Anyone with ISUZU NLS AWD experience?

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Anyone with ISUZU NLS AWD experience?

Tones · Veteran Member

Graeme,

Just curious; is your GCM 9T and what is the total weight of your boat and trailer????

Tones

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Hi Tones
My GCM is 8t and my yacht weighs 3.3-3.4t fully loaded for cruising ( already weighed ), the NLS AWD trayback is about 2,350kg and its GMV 4.5t giving me just over 2t to play with. I anticipate the fully loaded Beyond slide on camper, water, extra fuel and all our stuff to come in just under 1.5t on my calculations which potentially still gives me over 0.5t safety margin. The rear and front axle carrying capacities are also well within specs. These same weights are however way above any conventional 4x4 ute until moving up into the big Yank stuff which is generally both very expensive to buy and run and a bit cumbersome. The 10.1 meter turning circle on the NLS an its relatively short length at under 5.5 meters also mean access to many more places and ease around crowded boat ramp turning areas when my yacht on trailer is so huge at 11 meters towing hitch to motor tip. Without the yacht attached it will fit ( just ) into regular car parking spots depending on height restrictions. Regards Graeme

Tones · Veteran Member

Thanks Graeme, an interesting breakdown of the weights. You have obviously given it a lot of thought before committing. I think the giddy-up part of the ride was a short inconvenience when you consider the great outcome overall. Hope you have many happy Ks with it.

Tones

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Hi Tones Yes I am a bit of a research nut hence seeking feedback from anyone else who has tried this kind of solution to the larger slide on camper weight issues or long term travelled using one of these small light trucks instead of a conventional ute or 4x4 tow tug. My VW Touareg was also an out of left field choice as my huge yachts first tow tug again after much research and proved excellent in this role if perhaps too closeting from the battering the high speed towing was inflicting on my yacht and trailer. I am ex motorsport and prone to staying on the speed limit where others would be crawling with such a big rig. I live in a deep valley surrounded by high mountains and now expect a slow journey out with the Isuzu towing 3.4 ton on the towball versus being able to maintain the speed limit effortlessly up an extremely steep mountain complete with hairpins whilst generally achieving good fuel consumption at the same time with the V6 180kw 550nm Touareg. The Touaregs never seem to come up in discussion about best tow tugs but its been superbly capable, extremely comfortable and reliable. I wonder why they are so overlooked by the big caravan crowd. They may not have quite the distribution of service outlets of say Toyotas and Fords but it blows those off the road for comfort and ease of towing whist also being pretty capable off-road with cabin adjustable ground clearance via its superb air suspension, 100 litre diesel fuel tank as standard, special towing stability program and 360 degree cameras. I just changed it tyres to off-road ones and have driven around stuck standard 4x4s. I was reluctant to look at replacing it but wanted accommodation, outdoor gear storage as well as the towing capability for my post retirement journeys.
My shout out here regarding the NLS ISUZU is due to so little information coming up about them in my attempts at research and hoping to connect with some people with real world experience before throwing a bunch more money at it to upgrade it in several areas. Regards Graeme

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Hi all again. Surely someone has had some experience with the Isuzu NLS AWD or perhaps even Isuzu NLR which does seem to have a bit less towing and carrying capability. Just another shout out to contact someone with real world experience with these baby trucks as a tow tug.

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Saturday 30th of January 2021 10:19:43 PM

Tones · Veteran Member

Graeme,

Just a thought but you might like to look in this direction....

https://www.motorhomesaustralia.net/forum.html

There may be someone there who has a custom build on the same truck

Regards

Tones

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Thanks I will have a look. I know plenty have played with the bigger NPS Isuzu as the base for serious expedition vehicles and some with the smaller 2wd NPRs but cannot find much info on the in between NLS AWD which strikes me as the ultimate cheapish compromise tow tug with some 4x4 capability and probably more than most would ever use just like all the 4x4s that never really are used as such but will stop you getting bogged in soft grass.

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Hi All well I can report back that once the slide on was fitted to our Isuzu NLS AWD that Clare and I were able to retire from the Rodeo circuit as the bounce has calmed down dramatically now. Still not any where close to my air suspended Touaregs class but actually better than many conventional 4x4s I have previously driven. Despite some off-road potential disadvantages (Not that we were planning on doing the really serious stuff) the truck suspension and dual rear wheels have also done an excellent job of taming any wallowing or sway from this very high setup. We swept around most speed posted corners without concern even the truck tilt warning ones. The truck seems to be consuming about 3 litres per 100 klms more with the camper onboard at present but apart from the 95 liters of water it was otherwise pretty empty.
It still parked in shopping centre car parks however and also angle and parallel parked on small country town main streets which was a real bonus. It also uturns in less space than most unencumbered 4x4s.
It is already drawing lots of attention in service stations and rest stops and I am more and more feeling this type of combination could potentially increase the popularity of slide ons. For a couple who prefer moving to stay in one place it has potentially lots of advantages. Also for those Grey Nomad fishing enthusiasts feeling a tinny on the roof is either too small to access their favourite spots or too difficult to get on and off it could also be a game changer. Most Ute based slide ons are already close to or over their limits before adding a significant boat or perhaps horse float/classic car/bike or off-road buggy trailer.
I am still chasing feedback from anyone else who has tried this combination.

I

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Monday 8th of February 2021 12:26:56 PM

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Monday 8th of February 2021 12:32:52 PM

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Monday 8th of February 2021 12:33:50 PM

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Monday 8th of February 2021 12:36:15 PM

watsea · Guru

Neat looking unit

Woody n Sue · Guru

Hi Trailer sailer
i have and are still in the process of setting up a hino 817 4x4 light truck for desert crossings and out back adventures, with a slide on ordered but thanks to carona is taking a while to get some of the parts to build it with , however if you are on Facebook you will find several groups that are dedicated to these types of light trucks, and also slide-on bodies of all sorts have their own groups too, just search for the model truck you have and a few different groups should come up for you to join and check out , they are mostly good and informative , but as everywhere there are a few smart ass answers but just ignore them and move on to the sensible answers .
Also as with here there is often a discussion on weights as well lots about the different single tyres you can fit and upgrading your rodeo Suspention to something more palatable to our older bone sets.
I have fitted 17 inch singles to our hino but from day one so dont know what the standard tyres are like to drive on , the singles are pretty good but I need lots more Suspention travel than comes standard , as with all 4x4s the Suspention travel leaves lots to be desired .
One of many reasons I went for a light truck is weight carrying capacity , when I get put on the scales ( amd thats going to happen eventually to all caravan types ) I want to be able to say to the officer you have a good day " as I drive off with a smile on my face .
This is our rig as we set out to shift our daughter to townsville last Tuesday week , will get home again to north west Vic today
Hope this helps

Regards
Woody

KJB · Guru

Woody n Sue wrote:
Hi Trailer sailer
i have and are still in the process of setting up a hino 817 4x4 light truck for desert crossings and out back adventures, with a slide on ordered but thanks to carona is taking a while to get some of the parts to build it with , however if you are on Facebook you will find several groups that are dedicated to these types of light trucks, and also slide-on bodies of all sorts have their own groups too, just search for the model truck you have and a few different groups should come up for you to join and check out , they are mostly good and informative , but as everywhere there are a few smart ass answers but just ignore them and move on to the sensible answers .
Also as with here there is often a discussion on weights as well lots about the different single tyres you can fit and upgrading your rodeo Suspention to something more palatable to our older bone sets.
I have fitted 17 inch singles to our hino but from day one so dont know what the standard tyres are like to drive on , the singles are pretty good but I need lots more Suspention travel than comes standard , as with all 4x4s the Suspention travel leaves lots to be desired .
One of many reasons I went for a light truck is weight carrying capacity , when I get put on the scales ( amd thats going to happen eventually to all caravan types ) I want to be able to say to the officer you have a good day " as I drive off with a smile on my face .
This is our rig as we set out to shift our daughter to townsville last Tuesday week , will get home again to north west Vic today
Hope this helps

Regards
Woody

Hi Woody, have not heard from you for ages , you have a good vehicle there .... will you set it up so you can tow your Fifth Wheeler as an alternative.....?

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Hi Woody Thanks for the tip. Information has been pretty hard to find about both slide ons and small 4x4 trucks for travelling with. I am pretty experienced with extended trailer sailing and other forms of camping but these small trucks and slide ons are new to me though I did quite a bit of research before purchasing. What I am finding difficult to source are people experienced in supplying and fitting the upgrades I wish to make. Most information is about the next size up popular with rural bushfire people and the expedition class truck builders.

Woolly · Senior Member

Any further updates, we are looking at buying 1 but hardly any info our there.
Cheers
Woolly

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Hi Woolly We have just retired and moved to SA and are about to commence our upgrades on the NLS to go travelling ( the lap plus lots of other destinations ) as soon as Covid allows. Not much done to it yet but we are very happy with the vehicle having just used it along with an older NPR Pantech to move all our stuff 1,200 klms from rural NSW to Murray River waterfront SA. Huge difference in drivability and the fuel consumption was nearly half the old school 4.6 liter turbo NPR. My partner Clare drove the NLS with relative ease whilst towing our 5 kayak trailer whilst I manhandled and suffered the old 2004 NPR Pantech.

Woolly · Senior Member

Thanks for the info Trailer Sailer, we pick ours up on Thursday and have about 1800km trip back home to NSW. We will actually be going past the bottom end of the Murray River on the way home as we have to call in and see some friends.

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Hi Woolly Good luck with it all. We are in Wellington East right where the Murray empties into Lake Alexandrina. You must be going close by. We also had a long drive to pick up ours having had to grab the last one available on a big Isuzu special in NSW late last year. It was in Inverell whilst we were in Kangaroo Valley. Be warned when unloaded it really bounces hitting bumps but is fine once carrying our slide on or a decent load in the back. We still have another journey back to NSW pending to pick up our slide on and our yacht once we finish isolating here. We am so happy to have purchased the NLS over the NLR however as the AWD has gotten us out of so many tight spots already and on the wet steep roads around Kangaroo Valley the safety difference between driving in two wheel drive and AWD is truly enormous.

Woolly · Senior Member

Thank you for all the info, I am now a lot more confident in our choice of vehicle. If all goes to plan we could be stopping at Clayton Bay on the way home. It will only be for a quick 15 minutes though.

Woolly · Senior Member

Hi Trailer Sailer, How much weight did you need to get a half decent ride. We picked ours up yesterday and drove 9 hours on crappy roads and we both felt like we done 50 rounds with Mike Tyson. Today we put 400kgs on the back and it has improved but still not something you could drive everyday. Cheers Woolly

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Hi Woolly Our slide on camper full of stuff weighs nearly 1500kgs and the loads we had when moving home would have also been over 1 ton. I think it needs about a ton in the back to really settle down regards Graeme

gavin8r · Newbie

Hi Graeme,

I am pondering over whether I will buy an NLS 45/150....still weighing up the pros & cons.

Do you need to slide the camper back to tilt the cab?
can you check at least the oil & water with the cab down?

Thanks for any advice.

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Hi To access the whole engine bay the cab does need to be tilted but all the usual routine maintenance requirements can be accessed by lifting the seats in the cab which is easy and these under seat panels have sound and heat shields that are quite effective. Re tilting the cab with the slide on on the back, I am shifting my particular slide on back about 600mm to allow the fitment of a both sides accessed generator and general storage box which should then allow me to just clear when needing to tilt the cab. My slide on will remain entirely on my alloy tray but my rear mounted storage box will then protrude about 400mms over my rear tray. Regards Graeme

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Just checking in again for others using the Isuzu NLS AWD as their tow vehicle and or slide on camper base. My partner Clare and I have now retired and are preparing for some extended touring with our truck, slide on camper and 28 foot trailable yacht. Still looking for others using and modifying this particular vehicle. Regards Graeme

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Super singles and parabolic springs (if available) would make a huge difference to that vehicle I reckon.
Check with All Terrain Warrior in Queensland for the springs and rims. There are potentially other sources for the rims too, so shop around.
Tyre wise, probably 12.5/37R17 would be the go. They have load ratings of 124 typically with a few at 129 and one at 131 that I am aware of.
Cheers,
Peter

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Thanks but it is exactly what I have been trying to research. To date I havent found anyone who has done a super singles conversion to a NLS and was hoping to find someone who has actually done this and other upgrades. The front suspension on the NLS is different from the more normal NPS conversion.

Sandtrucker · Member

Hi Graeme ,

// Thought I'd share my journey with you - given I've spent months trawling the web and making phone calls, for info on super singles on an NLS, and came up with a sum total of nothing.

I'm in the process of sorting out super singles on a 2012 twin-cab Isuzu AWD NLS, right now. It's been a bit of a journey but I'm nearly there.
I started with Gumtree sourced 17.5" x 6" rims from a new toyota coaster - yes they are the same pcd and rim centre... (stocks on the NLS are R16*5.5"), that I've modified with a customer offset. I have done this myself as trial at my workshop. I'm confident I'll squeeze 235/75xR17.5 rubber onto this setup. L-ratings will be well in safe ranges... Increasing the rolling diameter by about 1.5" in total.

In a perfect world I would have preferred 7" wide rims.. (and 260 rubber) but it's been too hard to source. So 235s will have to do....
At this stage I am not keen on building full custom steelies.. modified coaster will have to do.

To be clear, what I'm attempting to create here is a mildly lifted, super-singles based, traction truck, that won't get stuck in the sand so easy... In WA it's all about sand.
This is not a huge off-road beast like the NPS...
It's just an AWD truck that can carry heaps on a standard car license and go most (but not all) places in the bush and coastal WA environment... The duels just do not work, even on mild sand tracks.

I found a mob who tried a big super-singles conversion on an NLS 4 years ago. It included a silly cab lift so on.... it did not end well for them. The truck was dangerous with the center of gravity raised so much.

As it stands my estimated loaded (1.2ton) ground clearance with this new setup isn't bad... Circa 240mm ground to lowest control arm pt.. So better than a stock LandCruiser.

Lots of other details in all this, I haven't yet resolved.. or articulated here.. like clocked and wound up torsion bars, new front shocks (coilovers upgrade possibility...?) and the hunt for rear parabolic rears so on... More info incoming here in the next month or so.. WIP .. hope this helps.... Any contributions are welcome.

Thx L

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Hi Thanks for all that info. We have only just retired and commenced using our NLS with high Hardwall slide on. I think I will have to cope with the duals as they are very stable with the high and top heavy load and after research I feel the super singles change over would lose some of this top heavy countering stability.
Also a significant amount of time we will be towing our huge trailable yacht exerting nearly another 350 kgs down force on the rear suspension along with the heavy slide on perhaps overwhelming the singles carrying capacity.
Really appreciate front suspension lift and upgrade info regardless however as it low at the front in my view.

Sandtrucker · Member

Hi Graeme, Your right about the stability factor & downball capacity. Its hard to beat the duals for that. My application is a pretty regular, 1.2ton on the back tray at all times. Towing is a rarity for us. So I'm hopeful the super singles will work for us (time will tell).

Regarding your interest in the front suspension lift...
Basically the front end design is excellent as a compromise, ie.. AWD, great turning circle and even reasonable ride quality (if the rear is loaded well) - but bad when it comes to ride comfort when any lift is applied via the torsion bars.
In fact its just awful when wound up tight (ie.. +40mm of lift is about all you can get out of the torsion bars when wound up very tight). It only takes about 15 minutes to wind up the bars on the front end, when parked on a flat surface.
We tried running the truck like this on a short trip, on road and it was a very unpleasant experience.
After an exhaustive search - my next step will be to replace the small useless factory bump stops, with something like this:

www.amazon.com.au/SSF-327-47-SumoSprings-Front-Mercedes-Benz-Sprinter/dp/B01LVYVS49

The idea is that a set of urethane constant contact, progressive bump stops, will provide a little more lift on the front end, without me having to wind up the torsion bars tight. Added benefits will be better sway control and (I hope) more progressive dampening on road and off - with the lift.

SumoSprings are a great product, pretty well proven in the market now. I have had them on other 4x4's I've owned. They do the job of air bags, but cant be popped.
Only issue is they do not release a set, that fits our NLS from the factory. Hence I've found a set off a Merc Sprinter, that I'm adapting. They look like they will do the job in terms of load capacity and build height (4.5inch uncompressed).
This is all work in progress. I'll let you know how I go with this experiment!

Thx
L

Sandtrucker · Member

two other points worth considering on the front end...

1)
I've found no options for aftermarket shocks, on the front end. And the only units that seem similar are those off a 90's coaster (unconfirmed, just eye balling).
The Isuzu factory unit is very very short. And IMO a little under powered for the application. It looks and feels like a quad bike shock.

2)
The upper control arm on the front end, has a hard metal-on-metal stop, that limits suspension travel down, to the point exactly where the OEM shocks, bottom out (full extension). Which makes sense.
I think its possible to modify this setup for a bit more travel.
ie.. lower control arms, steering, drive shafts, CV's so on... all have enough room to move down more (at least 40mm) - the limiting factor is the front shocks - which are backed up by that very offensive upper control arm stop. But even that could be fixed with a longer rose joint pre-stop, if I could find longer front shocks.

Thx
L

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Hi Thanks for the info.:)