navara 3l turbo towing

g.day keith
what tare is your van
cheers mate
toohey

2200 tare, 3000 gross. I don't actually have the Navara, I went to buy one and after a bit of research I decided on a Isuzu D-Max. ONLY because Navara won't let you use a WDH, other wise I think they are a great vehicle.
You may want to post this question on the Caravanners forum aswell, Macka will give you a hard time because its not a Patrol, but lots of good advice regarding towing larger vans.

Cheers, Keith

thanks for the info
could you tell me why nissan don't allow the wdh.
cheers mate
toohey

Apparently it causes the factory tow bar to crack, and according to others on various forums, replacing with an after market tow pack doesn't solve the problem. There are even reports on the Navara forum of damage to the chassis.
This is just what I have read on various forums, so if I'm/they are wrong - don't shoot the messenger eh?!?
I figured where there's smoke, there's fire so I decided against a Navara just in case.
It is definitely stated on the the Nissan Navara factory specs sheet - Nissan does not advise the use of WDH's on their Navara range.
Perhaps with a set of polyairs you may not need a WDH? What sort of weight are you looking at going to? Best to ask the good folk on here and the CF if its do-able.

Best of luck in whatever you decide.

regards, Keith

g'day keith
the van is a 1680t golf tandem independent susp.
navara has about 350kg.of canopy & gear on its back,how do you reckon that combo would be
cheers mate
al

Go to the Nissan site and the model you are thinking of and go to specs and scroll down and look at allowed ball weights with certain loads


Also the TARE WEIGHT OF A VAN is inconsequential no one tows an empty van do they?????

Its the ATM or loaded weight of the van you have to worry about


Usually the ATM of a Tandem van is 400kg above Tare.

"The Navara can and will tow up to 3 ton"

So can the Rodeo - But it is all a load of rubbish

Tow more then two ton long distance and they work way too hard. You have to use 4th gear, lots more fuel and you know you are towing, its a long day. Services are required a 5000k

If you need a big van - you should also look at getting a bigger car.

Add the fact you are probably carrying a load in your car as well - 2 ton is the max.

Hi Toohey,
sorry to take so long to get back to you. As above, no one tows just the tare weight. I reckon going on normal loads your up around 2 ton, maybe a bit more, so your tow ball down load should be around 200 kg give or take a bit.
Add the weight of driver and passengers, then add the weight of the load you have in the ute and your tow ball down load.
These are just round about figures, but I reckon you would come in under the max gvm for the Navara.
As for the comment above about them working too hard and having to be serviced every 5000km's and having to tow in fourth, all I can say is so what !!??!!
Larger 4x4's of the same vintage ie cruisers and patrols have the same restrictions, I know because I have had both.
And the newer generation of CRD motors produce the same, and in some instances more, power than those vehicles.
Do a search of the forum and there is plenty of discussion on all these matters.
At around 2 ton I don't think you will have any problems at all - just remember to check that sliding scale for tow ball down loads....

Cheers, Keith

Keith - So What?

So the vehicle is incapable of towing its stated max towing capacity for extended periods.

This is the point one must consider.

Hi tonyfish,
Extended periods? Why?
I disagree - but I'm not trying to offend you or start an argument.
The new wave of dual cabs can tow their stated max towing for extended periods IF you take into account the load on the ute and adjust accordingly. They don't work any harder than my 4.2TD GU patrol did, even when towing.
In fact, they actually produce more power and torque for around the same revs give or take a couple of hundred. So they are NOT working any harder. Every vehicle has its "sweet spot" where it just gallops along, the new cars are no different. Momentum is the key.
The Patrols require serviceing at 5000km's when towing large loads and are recommended by a lot of owners on this site to not use 5th gear for towing. I believe the LC's are the same.
There fore my comment, "so what?". That comment was not meant to be offensive, just a statement for the above reasons....they have the same restrictions.
I used to be a firm believer as yourself in having a "large" 4wd for towing, but the fact of the matter is that despite these dual cabs looking smaller, there just isn't that much difference, around 200kg tare weight and 50mm in length 20mm in width. They also use considerably less fuel at the same weights/speeds as the larger 4x4's. (Navara excluded!)My friends Pajero, which basically has the same running gear as the Triton, tows a 3 ton gross billabong c/van at 100 kmh for an average of 14 litres per 100 km's where as my Patrol was towing 2 ton (my old van) for an average of 18 liters per 100. Same trip, same wind etc.
We see these vehicles being used by friends that are tradies towing large loads quite regularly and they have nothing but praise for them.
Any way, thats my opinion, same as you have yours. Toohey asked for a bit of advise, so I let him know what I have reseached over the last 6 months based on spec sheets and opinions from other owners from several different forums and test driving quite a few of them before parting with my hard earned.
He may take from it what he will.

cheers, Keith. p.s - wouldn't be a cruiser man would you?

Keith - is the navara forum you referring to this one? - http://www.navara.asia/ - despite the URL it is an Australian forum.

Nissan specify that WDH should not be used with their tow bars. They say nothing about using WDH with other makes of bars. If you use a HR bar then HR cover the warranty.The Nissan bars I have seen hang off the bottom of the chassis supported by 2 cap screws (bolts that screw into captive nuts) each side. HR use more cap screws. The bar on my D40 is a HR bar integrated with a protection step. It is secured by 3 cap screws under the chassis and 3 into the side of the chassis (the side screws go into the mountings for the bumper bar on the up market model.) HR have noi quarms about using WDH with their bars.

As stated above - most manufacturers suggest more frequent services where you use your vehicle in extreme conditions or for heavy towing. Navaras are no different to others. Also many transmission specialists recommend you do not tow in an overdrive gear, so Navaras are no different to any other vehicle in this respect.

PeterD

G'dat Peter,
yes that is the forum.
There was a post on there regarding a bent chassis, they thought it MAY have been due to using a WDH and haymen reece tow bar. Instead of the factory bar cracking, they think with the haymen-reece it MAY have caused the stress to be transfered to the chassis. There was nothing proved and as I stated above in my 2cnd follow up it was just a post on a forum.
I'm not knocking the Navara mate, just stating what i've read and researched. I think they are a great vehicle, but for me and this is just my opinion i thought the D max was a better choice for towing larger vans.
And for your last bit of the post - I think your confusing me with follow up 7 from tony fish. Please take a look at follow up 8. I agree whole heartedly with you - Navara's are no different to any other vehicle in that regard.
The rest of the problems with the Navara's towing large loads are well documented. As for their clutch problems with large loads I would have bought an auto - therefore, no problem!
With the weight Toohey is going to be towing I don't think he will have any problems any way.
Cheers, keith

Keith - sorry for the confusion. I should have indicated that I was diverting from your comment and referring to some of the other followups.

PeterD

Keith

I speak from experience - Why?

Its like the old Volkswagon - Made for cool climates - was terrible for hot climates and did not like water - saw many a dead ones up in the gulf.

Same as these new wave of mid size 4 x 4's with the common rails. They are just not capable of towing maximum weights in the hotter climates full time.

I do not care if you do not wish to believe this, but as I have experience of the overheating issues I will advise of it. I only tow 2 ton, and as stated the car is working hard. It would not take long to wear it out.

To all that read take it as you wish and find out the hard way after you have spent all your hard earned dollars

Cheers

hey Tony, can you give us a bit more info on the overheating issues?

What vehicle was it? could be relevant to a lot of folk out there...

Perhaps my "so what" comment sounded a little stroppy - it wasn't meant that way, I just wanted to point out that the "larger" 4x4's required the same care.
I will certainly bow to your experience with these dual cabs if you can share a little more info...

cheers, Keith

Keith - I have the 2007 Rodeo 3ltr Common Rail Turbo 120 Killer Wasps, 3 ton towing capacity stated.

I tow my boat longer distances than most to go fishing - 320 k to Cooktown and 160k Return to the coast where I live down then up a range.

In the winter it is not usually a problem to get the 2 tons up the range or too and from Cooktown. Add some heat to the day and the issues begin. I feel that the cooling capacity of these motors is not quite adequate for our road temperatures. I have owned bigger 4 x 4s and not had these issues while towing. I did have one that would do it in heavy sand driving, but fixed that by cleaning out the radiator.

It can be stated now that the owners handbook states that it is allowable for the engine to run hotter when towing for short periods or under heavy loads. problem is how hot do you let it go too and how long can you hold these raised temperatures?

I can control the temperature somewhat on the flat by adjusting speed, but not when climbing the range and hills, I just have to stay in 3rd and hold the temperature line where I do not want to see it go beyond. This is only with a 2 ton load and not weight in the ute at all.

So if you are to tow the maximum weight in Australia, it would have to be in the winter. In summer you would have to spend the day doing 60k.

So in summery I feel that you would greatly shorten the life of one of these motors and the gearbox if you were to aim at towing maximum weights for long periods. 2 ton in my opinion is really the maximum.

P/S It is even worse when you add a significant headwind to the hills. Last trip I hit 20ltrs to the 100k - Double the rated fuel consumption.

Cheers Tony

Thanks for the info Tony, now I get where what you were saying about "extended periods".
I have just ordered and await delivery of an Isuzu d max, which apparently is very similar, if not the same as, the colorado/rodeo so that info will definetly be some thing I will watch.

sorry i hijacked your thread Toohey...

cheers, Keith

Will easily handle a 1680 van though. We tow 2 tonne gross and get around 13.5 lt/100k.