Tow vehicle for a 2T (tare) caravan

[TheOtherLeft]

Hiya gurus,

I'm looking at upgrading my 75 series troopy to an automatic/diesel vehicle to tow a 21" Jayco. I"m looking at probably 2002 onwards.

I know there's the Cruiser but would a 3.0l Patrol struggle towing the Jayco up hills? Considering the price difference the Patrol appears better value for money.

I'm not looking at a ute due to ride comfort.

Are there any other options - Pajero, Disco? Would a Prado do the job as well?

Cheers.

[BLU-125]

Every vehicle you have mentioned would be suitable. ;)

[TheOtherLeft]

OK thanks.

How about the Hyundai Terracan (I swear I'm serious ;-p)? It has similar power/torque specs to the 3L Trol.

[tasar]

go and have a look at a Jeep Commander 3.0l diesel - will out tow all of the above and much better value..... have a 4.2lpatrol and a commander in the family - commander heaps better - tows more better economy and better ride

[BMKal]

I can't say that I've ever seen a 21 inch caravan.

[disco_thrasher]

the disco is well known for its excellent towing capability,, td5 has excellent fuel economy ,and is very capabale in the bush:thumb:

all the other models you suggested will do the job to

[Mikes F250]

well, you know what I'm going to say........The effie certainly would handle it. Fuel consumption is the same as a patrol or crusier. Don't rule them out too soon.

[Defender=1st]

i would go for either a Disco of Defender Td5.

[GROVER]

I can't say that I've ever seen a 21 inch caravan.

There's one in every mob lol

[TheOtherLeft]

Hiya gurus,

I'm looking at replacing my 75-series troopy with a more comfortable touring/mud plugging wagon. It must be an auto/diesel and SAFELY tow a 2T (tare) caravan. So this would equate to maybe 2.3T loaded.

So far the only option I've seen is the LC100. Are there any more???

I've discounted the Patrol 4.8 since it's petrol and would return shocking economy figures towing and also playing in the dirt/mud/sand. Is this correct or am I worng???

[ttcelica]

A T/D 100 would be my suggestion, and if you can get one, a later 5 speed auto (or were they all 5 speed??). Can easily tow 3t, and have a GCM of about 6.5t from memory.

[4bdan]

The new Navara will also tow it with no drama's. The 3.0ltr patrol can also be upgraded with a D-tronic, which i'm told makes a very noticable difference...

[Apocalypsse]

well, you know what I'm going to say........The effie certainly would handle it. Fuel consumption is the same as a patrol or crusier. Don't rule them out too soon.

But the big downside is the price tag *cries about the price*. Would be a great vehicle to use, plenty of power and space.

[hillbilly123]

Toyota 4.2 TD auto is the go. I use one for my Roadstar which weighs 2.7t all up Still get reasonable fuel figures out of it

[brooksy]

TD5 Discovery, best towing capacity & good economy figures to match.
If money or size isn't an issue, F-truck or my choices Chevy & Dodge.

brooksy

[Peter @ Aawen4x4]

A Nissan GU in ST or ST-L with the TD4.2Di would be my pick! Save more'n just a couple of $$ over anything the L/C's have on offer, indestructible drive train and running gear, plus all the luxury you'd ever want, all bundled up in one of the best off-road packages you'll find straight out of a showroom and capable of towing over 3 tonne safely!! (3.5t)

You'll Luurve it!

[HDJ105]

A Nissan GU in ST or ST-L with the TD4.2Di would be my pick!


Available in auto?

[Peter @ Aawen4x4]

Available in auto?

Not unless you are REEEALLY Lucky (or you import from O/S!)

[ozriderxj]

OK thanks.

How about the Hyundai Terracan (I swear I'm serious ;-p)? It has similar power/torque specs to the 3L Trol.

Don't underestimate the Terracan, all they need is a good dose of replacement Ironman Suspension and for offroad some 265/70R16 tyres.

I replaced my XJ Cherokee with the CRDI and when it comes to towing they are like chalk and cheese.

The Terracan deisel auto is great, turn on the cruise control and forget you have a van on the back.

So far off road it has taken me everywhere the Jeep did.

Have a look at the Terracan Forum

Terracan @ Australia4WD (http://forum.australia4wd.com/index.php?showforum=47)

[cac]

one thing i have heard about the stock suspension on the terracan is that it not well suited to towing....though i believe hyundai offer a heavy duty suspension package to suit owners who wish to tow heavy loads

ozrider, have i heard this information correctly, or is it another one of those urban myths....

[Dave_STR]

If I had the money and was towing 2 tonne or more everyday a Dodge Ram diesel would be my pick.

[crawla]

Don't underestimate the Terracan, all they need is a good dose of replacement Ironman Suspension and for offroad some 265/70R16 tyres.

I replaced my XJ Cherokee with the CRDI and when it comes to towing they are like chalk and cheese.

The Terracan deisel auto is great, turn on the cruise control and forget you have a van on the back.

So far off road it has taken me everywhere the Jeep did.

Have a look at the Terracan Forum

Terracan @ Australia4WD (http://forum.australia4wd.com/index.php?showforum=47)

This time last year we were in Coral Bay WA with mum and dad. They were working their way round oz from Sydney. In Coral Bay we had mum and dad and another couple (kev and barb) come over for a BBQ. Kev owns a hyundai/nissan dealership south of Perth and opted for the Terracan kitted out with the tow pack to tow his 21ft van. He said he could have had either the patrol or terracan. His words were the hyundai leaves the patrol for dead in regards to towing his van and is more comfortable. Personally I'd be looking into the 'terrible can' aswell. As for the old man he's buying the 3.2crd pajero but is also looking at the dual cab utes of late also.

Don't discount the utes Ben unless you have ridden in them. The late model leaf sprung utes ride like a passenger car, gone are the days of the harsh riding utes that are only comfortable when laden with a ton in the back. The mates Hilux dual cab with old man emu (heavy) rides like a coil sprung vehicle.

Good luck.

[ozriderxj]

one thing i have heard about the stock suspension on the terracan is that it not well suited to towing....though i believe hyundai offer a heavy duty suspension package to suit owners who wish to tow heavy loads

ozrider, have i heard this information correctly, or is it another one of those urban myths....

CAC

You are quite correct.

In my opinion the stock suspension is not suited for much of anything, although there are a lot of terracan owners towing with the standard setup who are quite happy with it.

The Hyundai 'Trek and Tow' upgrade at nearly $3k is not much better.

For under a $1k you can get a full suspension upgrade from Ironman that transforms it from a big sloppy boat into a well behaved tow vehicle and, so far, a 4X4 that soaks up everything you can throw at it.

Consider that it is $10k cheaper than anything comparible and it becomes a good choice of vehicle. (What can you buy for $10K, Diff Lock, Tyres, Suspension, Bullbar, etc etc)

[marki]

Whatever vehicle you chose, you'd have to check out its rated towing capacity with the RTA - which is not necessarily of its perceived ability to pull a load.

For example, 100 series LCs are rated to tow 3T, whereas an 80 series is rated at 2.5T. Can't see the difference myself, but that just goes to show how little I know about how these things are calculated.

[mudmagnet]

Go the F250 cant take the money with ya

[cac]

thx ozrider....bit more to it than i first thought...

i'm not sure i'd choose it over a patrol as a tow vehicle though.....well maybe if the patrol used the 3.0L motor, but definitely not if it was a 4.2 turbo....

[ozriderxj]

thx ozrider....bit more to it than i first thought...

i'm not sure i'd choose it over a patrol as a tow vehicle though.....well maybe if the patrol used the 3.0L motor, but definitely not if it was a 4.2 turbo....

CAC

The Patrol was on the top of my shopping list but at $52k for the 3ltr it was just way over my budget.

After the Jeep dying with the Jayco on the back in Geelong holiday weekend traffic I was told by SWMBO I was not buying another second hand pile of junk.

[feralo]

:waycool: Hi ya gang, I've been towing for awhile now, but I have just got into 4wd towing. It is abit different. I have found though that my 60 series, baby, seems to cope very well with whatever we seem to put on her back. The standard suspension doesn't seem to be troubled by much at all. Cheers feralo

[Punk_Cruiser]

Hey man, go the landcruiser td 5 speed auto. Nice torquey engine smooth 5 speed and will pull your van up a tree and then some.http://www.4wdmonthly.com.au/forum/images/icons/icon10.gifhttp://www.4wdmonthly.com.au/forum/images/icons/icon10.gifhttp://www.4wdmonthly.com.au/forum/images/icons/icon10.gif My parents have one that they use it to tow a heavy two horse float (2000 - 2500 kg) and get pretty good fuel economy. On the rare occasion that I get to drive it I have noticed the power delivery to be very linear, they are good towing offroad too. we towed the float down someone's very muddy and slippery driveway with the cruiser (on standard 16x7 inch tyres) and it held it on the road cough, cough mud track really well.

Not to be a nissan basher but the equvalent patrol has less torque as they are mechanically controlled mechanical injection whereas the cruiser is electronic mechanical injection. I also (sorry nissan guys:o) have noticed that a lot of them especially the new ones blowing black smoke when being driven down the road, probly just the drivers not knowing how to drive a disesel, who knows?

Just close your eyes and hand the plastic over, you won't rgret it!!!:thumb:

[cac]

CAC

The Patrol was on the top of my shopping list but at $52k for the 3ltr it was just way over my budget.

After the Jeep dying with the Jayco on the back in Geelong holiday weekend traffic I was told by SWMBO I was not buying another second hand pile of junk.

fair call then....it sounds like you've transformed the terracan into a reasonable vehicle.....and as for breaking down in the weekend traffic...i'll bet that was a fun experience....

[Tired Triton]

i think manual transmissions are better suited to towing than automatics ??

[Peter @ Aawen4x4]

Sorry TT, but it is generally accepted that Automatics are actually better for towing than manuals (and more and more of the experts are claiming the same for 4WDing too!) For a number of valid reasons, too, not just 'claiming 'for the helluvit! With a torque converter, the fluid drive thru the TC gives what is called a torque multiplying effect, so at speeds where a manual would hafta slip the clutch, the auto will actually be pulling with greater than stump pulling ability! And the torque converter keeps on adding that to ability, right up the rev range too. The gear changes also mean no loss of torque on change, so no shock loads on anything down the drive line. Slowing down for down hills can now be done very successfully with lock up torque converters and 5 or 6 speed auto's. And if you have an approriately sized cooler for the A/T fluid (which you should even if you only DREAM about towing) you will never have any overheating issues cos the A/T will be imposing less load in the mechanics than the similarly speced manual. Mechanically the wear on the A/T is minute compared to savage wear on the manual and its clutch whilst towing.

If you want the best option for towing, tick the boxes that say 'Auto', 'tow pack', and make sure that's including the bigger auto trans cooler! Enjoy!

[humpa]

Ben I am no nomad (still a quite few years to go yet :D ) but the vehicles of choice I saw while tripping around Oz early in the year were predominantly LC 100's and Patrols both in diesel and petrol formats. Of course there were all types out there towing and only a few wern't happy with their choice but there were so many more of the big wagons than any other it really stood out.

Gas was fitted to many of the petrols though. I saw quite a few V8 LC 100s with gas, they must be a much cheaper option than the diesels!!! Same with the many Patrol petrols being on gas. The diesels were mainly standard with a few fitting performance chips or better exhausts for extra grunt. Most of those that I spoke with after dark over a quiet drink etc liked the bigger wagons because it had more space for things and they felt far more stable and safe when towing, regardless of van size.

It came down to those with a tight budget had the patrols and those with the extra pennies bought the LC100's with the petrol and diesel formats being chosen for the same reasons.

I spose when you get to their age it gets harder to argue with their logic as most of them do the number crunching vs vehicle particulars far more than the rest of us would !!

Have fun mate.............. :thumb: