New tow vehicle required.....

[toy77]

Hi there guys,

After hurting the auto in my injected GQ patrol i have been considering my options. I have bought a new boat which when loaded will weigh more then the 2500kg my patrol can legally tow. So we are looking at the upgrade to 3500kg tow capacity.

The contenders i have thought suit me -

Patrol TB48
100 series turbo diesel cruiser
100 series v8 cruiser/ lexus
100 series 6cyl petrol.

I am also unsure on transmission reliability with this much weight behind them. I really like towing with my Auto - and the patrol actually pulls it ok... so i figure the power of all these is a fair bit better than my GQ.

I would like a turbo diesel - but i dont think my budget will get me one with kms i would like...

What i would like from you guys is opinions on the reliabilty and ability to tow this load with these vehicles, and also which transmission setup... as well as possible weak points.

I have driven both a manual and auto tb48 patrol, and was really unimpressed with the manual - but loved the auto one.
I am a toyota boy at heart (missus drives an is200 and i have a 77 celica with late supra running gear etc) so have no probs changing brands...

My budget will be in the early 20's maybe stretch for a good turbo diesel. would like to keep it cheaper obviously... i only do around 10k a year most years... but do like the option of touring with the big girl.

Thanks in advance
Cheers
Stew

[thelux]

My mate has a petrol 100 series and it tows his HUGE boat no worries. However the turbo diesel 100 series do it much much easier.

We headed to Willowglen with a few mates and they had a turbo diesel 100 auto with his comp truck on a trailer with both cars full of camping gear and he was overtaking us going up hills.

[chimpboy]

I suppose you would snicker if I suggested a turbo diesel Discovery, with that handy self-levelling rear suspension.

[slowhilux]

Stew,
100 series TD with 5 sp. auto, hands down.
Just put one of these combos into my 80 series, farkin' winnah combination!

Although with your budget, the 1FZFE 105 series is probably the best option (with an off the shelf turbo kit)...............

[sierrajim]

I suppose you would snicker if I suggested a turbo diesel Discovery, with that handy self-levelling rear suspension.

How would the short wheelbase tow in a side wind with a big boat in tow?

Stew,
100 series TD with 5 sp. auto, hands down.
Just put one of these combos into my 80 series, farkin' winnah combination!

Absolutely but the budget is in the $20's. A factory TD 100 series Cruiser might be a little hard to find in that range, let alone a 5 speed (2002 onwards).


Although thirsty a 4.8 GU would be your best bet in that price range.

[buff man]

have a look at chev 2500 dual cabs, a bit bigger than a standard 4x4 but they make mince meat of 5-6 tonne loads. a 2003 or later are great tow veichles and about the same price as a v8 cruiser. look up VICTORIA AMERICA IMPORTS in vic. and they also have allison auto transmission TUFF AS !!!

[ISUZUROVER]

I suppose you would snicker if I suggested a turbo diesel Discovery, with that handy self-levelling rear suspension.

How would the short wheelbase tow in a side wind with a big boat in tow?

Very well.

[toy77]

Thanks guys,

Yeah i thought the TD cruiser would be the pick, unfortunately looking around i am only finding examples with 260,000kms for around 32 grand... i have heard of them being picked up better than that though...

The patrols with the 5 speed auto are deffinately cheaper with much lower kms...

And found a great looking lx470 with 125kms for $25k

How are these later autos for reliability? i find out now that hurting mine in my GQ is pretty common towing heavy loads.... I would prefer the auto as it is so much easier towing - as well as i like them off road... but i dont want to break them if the manual is much stronger...

As for the discovery - always scared of rovers - i have a discovery at the moment (borrowed from a mate while i sort my patrol), it is a 2000 model v8... it is deffinately less stable than my patrol with the boat on the back, and deffinately pulls it no better - despite its extra tonne of towing capacity. It was very cheap though.
It would take a pretty decent agruement to convince me they are the way to go - but i am always open to suggestions...

Thanks again guys and keep the info coming... particuarly reguarding any weaknesses of particular models.

Cheers
Stew

[oldmate]

Have you considered where you will be towing the boat? If it's out on the freeway you won't regret getting a big heavy 4wd like the 100 series or patrol. If it's just around town to the boat ramp a discovery is just as good.

If the budget stretches, aim for the 5speed auto in the landcruiser. the lower first gear makes for better towing performance off the line. Strength is no issue so long as servicing is kept up.

Can't comment on the patrol, but either way if you do alot of towing you will have to change the fluid much more regularly to keep it going. When buying second hand particually with high kays you'll also want to see proof that the whole car has been serviced properly, especially when you'll be loading it up with 3 tonne or so.

[nerida67]

Did your patrol have a remote tranny cooler before it shat itself ???
Most of the auto troubles are from running to hot
The tranny cooler does help in this instance
Why not get the auto rebuilt to suit your application,
Rather than sell at a loss and spent on someone elses trouble

Not sure with your budget what youll end up with
Im real impressed how the 80 series Turbo diesel autos tow
Lots and lots of power
Not sure how the 100 series compare
For me its either a Patrol or L/C
Others could do it,but you really have to look at the big picture
Service costs,repair costs and parts availability

[toy77]

Hi,

Yes it did have a brand new radiator with new oil cooler, as well as a large external tranny cooler as well.

I would love to keep the truck - and i would build that auto properly to suit - EXCEPT my car doesnt have the legal capacity to tow my boat.

[slowhilux]

OK, for your budget you can get a V8 100 series with 5 speed auto (brilliant, tough gearbox), with a few KM's on it (dont be put off by this!). it will tow the tinny with minimal fuss. will be heavy on the juice, but at 10Kkm/year who gives a fark??

How is the old 28 goin??

Phill

[toy77]

Hey Phil.....

The celica gets picked up tomoz... just had a cage fitted and truetrac fitted in the rear..
all going on.. 1j, single turbo, autronic etc etc.....

The car also has to tow this one - but on the trailer, it only weighs about half the weight of the boat....

You reackon the v8 cruiser is the go over the patrol?
What year did the v8's got to the 5 speed from the 4 speed?
Is there much difference?

Cheers
Stew

[Ice]

for that sort of budget id probally look at a 4t little isuzu truck

[howsie]

4t izuzu not much good for touring which he'd like to keep. id go either the td or v8 cruiser. i love my manuals myself but the 5sp is much better than the 4sp auto. The other thing to remember as stated above when towing regularly change fluids twice as often

[toy77]

Thanks for all the replies guys....

Yeah the truck is not really what i am chasing.... plus i drive it to work.

the missus has decided i cant buy the 6 cyl petrol cruiser...

So it is likely going to be either a v8 cruiser or the patrol... (though i will look at a diesel cruiser and see how it goes too)

What is the big difference or advantage of one over the other?

Cheers
Stew

[slowhilux]

1HDFTE 100 series (5 speed auto if you can)
- will tow your boat or house with no fuss, add chip, exhaust, mucho better
- ALOT more exxy than the V8 , and for good reason
- change oil/filters from 5000-10000km, depending on the driving your doing
- change timing belt/injector lines every 150000km
-will do 500000km before even consider wear parts

2UZFE 100 series (again, 5 speed auto)
-will tow your boat or house with minimul fuss, but rev harder doing it (TD diffs are 3.909:1, V8 are 4.3:1)
-will use a shiteload more fuel than the TD
-do quite well with bigger exhaust and extractors, but is exxy to do
-change oil every 10000km
-change spark plugs every 100000km
-change timing belt every 150000km

cant answer for the TB48 patrols though

[toy77]

Thanks for that guys...

Though after a discussion with my engineer yesterday discussing modifications to my freshly repaired GQ - we can upgrade the towing capacity, to a point where it will be legal to tow my boat.

So looks like i will still with old faithful for the time being.

Thanks again for all the input.

cheers
Stew

[Moonshine]

have a look at chev 2500 dual cabs, a bit bigger than a standard 4x4 but they make mince meat of 5-6 tonne loads. a 2003 or later are great tow veichles and about the same price as a v8 cruiser. look up VICTORIA AMERICA IMPORTS in vic. and they also have allison auto transmission TUFF AS !!!

yeah the allison auto is defs the way to go if your doin an auto for towing, they are very simple and are used in the M113 APC and ASLAV and they cop and absolute hammering. so best bet would be that mate

[thehanko]

My td42 low km GU cost under your budget anmd tows too well. I pull a 2.5t load about from time to time and have to keep stopping myself reaching for 5th gear (better for the box to stay in 4th) and the first time i towed with it i found myself doing 130km/h everytime i looked down until i got used to the fact that it did it so easily.

Mine has had boost and fuel redone for a few extra Nm than a stocker but it really does do it easily.