Xr6t Tow Rating Increase

[R31_IceMan]

Dear All,

I know that people have covered this topic a little over time and I've noticed that in the end it ends up in a cat and dog fight about "why I got an xr8 over the xr6t" I've heard it all and all I want is help on the topic.

I own a MkI 2003 XR6 turbo Ute (4sp auto)

Mods:

Tyhpoon Intercooler

Typhoon Oil Cooler

Heavy Duty Tow kit

Yarra Vally Auto rebuild (basically what you call a Nizpro auto since Tony makes tha autos for Simon)

Diff rebuild

The ute is about to get Nizpro Stage One, Terry Turbo brakes with greenstuff pads, whitline swaybars and blistien shocks all for birthday

Now boys and girls you have an idea of the car. now I need to know how or where I can go to get it engineered to tow 2,300kg. The problem can't be the engines that much can it?? cause terry turbos have 2,300kg tow rating. I might also upgrade the cooler to something a little bigger if needed for the engine if needed but I need advice from someone on how to make this legal.

cheers Dave

Edited 30/04/07 02:12 AM by R31_IceMan

[BFSLEEPA]

Hey Dave,

You have hit a sensitive issue for me there.. Having previously owned an XR6T, I wanted to get another one but I also needed the 2300kg tow capacity... I looked at so many options, engineers, etc I emailed ford technical and got very simple replies.. Very frustrating

They would not allow the turbo sedans or utes to get a 2300kg rating because it had not been tested properly and certified, apparently they could not justify the expense because they do not believe there is the demand, I got the same answer from HSV when I enquired about the VE range SORRY for mentioning that name on this forum ..

From what I have heard from dealers it is more a problem with the right foot hurting the box while towing such a big load, due to the nature of the strong torque rush from the Turbo, however this doesn't realy suit as the Territory has it..

My question then to ford was being 2007 why can't they enable a torque limited tune when the wiring for the trailer is connected it could automatically change the tune I just got the not tested reply again, however the nature of the Territory market demanded the higher rating and testing... They wouldn't comment on whether there is any tune variation when the towpack is linked... I guess maybe it does or they will wear any warranty issues for the smaller number of units they sell compared to the possible XR6T's towing the same.. I was told the same for the XR8, due to the high demand of the XR8 UTE as a workhorse it was tested to comply with the 2300kg rating..

It goes to show that there is technically no major differences structurally, braking, driveline etc to justify the extra capacity.. PURE POLITICS AND $$$$ :banghead:

I therefore had to buy a BF2 XR6 NA, and have had the big tow pack fitted.. A point to note on this though after emailing ford again just a few days ago I wanted to know about the load levelling kit when is it compulsory to use it to stay legal. Here is the reply QUOTE

Dear Ben,

Thank you for your e-mail to Ford Motor Company of Australia Limited (Ford Australia).

The load levelling kit must be used as part of the 2300kg heavy duty tow pack when the gross trailer mass exceeds 1600kg or the towball download exceeds 160kg.

Kind regards,

Andrew Howard

Deputy Team Leader

Ford Information Services

Ford Motor Company of Australia Ltd

Telephone: 13 36 73 (13 FORD) (Local Call)

Fax: +61 3 9929 3175

Email: customers@fordcrc.com.au

So in my case I want to tow a 2tonne Wake boat in the near future, which only has an 80kg towball load thanks to modern dual axle trailers, so I don't need to use the load levelling kit which FORD sold me with the HD Tow Pack $500 wasted, im going to try and return it this week.

As far as insurance companies go I couldn't get anyone to insure a turbo engineered to tow 2300kg here in WA, they are only interested in factory compliance.. I cringed at the thought of losing a $100k worth of boat and car

If you do go ahead be sure to get it all in writing.. Its a very touchy subject..

Good luck

[Ninka]

Your 4 speed Auto would most likely suffer a quick death.

Territory Turbo's have the ZF 6 speed trans if I'm not mistaking, thus the higher tow rating.

[Ninka]

Dear Ben,

Thank you for your e-mail to Ford Motor Company of Australia Limited (Ford Australia).

The load levelling kit must be used as part of the 2300kg heavy duty tow pack when the gross trailer mass exceeds 1600kg or the towball download exceeds 160kg.

So in my case I want to tow a 2tonne Wake boat in the near future, which only has an 80kg towball load thanks to modern dual axle trailers, so I don't need to use the load levelling kit which FORD sold me with the HD Tow Pack $500 wasted, im going to try and return it this week.

If you read what Ford says: gross trailer mass exceeds 1600kg or the towball download exceeds 160kg then you will need it, as your 2 tonne wake boat exceeds 1600 kg gross trailer mass

[Falchoon]

I need advice from someone on how to make this legal.

cheers Dave

Have you talked with an automotive engineer about this? Your local rego authorities should have a list of "preferred" ones (at least that's how it works in ACT).

[BFSLEEPA]

If you read what Ford says: gross trailer mass exceeds 1600kg or the towball download exceeds 160kg then you will need it, as your 2 tonne wake boat exceeds 1600 kg gross trailer mass

Yeah I know I was talking to my dad about this tonight and I realised that I misnterpreted that today at work.. It was a funny day like that, but as soon as I said it out loud I realised.. That is such a difficult thing to comply with and you never see everyone doing it.. It sucks too because the load levelling kit only works on A frame trailers, and all the boats ive looked at don't have this, they have the collapsable single arm.. Even the boat shops don't use the load levelling kit and they are driving XR6's..Go Figure..

[ZAP]

As far as I know, you CANNOT change the tow rating of the car. I also do not believe that anyone but Ford can change this rating.

While upgrading everything will in theory make it capable, it is irrelivant as Ford says 1600kegs and that is all it can tow PERIOD.

If you need a tow car, buy a $5,000 Patrol or Landcruiser and wreck that with towing.

The XR6T is not a tow car, it is a performance car.

[Fat-Tony]

I wouldn't go so far as to call it a performance car, but it goes quick.

I have seen utility vehicles have their carrying capacity increased...ARB make a 3700kgGVM Patrol, where it has different suspension ect and a additional build plate.

Even then this car didn't have a greater towing capacity, I think Zap is correct in saying it just can't be done.

[turtle33]

quote name='Ninka' date='Apr 30 2007, 06:19 PM' post='527301']

Your 4 speed Auto would most likely suffer a quick death.

Territory Turbo's have the ZF 6 speed trans if I'm not mistaking, thus the higher tow rating.

I have had 7 4sd autos (6 of them fully modded) and I tow a full tonne everyday, so the proof is in the pudding, the 4sd will not handle the weight+ the torque.

Good luck though.

tony

[R31_IceMan]

Ninka,

I did enter the details of mods on the car for a reason. One of them being Yarra Valley Auto. and at $5,000 I'll be pissed if it didn't tow. this is the same spec auto as what sits behind all NIZPRO auto cars. that means if I had the $$$ I could put 400rwkw's through it and it would live.

BFSLEEPER (Ben) & Falchoon,

I have spoken to an auto engineer and he said its do able but its basically therefore giving the right for all cars with the exact specs at any stage form when I complete it onwards to get rated at 2,300kg without paying the $5,000-$10,000+ I'll have to pay.

ZAP_F6 & Fat-Tony,

I considered selling the Ute as its only a work horse to carry arond gym equipment and getting a Terry Turbo could do this???? also the terry turbo could tow 2,300kg but that's another loan and come on Ford Utes handel like crap so how much worse would I be if I got a Terry Turbo?

Tony they are great in a scright line. With the mods it has now cracked into the 13's and left my mates XR8 behind from the staging line. 2,500rpm stallies really help the turbos come on hard. The only reason I'm trying to get the work horse to tow 2,300kg is so it can tow the R31 Skyline drift bomb and the R32 track car.

Finally

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR INPUT.

it was great to get an answer on this and even some experience of others. since then I have asctually towed once over 2,500kg and I can tell you that if you can drive (which is generally needed when driving over 3.5tones) its well up to the task with the mods that I have. But I've found the answer to my problem:

Don't buy a second hand tanmod trailer and buy a custom one which weights 400kg. DONE

Get the skyline's race weights down to under 1,000kg. Done R31, Done R32

thank you all for the replies. Dave