Good article on page 191 No 137 of Caravan and Motorhome on tour re the towbar support on the Navara D 40 worth reading if you own a nissan as the same chassis is used on all the models . 

As the article said , Why hasn't Nissan recalled all their effected vehicles

What's the guts of the article? First time I have heard problems with the Navara. All the problems I have heard lately are for the Pathfinder. Maybe this is another report that C & M have stuffed up.

I thought the mechanics  where the same  same cars   different top

PeterD wrote:

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Maybe this is another report that C & M have stuffed up.

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The article concerned is in fact a letter to the editor printed in the section "Old Dog Tips and Techniques". On reading this letter there doesn't seem any reason to doubt its authenticity.

 

-- Edited by jimricho on Sunday 10th of January 2010 09:32:14 AM

Mine is almost due for a service so I'll get an upfront answer. If anyone is in the panel beating trades or knows a dent doctor maybe they could ask if their is a problem. I really have no doubts about the article but the more info from as many sources as possible the better the chances of getting it fixed before there is a real problem

reza wrote:

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I thought the mechanics  where the same  same cars   different top

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The rear end of the chassis are completely different. The Pathfinder is independent coil spring and the Navara has a spring cart axle. The Pathfinder chassis has a cross section at the very end of the chassis and the tow bar wraps around it. The Navara chassis has the rear cross member some distance from the end of the chassis and the tow bar attaches to the sides of the chassis (on the outside like most utes.)

I think that if they have a factory bumper bar, it takes up two of the holes and the tow bar takes up the other two. My Navara is the pensioners pack and came with no rear bumper. I have added a protection bar that is incorporated with the tow bar - as it is one unit it uses all four holes each side.

That is why I was enquiring. What exactly the nature of the problem? I think it is possible the letter writer thinks they are the same like Reza did.

 

surely a phone call to the distributer would confirm or deny any fault!!

dave06 wrote:

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surely a phone call to the distributer would confirm or deny any fault!!

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If I knew what the fault is perhaps I could ask. The problem is I don't have access to that issue of C&M. That is why I am asking for more details.

 

if a fault exists then a simple call to a nissan dealer will tell you what it consists of, if they have no idea then it should be up to them to find out! if it is serious or not!

PeterD wrote:

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reza wrote:

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I thought the mechanics  where the same  same cars   different top

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The rear end of the chassis are completely different. The Pathfinder is independent coil spring and the Navara has a spring cart axle. The Pathfinder chassis has a cross section at the very end of the chassis and the tow bar wraps around it. The Navara chassis has the rear cross member some distance from the end of the chassis and the tow bar attaches to the sides of the chassis (on the outside like most utes.)

I think that if they have a factory bumper bar, it takes up two of the holes and the tow bar takes up the other two. My Navara is the pensioners pack and came with no rear bumper. I have added a protection bar that is incorporated with the tow bar - as it is one unit it uses all four holes each side.

That is why I was enquiring. What exactly the nature of the problem? I think it is possible the letter writer thinks they are the same like Reza did.

 

 

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I possibly shouldn't do this because of the copyright jungle  but in the interest of public safety I will that the risk and attach the article and to hell with the expense and risk of goal time  

 

-- Edited by Wombat 280 on Thursday 14th of January 2010 09:23:24 PM

Hi Folks ,
               JUst checked my navara d40 tow bar and it has three bolts not two holding onto the chasiss and they are bolted up from the bottom not the side of the chassis.If I did need to strengthen it I would weld a plate to go up to the side bolts.The side anchor points are not as solid as the underneath ones as they are meant for the bumper bar. have towed my van up to Bowen and Over to the York peninsula and back no worries.Maybe there are some non genuine towbars being fitted.Check it out.

Have now got a good copy of Wombat's blue posting (with thanks.) This prompted me to look at things again. Had a look at the OEM tow bar on a D22 camped next to me. The two bolts into the captive nuts are much further apart than the one shown in the blue picture. I also climbed under my D40 again. I found there were also 3 additional bolts up into the bottom of the chassis each side. That makes 7 bolts each side to spread the load on my HR bar. The moral is, don't get an OEM bar for your Nissan.