Garthski replied:

Cruiser,
Caravan and Motorhome edition no50 has a tow test between a petrol and diesel prado......

vans were kedron atv of 19ft tandems and atm of 2200kg.
tested with both vans at 2250kg

at 100,000 kms

Petrol
fuel- $17,290
servicing- $2140
Total- 19,430

Diesel
fuel- $13,585
servicing $ 3840
Total- $17,425

These numbers were extrapolated using fuel consumtion figures for the test of
18.2 l/100km petrol
and
14.3 l/100kms diesel

fuel cost was 95cents /litre. LOL....old magazine but not that old

Quotes from the story

"prado is an excellent mid range tow vehicle as this test demostrates. Both vehicles performed brilliantly, even though they were pulling close to their limits at 2250kg.
Stability under tow was superb-partly because of the ladder chassis and constant four wheel drive systems."

on the auto transmission
"...electronically controlled automatics rule the roost too. For towing purposes, the seamless power delivery with minimal time out for gearshifts is absolutely perfect.
Quite frankly if it gets better than this, its because it's a five speed auto."

"The new prado like it's older brother, is one of the best towing platforms on the market...."

So basically they gave both of them a pretty good rap.
Just need to decide petrol or diesel and if a diesel if you want to wait for the new motor in about sept or october! Same diesel as the new hilux I would guess

Ps my as yet undisclosed interest is I have a petrol prado and I'm also waiting for my new Kimberley Karavan to be built so as yet haven't done any heavy towing.

But come October I'll be somewhere in the great outdoors enjoying the country and all it has to offer.

Cheers
Garth

Muddy doe (SA) replied:

I am regularly towing a trailer that is around 1100 to 1200kg with a 2004 Turbo Diesel GXL Manual and you hardly know it is there. The prado is not a fast vehicle to start with but putting that sort of weight on just does not seem to affect it too much. Can't comment above that weight.

Muddy

adamj1300 replied:

These numbers were extrapolated using fuel consumtion figures for the test of
18.2 l/100km petrol
and
14.3 l/100kms diesel

if ur claiming that whilst towing id strongly suggest u go & re check those figures, with over 2 t at ur back nothing will return u those kinda of figures!

the lastest edition of overlander mag is currently doing a tow test including a number of 4wds over the next few editions

Dazmit replied:

I had the previous model (90 series) turbo diesel Prado manual towing a 2.25 tonne (empty) van and even on slight rises at lights etc it needed clutch slipping to get it off the line - I would certainly buy an auto.
The engine pulled the weight fine but I had to upgrade to a Cruiser so I could actually pack the van. Huge differance in stability though with the Cruiser and I hadn't realised how much the van was pushing the prado around until I changed vehicles.
With regards to the empty weight - Don't believe it - lot's of people have been caught out by what the dealer states the weight will be and when the van is put over a weighbridge then surprise surprise the van can be commonly 200kg heavier than plated.
One guy on the Caravanners forum had the max weight stipulated on his van contract to suit his near new Paj - funny how the plate had looked liked it had been altered to suitable figures and didn't end up matching a weighbridge weigh in - he ended up having to sell Paj and bought a new Pathfinder.

Cheers

Darryl
Brisbane

Member - andrew G (VIC) replied:

hope you get a reply, i have the same question prado to tow our offroad van i was goin to use our pathy but too heavy i think?think prado may be a good tow vehical has better rear end apparently doesnt sag so much.