3 TON TOWING???

Submitted: Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 16:15
ThreadID: 65181 Views:21572 Replies:12 FollowUps:38
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Anyone know of any vehicles that tow 3 ton???
But arent brand new and cost to much?
Something on the more older side...
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
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Reply By: Sir Kev & Darkie - Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 16:24

Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 16:24
100 Series Landcruisers, Nissan Patrols, Ford F Trucks even a Lawn Rover ;)


Cheers Kev
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Follow Up By: Member - Malcolm (Townsville) - Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 16:58

Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 16:58
Nissan Patrol Auto is only 2500 kg
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Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 19:52

Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 19:52
Just to clarify things Malcolm A Nissan Grenade 3.0 auto is only rated at 2.5 tonne.

A 4.2 can tow 3.5 tonne auto or manual.


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Follow Up By: Member - Malcolm (Townsville) - Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 20:04

Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 20:04
I thought 2500kg is the same as 2.5 Tonne.

I know nuttin bout 4.2 ;-)

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Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 20:14

Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 20:14
Yes it is but its the motor and gearbox that matters.

You said a Patrol Auto is only 2500kg or 2.5tonne.

However it is only the 3.0 litre auto that is limited to that.

The reason is that it has a lighter drive train than the others.


A 3.0 MANUAL or a 4.2litre anything can pull 3.5 tonne or 3500kg.

Cheers


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Follow Up By: Member - Malcolm (Townsville) - Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 20:56

Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 20:56
LOL

Actually we're both wrong !!

From the Nissan site ....

Rated Towing Capacity†
Trailer with brakes (kg)
3.0l 3200/2500 man/auto
4.2l 3500

at least it IS the correct info (I think - unless Nissan change it, or your log book says something else)

You REALLY Have to be sure. If you go over, your insurance company then has a loophole to disallow your claim.

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Follow Up By: Pat Malone - Sunday, Jan 18, 2009 at 20:41

Sunday, Jan 18, 2009 at 20:41
>A 4.2 can tow 3.5 tonne auto or manual.

4.2 never made with auto
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Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Sunday, Jan 18, 2009 at 21:37

Sunday, Jan 18, 2009 at 21:37
Agh well was nearly right but the 4.2 still can tow it.

Glad I didnt buy one then. Nearly did and then I would have found out I guess.


Cheers






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Follow Up By: Axel [ the real one ] - Monday, Jan 19, 2009 at 08:10

Monday, Jan 19, 2009 at 08:10
4.2 never made with auto ?? Rare yes , but available if you look hard enough.
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Reply By: The Landy - Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 16:25

Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 16:25
Bonzee

Sounds like a Landrover Defender foots the bill (3,500kg tow capacity). Plenty around that are on the 'older' side and don't usually cost as much as the more popular brands.

Cheers
AnswerID: 344653

Follow Up By: Sir Kev & Darkie - Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 16:26

Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 16:26
That's one I said hahaha
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Follow Up By: The Landy - Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 16:56

Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 16:56
Mind you I reckon I'd be able to get out and walk faster if I whacked 3,500kg on the back of the 110 (Red Rover).....

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Follow Up By: Member - Tour Boy- Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 17:05

Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 17:05
80 series cruisers. Just check which tow bar is fitted. There were two, a 2.5t and a 3.5t I don't know why and they looked the same.
Cheers,
Dave
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Follow Up By: Cruiser 2091 - Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 17:58

Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 17:58
The earlier 80 series were rated at 2.5 T and the later ones 3.5 T.
This was a change of specification only, no difference in the construction.
The change took place about 1996.
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Follow Up By: Member - Hairs & Fysh (NSW) - Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 19:33

Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 19:33
Yeap, your right Cruiser 2091,
August 96. This is from an email I sent Toyota,

"Unfortunately we do not have the answers as to why it was re-classified, Toyota management decided at the time, however we are not privvy as to why.

Im sorry for the inconvenience.

Regards,
-----------------------
Customer Relations Advisor
Customer Relations Centre
Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Limited"

Go figure.


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Reply By: spudnit - Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 17:40

Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 17:40
My nissan 4.2 td does it easily. I tow a 23ft van with it.
Peter
AnswerID: 344661

Reply By: Doodle - Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 17:50

Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 17:50
Have a look at the Jeep Grand Cherokee 3L CRD. Rated for 3,500kg tow and plenty of grunt with 510nm torque. Low fuel consumpsion and comfortable to boot. Late model resale value is pretty low.

Cheers
AnswerID: 344664

Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 19:54

Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 19:54
The sign that says there is only one Jeep is correct.

Pity it wasnt any good tho LOL
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Follow Up By: Ray - Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 08:55

Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 08:55
Yes there is only one Jeep but it is spelled G.P.
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Reply By: Willem - Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 20:11

Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 20:11
Towing is nothing

Stopping is everything

AnswerID: 344688

Follow Up By: Maîneÿ (wa) - Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 20:24

Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 20:24
would hope if any vehicle was 'rated' by it's manufacturer to tow 3 tonne or 3 ton or 3,OOO Kg, it would be also taking into account the same vehicles ability to safely stop with the added weight too :-)

Mainey . . .
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Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 20:47

Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 20:47
Yeeeeesssss....buuuutttttt!!!!!!!......LOL

You can move 3000kg forward with a Goggomobile but will it stop in time.

I wonder how this towing capacity is worked out? As stated, towing is nothing. But have the manufacturers taken into account the human content with stopping.

Australian towing laws state as a rule of thumb you may tow something 1½times the weight of the tow vehicle. Does that mean if my vehicle weigh 2000kg I can tow something to the weight value of 5000kg? I wonder. Or does it mean 3000kg?

I think that the Nissan Navara has a manufacturers towing rated capacity of 3000kg whereas the Patrol is less? I would like to see what happens in an emergency stopping situation.

Been there.........................

Cheers
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Follow Up By: Ianw - Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 21:13

Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 21:13
The Nissan Navara 2002 and 2003 D22 are rated for 3 tonne. Later ones are only 2800 kg.

However 3tonne ATM + 1895 Tare = 4895kg which is above GCM (4850kg) and therefore illegal !

Ian
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Follow Up By: Krakka - Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 16:53

Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 16:53
"Towind is nothing, Stopping is everything" Think you will find in South oz anyway, that any trailer over 750kg Must have brakes fitted. Therefore doesn't totally rely on your vehicles brakes only. Luckily I'd say in many cases.
Regards
Krakka
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Follow Up By: Hairs & Fysh (NSW) - Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 17:32

Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 17:32
Your dead right Willem,
Stopping is everything.
I find this works well.

Image Could Not Be Found
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Reply By: ats11279 - Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 09:14

Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 09:14
'04 Nissan Navara has 3000kg (braked) towing capacity.
AnswerID: 344733

Follow Up By: Ianw - Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 22:44

Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 22:44
But you can't tow 3 tonne legally !!!

Ian
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Follow Up By: ats11279 - Sunday, Jan 18, 2009 at 19:09

Sunday, Jan 18, 2009 at 19:09
The plate on the towbar and sticker on the drivers B-pillar say I can. I checked with both the local Nissan dealer and my insurance company prior to purchasing the vehicle and they both agreed.
I assume you believe this due to your earlier follow up regarding the vehicles GCM? The vehicles GCM is only increased by the towball weight (marked as a max of 250kg down weight the GVM must be reduced by 280kg)! So you can tow 3 tonne legally as long as your GVM is reduced by 280kg including the down weight as applied by the trailer. Or I misunderstand the relationship between GCM and GVM?
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Follow Up By: Ianw - Sunday, Jan 18, 2009 at 20:36

Sunday, Jan 18, 2009 at 20:36
Yes, you misunderstand GCM. Gross Combination Mass (GCM) is the combined weight of the vehicle and the trailer. Tare weight of the Nav (empty) is 1895 kg. If you add a 3000 kg trailer. your total weight is 4895 kg. The GCM (maximum combined weight of the two) for the Nav is 4850 kg. Therefore legally you can not do it. That is the reason Nissan reduced the towing weight to 2800 kg in the later year models. Same car, different specs, I assume because somebody pointed out the discrepancy to Nissan.
Even with 2800 kg on behind, add two people and a tank of fuel and you are over the limit again.
GVM and GCM are two totally different things.

Ian
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Reply By: Gronk - Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 09:29

Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 09:29
I don't think it matters what type of vehicle it is......towing at the maximum allowed limit of that vehicle is not something that should be encouraged....and anybody that says their vehicle tows at that limit "easily" is dreaming !!

Get a smaller van or get a bigger vehicle !!
AnswerID: 344738

Follow Up By: Member - Tony B (Malanda FNQ) - Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 17:02

Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 17:02
Gronk. I have to agree. My car boasts a 3ton braked towing capacity. But the young girl would be having a hard time in the hilly country towing that. I have trouble towing my boat on a hot day up a hill.
I also agree what Willem said above is not quite valid as all trailers over 750kg must be braked. Still it will always take longer to stop when towing, brakes or no brakes. Cheers Tony
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Reply By: Bonzee - Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 11:39

Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 11:39
woooow
great response!
thanx heaps for ur time guys, really appreciated!!
All in all, within all of these makes and models does anyone know a cheap side of these makes.
Bit low on cash after buying the boat which turned out to be 3.2 ton fully loaded (fuel and water etc etc..).
Something around the $5000 range??
or is this not possible?

thanks again
Bonz
AnswerID: 344752

Follow Up By: Member - Tony B (Malanda FNQ) - Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 12:30

Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 12:30
Bonz. Wooow $5000 to tow 3.2ton to quote a popular Aussy saying - "You're Dreaming". Must be a good boat, would like to see a photo of that - you show me yours and I will show you mine! Your going to have to look at the tow capacity of an old Ford bronco for that money. Not sure that $5000 will buy what you are after. Best of luck. Regards Tony
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Reply By: Flywest - Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 13:56

Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 13:56
$5 K ? :shocked:

Struth - your boat will take more than that in fuel just to fill it up! ;o)

Tell you what - add $100K to your $5K, and you can have my tow rig - she will pull your boat all day at 100k like it isn't there at about 20liters / 100km's.



When towing you'll get about 1250 kms between fills with the 250 liter long range diesel tank and 146 liters of LPG in the back.

Whats an extra $100K these days - you can't take it with you when you go & he who dies with the most toys wins! ;o)

Ohh and about the 1996 80 seriers cruiser towng capacity upgrade...from 2500 - 3500 kilo's

Well Landcruiser upgraded the size of the front and rear disc rotors and brake calipers / pads in 1996 for the upgraded towing capacity - this is why the wheel rin size indcreased from 15 inch to 16 inch to accomodate the larger disc rotors & calipers!

Also in 1996 the toyota engineers uprated the Hayman Reece drawbar by specifying the same 2 inch solid steel barstock drawbar to match that specified by Nissan engineers for their 4.2 TD patrol which came out with the 3500 kilos tow rating and was killing cruisers in sales volumes for a couple years from about 1994 & 1995 as a result until Toyota re rated the identical Hayman Reece tow hitch that Hayman reece was fitting to their 4.2 TD's.

The only difference prior to that (excluding the smaller breaks) was that the Toyotas had a 2 inch rolled hollow section drawbar inside the hayman reece hitch.

The Hayman REece Hitch part numbers remain identicle today between the pre and post 1996 80 series fixture - only the solid barstock 2 inch insert alteration was made.

Just fitting a solid barstock drawbar doesnt automatically however uprate the pre 96 80 series to 3.5 tonnes because astated already the stopping power isn't as good on the pre 1996 80 series due to smaller disc rotors and break calipers / pads.

You can upgrade the pre 96 80 series to the later larger disc rotors calipers - but you have to upgrade the rims to 16inches to accomodate the changes as well.

Providing you did BOTH alterations the pre '96 80 sereis SHOULD be capable of being ceritified to tow 3500 kilos.

Probably easier to buy a '96 or '97 80 series already rated to tow 3500 kilos but good luck finding one for $5K.

Back when I did the same dumbazzed thing (bought a big boat) - I ended up getting first the '92 80 series for some $26K and doing all the conversions to make it legal to tow the boat - only too find - it wasn't really heavy enough to hold the road well with the boat on the back.

Stiff breezes and passing road trains would push and suck the boat half way across the double white lines into the path of oncomming and overtaking trucks - it was white knuckle driving!

Example 7 hours to tow Perth to Geraldton averaging mybe 75kph!

In the end I bought the F 250 to tow the boat which it does with ease.

B
O
A
T

Break
Out
Another
Thousand $

You'll get used too it!

Cheers
AnswerID: 344772

Follow Up By: Member - Tony B (Malanda FNQ) - Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 17:08

Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 17:08
Flywest - Good on you! No way I will show you mine now - yours is bigger than mine :-) Bathplug!!!!!!!!
Great Boat Mate! Thats a dreamboat for me
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Follow Up By: Axel [ the real one ] - Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 18:51

Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 18:51
Bigger brakes + wheels from 93 onwards in the 80 series but towing capacity not changed till 96.
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FollowupID: 612780

Follow Up By: Willem - Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 21:33

Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 21:33
Flywest

So are you the fella holding the fish in the photo?

Now you are no longer anonymous on ExplorOz.....LOL


Cheers
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Follow Up By: Flywest - Sunday, Jan 18, 2009 at 16:57

Sunday, Jan 18, 2009 at 16:57
Willem

I never was "anonymous" - and google search of Flywest will find me without much trouble! ;o)

Yes thats me holding the fish -

A dictionary search under "most banned from forums poster" shows a photo of me also! ;o)

I have hundreds of nice fish photos to share for anyone interested.....although I now realise no one wants to see a fat ol fella in fish photos so these days my 18 year old daughter is the "Calendar Girl"

Viz:



















Bless her - this year Heather (my daughter) managed to get a couple of her photos included in New Zealands answer to Rex Hunt - 'Billy Hohepa's" 2009 Australian Fishing Calendar...

http://www.fishinghohepa.co.nz

I'm hardly anonymous guys...been round since Noah was fishing the wild west.

Cheers
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Follow Up By: Maîneÿ (wa) - Monday, Jan 19, 2009 at 00:32

Monday, Jan 19, 2009 at 00:32
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Follow Up By: Member - Tour Boy- Monday, Jan 19, 2009 at 09:09

Monday, Jan 19, 2009 at 09:09
August/Sept 92 was the change over in brakes and to 16" wheels (ie series 1 to series 2)
Cheers,
Dave
2010 Isuzu FTS800 Expedition camper
2015 Fortuner
Had 72 cruisers in my time

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Reply By: Member - Lionel A (WA) - Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 17:43

Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 17:43
Bonzee, no problems, $5000 will get you a good MQ or a modest GQ Patrol LWB T/D 4.2 or the P40 petrol.

Maybe not as refined as the newer cars but twice as tough.

Dragged a 4280 kg tri-axle trailer and boat from Perth to Derby last year, heavy on fuel and a little slow on some the steeper hills, but had no dramas.

Trailer did have electric brakes but they were playing up, so I disengaged them. Just meant I had to be alert and fully aware how I drove the vehicle.

Having said this, I never did check the towing capacity of the MQ, but the reece hitch did have a plate attached that said 4500 kg.

I think you can get a little too bogged down with legalities, insurance, do's & dont's, etc.

Cheers.....Lionel.
AnswerID: 344803

Follow Up By: Member - Lionel A (WA) - Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 17:59

Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 17:59
PS....Did have to fit a 75mm ball though.
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Follow Up By: Ianw - Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 22:56

Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 22:56
"Legalities" are there for the safety of all, and should NOT be ignored just because you are getting "bogged down" ! If thats your attitude then I hope you get sprung !!

Ian
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Follow Up By: Member - Lionel A (WA) - Sunday, Jan 18, 2009 at 16:03

Sunday, Jan 18, 2009 at 16:03
Eat my shorts.
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Follow Up By: Pat Malone - Sunday, Jan 18, 2009 at 20:49

Sunday, Jan 18, 2009 at 20:49
Ian W

we know what the W stands for, rimes with merchant banker
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Follow Up By: Ianw - Sunday, Jan 18, 2009 at 23:06

Sunday, Jan 18, 2009 at 23:06
So, another who thinks they are above the law!! Why do some people think the law doesn't apply to them?

Dont come near me or my family on the road please, you are not safe to be near. If you ignore the law you should be kept off the road !

Ian
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FollowupID: 612987

Follow Up By: Member - Lionel A (WA) - Monday, Jan 19, 2009 at 08:10

Monday, Jan 19, 2009 at 08:10
Ian, I have never ever thought I was above the Law.
A: The patrol is a solid, heavy, strong and powerful car.
B: A test tow around the local area suggested the vehicle and hitch were up to the job.
C: The brake problem happened in the middle of no where. Rather than sit on the side of the road, I decided to carry on and get the job done.
D: Finance, haulage people quoted $10,000 to do the job. I did it for $2000.
E: The Law may have changed over the last 20 years but the Patrol has'nt.
F: You only have to read many of the posts on this forum and it becomes apparent that if you adhere to every law, insurance criteria, towing capacity etc, you would be lucky to get away on any trip.
G: The Law is fine but what about the human input, experience, judgement, its all been taken away from us.

H: No wish to harm your family or anyone elses. Stay out of my way and you should be ok.....hahaha.

Cheers......Lionel.
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FollowupID: 613013

Follow Up By: The Landy - Monday, Jan 19, 2009 at 10:01

Monday, Jan 19, 2009 at 10:01
Hi Lionel

Whilst acknowledging that the law needs to be respected; I think you make a valid point that the law has changed and not necessarily the capacity of the vehicle(s) to undertake the job.

I often wonder how much of the change in legalities is based on imperical evidence that vehicles and equipment we once thought were satisfactory for a particular job are no longer suitable, or is it just that we have become a more litigious society ruled by lawyers with a greater need to blame somebody when it goes wrong?

The need that someone has to pay syndrome...Therein lies the problem; motor vehicle manufacturers produce vehicles that are very capable of a variety of functions, but they want limitations placed on them because they don't want to face litigation claims when someone uses it in the way intended, but has an accident.
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FollowupID: 613032

Reply By: Member - Terry W (ACT) - Sunday, Jan 18, 2009 at 18:29

Sunday, Jan 18, 2009 at 18:29
Land Rover Discovery 2 can tow 3,500 kg with a max of 250 kg on the ball. We use ours to tow a van just over 2.5 tonne. Handling, braking and comfort are outstanding, power (standard 4 litre V8 auto) is just adequate, but we upgraded to the 4.6 which is fine. The TD5 is probably better to tow with due to the torque at lower RPM. And no, it doesn't breakdown all the time as some would have you believe.

However, despite loving the Disco, the fact that most big vans we see are towed by LC100s, that would seem to be a bit of a clue as to what is best if you can afford it.

Cheers,

Terry
AnswerID: 344958

Reply By: Bonzee - Friday, Jan 23, 2009 at 16:47

Friday, Jan 23, 2009 at 16:47
Nice options guys! the MQ is looking pretty promising.
One more question.
When it comes to the Landcruisers, ive been told that around 96' and up are the landcruisers that fit a 3.5 ton towbar. Is this correct? the 80 series landcruisers???
ive been looking at the HZJ75RP and the HZJ75RV.
Whats the verdict?
thanks again for your time.
much appreciated!
AnswerID: 345662

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