Gen 8 hilux towball weights

[Wal4x4]

Hi All, can someone with an 2.8 auto hilux let me know what the maximum tow ball weight is.

The manual version has 3500kg towing capacity, as a general rule 10% is permitted on the towball so 350kg tow ball weight, therefore the automatic version being 3200kg would be 320kg towball weight ?

My caravan has towball weight of 320kg with empty water tanks but overall weight of 2700kg, meaning the auto hilux is a show stopper and hello to ford ranger.

[adamkberger]

I can confirm the auto is rated to a maximum 320kg towball weight. Have you actually confirmed your towball weight with full tanks on a weighbridge?

[Wal4x4]

Thanks For the confirmation. Yes I have weighed the van. I have tow ball scale at home as well. The van I have which is Goldstream semi off-road has the tandem axles set further towards the rear which increases the towball weight, I'm not sure why they do this as the van is not balanced when you load it up, all the storage is towards the front and mid section as well.

[Toeknee2]

Hi Wal, 320kg sounds a bit much.
I've been towing boats and work trailers for a few decades and I find the best (or effortless)towing is experienced when the trailer is pretty evenly balanced, only a little bit in favor of the vehicle end. I can just walk up to the front of my work trailer (1000kg) or boat trailer (1350kg) and just lift them up quite easily, it feels like lifting about 30-40kg.

I had a tandem trailer many years ago and couldn't wait to get rid of it. When you get a big weight in those things they always start swaying at highway speeds (unless you have 4 new tyres on the exact same PSI). If possible a heavy duty pair of tyres is a much better option in my opinion. I've seen tyres that are rated at 1375kg each.