“WITH INCREASED LOADS,
THE TYRES NEED ADDITIONAL
INFLATION.”
AVOID WINDY CONDITIONS DON’T PUSH IT
GEAR SELECTION PUMP UP YOUR TYRES
We use an app on our phone called Windy to get
an idea of how strong the wind will be on our
next leg and what direction it will come from. If
it looks like the wind is going to be unfavourable,
we simple don’t drive that day. Obviously that’s
not always possible due to scheduled stops but,
for the most part, we can afford a delay of a day
or two.
People will give you all sorts of different advice
about the best gear to drive in when towing. The
best advice we can offer is to try various gears
yourself and find the one that’s best for you.
We noticed driving our Cruiser in S4 gives us
the best overall fuel economy. S4 is a 1:1 gear
ratio and puts much less strain on the engine and
transmission. Yes, the engine revs a bit higher but
the V8 feels much better at higher revs with the
big load. If we have a good freeway to drive on,
we go to S5.
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There will be times when the rig is going to feel like
it’s struggling, especially on long uphill stretches
and in windy conditions. Pushing the rig to work
hard is only going to use more fuel. Better to let
the car do its thing and travel at a pace that feels
best. Obviously, keep an eye on other vehicles
around you and don’t unnecessarily hold up
traffic.
We’ve noticed many owners who complain
about their fuel use do not have sufficient air in
their tyres. With the increased loads in the tow
vehicle and caravan, the tyres need additional
inflation. Check the sidewall of your tyres for the
pressure/load range and adjust accordingly.
LOOK FURTHER AHEAD
Most drivers concentrate their vision around 10m
in front of the bonnet of their car. Apart from being
dangerous, it doesn’t allow you to anticipate