looking for a 3Lt T/D Hi Lux

depends how big or heavey ur van is & whats ur budget
are u after the newer hilux or the older ones with the 3 litre donk in them
mind u id personaly go a navera i think around 99 or 00 on wards cheaper, more power, & better towing capacity!

Only problem with the Patrol is that it is as you quite rightly say - a truck - and who wants to go four wheel driving in a truck when you can do it in comfort in a Cruiser or Prado?

Hi Andy,

Granted, but so is the Cruiser. At least in size. The independant front end doesn't lend itself to a lift, same goes for the Prado on that count.

My lovely wife would probably prefer the Prado but if what I'm looking for is a bigger diesel to do some towing work I don't end up far in front of what I've got now. 2.5ltr to 3 ltr isn't much of a step up though the Prado motor is possibly a far better motor technologically than what I have already.

I need to talk to a few Prado owners who have carted off road campers around in the high country to see where they've gone towing what. My wife is of the opinion that now we have it, she'll go if we take it. I have the opinion that some trips are still better suited to tents, she's wearing that argument for the next trip as I've argued that we will slow the group down needing lower gears than them for the same climbs. But I can see that when I want to go into the Wonnangatta in November/December again she will want to go for a week in the camper rather than a tent. I know I use low first now for some climbs so I'm figuring I am going to need more power therefore bigger truck to get in with an OR camper on the back. I could probably get up some of those climbs in low 2nd but don't see the point in flogging the truck to do it so it's certainly not working hard in low 1st. How much harder would it work towing an 800kg trailer?

Maybe I'm wrong - but we would find an extra couple of seats useful too which is the other reason for an upgrade. The only way to find out is to go and try but that's a time consuming exercise if unsuccessful. It's also harder to reverse out of difficulty when towing.

We've been where we want to get to with a petrol GQ towing a T'van. They are fairly heavy compared to our Kanga. Dunno really. Til we try a few things and see where we get to we won't really know.

Dave

Yes look guy's ,should have explained the van weighs 1250K's, and have used a 2001 Patrol to tow and got fantastic consumption {7.3 K's to the Lt towing and 10.5 not}, so I'd have to say a 3Lt T/D engine is the only way to go, the down side of the Patrol is parts, they are not stupid but more insane, fuel pump at 5 grand, turbo at 7 grand, and a small mortgage for an engine is to say the least scary, anyhow I'd heard good reports from the Prado and am now looking at buying one , after speaking to mister bank manager and arranging a loan from him,it's just a matter of finding one ,that should be easy aye ??? if only.......... to get the right model right mileage and service history etc is a nightmare, and then theres the haggling over the price etc, that's why I was thinking of an older surf, but all to no avail at the mo' anyhow I'm going to bury my head in the sand and it will all sort itself out , but thanks for the input it's appreciated,
best regards,
Dave