Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Ok guys, looking to buy a new tourer/tow car. I've got a trusty 4.2 turbo wagon at the moment, but I despretley need a ute and something a little more comfy. Ive been thinking bout a d40 navara, I'm just not to sure about towing with it. Sur they are rated to 3.5t braked but how do they really handle it. I wanna tow my patrol comp truck (2t) tools and camping gear (500kg) and plus the trailer so I'll be up around 3.3t.

I'm after some real world experience with these common rail Diesels towing, How they go with hills, economy and if things wear out quickly. Keep in mind I would only be towing this about once a month.

Anyone else doing this?

most are only 3 tonne limit or under d 40 is 3t

I'm not quite sure which 4.2t wagon you have, but if it's an 80 series or something coily then you will be taking a backwards step in comfort if you hop into a leaf sprung ute.
I don't own one of the new td utes myself but have towed a fair bit with a td hilux auto, on long highway hills which would cause an unloaded crummydore or falcon to kick back from overdrive to maintain the speed limit, the auto lux with a small excavator on a trailer behind (2.5t all up) would hold overdrive, effortless towing. As for economy the difference was marginal, maybe an extra litre per 100, not really noticable, I think this was due to the engine not having to do anything different than normal as it didn't feel the extra load.
As for longevity, I can't comment as I only had it for 6 months.

Dual cab 100 series? Dual cab gu? Dual cab 70 series with coil onverted arse end?

we have used rodeo and navarra. not sure about the rest.

both use more fuel than id like when towing - rodeo tiny arse tank had a range as little as 170km per fill!!! had to start carrying jerry cans to make it between fuel stations this was towing a huge trailer which weighed about 2.5t. (equivalent size of a double car trailer).

Navarra is a bit better but they struggle with a first gear being too tall, making them heavy on clutches especially for towing.

both i would want under warranty - both have had failures ranging from turbos to diffs - the rodeo was far less reliable than the navarra.

I use my td42 patrol - prefer it hands down - not as schmick but its only a dx, uses about 1/2 the fuel towing the big loads, but uses a touch more fuel around town.

personally i think new diesels are great for normal driving - i dont like them as tow rigs. they just dont suit it as well. but for new dual cabs... you dont get a choice these days and thats not going to change.

id buy a petrol 100 series convert to v8 diesel or the last of 4.2 td 6's and cut into a ute - the ultimate. you would get that built for the price of a new hilux.

but thats not for everyone, Have fun.

Test drive a new Ranger, I reckon they will be excellent for towing, mountains of torque and good gearing.

chunks wrote:Test drive a new Ranger, I reckon they will be excellent for towing, mountains of torque and good gearing.

Really? Mountains of Torque? Carbuddy quotes 380Nm, whereas the Nav D40 is quoted as having 403Nm or 550Nm, dep on spec...

Ranger:
http://www.carbuddy.com.au/car/values/s ... GER&y=2011" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nav D40
http://www.carbuddy.com.au/car/values/s ... 0%7e8E%7e2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
and
http://www.carbuddy.com.au/car/values/s ... 0%7e8L%7e5" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

RO8M.. try the all new PX Ranger 3.2 I5 147kw & 470 Nm,Not the old Mazda based PK model ...As quoted in "Carbuddy"

steff66 wrote:RO8M.. try the all new PX Ranger 3.2 I5 147kw & 470 Nm,Not the old Mazda based PK model ...As quoted in "Carbuddy"

That's a bit more betterer... I can't see any PX models in carbuddy though, you got a link?

http://www.ford.com.au/servlet/Satellit ... r&site=FOA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cool.

RO8M wrote:

chunks wrote:Test drive a new Ranger, I reckon they will be excellent for towing, mountains of torque and good gearing.

Really? Mountains of Torque? Carbuddy quotes 380Nm, whereas the Nav D40 is quoted as having 403Nm or 550Nm, dep on spec...

Ranger:
http://www.carbuddy.com.au/car/values/s ... GER&y=2011" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nav D40
http://www.carbuddy.com.au/car/values/s ... 0%7e8E%7e2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
and
http://www.carbuddy.com.au/car/values/s ... 0%7e8L%7e5" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The mistake many people make when comparing dual cabs and torque levels is the peak torque.....and not the actual torque curve itself.

Peak torque means jack shit if the torque "power band" is short and peaky like the Navara's is.

The hilux may have less torque but the torque curve being flat from 1600-3000rpm makes it alot more usable.

Not only that but tow limits are calculated differently aswell.

where the current hilux can only tow 2500kgs, it takes into considerration a full tray load aswell as the 2500kg behind the vehicle where other manufacturers dont include the vehicle being fully loaded and claim the maximum tow rate at 3000kgs, but fail to mention that this also includes the tray loaded.

always double check how they calculate the tow figures.

Having driven both the torque band and gearing in the Ranger is far, far more useable than that of the Hilux.