Jeep Commander as Tow Vehicle for large van

[jammy jeep]

Good to hear all the details Bandicoot. I was interested in your observations with the WDH off as I found, only towing the t-van, that the back of the car was always slightly pulled down, which was very annoying. I notice that polyair have commander listed for an airbag, so I'll have to look into this as well. Not quite sure what the actual ball weight of the t-van is when fully loaded. The dry weight is supposed to be 110kg, but I suspect it is quite a bit heavier than that.
By comparison, we averaged around 15 litres/100kms for our trip (10,900kms), but average speed would have been around 110kms/hr and some days higher. Fuel consumption drops off noticeably if I control myself and only sit on 100kms/hr.

[jammy jeep]

got the airbags installed in the rear springs and, oh, what a difference. Car finally sits straight now when towing - yay. Just got to remember to let the air out when you get back to town, because they can get a bit firm.

[johnv]

Great reading Bandicoot we are about to start a similar journey ourselves & have fitted a 110L fuel tank as well as an ARB / OME suspension upgrade with polyairs. What type of WDH did you use, have had a look at one of those air-inflatable ones (airsafe brand) but it does not seem to lift the van up high enough, resultantly the tow coupling would hit the hitch behind the ball when going over significant gutters or dips. Interested to hear your or anyone else's thoughts, thanks johnv

[Bushtracker Bandicoot]

Johnv
I've got a standard Hayman Reese 750 lb WDH. Works well. Have got the Polyairs fitted to the back of the Jeep now and that makes towing with the WDH disconnected (e.g. on rough roads) more "level" (i.e. front wheels not quite pointing upwards as far!).
Bandicoot

[Doneworkin]

Great article, I am very close to purchasing a new Commander but have been a little shy because of some bad reports, mainly on Jeep service and warranty, your report has helped me imensly. Do the front parkingg sensors still work with the bullbar?

[Bushtracker Bandicoot]

Gidday Dunworkin. Wish I was too. Almost but not yet!
They did work for a while but some worked loose on the many corrugations and dips/bumps and I've got to reinstall them.
Basically, in the OEM bumper, the sensors fit into a special bracket that fits into slots cast into the back of the plastic bumper. The bullbar doesn't have these slots so the sensors were originally reattached with double sided tape.
Of the 6 front sensors, I think about 3 are still attached this way with 3 being on by bench in the workshop.
I intend to attach them all with Sikaflex, which is treacherous stuff, but once applied, they won't come loose.
The front bullbar makes judging clearances on the front quite easy. I'd happily live without them. However, with sensors missing, I have to turn the "parking sensors" off inside, which also takes off the rear sensors, which would be a handy safety precaution.
Bandicoot