Towing Interstate With My Fg Xr50 Turbo – Beware Super Long Post

[(Locky)]

Just thought Id add my 2c

6 Speed manual BF2 Ute. Stock proformace wise.

Factory fitted tow bar, just fitted an electronic brake controller a few days after I got it.

I have a track car, 180sx weightin around 1100KG

Dual axel trailer with electonic brakes around the 500KG mark

Car loaded up with spare wheels, tools, jacks, jerry cans ect

I have previously towed with a Lexus LS400 (4L v8), that towed reasonably well, but wasnt load rated for it.

Replaced that with a VT Late model camira wagon which is what I did most of my longer distance towing with (wakiefield, winton ect)

The VT Late model camira was just a 4 speed auto V6. It was reasonable for the price I paid, being only a couple of grand, but struggled at times. Spent most the time in 3rd gear, unless you got a run up on the bigger hills you were hitting 5+K in 2nd and struggling to maintain speed. That used nearly a full tank to get to wakefeild and back. I usually filled up at sutton forrest as I was afraid I wouldnt make it home.

I towed to Wakefield and back from south west sydney, Aprox 350KM round trip. reasonably hilly for about 1/2 the trip last weekened

The falcon was great. I was worried at first with taking off with a manual box, but really just reminded me of the button clutch in the track car, just a bit more revs and let it out a bit smoother to avoid a jolt.

It ssat on the flatter sections with cruise control on in 6th and sit on 110odd without issue. When starting to come up to hills I just got in the habbit of dropping back to 5th. As long as I was back on the power before a hill and I wasnt changing gear already on the incline t took most with a bit more throttle like with no issues or loss of speed. The only time I want in 4th was if someone pulled out in front of me doing 90km up a hill, but would still pick it back up relitivly quickly. Where as in this situation the Late model camira would be stuffed and revving to 5K struggling to keep 80km/h and I felt horrible for holding people up.

Fuel wise I used 3/4 of a tank. But being easter monday there was a lot of traffic on the way home (to the point of stop start) after mittagong so this would have affected it more. The trip computer which I reset at the start of the trip was showing an average of 18L/100 from memory. So it may even use less fuel than the 3.8L commodore. Only downside is it is 98 compared to E10.

I may look into getting a tune to give the car a bit more pull down the track, but handles it fine as it.

[bbq_xr6]

I have a story too.

 

Had my FG XR6t for about 7 years.

 

I frequently tow around 2 tonnes (racecar full of fuel + electric braked tandem trailer + 6x 20L jerry cans of fuel + tools + spares) and found the FG as good as everyone here describes. Mine runs on liquid injected LPG and I average about 20L/100km on highways at 80-100km/h.

 

I replace engine oil (any 5 or 10w40 synthetic) at 7-9,000km, ATF (Nulon synthetic 6HP26 compatible) at 30-40,000km and diff oil at similar intervals. Nearly 200,000km and only one major flaw with FG Falcons that some people can't even fathom as an issue and don't notice before/after.

 

The half shaft unijoints are complete underengineered weak piddly rubbish, both OEM and aftermarket. Towing (within Fords rated load and speed specification), they typically last 5-10,000km before lash is measured in millimeters instead of low micrometers per CV joint as per specification. This causes massive NVH problems under load at speed, most noticeable with urethane diff and rear suspension bushes since they transfer harshness to the chassis more than factory rubber diff bushes (which also have similar short life in turbo editions).

 

I haven't towed my racecar for a few years and in 2016 I made the stupid mistake of paying for overpriced OEM half shafts thinking they might be better quality. 40,000km and all four CVs (two per half shaft) are so completely shredded without towing, they need replacing again. I've lost the reciept too so I'm an idiot.

 

These shouldn't be so weak. Every time I replace them, the car is as silky smooth as it was when it rolled off the dealership floor. My tailshaft's rear CV is also starting to be a little loose but that's completely expected at 200K after a very hard life. Gearbox and engine are perfect.

 

Live axle, single piece tailshaft with two unijoints would last forever but drive like an EA-EL.