Toyota Turbo VS Nissan Turbo 4.2/3.0 as Tow Vehicles

Check post #17161 JohnZA did a back to back test.

Hey mate,

The 4.2 Tojo would be the pick of the bunch ONLY if you intended on towing on the blacktop. IFS in my own opinion does not allow for the same sort of suspension upgrades you can get on the GQ/GU's.

Financially, a 'sweep out' tojo TD will set you back around 70k, but the power, man, had a run in a mates the other day, puts you back in your seat. I would love to see one of those with a powerup! From the showroom, tojo quote 150kw's at the fly, some 35kw's more than the 4.2 GU.

For 50k for a 4.2TDI GU, plus 2k for a powerup, you have a more powerful tow vehicle and 18g's in the pocket to spend on toys!!!

The 100 series looks tough with lift, sexy wheels and mudders. Sound good too with big exhaust...mmmmmmmmm.

My own opinion only and trying very hard not to start debate. ;-)

Cheers

Chris.

get the 3.0 . I havent heared of any problems ......................;-)

Interesting the debate so far is on power, but for towing the larger better brakes of the 100, along with the power, especially once dtronic goes in, and the IFS for better road handling would make the better tow vehicle of the choices in IMHO, though given a recent tow test in a caravan magazine comparing the diesel and petrol prado's saw the V6 petrol come out $2000 cheaper to run over 100,000km why not forget about the oil burner and look at something with more grunt, and if in Vic, the petrol is around 7-10c a litre cheaper than diesel as well currently........

Bjorn,I have owned and towed with both (4.2,3.0 Turbo Nissan).
3.0 litre the best tow car.
It is all about inertia,the 3.0 litre produces more power and torque and carries out passing much better than the 4.2.
The pick up on acceleration is superior as there are less frictional losses with the 4 against the six.
Admittingly the 6 may have a longer service life,but the fuel consumption of the 4 is much better and the running costs should be lower.
Regards

My 2003 Automatic NISSAN 3.0 litre gets close to 10L/100 on the highway with little load and about 15 to 16L/100 towing 2 tonnes of tandem caravan.

I found a auto turbo cruiser was about $27,000 more than a auto turbo NISSAN. In other words I got the van for free. I just couldn't afford the cruiser.

I found the Nissan tows very well and has heaps more power than my previous TDI discovery. I liked the TDI but it's towbar down weight capacity was to low at 150Kg whereas the Nissan is 350Kg with some minor limitations that do not have an effect on my towing setup.
Incidenty I had the TDI for about six years and had only one problem, the steering damper almost fell off at about 5000K's.
It managed about 14L/100 towing 1600Kg tandem.
We just finished about 10,000K's towing and from looking around the various van parks the Nissan is becoming the tow vehicle of choice. I feel this is mainly due to the cost of purchase. Tojo are pricing themselves out of the game hence the smaller versions that are really a poor copy of the original.

Pooley