Kakadu towing caravan / camper trailer?

[TopCat Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close TopCat]

G'day - I have a 150 GXL and wondering about the Kakadu when its towing a camper trailer.

My understanding of the suspension is that there's soft, medium and firm (maybe sport?).

Does setting the suspension to firm compensate for the sag when towing a caravan - is it self levelling to an extent.

Sorry if the question sounds basic, I tried a search but couldn't find anything.
Appreciate any advice.
Thanks,
TC

[saskia Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close saskia]

It has self leveling suspension at the back. When you hook up the trailer the compressor will kick in to inflate the airbags to level the car out.

[TopCat Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close TopCat]

It has self leveling suspension at the back. When you hook up the trailer the compressor will kick in to inflate the airbags to level the car out.

Thanks Saskia - I was hoping that was the case - appreciate the advice
TC

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

My understanding of the suspension is that there's soft, medium and firm (maybe sport?).

Does setting the suspension to firm compensate for the sag when towing a caravan - is it self levelling to an extent.

I think you're confusing the adjustable shocks with the self-levelling feature of the rear airbags. There is an in-cabin switch where you can set the factory TEMS shocks to "comfort" or "sport" which is more about soaking up the bumps then towing. There is no "soft", "medium", or "firm" setting as such.

The rear air-bags have a "low", "normal", and "high" setting from the cabin which you can use to raise and lower the air bags. Both the low and high settings are speed limited (if you go above a certain speed the setting will revert to normal). They also self-level depending on load which is controlled by sensors.

[TopCat Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close TopCat]

You're right Fido - thanks for clarifying - I'm mainly interested in the self levelling function - my GXL droops due to a fridge and 2nd battery in the back along with ~120 - 150kgs of camper trailer on the tow ball. Do you know if the self levelling would compensate totally or partially for this.
Thanks again
TC

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

I can't be sure Topcat as I've never towed with mine. It still seems to sit level even with a loaded fridge and camping gear in the back so I'm assuming some sort of self-levelling is kicking in to compensate. Since you have a GXL can't you just gets some Polyairs or similar airbags in the rear to assist when towing?

[geoffmc1 Member Find all posts View Profile Close geoffmc1]

G'day - I have a 150 GXL and wondering about the Kakadu when its towing a camper trailer.

My understanding of the suspension is that there's soft, medium and firm (maybe sport?).

Does setting the suspension to firm compensate for the sag when towing a caravan - is it self levelling to an extent.

Sorry if the question sounds basic, I tried a search but couldn't find anything.
Appreciate any advice.
Thanks,
TC

We towed our Modcon camper to Sydney & back over Christmas and the rear suspension was fantastic. The manual explains how to hook up a trailer, from memory you should drop the rear to lowest setting, then hook the camper up and start the car and set to normal height. It will automatically level out. I set mine to sports setting, as it firms the rear up and gives more control. We had extra weight on the drawbar and checked with my scales it was 185kg! The car handles like a dream.
Cheers
Geoff

[TopCat Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close TopCat]

Thanks guys - Fido, the GXL comes off lease later this year so no point putting money into it.

Geoff, appreciate your experience with the Modcon, sounds good that the self levelling works with 185kgs.

Appreciate your help!
TC

[cmilton54 Find all posts View Profile Close cmilton54]

Hi
Even with the self levelling, a weight distribution hitch should still be used to transfer weight to front wheels.
The airbags only lift the body/chassis does not transfer the extra weight to the front.