grumpy_o_g
Well-Known Member
That's quite a light tongue load for a modern pickup truck. Leaf springs are actually better usually but the damping is at least as important though.
Does anyone tow with a pick up truck.
- Thread starter Nosealegsyet
- Start date
That's quite a light tongue load for a modern pickup truck. Leaf springs are actually better usually but the damping is at least as important though.
Assassin
Well-Known Member
dpb
Well-Known Member
Also note that last time I looked into this, pickups can't legally tow the max tow weight when the pickup itself is fully loaded.
Take the Isuzu D-Max Utah
kerb weight 1951kg
payload 1099kg
GVW 3050kg
Max tow eight 3500kg
Add GVW to the Max tow weight you get 6550kg
But the max GTW is only 6000kg.
So if your trailer is above 2950kg, to stay legal you have to reduce the max load carried in the pick up.
Last time I checked (a couple of years ago) this applied to all the pick ups.
Take the Isuzu D-Max Utah
kerb weight 1951kg
payload 1099kg
GVW 3050kg
Max tow eight 3500kg
Add GVW to the Max tow weight you get 6550kg
But the max GTW is only 6000kg.
So if your trailer is above 2950kg, to stay legal you have to reduce the max load carried in the pick up.
Last time I checked (a couple of years ago) this applied to all the pick ups.
Hurricane
Well-Known Member
We have still got our old Landcruiser Amazon.
It will be 20 years old next year.
Still going strong and has become a member of the family!!
We really ought to replace it for something smaller but we just can't bring ourselves to do it.
I believe that it is one of the few that tow max limits.
We have really only towed light trailers with it.
We had a similar Landcruiser before and I did tow some naughty overloaded trailers without problems.
But reading this thread and looking at the price for the Navaras, the Landcruiser would be twice the price.
It will be 20 years old next year.
Still going strong and has become a member of the family!!
We really ought to replace it for something smaller but we just can't bring ourselves to do it.
I believe that it is one of the few that tow max limits.
We have really only towed light trailers with it.
We had a similar Landcruiser before and I did tow some naughty overloaded trailers without problems.
But reading this thread and looking at the price for the Navaras, the Landcruiser would be twice the price.
Elessar
Well-Known Member
Even at the max 3500kg trailer, 550kg residual payload is still enough if you just want it as a towcar.
Only just if you have 4 people in the car as people and the tank of fuel are part of the payload.
But who actually weighs their rig? Weight the boat on the trailer once yes. But that's all.
CLB
Well-Known Member
The answer to that is probably the DoT as a random check, or the police after an accident.
AndieMac
Well-Known Member
The ball/nose weight needs to be 10% of the towed weight to avoid the swaying at speed, achieved by either relocating the winch post further forward and bringing the boat up the trailer (limited by the transom and aft trailer roller alignment) or sliding the axel bogie aft and balancing more weight forward, or a combination of the two.
Also with big rig towing, by inflating the tyres on both the tow vehicle and trailer up around their maximum pressure, helps to stabilise and feel sure footed generally.
AndieMac
Well-Known Member
This issue has been advertised heavily in this country where the dual cab ute/pickup reigns supreme, Mitsubishi for example have established their max tow weights at the lesser 3100kg, as opposed to their rivals at 3500kg, to allow for more payload.
dpb
Well-Known Member
Doesn't help in the UK as our cars have rated max tow bar loads, often less than 150kg, though I noticed that the D max is 245kg
CLB
Well-Known Member
Thats right. My Range Rover can tow 3500kg but has a max tow hitch weight of 150kg, which is less than 5%. I have always found that as long as I have at least 50kg on the hitch, the tow is stable.
Sandy Bottom
Well-Known Member
I tow fairly regularly with three vehicles one of which is a pick-up. I mostly tow between say one horse in a horse box at the lighter end and right up to the 3.5 ton limit with plant trailers etc.
1. Toyota Hilux Invincible 3.0D
2. Toyata Landcruiser Amazon 4.2D
3. VW Toureg 3.0D
There is little difference in day to day towing between three, The Toureg is the most comfortable motorway tow vehicle being the quietest and having the smoothest gear changes and cruise control engage / disengage (all good for live horse-box work).
The Amazon is by far the best 'ultimate' towing at or near the 3.5 ton limit. It is certainly 'well planted'.
But, perhaps surprisingly, the Hilux is not far behind either of them. Now also a 3.5 ton capacity. A very strong pulling engine, quiet, relaxed cruising once up to speed. But be very careful if attempting hard braking of the trailer in anything other than a straight line (e.g. A roundabout approach on a bend where the trailer and vehicle are not in line) - The vehicle wants (has started) to turn, the trailer still wants to go straight on = jackknife especially on wet road.
As said, some weight in the back of the pick-up helps tremendously, make your approach slower and use lower gears, anticipate well and you will be fine.
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Nosealegsyet
Well-Known Member
Jeremy Clarkson did a review on the Hilux, and it was very good to be fair, thats where the name came from the INvicible, as they tried to destroy it, but couldn,t in one of the top gears programmes, however when they tested it on a mogul, it didnt work, but i wont be off roading, so it might well be the one for me.....
Sandy Bottom
Well-Known Member
Make sure to get the 3.0D engine for towing - it's brilliant!
salad
Well-Known Member
Particularly if you can get one as a company car. They are classed as commercial vehicles so are super cheap on BIK...!
PCUK
Well-Known Member
Funnily enough, yes the first one did, but Nissan paid a good whack which I was very happy with.
PCUK
Well-Known Member
The latest Ssangyong Musso can carry 1050Kg while towing 3500Kg and is advertised as being unique in this capability. Sadly no longer the cheapy of the pack!
Assassin
Well-Known Member
Not the old Amazon, which engine?
Slow as anything, not particularly attractive, but once the flywheel is turning nothing stops them and they just keep pulling and go forever.
Forget vanity and think costs per annum, have you owned it from new and divide this cost by the years and you may find a new vehicle has more depreciation in the first two years than you have had in 10, and of course you haven't had the expense of buying another vehicle and its depreciation.
Dutch01527
Well-Known Member
I have a 1999 Series 100 Toyota Amazon 4.7 v8 petrol with a Lpg conversion. I can honestly say it is just about the perfect 2nd / towing vehicle:
1) reasonably cheap to run, c 30mpg equivalent, £200 classic car insurance and cheap maintenance by modern standards e.g. a head light failure needs a new bulb not a replacement fully sealed unit ect, ect
2) more power than HMS Arc Royal
3) proper off road set up and rock solid towing
4) very comfortable motorway cruising 7 seater with the legendary oil damped suspension system as used on the Citroen cars that used to film the racing on tv
5) rear of car that opens out to a large van size or folds flat into a double bed
6) no depreciation, if anything prices are going up - value about £4-6k which is what I paid 5 years ago
7) lots of manly buttons to press labeled things like “Power”, “2nd” and “Diff Lock”
Downsides - There is a bit of rust on lower body work (the body is not structural on these cars so not an mot issue) and they are hard to find. That’s about it.
1) reasonably cheap to run, c 30mpg equivalent, £200 classic car insurance and cheap maintenance by modern standards e.g. a head light failure needs a new bulb not a replacement fully sealed unit ect, ect
2) more power than HMS Arc Royal
3) proper off road set up and rock solid towing
4) very comfortable motorway cruising 7 seater with the legendary oil damped suspension system as used on the Citroen cars that used to film the racing on tv
5) rear of car that opens out to a large van size or folds flat into a double bed
6) no depreciation, if anything prices are going up - value about £4-6k which is what I paid 5 years ago
7) lots of manly buttons to press labeled things like “Power”, “2nd” and “Diff Lock”
Downsides - There is a bit of rust on lower body work (the body is not structural on these cars so not an mot issue) and they are hard to find. That’s about it.
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Assassin
Well-Known Member
Totally agree, they were slated at the time by the mainsteam motoring media, but time has proven them wrong.
Bilt Hamber do some excellent rustproofing products and are worth looking at.
I have a 1979 Daihatsu F20 which has the Toyota 12R engine and gearbox, apart from low compression when I bought it, which was a split valve due to running unleaded petrol and terminal floor tinworm it was in excellent condition. Head off and a new valve, a complete new floor made from scratch and fitted, and it just goes and goes, still has a choke to start it and it always starts first time, and the girls learned how to drive off road properly in it, and the grandchildren have driven it since they could stand up in it and reach the pedals.
Bilt Hamber do some excellent rustproofing products and are worth looking at.
I have a 1979 Daihatsu F20 which has the Toyota 12R engine and gearbox, apart from low compression when I bought it, which was a split valve due to running unleaded petrol and terminal floor tinworm it was in excellent condition. Head off and a new valve, a complete new floor made from scratch and fitted, and it just goes and goes, still has a choke to start it and it always starts first time, and the girls learned how to drive off road properly in it, and the grandchildren have driven it since they could stand up in it and reach the pedals.
Hurricane
Well-Known Member
It is a Toyota Landcruiser Amazon with the 4.2l Turbo Diesel engine.
When it was new it had all the trimmings - leather seats etc.
Since my last post on this, I checked the reg docs - our Landcruiser Amazon will actually be 20 in September this year.
Yes, we have had it since new.
And, in fact, over the period of the last 4 years, it seems to have appreciated - not depreciated.
It seems that there is a bit of a cult following on these trucks which has lead to a supply and demand issue.
There is a tiny bit of body rust now but SWMBO is planning on getting that done.
Being so old, it still has a low road tax so there are other benefits.
OTOH it is very thirsty on diesel - not as thirsty as the boat though!!! - that what I keep telling myself anyway.
