Thread: NZ towing laws and practices are making my head hurt, help!!??

Originally Posted by Flyblown

We had to go to AKL International Airport yesterday. Heading north on the long decline from the top of the Bombay Hills onto the flat, I was in the left lane with cruise control set on 100km/h, watching in my mirrors the approaching abomination coming down the hill behind us in the right hand line.

We were overtaken by a blinged up Ranger towing a decent sized boat on a two wheel trailer. Ute tray was chocka. Not a small boat. 8m? At least. Decent 4 person cabin and two large outboards. It went past us at speed. Like 25-30kmh faster. Fastest thing that over took us all day.

What towing laws.

Ranger owner!

Originally Posted by madjon_

Ranger owner!

If you had seen the ridiculous adornments on this vehicle and the sticky-out-wheels, you would’ve put some adjectives before the Ranger part….

On a more serious note this issue is rigorously policed in Aus. Over GVM 4WDs, over GCM towing vehicles etc. You get pulled over at a weigh bridge in the middle of nowhere and hey presto that’s the end of your trip.

Just pass Mt Micheal Fairlie on Boxing day.There was a ford raptor on side of road with the bonnet up,steam pissing out of the radiator.Had been towing a commercial size fishing boat on the back.It was bigger than the normal big boats being towing.Its must be boarder lined allowing it to be tower by a ute.The ute was a raptor with all the bells and whistles(nice) on it like the boat.Owner was standing there on the cell phone,poor bugger.He d be pissed off.Engine cooked once,motor will be stuffed I reckon.

Originally Posted by Trout

ford raptor

There is the problem towing with either a V6 3L petrol or a 2L Bi-turbo petrol and they only have 2.5T towing and Not 3.5T

Specs for Raptor

Driving on the Waikato expressway, it’s always interesting how many cars with trailers pass me at over 110km/hr.
Strangely, Ford Rangers always feature heavily.


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Originally Posted by Happy Jack

There is the problem towing with either a V6 3L petrol or a 2L Bi-turbo petrol and they only have 2.5T towing and Not 3.5T

Specs for Raptor

2.5 ton is still a lot most people have no idea
They somehow think 2.5 ton is a limiting factor.

I find the going isn't the problem, it's the stopping. The small engines have no engine braking full stop long period that is it good night nurse delight.

Where the bi-turbo falls over slightly is where you are running at the crossover point between the two hairdryers and then dump your foot up it when the poor little sewing machine is already working hard. If you are following one towing and it is on a hill that gets steeper and the thing starts pumping black smoke thats what has just happened. It's not exclusively a Ford problem, any twin turbo will do it in the right circumstances. Not good for longterm engine life as the piston and cylinder temps are going through the roof in that situation and the exhaust temps are about to join them...

Theres no replacement for displacement. And a manual gearbox

Originally Posted by tac a1

Theres no replacement for displacement. And a manual gearbox

We would be better off in this country for people to learn how to tow a trailer properly. Or even better, how to drive a car properly, wouldnt that be something

Originally Posted by tac a1

We would be better off in this country for people to learn how to tow a trailer properly. Or even better, how to drive a car properly, wouldnt that be something

We would get no monthly footage to watch if that happens

Originally Posted by striker

We would get no monthly footage to watch if that happens

True. It is amusing watching some of the dip shits and what they do in their cars

Originally Posted by No.3

I find the going isn't the problem, it's the stopping. The small engines have no engine braking full stop long period that is it good night nurse delight.

Where the bi-turbo falls over slightly is where you are running at the crossover point between the two hairdryers and then dump your foot up it when the poor little sewing machine is already working hard. If you are following one towing and it is on a hill that gets steeper and the thing starts pumping black smoke thats what has just happened. It's not exclusively a Ford problem, any twin turbo will do it in the right circumstances. Not good for longterm engine life as the piston and cylinder temps are going through the roof in that situation and the exhaust temps are about to join them...

I agree the 2 litre bi turbo is a lemon
The 3l v6 is a different kettle

Originally Posted by tac a1

True. It is amusing watching some of the dip shits and what they do in their cars

Boat ramps on a busy day are good entertainment.

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Originally Posted by Ned

Boat ramps on a busy day are good entertainment.

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yes they are

Originally Posted by BRADS

I agree the 2 litre bi turbo is a lemon
The 3l v6 is a different kettle

Yep, although writing the 2L off as a lemon is a little harsh - they do OK as long as they are used within their limits which is a lot more car like use than a lot of people use their utes for. Think Auckland poncing ute dressed up in 50Kg of plastic trim and $6K of crappy aftermarket wheels and tyres rather than a hunting ute...

The 3L V6 does have some areas of concern for me in heavy use - particularly the longevity of the crank and the electronic engine management side (crank failure is a spicy and exciting event when the engine is under full load on the road). We just got to a point where the Bosch gear on the previous 3.2L engine was just about to give up all of it's secrets and flaws and the buggers go and slap Siemens gear on it's replacement just to spice life up. Thanks Ford, I bet your engineers are laughing their tits off over that one.