peedub

Part 2 Over the compulsory medicinal reds in Crows Nest, I thought i would go to stanthorpe using cruise control on the flat only. Any hills would be negotiated manually to see if i could improve the econ to stanthorpe. The technique was finessed to Stanthorpe with the econ dropping to 14.0/100. A trip was planned to Tamworth to catch up with some old friends. Fuel topped up in Stanthorpe, 356 kms to Tamworth, minor sightseeing, 20c temp, no A/C used. econ was 12.8/100. Yes 12.8 lt/ 100 kms. 46 lts put in to the second click on the bowser. really remarkable considering the terrain driven. Return trip was 400 ks due to sightseeing etc, A/C used 90% of the time, econ 13.5/100, and yes 54 lts to full, second click. I now know that the kluger can be used economically with my avan to tour into my retirement years. The final reading I had totally towing was Warwick to Brisbane reverse route via Crows Nest, no Perseverence Dam detour this time, temp 30c, A/C on the whole way and pulled in to see 13.3/100. I am extremely happy with these figures. So what was my driving technique. I towed in Select mode. Due to the relative light weight of the van lockup was used on the flat, alternating between 1700- 2200 rpm if minor rises were experienced. Through judgement, if a hill was ahead i would pre-empt the gear change just on the grade change and select 4, set the current econ to 20.0/100 with the throttle and the kxr would pull up the hill at 2500 rpm at 90 ks no problem. Higher grades required S3 at 3000 rpm, current econ set to 25.0/100 with the speed decaying to 80 ks, sometimes 70 ks. As there were overtaking lanes everywhere I wasn't holding anyone up, and I wasn't thrashing the engine with high rpm and therefore higher fuel consumption. If there were no overtaking lanes I would maintain the 90 ks up the hill and accept the reduced economy to be a sensible driver. Caveat. This was posted to give future and existing owners some idea at least of a towing econ figure. My driving style is just that, not everyone would have the patience to plod along. If so accept a higher figure. Daily conditions change, I might not ever attain 12.8/100 again, but gees I will give it a go. Maybe I had favourable wind conditions. Remember this was the awd model, A/C used, towing a small caravan same height as the kxr, in hilly terrain. A bigger van is going to use more fuel as Sam F has related to us. I feel that the combination of kluger and cruiseliner or faired poptop is a great match. I can't wait to take it out on the coast road next holidays to see what I can get on the flat econ wise. As a last remark, talked with a few guys who had terracan crdi and they were doing 12-13 lts/100ks towing small jaycos , millard and windsor vans. The high tech 3.5 ltr engine is right up with those crdi engines. Food for thought for potential buyers. One petrol jeep cherokee guy was using 22.0/100 towing a large van. When I work out how to post a pic I’ll show you the outfit. Thanks for your patience guys, and I hope this helps someone.

Gidday everyone, first post, maybe a bit long but I'd love to share with you my towing story. Part 1 I had a subaru forester towing an avan cruiseliner ("A" frame pop up, looks like a prism when set up, but folds down to car top height when touring), it did the job but the poor subie was on the limits with weight and tow ball download. Weight of the avan was 1400 kgs approx, towball needed weight distribution hitch (WDH) as this particular model is fitted with A/C well forward of the trailer wheels and contributes to a healthy towball weight. A better towing vehicle was needed. A long internet search and vehicle review/test drives were conducted since the beginning of 2008, with the old problem petrol vs diesel cropping up quite a bit, fuel economy was a paramount concern. Short listed were the Santa Fe crdi, Sorrento crdi, Ford Territory, and the Kluger kxr awd. In the end money parted from the wallet to buy a Kxr awd pearl white kluger in June this year. The Sorrento was oh so close, particularly the on paper specs, they are really impressive, if you are interested a review by Gazza73 on the Sorrento forums is spectacular regarding the towing and 4wd capabilities. 4wd low range drive was not a necessity for me, but awd was a requirement for the kluger for towing, just my preference. During all the research, fuel economy for these vehicle were digested and noticed during test drives etc. Forums about real world towing econ were available for everything, but the Kluger real world econ figures were light on the forums. Kluger test drives on the freeways showed 8-9 lt/100km, impressive figures, but what would it go to when towing the Avan. This was an unknown when I bought the kxr, so was hoping I had done the right thing when I settled on it finally. There was the agonizing doubt that I should have gone diesel, but with the 20 cent difference between petrol and diesel I was prepared to have a slight econ disavantage with a petrol kluger. Touring with a caravan is becoming a costly pasttime, will I be able to afford the kxr's towing costs? Well here is my experience. I just toured SE Qld and northern NSW in the kxr for 2 weeks towing my Avan. Itinery was Brisbane to Stanthorpe via Kilcoy, Esk and Perservence dam to Crows Nest for first overnight, then to Stanthorpe. Many hills and the climb up the range. I used cruise control, sat on 90 ks, tyres 38 psi, temp low 20s. Econ in Crows Nest showed 14.5/100, which I thought was pretty good with only 1000 kms on the clock when left home. Cruise control would pop back to 4th then 3rd at 3500 rpm to maintain 90 ks on some of the climbs, the kxr awd pulled up the hills really good. Handling impressive all the 2 weeks with the WDH used all the time when towing.