1999 gu patrol 2.8 turbo diesel

theres on on ebay for $12k... 2.8 that is.

you would be better off with a TD6 4.2 GU by a long shot.

There is a big performance issue with the 2.8 just driving normally. I test drove one ages ago before I got the 4.5 and I was very disappointed and the fact that it had no go. My Hilux had more power, if you are going to be towing get something with a better engine.

I had a 1999 gu 2.8 and towed a jayco eagle outback with it. Did about 20000km's towing it half way round Australia. Once your moving it tows well but you have to ride the clutch if your trying to take off on any sort of an incline and around town with a camper it's not much fun. If your not towing there fine. I would go for the 3lt 2003 model or newer or a 4.2 is certinley the best option. My motor died at 170000km's and it now has a 6.5 chevy in it, that improved the towing. You can do what Bilbo did buy one with a stuffed motor for around $10000 and for another $25000 put a 6.5 in it. It's a nice package for $35000.

thanks guys. The bloke at RACV told me the same, underpowered and not much good for towing, and a nissan salesman told me to try an get a 2.8 TD cause they have great engines and are good for towing!! might keep saving for the 4.2

I have both at the moment, 98 2.8 TD and a 99 4.2 TD, the 2.8 isn't too bad in standard form, it lacks in bottom end power until the turbo kicks in around 2000rpm, after that it goes as well as a 4.2, that problem was fixed with a 'motsons chip' $1500 new, 7-900 2nd hand, no more slipping clutch on hill take-offs and goes slightly better than the 4.2 which has dump pipe, exhaust and tune-up done.
A former member on this site, 'Grungle', has a 99 GU which had a 2.8 in it with motsons and towed a KK on a regular basis, Had no problems and was a great tow vehicle for general travel, the only place it lacked was in the slower, crawl situations, he put in the lower rock crawling tranfer ratio's, this helped, but in the end he did a 4.2 conversion as he did a lot of competition style off roading where the bottom end power of the 4.2 is better.
So unless you're doing a lot of this style of off roading a 2.8 with a motsons will not only go and tow better than the 4.2, but will also consistantly return 7 - 8 km/lt (12.5 - 14.2lt/100km) compared to the 4.2 at 6.5 - 7km/lt (14.3 - 15.4lt/100km)
The reason some of us prefer the 4.2 is the proven reliability and simplicity of the engine, as well as the better bottom end for 'fairly serious' style off roading.
BTW, our 2.8 has 250,000 k's on it with the only problem being the injector pump, which is a common problem on 2.8's, had the spacer plate fitted, $120, this solved the problem on 90% of them, unfortunately mine was one of the very few where the pump went again 6 months later, replaced it with one from the wreckers off a low km exchange eng $600 supply and fit, no problems since.
If you're still undecided and live in brisbane you are quite welcome to take ours for a drive.

Avagoodn
Pezza

I had a 99 2.8 GU and sold it recently.. I towed a fully loade dbox trailer from Brissy to ADL with it and it coped just fine (couldn't sit on 100 all the way like I can with my new 4.2) but you get what you pay for. I sold it to a guy who turned around and towed a corona sedan back to brissy with it and he recons he had no troubles.
In my opinion, the 2.8 is not a good tow vehilce (it can but not real well) the 4.2 is far better siuted but of ocurse you do pay extra.. I would steer clear of the 2.8 if you plan to do a lot of towing. it is a little engine literally working it's ring gear out to pull all that weight.. That said.. as my first 'big' 4WD I was pretty happy with it in general.. I used it as a stepping stone to going the whole hog and buying the 4.2...