too many choices

G day David
I'd suggest you go and drive all the models your interested in.
couple of years ago I loved the look of the Navara until I test drove it and realized my back couldn't take the hammering from the rear suspension.
Most stuff theses days seems pretty good just be aware that the real towing rate is and make sure your well inside it. Cheers!

A 6 or an 8 for a 4x4 tow vehicle mate. :)

Flynnie

Hi David,

Test driving any prospective purchase with a view to towing around 2 tonne does not give you much of a much of a clue as to the suitability of that specific vehicle for that particular job.

Case in point. Four years ago I bought a 2 tonne van and as the EL falcon I had at the time was rated at 2.5 tonne I thought it would be perfect. Not so. The thing was struggling on the relatively small hills between Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie where I live. Three weeks later I bought an 80 series Landcruiser as that was what I had seen other people using for that sized van whilst out and about around the country.

The falcon gave no clue as to its unsuitability for this particular job just driving around town or on the highway not towing.

The cruiser on the other hand does the job so easily it is a joke. It knows it has 2 tonne out the back but it just shoves its shoulder into it, so to speak, and away we go with not a worry in the world. Stress free towing I call it.

Mate, my advice is go a cruiser or 4.2 Patrol. For your needs a petrol Cruiser on gas or a Turbo diesel and the same in Nissan from my experience. My nephew has a current model petrol Colorado and he is impressed but he has not towed my van with it yet and I am keen to see how it will go.

There's my thoughts for what its worth David and I am sure others will add to the mix.
Cheers, Bruce.

I use a 07 Navara to tow a 2 tonne van (as weighed.) Very few Cruisers out perform my rig on big hills towing vans (unless they are smaller than mine.) I have a friend who has a 2.6 T Future systems van that he has towed with a 3.0 diesel and a 4.8 petrol/gas Patrol. He now has a Pathfinder (same mechanicals as my Navara.) He says it is not as good as the 4.8 was but far out performs the 3.0.

When the Navara came out with the 2.5 diesel all the big cube pundits said it would not perform as well as the other Jap utes that were 3.0 or larger. They have been proved wrong. The Navara is probably the best puller of the 2 - 5 year old utes (although it does suffer in the fuel consumption area a little.) The Triton now has its 3.2 motor replaced with a s 2.5 one and an uprated towing capacity (there is one model with a 3000 kg rating.) The Volkswagen ute (not yet in Oz) has an even smaller model for the same size machine.

Get used to the way of motor developments. Remember the days when a high speed diesel engine was one that revved at over 1,000 RPM, took as much steel to build as a whole modern day ute and developed a whole 40 - 60 BHP.

wouldn't go past a duel cab as the cargo hold is seperate. Can contain smellly fishing gear, fuel for generator and chainsaw without invading the cabin. (bait several days old has also been known to inhabit the space)
We have a 2006 Navara D22 and it is great all round vehicle (tows 19'6" Jayco easily) - good luck