Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi there.

I am thinking of getting a 4 cyl diesel dual cab and need to tow a 2 tonne boat.

I am after any feedback from members who do this or have any particular recommendations.
The trailer is dual axle and cable-braked.

I am looking at Navara, Hilux, Triton, or even a dual-cab Patrol.

...or do I really need a 6-cly

ta

How far are you going to tow it? Just locally around town, or across the country. My 2.8 TD Rocky happily towed a car trailer and car from Brissy to Gladstone a couple of times. Obviously not travelling at hyper speed, but fast enough not to be a complete PITA to other road users. Obviously a 6 is going to haul better.

the weight is no problem.

we have a couple of navara's and tow 2 ton loads on the trailer + 1 ton on the deck with no problems. cruises quite nicly.

however the thing to watch with boats is they are aerodynamic bricks. a big canopy catches the wind big time and makes it feel like you towing 4 ton.

4 cyl is no problem, just don't push it too hard. they don't like running at max all the time. for the occasionally towing its fine. if your constantly towing big loads then a big fat 6 would be better.

my 3.0d hilux is not a fan of towing our boat which would be about 1200kg, struggles on the hills. probably be right if it had a turbo though.

personally id steer clear of the new hiluxes, at work we have 3, a single cab v6 auto and 2 4cyl manual dual cabs. The other week we needed the cherry picker off-site and with 3 people in the hilux it didnt wanna pull at all, it was like we were at sea with the cherry picker pushing and pulling the hilux so much, and we only had to go around the corner too!

Thanks for the advice.

I will be looking at something 2002 or newer but not new.
Perhaps if I get a non-turbo I can add one and maybe even gas injection.

my 3.0d hilux is not a fan of towing our boat which would be about 1200kg, struggles on the hills. probably be right if it had a turbo though.

with under 72 kw its alwasy going to struggle.

personally id steer clear of the new hiluxes, at work we have 3, a single cab v6 auto and 2 4cyl manual dual cabs. The other week we needed the cherry picker off-site and with 3 people in the hilux it didnt wanna pull at all, it was like we were at sea with the cherry picker pushing and pulling the hilux so much, and we only had to go around the corner too!

how heavy was the cherry picker?
some of the new deisels are fairly gutless on take off and some are so high geared you burn the clutch on take off. i havn't driven the new ones but they shoulkd have no trouble with such a light load.

I will be looking at something 2002 or newer but not new.
Perhaps if I get a non-turbo I can add one and maybe even gas injection.

anything non-turbo is going to be gutless. however with the right gearing it will do ok, just slow.

personally id steer clear of the new hiluxes, at work we have 3, a single cab v6 auto and 2 4cyl manual dual cabs. The other week we needed the cherry picker off-site and with 3 people in the hilux it didnt wanna pull at all, it was like we were at sea with the cherry picker pushing and pulling the hilux so much, and we only had to go around the corner too!

how heavy was the cherry picker?
some of the new deisels are fairly gutless on take off and some are so high geared you burn the clutch on take off. i havn't driven the new ones but they shoulkd have no trouble with such a light load.

No idea of the weight of the cherry picker, and the hilux is a petrol not diesel

grazza wrote:Thanks for the advice.

I will be looking at something 2002 or newer but not new.
Perhaps if I get a non-turbo I can add one and maybe even gas injection.

We have a 2.8 4m40 td pajero and its awesome. The newer tririn and paj with the 3.2 litre should be unreal

We tow our 6.2M Haines Hunter Warrior (1990kg) with a new D40 Navara. its the 2.5L turbo job mated to a 6 speed manual. Its awsome!!!!! sit on 110 all day (providing you have a decent boat trailer). going up hills is no issue we just drop it out of 6th into 5th (sometimes have to come back to 4th if really steep) let it rev so she isnt labouring her ring off and it will maintain speed. An absolute pleasure to drive with the boat on.

taking off up hills you have to ride the clutch a bit, other wise it will chirp the back wheels if you get into it but in saying that have never smelt the clutch burn. pullin the boat out of the water we just drop her into low range and its sweet, we rather tow it with the navara then the Turbo landcruiser.

So what would be the best dual-cab diesel for towing, from 2002 onwards?

Offroad ability is not the highest priority but I have heard that permanent 4WD/AWD is a good idea for stability, which I dont know if many dual-cabs have.

For torque I guess the biggest displacement 4-cyl would be the go - like the 3.2L mitsubishi.

I think any of the new breed of common rail turbo diesel utes will do the job with ease but if the budget doesn't permit then I would go either the D22 Navara with ZD30 or the older shape Hilux with the 3.0td 1KZ-TE.

I think any of the new breed of common rail turbo diesel utes will do the job with ease but if the budget doesn't permit then I would go either the D22 Navara with ZD30 or the older shape Hilux with the 3.0td 1KZ-TE.

Nev wrote:I think any of the new breed of common rail turbo diesel utes will do the job with ease but if the budget doesn't permit then I would go either the D22 Navara with ZD30 or the older shape Hilux with the 3.0td 1KZ-TE.

i would be inclined to give the early ZD30 navaras a miss (unless you get a 2003 or newer). the older 3.2 turbo ones should be allright tho or the 3 litre turbo hiluxs.

I'm towing all sorts of trailers for about 50k km's a year with my '04 Nissan Terrano with the 113kw ZD30 engine. Runs easily 120kph on the Autobahn towing a 2 axle trailer with a MQ shorty on the trailer all day long, even with the 265/70's on it.

Go the new Hilux TD i have towed my comp lux that weighs just under 2 tonne on my car trailer that weighs just under a tonne and it loved it!

I have also towed a 3.4 tonne 27 foot boat with 5 people in the cab (one of the guys would weigh 120kg+) and it ate it!!!

Love the new CRD's!

grazza wrote:So what would be the best dual-cab diesel for towing, from 2002 onwards?.

TD6 Dual cab conversion GU

bogged wrote:

grazza wrote:So what would be the best dual-cab diesel for towing, from 2002 onwards?.

TD6 Dual cab conversion GU

I am getting pretty close to making a decision on one, but its a 3.0L (series 3)

grazza wrote:I am getting pretty close to making a decision on one, but its a 3.0L (series 3)

apparently the ford courier (ranger ?) has the best towing capacity ?? anyone verify this ?

grazza wrote:

bogged wrote:

grazza wrote:So what would be the best dual-cab diesel for towing, from 2002 onwards?.

TD6 Dual cab conversion GU

I am getting pretty close to making a decision on one, but its a 3.0L (series 3)

This is what I was talking about: