I first intended to buy a different van and did up our Pajero to suit, but as covid time happened we changed plans and ordered a bigger van. We did not like the idea of buying another car and doing an upgrade, so we put it out there on this site to get ideas of the right tug.
Most of the chit chat was of no help at all. We have taken the only real advice given by Yobarr and are going with a Nissan Ti Y62 Series 5 Auto 4x4 MY20 Patrol. It is above my budget but it will handle the van with power and weight to spare with out any modifications and be legal. It's a shame that most of you know what not to buy, but no real input into what to buy. From most of your replies I can only gather that you do not wish to disclose your van weights and the tug for fear disclosing you have the wrong combination.
I will add air bags for levelling purposes only. The Patrol needs no other modifications.
I have completed my responsibility
I am now leaving this topic for you all to argue the point of who's more responsible.
My rig will be Legal. How about yours
Thanks Yobarr for your assistance and knowledge on this subject.
M80 D
M80 D said
04:03 PM Jan 19, 2021
Give it up Monty.
Go and get a beer, relax and leave the rocket science for the others. My problem has now been solved.
M80 D
montie said
04:19 PM Jan 19, 2021
M80 D wrote:
Give it up Monty.
Go and get a beer, relax and leave the rocket science for the others. My problem has now been solved.
M80 D
I will respond to any posts that relate to me and will continue to do so.
I usually do leave the rocket science to others.
I'm glad you have solved your problem.
Old and Grey said
10:03 PM Jan 19, 2021
Hi MD80,
IMO, just cut through the Cr...p and go for a 2012 + landcruiser 200 GX V8 twin turbo. with barn doors. i have a 2600 atm off road van, it drives all day @1800rpm in 5th with a big tinnie on top. 18-20 lts per 100km.
Beg, borrow, or steel to make up the difference. You will be glade you did.
Grey
M80 D said
10:19 PM Jan 19, 2021
Thanks ol' mate for the tip. My van has an ATM of 3300kg and hope to be towing for many years to come. I am still a young old man. Still not a senior.
Cheers.
montie said
10:23 PM Jan 19, 2021
Old and Grey wrote:
Hi MD80,
IMO, just cut through the Cr...p and go for a 2012 + landcruiser 200 GX V8 twin turbo. with barn doors. i have a 2600 atm off road van, it drives all day @1800rpm in 5th with a big tinnie on top. 18-20 lts per 100km.
Beg, borrow, or steel to make up the difference. You will be glade you did.
Grey
Good choice.
Old and Grey said
10:49 PM Jan 19, 2021
Hi md80,
I have added a 3800kg GVM up grade to comply with the gear we carry in September 2020.
With all the pro's on here they will drive you nuts.
If you want to travel peace of mind, the go for it. I have never looked back. Took the whole rig up the Parks NSW last week . Fully loaded with water tanks to see our son. We got stopped by NSW Roads traffic 23km north of Parks and put on the scales.
Yobbar keeps on about our 2000kg rear axle.
All came way within the max load limits. This is with our 120kg tinnie loaded on top. The boys were very impressed with our set up. and gave us a print out of same.
Dated Wednesday 13/01/2021 11.33am EST.
Over to Yobbar.
We look forward to your reply Chris
Old and Grey
yobarr said
05:57 AM Jan 20, 2021
Old and Grey wrote:
Hi md80,
I have added a 3800kg GVM up grade to comply with the gear we carry in September 2020.
With all the pro's on here they will drive you nuts.
If you want to travel peace of mind, the go for it. I have never looked back. Took the whole rig up the Parks NSW last week . Fully loaded with water tanks to see our son. We got stopped by NSW Roads traffic 23km north of Parks and put on the scales.
Yobbar keeps on about our 2000kg rear axle.
All came way within the max load limits. This is with our 120kg tinnie loaded on top. The boys were very impressed with our set up. and gave us a print out of same.
Dated Wednesday 13/01/2021 11.33am EST.
Over to Yobbar.
We look forward to your reply Chris
Old and Grey
Hi Jim,it must be noted that you tow only 2600kg while David plans to tow 3300kg.Apart from the fact that another 70kg towball weight (330-260) puts over 100kg EXTRA onto your car's rear axle,the Y62 is a much more stable vehicle simply because it has a wheelbase that is 225mm longer than that of the 200.You get away with what you have because of your small van,so you are safe and,it appears without seeing weighbridge docket,legal. This does not,however,change the fact that an LC200 cannot,IMO,safely tow more than around 3000kg ATM,GVM upgrade or not.Your setup seems ideal for your application,but your van weighs 2600kg. David's van is 3300kg....game over.But enjoy your travels.Cheers.
bgt said
08:57 AM Jan 20, 2021
M80 D have fun camping. You have asked and made your choice. End of story.
Good luck.
yobarr said
09:55 AM Jan 20, 2021
bgt wrote:
M80 D have fun camping. You have asked and made your choice. End of story.
Good luck.
And a wise choice it was too! Anyone who attests that a 6000kg GCM car can safely tow a 3500kg ATM van,as a PIG trailer,is delusional.Cheers
Warren-Pat_01 said
09:46 AM Jan 21, 2021
Hey Possum,
I can understand your like of Nissan Patrols (I've had three constantly since 1984) & you state that the 4.2LTD was the best towing vehicle (agree) BUT later I found a sticker on the small back door (had overlooked it often) that my car had a reduced towing ability with increases in ball weight!
There was no way my car could tow anything big without filling the van with helium or something similar to make it lighter! Over 2,500kg, the allowed ATM reduced similar to how Pajeros "suffer". Towing something big with reduced ball weight is both dangerous & an engineering impossibility.
M80 D, do your homework well.
montie said
10:22 AM Jan 21, 2021
Fully laden Patrol, towball mass is only 200kg to the best of my knowledge.
It changes on a sliding scale depending on payload, but my understanding is that at 3500kg load which is max GVM the ball weight max is 200kg.
They do publish a ball download table.
Webmaster said
11:56 AM Jan 21, 2021
Thanks all, for your contributions to this thread; however I think I will close this now. I would like to remind everyone that although we have many knowledgeable members here, sometimes posts can be misconstrued or may be made without the poster having the full story. Our forum was created to be a positive place for people to exchange advice, experiences and tips about travelling around Australia. However, in all aspects of caravanning/motorhoming that involve safety issues, it is important to consult a professional about your specific needs.
This Thread is out of control.
I first intended to buy a different van and did up our Pajero to suit, but as covid time happened we changed plans and ordered a bigger van. We did not like the idea of buying another car and doing an upgrade, so we put it out there on this site to get ideas of the right tug.
Most of the chit chat was of no help at all. We have taken the only real advice given by Yobarr and are going with a Nissan Ti Y62 Series 5 Auto 4x4 MY20 Patrol. It is above my budget but it will handle the van with power and weight to spare with out any modifications and be legal. It's a shame that most of you know what not to buy, but no real input into what to buy. From most of your replies I can only gather that you do not wish to disclose your van weights and the tug for fear disclosing you have the wrong combination.
I will add air bags for levelling purposes only. The Patrol needs no other modifications.
I have completed my responsibility
I am now leaving this topic for you all to argue the point of who's more responsible.
My rig will be Legal. How about yours
Thanks Yobarr for your assistance and knowledge on this subject.
M80 D
Go and get a beer, relax and leave the rocket science for the others. My problem has now been solved.
M80 D
I will respond to any posts that relate to me and will continue to do so.
I usually do leave the rocket science to others.
I'm glad you have solved your problem.
Hi MD80,
IMO, just cut through the Cr...p and go for a 2012 + landcruiser 200 GX V8 twin turbo. with barn doors. i have a 2600 atm off road van, it drives all day @1800rpm in 5th with a big tinnie on top. 18-20 lts per 100km.
Beg, borrow, or steel to make up the difference. You will be glade you did.
Grey
Cheers.
Good choice.
Hi md80,
I have added a 3800kg GVM up grade to comply with the gear we carry in September 2020.
With all the pro's on here they will drive you nuts.
If you want to travel peace of mind, the go for it. I have never looked back. Took the whole rig up the Parks NSW last week . Fully loaded with water tanks to see our son. We got stopped by NSW Roads traffic 23km north of Parks and put on the scales.
Yobbar keeps on about our 2000kg rear axle.
All came way within the max load limits. This is with our 120kg tinnie loaded on top. The boys were very impressed with our set up. and gave us a print out of same.
Dated Wednesday 13/01/2021 11.33am EST.
Over to Yobbar.
We look forward to your reply Chris
Old and Grey
Hi Jim,it must be noted that you tow only 2600kg while David plans to tow 3300kg.Apart from the fact that another 70kg towball weight (330-260) puts over 100kg EXTRA onto your car's rear axle,the Y62 is a much more stable vehicle simply because it has a wheelbase that is 225mm longer than that of the 200.You get away with what you have because of your small van,so you are safe and,it appears without seeing weighbridge docket,legal. This does not,however,change the fact that an LC200 cannot,IMO,safely tow more than around 3000kg ATM,GVM upgrade or not.Your setup seems ideal for your application,but your van weighs 2600kg. David's van is 3300kg....game over.But enjoy your travels.Cheers.
Good luck.
And a wise choice it was too! Anyone who attests that a 6000kg GCM car can safely tow a 3500kg ATM van,as a PIG trailer,is delusional.Cheers
I can understand your like of Nissan Patrols (I've had three constantly since 1984) & you state that the 4.2LTD was the best towing vehicle (agree) BUT later I found a sticker on the small back door (had overlooked it often) that my car had a reduced towing ability with increases in ball weight!
There was no way my car could tow anything big without filling the van with helium or something similar to make it lighter! Over 2,500kg, the allowed ATM reduced similar to how Pajeros "suffer". Towing something big with reduced ball weight is both dangerous & an engineering impossibility.
M80 D, do your homework well.
Fully laden Patrol, towball mass is only 200kg to the best of my knowledge.
It changes on a sliding scale depending on payload, but my understanding is that at 3500kg load which is max GVM the ball weight max is 200kg.
They do publish a ball download table.
Thanks all, for your contributions to this thread; however I think I will close this now. I would like to remind everyone that although we have many knowledgeable members here, sometimes posts can be misconstrued or may be made without the poster having the full story. Our forum was created to be a positive place for people to exchange advice, experiences and tips about travelling around Australia. However, in all aspects of caravanning/motorhoming that involve safety issues, it is important to consult a professional about your specific needs.