Thread: 3.5 Tonne Towing 4x4

Originally Posted by cambo

Mazda are now tied up with Isuzu instead of Ford, so there's an improvement straight away.

Hardly, there's a 3 year gestation period b4 you see the super ute.

Like the thought of the VW with V6.

Yea for long term towing of that weight you need a Landcruiser 100 series or newer.
My mate tows his 3.5 ton boat with a 100 series and has done for about 15 years and still going strong.
I know a guy that test drove a VW towing his race car and we'll under that weight and burnt the clutch out on day one backing up his drive. Then tested a ranger with no problem as they just don't need to be Rev as high as the little turbo engine of the VW.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

Its a bit of a dilemma all right. If I go down the small truck road with its complications of COF I'd still need a 4x4 for lots of places (and hunting) although I'd get away with a light one.

If I go 3.5 tonne Ute (towing I mean) then I'd only need one vehicle.

My neighbour is a senior mechanic with one of the national heavy equip outfits, they run all Rangers with very few problems over several years (quite a few minor niggles though) and they're running them fairly heavy - 3 tonnes plus a trailer. However I have doubts about their off road capabilities.

When you find the unicorn, get a few we could all use one

The Ranger is a great towing truck. I know of heaps of people that tow 3-3.5 tonne boats and standard trailers. We have 4 in our fleet, both PX1 & PX2. They have a few electrical acceptance issues with led lights on trailers and operating some of the trailer brake controllers, even the PX2 still has a few bugs to iron out and we fitted an Erich Jaeger after market body control module that looks after the trailer connections and it fixed all the shit. These trucks won't select 6th in auto when towing a heavy trailer, so the tranny can handle it ok. When it comes to 4 wheel drive, they ain't in the same league as a Landcruza or Safari by any means, they get stuck on a cow shit on the side of the road.

Dont know the tow weight but my brothers got a newer patrol flatdeck ex NSW powerboard. Realy good truck and already set up with tool lockers and winch. Someone is bringing them over might be worth a look

Yep as mentioned above by Brian, a GU patrol. Both the td42t and the 4.8 180 kw petrol are 3.5 ton rated. No toyota pricetag and better durability than the later cruisers. The petrol is a beast if you can afford to run it. Otherwise a chev duramax. Few quick mods and make 500hp