Tow vehicle Colorado or Navara

Dont worry about the Tare Its the Plated ATM you have to worry about.

What is it as that is what defines what can tow it

Hi Lizard,
We are going through the same process as yourself at the moment, so we are no experts.
I have asked about the D40 Navara on 3 forums now and the negative feedback seems to outweigh the positive.
We were about to sign up for a new Navara for towing our van on thursday but I am having serious doubts now - problems with clutches, problems with using WDH's on them, the auto's have problems with the diesel particulate filter causing the engine to go into limp mode, very poor fuel economy when carrying any sort of a load, the list just seems to go on....
Have a look on the Navara forum (not sure how to post link) and complaints corner.com.
A search of this forum will give you some answers too.
The Dmax looks like a good vehicle and I will be going to have a look at them on my days off. The Colarado is very similar but I think the Dmax has better fitments/options etc.
Best of luck and I will post my impression of the Dmax on friday.

Cheers, Keith

I was in the same boat in May of this year had a Nissan 3lt str only done 40k. 5 speed manual...excellent ute...4 years old....Wanted to upgrade
Was about to buy a new STX....but after reading about the problems people had with diffs etc I went shopping..
I ended up with a gls fastback Triton....It is fantastic to drive...Rear room for passengers is Excellent...Towing is a breeze....
Be open minded have a drive of a Tritan..I was so impressed that after allowing 3 friends to drive it around they bought them too....

This would be my choice...

Dodge Ram 2009

My mouth drools..........

.

I have a d40 kingcab auto and tow a 2100kg tare golf van,loaded up it scales 2500kg the d40 tows it well.I have had no problems with it . Others quote from complaits corner and other sites as negatives but type in other car makes that have been around for a while and you will see the same thing as with the slx,it just proves they all still build lemons.Personaly i think the models you are targeting are both unsuitable as by the time you load the van up you will be close to the max you can tow with that model ,they are only 4 pot motors so at the weight that you want to tow at you will work it to hard.you should go bigger but would have to compomise the type of vehichle I whe'nt the other way and picked a van to suit the motor Good Luck

Hi,
We are going through the same suitable choice of tow vehicle at the present.
We are really leaning toward the Colorado.
The tug has to be an auto, ( I have a left foot problem), and
the Colorado is still 3000 kg towing capacity in the auto version.
The 4x4 LTR TD seems to fit the bill, without any extra modification.
We still have a couple of months before we buy the tug and larger van, so we can look around them all.
pete and doreen

I'd be worried about the chassis on the Navara.
LINK 1
LINK 2
For a van that big, I'd want a 6 or 8 cyl TD, and a stronger vehicle with 3500kg towing capacity.

All this guff about towing specs etc....I suppose if you have a large heavy van (quite frankly I do not want to tow a 2500+ KG van around Aust) you are in a situation you must have a vehicle that is legal to tow such a load. I think, drive a vehicle that suits your needs ie; 80% touring & general driving on black top & non 4 wheel drive work, 20% towing & or 4X4 work. Buy a van that suits the vehicle I cannot see the point in buying a vehicle that does not suit your complete requirements but will tow a 3 tonne van!!! I bought a vehicle that tows my Jayco outback everywhere at the posted speed limit. I dred coming up behind a vehicle towing a large van which is heavier than the towing vehicle travelling at 70K/pH in a 100 zone holding everyone up & blowing heaps of black smoke out the exhaust!!! IMHO. I believe you buy a vehicle that suits your requirements of every day travelling & then go out and buy a van that the vehicle can tow safely & that you are satisfied with. There are good and bad vehicle's in every catorgory it's just that some have a few more hickups than others. I just wonder has anyone on this forum had a mishap (collision) & have been investigated by the police or insurance claim refused due to "alleged" breach of the towing regulations or manufacturers specifications. Obviously don't want specifics just a percentage would be interesting.

Thanks for all the replies , I have already checked the Navara Forum and read the problems with clutch plates (didn't concern me as I want an auto - so the missus can drive it ) my current tug is a 2006 Patrol 4.2 (limited to 2500 kg tow) which I am currently trying to get GCM upgraded - but am looking around 'just in case'. Am a bit shy of the 3.0 litre Patrol ute (3200 tow) and the 79 series is a bit expensive (and plain inside - even the GXL) , the Hilux is only 2250 tow limit , didn't like the Ranger .... no Isuzu dealers near me ... that's why I had sort of narrowed it down to these two . My Van is expected to be 2300-2400 tare , so GVM of 2800 kg ... so for insurance I need 3000 kg ..... I see a lot of Navara's pulling Vans ....
cheers .

Mazda BT50 ?

Lizard,

http://www.exploroz.com/Forum/Topic/74419/Navara_25td.aspx?ky=stumbly&p=%2fForum%2fDefault.aspx%3fs%3d1%26ky%3dstumbly%26pn%3d1

Here's the answers I got back when I asked about the navara the other day. Some good, some bad....
I'm still considering one, so let me know your thoughts?

Cheers, Keith

Lizaard


Manuals are better for towing.



Tjilpi

Hello Lizard...

My reply maybe a little after the others but I will give you my two cents worth. I drive a D40 STX Auto, 100,000 Kilometres. I drive the vehicle every day to work and back. Weekends it tours to Central Queensland, Double Island Point or wherever we decide to go to. We usually tow a Jimboomba camper. I have had this on a weighbridge fully stocked up for a week at the beach. Alcohol, firewood and the unusual provisions to keep the family alive. It weighed 3700 Kilos Combined Gross Mass.

The Good:
Comfortable on the highway.
Great power from the engine when on song.
Good fuel economy towing camper 12-15 litres to 100 kilometres
Room in the cab.

The Bad:
Replacing front rotors and pads every 30'000 - 50'000 kilometres ($400).
Turning lock, makes hard work of shopping centre car parks.
Waiting for the power to happen when taking off from an intersection.
4WD low range engagement, the electrics don't always want to play.
Rust above the windscreen, fixed on Nissan warranty
Paint colours on panels all look a different shade.
Soft springs in the rear, 300 kilograms have the bump rubbers engaged.

I know the weight is nowhere near what you are looking at. However I can say the car has never let me down it has never lacked power in the soft sand or passing triple road trains.

Would I buy another one? Not likely! What would I buy to replace it don't know as the next one will more than likely not be a duel cab.

Hope this helps you in making you decision.

Ken