thinking of buying 100 series for towing please help!!!!!

Barb,

A better and cheaper option is a 4.8 Petrol Patrol on LPG. You'll save at least $20,000 on the purchase price, it has more power and is cheaper to run. A superb tow vehicle and bullet proof.

Auto is a 5 speed tiptronic and better than manual for towing because it has the same number of ratios and is easier to use for slow speed reversing and manoeuvring (no slipping of the clutch).

Disclaimer: LPG may expensive and/or have limited availability in remote areas.

Cheers,

Jim.

Ahhh Jim, peddling the LPG line again, Hi Barb, i have a 100 series T/D Auto and have a 19' van, without all the unrelated rubbish that most post i average on the highway with cruise 14l/100. it pulls the van along effortlessly.Yes there are many other options(cheaper vehicle or LPG) but it all depends on what you want/expect from the vehicle. For touring you can not look past a diesel,they have the economy and power,LPG is cheap but not when you are towing,my 80 series was petrol/pg and it was useless for touring.towing i was lucky to get 300k's on 75ltrs gas, on fuel was not much better. you just have to weigh up all the pro's and con's(extra cost of 100 T/D initially) but it will always hold its value and be a reliable tow vehicle.as for manual or auto, i could not go past the 5 speed auto,smooth,refined and as for the economy-i dont think there is much in it.maybe someone with a manualT/D could give some figures.

We use a HDJ100R (05 GXL TD - manual - constant 4WD) to tow our new Trakmaster (tare 2300). All seems fine so far - only been vanning for 3 months. I was originally looking for an auto, but the manual came at auction with so much fruit that I couldn't resist. Seems a moot point in the end though - the manual provides very positive engine braking on descents, but with 4 x 12" electrics, the van can look after itself quite well too. An auto would shine for take offs on slopes etc. in that the manual requires clutch slip in high range, to get going on slopes - not good. As a result, I often take off in low range and go back up to high range when mobile (on the fly). With a modest load in the car and the van at about 2700kg I guess, we get 16L/100km cruising at around 80 - 85kmh. Tail winds, head winds, higher speeds, hills etc will vary that of course, but with a light foot, TD's don't give disgusting variation in economy.

Have LC 100 series turbo diesel manual packed to the rafters and putting a boatloader on top next week with 3.4 dingy. towing 28' spaceland van the LC towes it no problems tow in 4th gear. economy not sure and if I had to worry to much about that (I budget) I may as well stay home you need to buy fuel anyway home or away. dont worry just enjoy or stay an extra week or two every so often in some wonderful places don't rush smell the flowers.

I'd highly recommend the 5 speed auto over the original 4 speed auto. A much better drive with the newer box in it - assuming that you are looking at autos at all?

Now for some realistic figures

2005 LC TD auto always tow in 4th

Av fuel consumption so far after 28,000 km is 5.7kpl towing a 2.8tonne van
Thatis 17.5l per 100km
That is an overall figure that covers towing, ambling around town, sightseeing at various speeds.
That I think is more applicable if you are going on a long trip as you do all those things.
To the guy with the loaded to the max and a Spaceland We were going to buy one but glad we didnt buy one that long as a lot of parks cant fit one that big in.
I also suggest when you get loaded with everything you weigh the rig and see how much over legal weight you are.
Its worth a thought in todays insurance world