Recommendations for best 4x4 for towing

Transit Truck · 27-02-2006, 09:50 PM

Hi,

I am in the market for a 4x4 for comfort, occasional offroading and towing with 3500 kg capacity. I know there are heaps out there rated for this, but I would like peoples opinion before I go wasting my time around dealerships.

I am sort of set on a Land Rover Discovery 3.

My essential requirements are:

Turbo Diesel
7 Seat Min
Rear Aircon
3500 kg towing capacity

ClevlndStemer · 27-02-2006, 09:55 PM

A friend's dad bought a Nissan Patrol T/D. He loves it. I would recommend either a landcruiser or patrol.

Transit Truck · 27-02-2006, 09:57 PM

Oops should of mentioned... Automatic...

1TUFFUTE · 27-02-2006, 09:59 PM

My partner at work has anew landrover defender an it has all those things and its tough as nails. He also pulls a big trailer to work everyday very easily.
Only thing it still looks 50 years old.
Get a nissan patrol ive seen heaps of scaffold guys pulling absolute crap loads and they look sweet.

Transit Truck · 27-02-2006, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dev5 ute

My partner at work has anew landrover defender an it has all those things and its tough as nails. He also pulls a big trailer to work everyday very easily.
Only thing it still looks 50 years old.
Get a nissan patrol ive seen heaps of scaffold guys pulling absolute crap loads and they look sweet.

Only problem is that the patrol's 4.2 TD is manual only... The 3.0 TD doesn't tow 3500 kg...

1TUFFUTE · 28-02-2006, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akiklovich

Only problem is that the patrol's 4.2 TD is manual only... The 3.0 TD doesn't tow 3500 kg...

Not true bro...the TD5 will tow 4000kg with brakes(legally) plus they have constant 4wd,traction control,lock diffs and other things that sound french to me...oh yeah and it wont rust

Ghiadude · 27-02-2006, 10:03 PM

how bout this....

tex · 27-02-2006, 10:11 PM

98 percent of the Tas Abalone divers tow their BIG cats and monohulls with Landcruisers.......

Ive got an F250 (92 mod) that I tow my 2.4 tonne boat with and it does it with ease, I hooked it up to a mates 3.5 t boat and it was a completely different ball game.

He tows the same boat with his turbo diesel cruiser, and having been in the thing with three big blokes, plus his boat it was truely UNBELIEVABLE

Went, steered and stopped with complete safety, comfort and bloody brilliant economy. Ofcourse it was driven by a very experienced guy to....

The late model Cruisers are bloody great for towing for their price.

The dealership I get my outboards through have just recently taken delivery of a new F250 V8 TD 4x4 single cab flat tray, fitted with 4.5 tonne kit (biggest they could get) and they tow some mighty boats with it. They reckon it's got the power, got the brakes but feels a little light in the rear end and gets shoved a bit when towing rigs around 3.5 t.

They made a comparison to the Cruiser and said it (Cruiser) feels slightly more planted. But not as much pull up hills, and comparable brake ability.

For practicallity, 'ease' of parking in the burbs and great resale value, the Cruiser is probably the pick of all the maxi 4 x4 if towing big things regularly is your thing.

Having said that, an F250 V8TD dual cab XLT tuned to produce nearly 1000NM would be nice..............only a Flash tune, injectors and exhaust away !!! Getting blown away from the lights by one of these mammoths would be worth the defeat just to see the beast ROAR !

**Captain Stubing** · 27-02-2006, 11:44 PM

You've got to look at what capacity towbar can be fitted to the vehicle. 200kgs on the towball can cope with 2 tonne of trailer weight (I think). You'd be looking for something with a 350 kg ball weight, if that's right.

A friend (presidente of a caravan club) tows a 28 ft caravan, comfortably with a 02 Patrol, though it's petrol and LPG. I've heard tales from him, about people towing caravans in new 4x4's, where the weight of the van has started tearing the chassis of the 4x4. Apparently the towbar was not rated properly??

**Mechan1k** · 27-02-2006, 11:49 PM

Say a fairly new Navara ... and I must admit ... not a bad piece of machine ... and has the 3500kg towing capacity from memory as well.

**Falcon Coupe** · 28-02-2006, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

Say a fairly new Navara ... and I must admit ... not a bad piece of machine ... and has the 3500kg towing capacity from memory as well.

New Navara D40 has 3000kg towing capacity.

http://www.nissan.com.au/navaradual0...ry_4x4-STX.asp

akiklovich, one of the Aus 4x4 mags has a test in the latest issue, it covers many of the new models, have look.

Wokkas · 28-02-2006, 11:06 PM

Before I left the highways we got a fleet of Auto 7.3 F350s. 6 wheeler, with 5th wheel. Those buggers could pull anytyhing. Had the 5 tonne roller behind it once, just to see if it could do it. Needed a LR licence to drive it technically.

Go the Landcruiser, but not the Prado SWB crap.

Don't go the 4 cylinder diesels. Turbo or not, it's too small a motor for long term towing.

I've always had 7x series cruisers, but not available in auto.

100 series might be best for your needs: http://lc100.toyota.com.au/toyota/ve...82_704,00.html

new2ford · 28-02-2006, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akiklovich

Hi,

I am in the market for a 4x4 for comfort, occasional offroading and towing with 3500 kg capacity. I know there are heaps out there rated for this, but I would like peoples opinion before I go wasting my time around dealerships. I am sort of set on a Land Rover Discovery 3. My essential requirements are:
Turbo Diesel
7 Seat Min
Rear Aircon
3500 kg towing capacity

You know what I think from the Territory threads akiklovich. Go for the Landie - not only a great towing vehicle but you're much safer on the road, which is where most people spend most of their driving time. You take your life in your hands in a Landcruiser or Patrol on the highway unless you go round those bends nice and easy and hope there's nothing you have to stop suddenly for.

AnthonyQLD · 01-03-2006, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by new2ford

You know what I think from the Territory threads akiklovich. Go for the Landie - not only a great towing vehicle but you're much safer on the road, which is where most people spend most of their driving time. You take your life in your hands in a Landcruiser or Patrol on the highway unless you go round those bends nice and easy and hope there's nothing you have to stop suddenly for.

Another vote for the D3 they are great 4wd's

:

zetec · 01-03-2006, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnthonyQLD

Another vote for the D3 they are great 4wd's

:

Mmmm a D3 driving in chocolate Mousse. Yummy!!

:

pb02 · 01-03-2006, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by new2ford

You take your life in your hands in a Landcruiser or Patrol on the highway unless you go round those bends nice and easy and hope there's nothing you have to stop suddenly for.

Where do you get that from????
I regularly drive a Landcruiser Turbo Diesel up to my parents farm in Moama and I've never had to take bends "nice and easy". I was doing 110 down the hume and had to swerve to avoid a sleeper that came off the back of a truck and I felt completely safe and the cruiser handled it perfectly! The new independant front end is brilliant.

Go the Landcruiser or Patrol. My parents have had cruisers for the last 18 years and never had a single problem with them. All regularly towed 2.5T + without any dramas.

new2ford · 01-03-2006, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pb02

Where do you get that from????

Own driving experience, plus the frequent evidence in the news of loss-of-control/ rollovers resulting from sudden steering corrections and resulting in many fatalities. Plus Wheels stability tests in 2005 which included the comparable Prado which was found to be abysmal. Plus the various 4x4 magazine comments in awarding Disco 3 COTY - not only because of exceptional off road ability but because of its superior on road abilities. Landies also last longer-term and of course less prone to rust.

Country people are generally OK with traditional 4WDs like cruisers and Patrols because they know their limits. The problem comes with urban families buying them and taking them on the highway where they think they drive like any sedan. Land Rover is the only manufacturer that has addressed the on road issue seriously. Not only a better 4WD but a safer one too.

Mark Edmonds · 28-02-2006, 11:14 AM

Just out of interest I was towing a 2800kg boat with an 02 pajero which did a great job but for general around town driving I didn't enjoy a 4x4 as much as a large sedan. Bought the XR8 with the hayman reese load levveling system and it works a treat. Just as stable as the pajero at speed but with more power and around town comfort. If you are towing 3000kg plus then a 4x4 is probably the go but any less than that I think you can't beat a V8 sedan with the hayman reese setup.

Tote · 28-02-2006, 11:50 AM

My 2c worth,
I've had two Discos now and like them.
Disco:
More refined, new tecnology, lighter on fuel. Dissappointing dealer service, limited dealer network. The D3 has been out for a while now so the teething problems should be close to solved.

Landcruiser:
Older technology, better after sales support, bigger and more widely distributed dealer network, thirstier, less interior comfort.

Unless you want to go to a F250 or similar there's not much else out there, the patrols are a bit old and slow to compete IMO.
Regards,
Tote

Penelope Pitstop · 28-02-2006, 11:55 AM

Having owned a Diesel Landcruiser I would highly recommend it. My ex used to do quite a bit of towing and the Cruiser never let us down. Mine was a bit of an old bomb but I have also driven the newer ones and they are awesome to drive and very comfortable as a daily driver.

Go the Cruiser.

Smoke Pursuit · 28-02-2006, 12:00 PM

Ergh buy a runout F250 7.3 Turbo Diesel, or as stated above a Landcruiser..

**Mechan1k** · 28-02-2006, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShockWaveXR6na

Ergh buy a runout F250 7.3 Turbo Diesel, or as stated above a Landcruiser..

Hell yeah ... driven one of these .. but awful in traffic though ... parking is pain ... actually ... just park ontop of another car ... LOL

If you want to move a mountain ... this is the thing to get.

XR Martin · 28-02-2006, 12:21 PM

A TDi VW Toureg would be worth a look too.

crusher · 28-02-2006, 05:36 PM

Ive only driven a newish (couple of years old) for a short time but it was really comfortable and well set out. The bloke who owned it was using it while we were hay bailing and it was pulling it all very nicely. Even on a slope he was going easy with out having 4wd engaged.

If i could i would buy one. Id go and test out all the others too and then make a final decision.

F250: Oh yeah. Waaaay out of my price league but man i would love to drive one around for a bit.

santoitaliano · 28-02-2006, 05:37 PM

definately a patrol... cant go past them...

**Mechan1k** · 28-02-2006, 09:42 PM

It maybe allowed to tow 4000kg (dependign on state) ... but getting a towing kit with can allow to tow that capacity "safely" especially with towball weight capacity as well.

On paper it might .. but in reality it probably can't due to insufficient aftermarket support.

1TUFFUTE · 28-02-2006, 10:12 PM

yep i no that,just stating that they are rated to pull 4000kg. An yes landrover will sell u the tow pack to do it cus he has it.They pull the hayman an reece sticker off an put theirs on it!

eed-250 · 28-02-2006, 11:49 PM

pick up a f250 these days around the same price as a 100 series cruiser..

IMO 4.2l TD patrol would be your best bet.

It's all about your budget.

Landrover parts are expensive especially compared to nissan.. (i used to work at nissan)

Bayvu · 01-03-2006, 05:24 AM

Pretty much take your pick on which 4x4 to choose, just ensure that the tow hitch is rated to the towing weight. I have an 80 series turbo diesel landcruiser which tows my 25 ft caravan (2200 kg empty!) really well at 100 kph. I have a Kaymar rear bumper/hitch bar that is rated to 3500kg. Not many are, beware of claims and check the compliance plate on the bar!

lisa76 · 01-03-2006, 07:34 AM

Seeing as you want a turbo diesel auto, I'd be going with a 100 series cruiser. I wouldn't like to be towing alot for very far with the 2.7L engine in the discovery. It would be slow and painful.

Patrol's don't seem to come in a 4.2L TD auto, only the 3.0L and that's not much better.

Toyota have a fantastic name in the 4x4 business and very good aftermarket parts etc. Just as they tell you, they are pretty much unbreakable. Our 80 series has well over 400k on the clock and still going well.

If you are going to be towing that sort of weight, make sure it has heavy duty springs in the back to accommodate the weight. The regular springs will make the back end sag with that weight.