Towing capacity and download trickery?

Hi Pete,
I think you nailed it when you said the 10% rule is a guide.

Cheers, Bruce.

I don't know where you're getting you're information from, but the dmax/colorado sites both state 3000k.g. tow and 300k.g. downball weight. Unless you're looking at some other Isuzu?

One should read the towing guide for each vehicle as some alter payload capacity depending on ball weight.
Of course all should realise that ballweight IS part of the payload anyway.

Some obviously dont as seen in some rigs Ive passed on the road.

The Pajero can tow 3 tonne with the towball weight of 180kg. Towing up to & including 2500kg the towball weight is 250kg. The 10% rule as I understand it is/was an unofficial Australia towing guide where in Europe & other overseas countries it's 6% hence the 180kg towball weight of the Pajero when towing 3 tonne. There are numerous points to consider & some people who are towing probably wouldn't have a clue what the weight of their van is fully loaded,combined weight of towing vehicle & van & probably exist with the rule "Ignorance is an excuse" A friend towed a full van of full laden weight touching 3 tonne. The tow vehicle was an auto Patrol 3 ltr diesel....towing capacity 2500kg....he sold the auto & purchased a manual. Some vans although loaded maybe close to 3 tonne but because of the design have a low tow ball weight & visa versa. In my view, we could all throw caution & legalities into the wind, I mean how many vehicles towing vans do you see pulled up by the authorities and are checked & weighed? BUT, become involved in a collision & write off your tow vehicle ie...$60,000 plus your van $50,000, total $110,000 & an astute insurance investigator does his or her sums & establishes the fact you were towing illegally & dismisses your claim...is it worth the risk?

Have you checked out the new pathfinder V6 turbo diesel huge amount of power and torque. specs from redbook


Tare Mass (kg) 2246

Gross Combination Mass (kg) 5980

Gross Vehicle Mass (kg) 2980

Pay Load (kg) 734

Towing Braked (kg) 3000

Towing Not Braked (kg) 750

Wheel Base (mm) 2850

Length (mm) 4813

Width (mm) 1850

Height (mm) 1865

Track Front (mm) 1570

Track Rear (mm) 1570

POWER SPECS

Engine Location Front

Configuration V65

Engine Size (cc) 2991

Cam DOHC with VVT

Engine Cycle 4 Stroke

Engine Type Piston

Engine Number V9X-######

Engine Code V9X

Cylinders 6

Valves per Cylinder 4

Power 170kW @ 3750rpm

Torque 550Nm @ 1750rpm

Induction System Turbo intercooled

Fuel Type Diesel

Fuel Tank Capacity (litres) 80

Fuel Delivery Direct Injection

Method of Delivery Electronic Sequential

Fuel Urban (l/100km) 12.5

Carbon Dioxide (g/km) 246

Fuel Extra Urban (l/100km) 7.6

Fuel Combined (l/100km) 9.3

I love the new pathfinder over the prado and has a better seating arrangment, thats what I like personally anyway.............................

G'day Pete,
Long time no see.
I think the 3 door Prado has a 3 tonne capacity whereas the 5 door is still 2.5.

Good luck with your search.
My D4D is nearly 4 years old.
Time flies when your having fun.

Pedro

PeterS

The Pajero will handle a 3000 kg European style. Because of the design philosophy of the European vans, they are as stable as our vans with only 6 - 8% ball loading. They build their vans with no heavy items at the ends of the vans. Their vans are all centre kitchen, they have smaller front boots and they do not have items like bumperbars, spare wheels, tool boxes or annex poles hanging off the ends. If you read this page you will understand what getting rid of weight at the ends of your van can do for the stability of your rig.

The Europeans don't load their vans at the ends. That is why you will find many European vehicles with a maximum ball weight of less than 10% of their maximum towing weight. The towing capacith of some vehicles sold in Oz is reduced reduced from the European specs to meet the Oz 10% rule.

In my Patrol Pete, the towball download is 200kg or 8% at 2.5T
but even with 10% rule the 625 load is only reduced by 150kg to 475 load which is pretty good and even at max 3.5T tow its still ok.

At these levels I think I would be more concerned about other vehicle
stabilty issues like short wheelbase and high centre of gravity of some of the alternatives.

One thing that sticks out here is the wagons typically 600kg payload vs d/cab 1000kg payload. Means loaded d/cab still well within spec, wagon at or over spec (as most out there would be towing 2.5-3t....). Comes down to preference of d/cab with canopy arrangement (more cargo space, carry capacity, full chassis) or wagon (less cargo space, but generally heavier tare weight that d/cabs may suit heavy vans?).

Cheers
Mark