GU Patrol Towing Comparisons

I think you will find the manual has a higher limit than an automatic in the 3lts.

I would say the 2500kg limit is the appropriate limit but with later caravans being heavier customers wanted more and Nissan went back to their engineers and got them to sharpen their pencils to what is the absolute limit for the vehicle.

A bit annoying if you have one badged for 2500kg. You could get an engineer approval to up the tow limit.

David

Might have something to do with engines exploding!

You will find that the 4.2 TD ute has the 2.5 t tow capacity as well in manual form. The coil sprung version had a sliding scale of tow capacity depending on what was put in the back.

Rgds


Mark

G/Day All

We have the Nissan 2008 3ltr Auto, in the book it says maximum 2500kg for towing, after having our van weighed fully loaded we are just under, the maximum, we don't have any trouble towing what we have got at the moment, but if we upgraded to a larger van I would have second thoughts, about getting the new nissan when it arrives next year.

Cheers

Other things to factor are engine braking and diffs and brakes and there construction.

All 4.2 have the smaller rear diffs whereas the 4800's and 3lts have a mixture ,the manuals have larger diffs , then we come to the brakes the 4800 have larger brakes.

The auto 4800 also has the newer 5 speed 2 stage gearbox , which partly makes up for having the same diff as 3 lt auto.

The manual 4800 is only one with both larger brakes and rear diff

The 4.2 has significantly more engine retardation combined with being a manual partly offsetting is smaller rear diff.

I was under the impression that the whole drive train in the 3.0 Auto was lighter therefore restricted the capacity.
Rather funny considering you really hear about autos blowing up but a lot about motors beating them to it


LOL

Its the gear box, Autos are rated lower than manuals

All vehicles really have the sliding scale for towball down force - you cannot fill her up with gear then ignore the 100kg downforce from the caravan!!
GVM - vehicle max full (including downforce of trailer)
GCM - (light vehicles dont strictly have this but do have max towing capacity so its the same) max weight of vehicle and trailer ie GVM + max tow capacity

JR

The 3ltr model also has less engine braking resistance than the 4.2 d and smaller diameter disk rotors than the petrol 4.8