Thread: 3.5 Tonne Towing 4x4

Originally Posted by Tentman

Hmmm - nothing conclusive coming to the fore is there. New or secondhand but I don't have a fortune or want to be bent over so a new Hilux/Landcruiser is out. A used Landcruiser is on the list but they are not infallible either, another Fencer here has one and its cost a fortune even with being under warranty.

The Safari is superb offroad, I've only been stuck once in 2 years of fencing in some reasonably knarly places (cockies coming out to see me have been embarrassed twice as I recall) but the older ones like mine are not certified for 3.5 tonnes - Gadget what year is yours and how did you get it certified?.

Iveco's and Landrovers do seem to have a bit of a record at leaving one in a difficult position with "no go" .

Originally Posted by gadgetman

Mine was an '89. The engineering outfit looked up the specs on their towing capabilities and certified it. Mine certainly had no issues towing a massive covered car transporter/mobile workshop. This thing had electric brakes and was seriously HUGE! Used for collecting new pre-release vehicles under the cloak of darkness and scurried off for winter driving testing before hitting the market.

There is no certification required or applicable to warrant of fitness vehicles for tow-bars, your grandma can design and build one and tow 3.5 tonne braked on a ball,above that you get into mini ring-feeder/5th wheel territory and generally the vehicle will need a COF instead of a WOF due to the gross vehicle mass.
Once you get into COF vehicles then tow bars must be certified .