Izuzu MUX Owners Be Aware

migra · Senior Member

Izuzu MUX Owners Be Aware

Young Simmo · Guru

Please elaborate on WDH, or is that a funny name for a tow ball?

aussietraveller · Guru

WDH. Weight Distribution Hitch, which is part of the tow ball system on the vehicle and is adjustable to suit your van and it has two steel bars back to couplings on the van draw bar, they are used to level the car and van so that the weight of the van does not lift weight off front wheels, they also stabilise the van when being towed.

Young Simmo · Guru

Thanks aussietraveller, so it changes the VTL and brings me up to speed.

Young Simmo · Guru

Arrrrrr, Torsion Bars.
Thanks aussietraveller, so it changes the VTL and brings me up to speed.

zuby · Member

migra wrote:
Please be aware if you are considering buying a MUX for towing a caravan.
I have been advised by a new owner of a MY2015 MUX (2 weeks old) he has been advised by Izuzu Technical Department HQ Queensland that they DO NOT advise the fitting of a WDH because they have not tested a WDH on their vehicle.

-- Edited by migra on Monday 12th of October 2015 02:56:03 PM

I have an early Nissan Pathfinder and if you have the Nissan Towbar fitted then Nissan advises not to use a WDH.

However if you have a Hayman Reece towbar fitted then people say it is OK to fit a WDH. The HR towbars are said to be stronger.

With the Nissans it seems fitting a WDH depends on the towbar not the tug.

Could it be the same with the Izuzus?

-- Edited by zuby on Monday 12th of October 2015 06:24:58 PM

-- Edited by zuby on Monday 12th of October 2015 06:25:30 PM

chooknphil · Veteran Member

WDH are only needed to correct a problem you are far better off fixing your weight problem than 'bandaging' it with WDH

That is the attitude ISUZU are taking I applied them

chooknphil · Veteran Member

Meant applaud them. I would hope to never be in a position to 'apply' them

greyhoundtom · Senior Member

Don't tell me it's the first of April all ready......... :)

Delta18 · Guru

greyhoundtom wrote:
Don't tell me it's the first of April all ready......... :)

I think perhaps you are right.

iana · Guru

After reading a similar post to this one some time ago, I went and discussed the issue with the vehicle supplier (Mazda), they confirmed that when fitting third party options, those areas effected are not covered by their warranty, but are taken up by the company supplying and fitting the item. In my case it was increasing the rear load capacity. I then went across the road to the company who would be fitting those components, and they confirmed what was said, that the warranty was then taken up by them.
It certainly would pay to read the fine print, and get all statements in writing however.

elliemike · Guru

Young Simmo wrote:
Arrrrrr, Torsion Bars.
Thanks aussietraveller, so it changes the VTL and brings me up to speed.

Arrrrrrr They Torsion Bars ! Thought torsion meant "Loading by /Rotary/Twisting force" Never had anything to do with WDH do they work this way !

Young Simmo · Guru

Yeah elliemike, the ultimate goal is to get the VTL right, then it is smooth sailing sorry, driving. Also while I am at it the general recommendation is to have about 10% of Van weight as the down force on the trailer hitch (Probably 100kg to 200kg on average). Over 25 years of Caravaning, I have maintained mine about 75 Kgs, or a good heavy lift with one hand, and never had any dramas. If you have to take the Annex roof out of the front bin, and put it up the back for a comfortable ride so what.

Desert Dweller · Guru

Funnily enough as I clicked on this thread a brand new Isuzu MUX towing a 17ft Fulcher van pulled up beside us. I noticed that it wasn't using a WDH, the van had one of its two 9kg gas bottles removed from the A-frame (probably to reduce ball weight) & the cars rear end was sagging worse than Grannies undies after she'd lost a lot of weight. I couldn't believe how much the cars rear end came up when they unhitched!
I thought Isuzu were trading on their ''TOUGH TRUCK'' reputation? I've seen cheap SUV's doing better than that!

Cupie · Guru

It may be advisable to study this article before forming your opinion WRT WDH (With Respect To Weight Distribution Hitches)

http://caravanandmotorhomebooks.com/caravan-and-tow-vehicle-dynamics/

I am one of those who wouldn't move out of the yard without a properly fitted WDH fitted.

Delta18 · Guru

Cupie wrote:

I am one of those who wouldn't move out of the yard without a properly fitted WDH fitted.

Me too, the only 'one handed lift' I use is on my 12' tinny trailer. My van has (measured) 260kg on the ball and no way would I not use a WDH on my D-Max.

I think the 'tough truck' slogan may refer more to the utes (or perhaps isuzu trucks) rather than cars which the Mux is.

What is VTL Simmo?

Desert Dweller · Guru

Adding to the WDH debate we ''wouldn't leave home with one''. LOL. After 40,000kms of towing our van safely around without one, why bother. Yes, I do know that they're an Aussie tradition but so what. We've seen quite a few images on the internet of distorted & bent A-frames from using WDH's. We've also been towing our 18ft fibreglass cabin cruiser around for 20 years without a WDH too, not a problem.

Young Simmo · Guru

Delta18, VTL is Van Towing Logistics, sorry.
Simmo.

Delta18 · Guru

Young Simmo wrote:
Delta18, VTL is Van Towing Logistics, sorry.
Simmo.

What does that mean? Tried Google, first time I ever stumped him! confuse

PeterD · Guru

Young Simmo wrote:
VTL is Van Towing Logistics,

You are introducing a term that I have not seen on any of 5 busy travellers forum. I did a search on the term and could not find any reference to it. Can you please explain the term and also give some links to where it has been expounded.

KFT · Guru

I thought he might have meant Vertical Towbar Load

frank

Young Simmo · Guru

OK, I did say "sorry", I did make it up, next time it will mean, Very Timely Lie.
To me WDH was a blank, and I don't think I am an orphan there.
END OF STORY, I have to go and continue being retired.
That takes all day, and there is no time left to do anything else.

sandgrooper1 · Senior Member

Young Simmo,

This is a very serious forum....no room for humor here!!

Just in case you had not realised.....

Cheers AL

Bruce and Bev · Guru

I have a DMax and love it, so Im not anti Isuzu, but the company is currently running adverts for the MUX showing it towing a 21 (???) footer van at a brisk rate down a sealed road then pulling off at what I consider to be high speed onto to a grass area beside an ocean cliff. No rear sag of course..............surely a case of mid-representation (lies) which they could be hung out for with the ACCC if anyone with a MUX is having this problem (irrespective of the fact the 'van is no doubt empty as well as the SUV - other than the 2 passengers.

Young Simmo · Guru

sandgrooper1, when I stumbled onto Grey nomads I thought, this looks like a fun and entertaining place to be, but now that I have been told by an experienced long term member to pull my head in, I better go and find and find another place to waste away my spare time.
GOOD BY.

PeterD · Guru

migra wrote:
So, if you are towing and using a WDH, it is at your risk and insurance could be void.

There is a long history of motor companies ducking and weaving. There was a big one about 8 years ago on this subject when a few tow bars fell off Nissan Pathfinders. Nissan's response was to advise that they did not say that WDH was approved for use with their tow bars. They then issued warnings about using WDH on OEM tow bars fitted to Pathfinders. The warnings were subsequentially issued for the rest of the model range.

We now see other manufacturers following with these warnings as a let-out as they have not tested their tow bars with WDH. Hayman Reese (and others) have done testing and they are prepared to warrant their products.

WDH is a well established product, I doubt that any insurance company would be likely to attempt to use WDH as a basis of refusing a claim. I am sure the WDH manufacturer would come to the rescue to prevent loss of future sales.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

They are a little like air bags etc.. Just because suspension is level?
Doesn't mean you can put another half ton on it and go crazy ...
The Darwin effect will weed out the dumb asses ..
Sheesh ..

elliemike · Guru

Young Simmo wrote:
sandgrooper1, when I stumbled onto Grey nomads I thought, this looks like a fun and entertaining place to be, but now that I have been told by an experienced long term member to pull my head in, I better go and find and find another place to waste away my spare time.
GOOD BY.

Who told you to pull your head in.

Am I missing something !

Suppose this is too late if your not posting or viewing any more.

-- Edited by elliemike on Tuesday 13th of October 2015 07:18:26 PM

sandgrooper1 · Senior Member

Young Simmo,

I for one hope you reconsider your aforementioned good bye and stick around.

Some would think this forum is as important as a BHP board meeting the way some comments come across.

I for one have enjoyed your posts in what otherwise could considered a somewhat mundane and same again type forum. Its posts like yours that make things more interesting reading in my opinion.

Now I must go back to being a conformist!!

Cheers AL

brickies · Guru

It is very common for poster to make the statement they are leaving so everybody start posting please don't