Towing with a CRD

[hoffy]

Just wondering what gear everyone uses when towing a large van; around the 2000 kg mark, D or 4th, and which gives the best fuel economy.

Cheers
Hoffy

[omaroo]

I tow our van - and just leave the darn thing in Drive. It's a very smart little gearbox - so I leave all the thinking work up to it.

[Bomber]

Our van's only little compared to yours - about 1200kg fully loaded - but like Chrispy I have always let the D do the thinkin'. Towed it 6000ks last year (first big trip in the car) from Melbourne to Innamincka via Cameron Corner and home through the Flinders. Averaged around 14l/100k even on the Strezlecki Track (did the whole 500+K with room to spare on a single tank).

I believe if you leave it in 4th you lose the second second gear, I'd imagine this might affect your fuel economy in hilly slow areas (apparently it keeps only the upshift one not the downshift one), but happy to be corrected on this, what CJ staff tell you aint always reliable when it's techo stuff like that .

[goodol55]

I used "D" for towing 1900kg trailer (tandem)- returned 12.5/100 on 110kph freeway, around 13.5 to 14 on secondary, undulating country roads, and I think about 16/100 was the worst I ever saw in cross-city peak hour.

[salesguy]

Originally Posted by Bomber

I believe if you leave it in 4th you lose the second second gear, I'd imagine this might affect your fuel economy in hilly slow areas (apparently it keeps only the upshift one not the downshift one), but happy to be corrected on this, what CJ staff tell you aint always reliable when it's techo stuff like that .

WG CRDs have MB W5A580 5 speed box. It's a conventional 1-2-3-4-5 auto, 4th is 1:1 ond 5th is overdrive.

All V8s, KJ 3.7s to mid 03 MY and all KJ CRD 2.8s have 45RFE or 545RFE. This is the Chrysler box with the alternate second gear thingy. The only difference between a 45RFE and a 545RFE is the programming. The 545RFE is effectively a six-speed with two overdrive ratios.

You lucky guys out there with 45RFEs in your KJs can have them programmed to run sixth. It's not worth it unless you put in say, 4.56s, but it does open up some nice possibilities.

[Bomber]

WG CRDs have MB W5A580 5 speed box. It's a conventional 1-2-3-4-5 auto, 4th is 1:1 ond 5th is overdrive.

All V8s, KJ 3.7s to mid 03 MY and all KJ CRD 2.8s have 45RFE or 545RFE.

Thanks Salesguy - where you when I was trying to find get all that techo kind of stuff out of the salesmens when I bought my car last year (yes I know, a long way from here). No-one ever told me the difference down here, didn't know that till just now. But then they also tried to tell me that I didn't need Quadradrive cos it didn't make any difference until I was bogged and that the Laredo CRD came with the up-country suspension and skid plate group (1 new front diff later how I wish that it did!!).

[salesguy]

Originally Posted by Bomber

Thanks Salesguy - where you when I was trying to find get all that techo kind of stuff out of the salesmens when I bought my car last year (yes I know, a long way from here). No-one ever told me the difference down here, didn't know that till just now. But then they also tried to tell me that I didn't need Quadradrive cos it didn't make any difference until I was bogged and that the Laredo CRD came with the up-country suspension and skid plate group (1 new front diff later how I wish that it did!!).

Crickey !

That's real bad service dood. Hope that salesman's selling Toyotas or something these days.

All CRDs - irrespective of model ( Laredo, Limited, Vision or Overland ) came with the Up Country springs and shocks - mainly to handle the extra weight of the diesel engine. Only the Overland had the skid plate group fitted ex-factory - but it wouldn't have protected your front diff.