathy rocks. I must admit I would love the 550 V6 Hmmmm, Starcraft or Pathy 550... I dont think SWMBO would allow both

 

[paulie484]

I'm hearin ya guys....ours is a series 4 straight off the boat...
Can only compare to one and only trip which was still
showing a range of 600k plus on tank towing. Our 99 Pathy would only get about 299k and we'd be having fill up.

 

[Griffo]

Towing a 14-44-5OB with a 550 now with 50K on the clock. Overall ave so far 11.7 lit per 100km, Sydney and back 600Km with no van 9.8lit per 100k. Average with van 15. Tarcutta to Canberra at 110k into strong headwind and a blow turbo boost hose 22. All I can say is she goes but is a bit savage on fuel if you push much past 100k with a load on.

 

[DRW]

Don't worry Griffo I can get the Jeep up to 18LPH with the correct weight on the right boot lol
My mate has a few Navara utes with the V6 Diesel, he also has an F350 chipped with exhaust etc, he reconds the Navara eats the F350 for breakfast and absolutely loves the thing

 

[millers]

I have had 2006 Auto Pathy and now 2011 Man Pathy. 2006 Auto suffered wanting to change down gears all of the time. Road / Weather / Wife / Kids / etc must all be just right for it to tow nicely. 2011 Man (6spd) go through the gears and on open road 5th gear will give you power all the way to the speed limit (except NT may be). To me the Auto can be problamatic, some people had no issues (even with bigger vans) where I could get 22 l/100km. The extra power of the 2011+ hopefull makes the difference for the auto, but for me I did not want to take the chance so went with the manual. Most trips with the 2011 pathy have been "quick" so around the 15l/100km (which I am happy with). Hoping that for more "quite" trips this will improve.

 

[paulie484]

Just got back from 3k up and back to Exmouth..dash showed 14.6l on avg

Got about 450-500 range from a tank...never went too low...we have fully loaded 17.56.1 plus 3 kids (two teens and seven year old) plus kayak..plus kitchen sink etc

 

[Gibbo]

I also have a Pathy 2011 V6 and I used to tow a flamingo, but now tow a 17-56-1. The only problem I have is the sag in the rear end with the van on. Got a WDH but am not to happy with the jarring I get through the car when I go over a decent bump. So it is off to ARB to get some heaver springs and air bags fitted, hopefully I can do away with the WDH. Great car though, I get about 9.5 Lt round town and about 14.0 towing the panda. Can't wait until I head off on our lap in only 7 weeks.

 

[CJ1177]

We noticed a huge difference with our old V6 petrol pathey changing from the dove to the expanda, max 20l with the dove 110k/hr & easily get 26l with the van on the hwy doing 100k/hr
The new 550 pathy we get 13.5l with the expanda

 

[Griffo]

I also have a Pathy 2011 V6 and I used to tow a flamingo, but now tow a 17-56-1. The only problem I have is the sag in the rear end with the van on. Got a WDH but am not to happy with the jarring I get through the car when I go over a decent bump. So it is off to ARB to get some heaver springs and air bags fitted, hopefully I can do away with the WDH. Great car though, I get about 9.5 Lt round town and about 14.0 towing the panda. Can't wait until I head off on our lap in only 7 weeks.

Gibbo
Will keep my eye out for you as we leave for our lap(well at least the Western half) in 5 weeks. Yeah the sag in the rear end is a problem, had Pedders fit some airbags a couple of weeks ago, haven't towed yet but with 15psi just as standard it improves the handling, less body roll and no impact on comfort.

 

[Moxley23]

Our MY10 Pathy handles towing a 16:49 expanda easily. On level-ish roads economy is about 14L/100km.

I use airbags (from the USA easily fitted by myself) and WDH. Stable as. When I arrive at parks etc where there are bumps or tight turns, I take the WDH off as recommended and the air bags virtually stop the sag for my low speed manoveuring.

I also love the fold up tail gate. Easily clears the hitch etc and provides good umbrella. Better than The Pajero or Prado. Overall quieter than a Pajero, and more power than a Prado, not to mention cheaper.

 

[Gibbo]

The only problem I have with the lift up tail gate, I always bang my head on it also there is not much head room in the front. May a lift might help my poor head.

 

[Griffo]

The only problem I have with the lift up tail gate, I always bang my head on it also there is not much head room in the front. May a lift might help my poor head.

Get shorter legs!!