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I was gong to say the auto is higher geared than the manual for fuel economy, but it probably isn't:

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I've never had my ute much faster than 130km/h and I'm pretty sure I've never hit seventh. In manual shift mode you only have access to 1st to 5th.

The auto has a taller final drive ratio but, excluding seventh, there is otherwise not much in it.

I'd still prefer an auto for towing, perhaps with a transmission cooler upgrade if you'll be doing steep grades or low speeds.
 
Thank you for the info.
another daft question. When towing your 5th wheel (which is huge compared to my 1950kg twin) does your nav always keep in top gear on motorway at about 60-65 . I know I will have to try one first just getting my head around would I need to keeping dropping down on the manual if on motorway.

Warren.
Before I bought the V6 Navara I towed my 5th wheeler with a 2.5 manual. It towed in top gear OK at 60-65mph, but as soon as it saw an incline it was necessary to change down. But then this was a 2006 version with not so many horses (174bhp) as the later 2.5's & Tecknas (190+).
My trailer weighed in at 3.5 tonne so a lot heavier than most twin axle caravans. I was pleased with the way it performed and it was only really let down by the clutch cooking itself while manoeuvring onto pitches or my drive. Not all pitches were level and my drive most certainly is not. With the 5th wheeler you invariable take more back and forth attempts than perhaps you would with a caravan. Hope that helps.
 
Seems to me the consensus of folk who tow big heavy things, is that they prefer autos.....

My personal addition to that is why tow a big twin axle caravan when you can have a more manoeuverable and yet also far more spacious and higher payload 5th wheeler, but in less length? (the truck bed overhang is about 4' on mine, with all the nose weight directly over the axle, not on the towbar).... Just sayin'....
 
Hello all. I'm thinking of buying a tekna for towing my double axle caravan. It's also going to be the family bus when not towing & also taking me to work and back (90 miles per day).. What do you guys think about an auto verses a manual? I'm thinking about fuel consumption as well as there will be a few around town miles as well.
regards,
Warren.
OK Warren, we have settled this on your behalf.

You need an automatic Tekna and a fifth wheeler. Don't worry about the fuel consumption, it's only money.
 
Discussion starter · #31 ·
Seems to me the consensus of folk who tow big heavy things, is that they prefer autos.....

My personal addition to that is why tow a big twin axle caravan when you can have a more manoeuverable and yet also far more spacious and higher payload 5th wheeler, but in less length? (the truck bed overhang is about 4' on mine, with all the nose weight directly over the axle, not on the towbar).... Just sayin'....
I wish I could but i didn't have a anything to pull a 5th wheel when I bought the twin axle last year, just the CRV. I'm thinking that the cost would be a little higher as well. we still need room for half the house in the back of the pickup together with everything on two and three wheels strapped to the back of the pickup (next thread).

Regards

Warren.
 
Seems to me the consensus of folk who tow big heavy things, is that they prefer autos.....



My personal addition to that is why tow a big twin axle caravan when you can have a more manoeuverable and yet also far more spacious and higher payload 5th wheeler, but in less length? (the truck bed overhang is about 4' on mine, with all the nose weight directly over the axle, not on the towbar).... Just sayin'....


Do you need a different licence for a fifth wheeler? Some states here require an articulated vehicle licence. Which is funny since you can tow a much less stable 3.5 tonne triple axle caravan without any special qualifications at all.
 
No, in the UK everyone can tow a 5th wheel (up to 7.5t all up, which covers most Euro-sized rigs) so long as their license was obtained before 1997. The license is more about weight and size rather than hitch mechanism which makes sense, although towing anything big and heavy on a tow-ball is less safe than using a 5th wheel hitch, for obvious reasons.

After that date you have to take an additional test to get the codes on the license, but no need for HGV as such. HGV does however include the lesser license codes, should you already be HGV licensed.

The UK is very keen on over-regulation in all walks of life. I see no reason why anyone with say 10 years of driving experience shouldn't be allowed to tow a 5th wheel! In the UK the overwhelming accident problem is all about young drivers - the elephant in the room that gets ignored. There are very few serious accidents with 5th wheels, even pro-rata - these rigs force you to be sensible! The insurance costs show how low-risk the rigs/drivers are.
 
No, in the UK everyone can tow a 5th wheel (up to 7.5t all up, which covers most Euro-sized rigs) so long as their license was obtained before 1997. The license is more about weight and size rather than hitch mechanism which makes sense, although towing anything big and heavy on a tow-ball is less safe than using a 5th wheel hitch, for obvious reasons.

After that date you have to take an additional test to get the codes on the license, but no need for HGV as such. HGV does however include the lesser license codes, should you already be HGV licensed.

The UK is very keen on over-regulation in all walks of life. I see no reason why anyone with say 10 years of driving experience shouldn't be allowed to tow a 5th wheel! In the UK the overwhelming accident problem is all about young drivers - the elephant in the room that gets ignored. There are very few serious accidents with 5th wheels, even pro-rata - these rigs force you to be sensible! The insurance costs show how low-risk the rigs/drivers are.
To be clear, the driver regulations are as a result of EU directives.
Not that I am a fan of Brexit, but these petty and ill thought out rules are examples of why over half the voters ticked Leave.
 
True enough.

Doesn't change the fact that the UK is good at over-regulation without any EU help, and will continue!

Odds are against any change back to the way it was for most things.... Always loads of jobs for Mr Clipboard Jobsworth in the UK...:)
 
No, in the UK everyone can tow a 5th wheel (up to 7.5t all up, which covers most Euro-sized rigs) so long as their license was obtained before 1997. The license is more about weight and size rather than hitch mechanism which makes sense, although towing anything big and heavy on a tow-ball is less safe than using a 5th wheel hitch, for obvious reasons.

After that date you have to take an additional test to get the codes on the license, but no need for HGV as such. HGV does however include the lesser license codes, should you already be HGV licensed.

The UK is very keen on over-regulation in all walks of life. I see no reason why anyone with say 10 years of driving experience shouldn't be allowed to tow a 5th wheel! In the UK the overwhelming accident problem is all about young drivers - the elephant in the room that gets ignored. There are very few serious accidents with 5th wheels, even pro-rata - these rigs force you to be sensible! The insurance costs show how low-risk the rigs/drivers are.


I know we're drifting off topic a bit, but what kind of weight does the fifth wheel add to the tow vehicle? With caravans you're generally looking at 10-15% of the trailer mass being borne by the tow vehicle. I assume that's much higher?
 
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