I am in process of buying a tow vehicle and caravan to do a big lap before I fall apart. As an old bloke I am comfortable with big vehicles, and really would prefer a "full size" 4wd station wagon. I know Utes can be a bit cheaper, but I have no arse whatsoever these days, and hard riding vehicles play havoc with my tail bone. Suspension seats, which might solve the problem, seem to run to about $4000 fitted for two units. I could end up with the most expensive ute in the known universe.
I came up through the ranks when it was a very rare thing for anyone to buy a brand new car. I am a bit averse to the initial depreciation these days when you go the hog in a car showroom. My vehicles have a propensity to bump into things now and again, and slide into the odd ditch etc. They do not remain spotless or in showroom condition, Hence ideally I am looking for a three to five year old full size wagon with under 100,000 kms or so. The options are Landcruiser v8 at round a trillion dollars, Nissan Patrol 3 litre with a restricted tow rating (2500kg), and a Pajero 3.2 litre. Which is within my price range, and tows 3.5 tonne. I am able to pay about $45,000 all up.
Very few of you all seem to go the Pajero way. Why is that? Is there something about the Pajero I have missed? Are they hated, or just neglected? Do they have reliability problems? A mate is camping up north right now, and he walked around the riverside free camping site where he is hunkered down, and took a shot of every rig for me. Not a single Pajero, mostly Landcruiser of various ages, a couple of Utes and a couple of Prados. Why is that?
Just by the way, I suppose you all have noticed that on the TV the Patrol is the vehicle of choice in war zones. Just like overweight American missionaries in Africa all drive a big Landcruiser. We were in Morocco a few years back, driving an old Renault sedan from Marrakech across the scrub to the Atlas Mountains. We had to cross a few river beds and climb a few steepish hills. The Renault was perfect. Every other vehicle on the road was a white Prado! They were everywhere! No idea why, or who paid for them. The Renault was a rental and cost an absolute fortune for a week. Anyway.
And, why do so many ordinary working people seem to be able to slap down $80,000 for a Toyota v8? And what on earth is their motivation to reinforce the Toyota cartel and keep the second hand prices so bloody outrageous! Of course I would like one, I am not broke yet, seventy and still working three days a week, but really!
it looks as though the van will weigh a touch over two tonne, if I go for a sixteen footer with a toilet etc. circumstances mean I have to buy the truck before the caravan, we are short of a vehicle right now. Is it worth the risk going for a Patrol 3 litre? I have been told to keep the total weight well under the tow rating?
I know I must sound like a knob with all these questions. The truth will out I guess. But would appreciate feedback. If by slim chance anyone actually owns and runs a Pajero, your experience would be very instructive.
I have a NT 2010 Pajero which I bought new to tow our Sunland patriot caravan. It now has 180000 on the clock and has been been faultless in it's reliability. It has towed the 2900kg van three times around the block and has never been back to Mitsubishi for anything but regular scheduled services. The one issue is the 180kg ball weight restriction when towing over 2500kg but this can be overcome by careful attention to the vans weight distribution. With 3000kg towing rating, it handles this size van with ease.
This trip (25000km) we have averaged 15.1km/100km combined van/no van fuel consumption over the whole trip. Fuel Consumption towing the van averages between 16.5 and 18litres per 100kms depending on the wind which I consider most reasonable. I like the comfortable ride which is more like a car with the independent suspension. The commercial type tow vehicles such as the twin cab utes give a much harsher ride with much less comfort.
I am presently on the Ayre Peninsular in SA and there are heaps of Pajero's towing tandem vans everywhere down here.
I think that they are a very under rated tow vehicle.
Extra's that I have fitted are as follows. 1/ Two inch lift kit springs. 2/ Polyair airbags on rear suspension 3/ Dual Batteries 3/ Hayman Reece WDH
I tow at 95 - 100 kmh in fourth gear sports mode with ease.
I do not think that you could go too wrong with buying one.
Shrek
-- Edited by Shrek on Monday 25th of September 2017 12:58:25 AM
I also own a Pajero its a 2003 NP Petrol, I have owned it for just on 20 months. It had 130,000 on the clock when I got it, private sale, and id the second Pajero I have owned. I have also owned diesels in a Toyota Surf 3.2 Turbo, and a Hilux dual cab 3.0ltr turbo diesel. I'm 70yrs young and I too enjoy the comfort of this car, it handles well, a bit heavy on the fuel but if I stick to 90-95klms an hr the fuel consumption improves. I have driven to Broome and back and just completed a 10,000k trip to Sydney, Via Adelaide and return via Canberra,Yass,Albury,Swan Hill, Adelaide, Port Lincoln,Ceduna, then on to Eucla and when we left Eucla I drove 1450klms to south of Perth in one stretch. I was tired when we got home but didn't over step my capabilities in doing so.
I also found that it was better to select the semi auto sports mode gear changes as it makes you more aware of when to change down a gear if needed, the full auto in cruise control wants to change gears to often and helps to use more fuel. Be aware that if you stop or slow right down you have to select each gear range to get back up to speed. You can also use this with cruise except you control when it changes gear.
The car has 2 batteries up front I put in a heavy duty 1" higher set of coils on the rear, still has original shocks. fitted a Red-Arc brake controller. Fitted heavy cable for an anderson plug on the rear to service the battery in the van, couple that with a 250watt Solar Panel and a DC DC charger, I.m towing a Coromal Excel 542, and it does it easy. I Like the car for it comfort, and so far its reliability. I service the car myself. Bob
-- Edited by ABNER on Monday 25th of September 2017 04:03:39 AM
Hi Ross, in my opinion there is nothing wrong with the Pajero they are great vehicles and the only reason I didn't buy one was as Shrek suggested the reduction in the tow ball weight to 180kg when pulling over 2.5T. I knew our new van was going to be around 2.7T fully loaded so I opted for the Pajero Sport which was rated at 3.1 with 310kg on the tow ball regardless of the load. I added air bags to the rear coils and a WDH so it now tows our van no problem especially when I utilise the 8 speed transmission with the paddle shifts. The issue I have is that the smaller diesel works pretty hard when it's under load i.e standing start and long climbs, although it pulls away from other bigger engined more fancied tugs it really chews the juice doing it. With only a 2 tonne load behind it should do it easily. When I get back from the Middle East in March I am going to trade it in on a new Land cruiser, Grand Cherokee, Ford Ranger or whatever it takes not to have to worry about being too close to the legal weight. The best thing about the Sport is it's level of comfort especially when not towing and for me that's the majority of the time. When I trade it in it is going to have less than 9k on the clock and will still have 12 months new car warranty, capped priced servicing and roadside assist so someone is gonna get a real bargain and I'd prefer that not be a dealer. I would probably sell it now as it's only sitting in the garage at home doing nothing but the wife would kill me as she is planning for us to take our van away away for a few days when I'm back in Oz on leave in November and again in January.
-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Monday 25th of September 2017 03:30:53 AM
They ARE. the most comfortable 4wd on market from Drivers point of view.
Along with the very exxy Land Rover Disco's. (Beautiful rigs to drive)
Landcruisers just overpriced. Overrated. suggy suspension item on the road. and at around $100k. No way.
Get a run out. End of yr. or ex Demo, anything.
Definitely the only the way to go. I've had new and them.
My last three have been such.
Stay under 2.5 ton,ish with ANY of them and you won't have a problem.
Over that you really need a Troopie (70 ser).
Patrol, Petrol, but NOT much more costs to run than the Toyota
200 on test tows.
or. YUK. a 200.
NOTHING else on Standard Issue Aust market. are SAFE.
for much more than 2.5ton.
Especially these overrated utes.
Example of.
I have a 2010 D-Max pulling 2 ton. Comfortably.
Ex Gov't managers wheels. 3 months out of factory wty.
Absolutely immaculate. In and out. 68k on clock
Came with 12mth wty and tank of juice to get home. FULL service record.
Dual cab. Canopy. NEVER had a towbar on it.
That model. Retail. when new. $44k. I paid $23k.
Those. AFTER 2012. Have coil\shocker front end. NOT Torsion bars.
and extra herbs in fuel system\Tuning.
VERY economical to run.
Basic seats not too bad. Orthopaedic seats should come in around $700ea.
If you look around on net and dealers.
Davro.
Sorry. But the Jeep and Ford WILL be on their Safety limits too with 2.7t. If not over.
Check the variation figures.
Load. Drawbar figures UP. Gross figures DOWN.
There had been a LOT written on these subjects here recently. Not only by me.
Plus Utes get pushed sideways VERY easy in the wet. Ask anybody that's had one and is honest.
Horse floats are a good example. THAT I do know.
We have just got back from a 2 week road trip with our van through the Central NSW Highlands and walking around the caravan parks I reckon the Pajeros appeared to be the most popular tow vehicle. Rod.
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Rod.
Ah! The serenity
Tug - Mitsubishi Challenger, Van - Starcraft Outback Poptop..
Have had two diesel Pajero's (NP - 8 years, NW - 3 years) they are good vehicles, they tow anything up to ATM of 2 tonnes really well and are very comfortable and capable 4WD. If you tow over 2.5 tonnes the tow ball weight has to be under 180Kg which is very limiting (under 2.5 tonnes 250kg). If you tow anything over 1.3 tonnes Mitsubishi recommend WDH, under 1.3t no problem. Also Mitsubishi recommend towing in 4WD High range and 4th gear, which works well and saves a lot of rear tyre wear, the Pajero has a locking centre differential which means they can be driven on bitumen in 4WD High range.
Better rear springs, air bags and shocks are good modifications for towing, also the common rail diesel's (~NW onwards) will benefit from fitting a catch can like Provent to prevent carbon build up of inlet manifold. They are really working hard when towing anything 2.5 tonnes or over in hilly country, but up to that can cope. We replaced our last one with a Landcrusier LC200 GX and tow a 2.5 tonne off road van and are much happier with the LC200 as a tow.
Note the LC200 was $76K drive away and if you look at the LCOOL forum this price is not unusual for a GX. Toyota list price is negotiable if you shop around and the GX is the more basic model used a lot by mining companies. The GX is usually often not in stock, but really good value.
Depending on what you tow and it is under 2.0t ATM Pajero's are very good tow vehicles over that weight up to 2.5t OK. Over 2.5t ATM ???
-- Edited by Yabbietol on Monday 25th of September 2017 03:14:32 PM
-- Edited by Yabbietol on Monday 25th of September 2017 03:16:33 PM
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Former owner of Avan Cruiseliner and now have 16' XC3 Compact Kedron
Tow was NW 2013 Diesel Auto Pajero and is now a Landcrusier LC200 GX.
There is nothing wrong with a Pajero. I am in the Pajero 4wd club. I even considered one as my main tug.....until I drove the Landrover. Yes I hear all the cynics saying what about reliability etc. Yet I have had less trouble with than I have with my 76 series Toyota. Already been back for airbags and a few other recalls. Landrover not a thing. Scheduled service on Landrover at 26,0000kms , $600, Toyota has service intervals more frequently and both were dearer that the one landrover service. And I know which is far more comfortable. The air suspension leaves all the others for dead. Fuel ecomony is better than any other comparable sized 4Wd including a Pajero. You can pick up a Discovery 4 within you price range and with low kms. In most cases they have been the Mum's bus, so very little hard work.
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David Irvine
Tugs: 2016 Discovery 4./2017 Toyota 76 GLX Auto Wagon. Van: New Age Manta Ray Deluxe
I have just returned from a week at Darlington Point and on the first night I counted 9 caravans 7 being towed by Pajeros.I do not believe that we Pajero owners are a minority at all quite on the contrary.Cheers
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Westy. Some people I know are like slinkies. They look really funny when you push them downstairs !
Hello Ross,
What ever you decide on - there is a cheap option with your seat. I have a Patrol ST & I've found the seat getting rather hard over the last year or so on my tail bone - I have long legs & therefore get little support for my thighs from the seat(s). I found buying a piece of cut medium density foam to be the answer (triangular in shape) at a cost of $35. Go & see Clark Rubber.
A friend with a D-Max also uses the same item (his wife reverses it to give her lift on the seat).
The one thing I'd suggest if you go for a Pajero is to have the inlet manifold decoked from time to time - a Canberra company who service my gas system when I am there - McGuinness Motors, advertise the service. Friends in Townsville had that trouble with theirs but they also bought another Paj too!
Nissans are known to have strong transmissions - I know the older 4.2L ones are not welcome in some twin mechanic businesses if the clutch had to be changed - removing the gearbox-transfer case was extremely heavy & difficult.
Have a look at the Izuzus as towing vehicles too - the MUX & Dmax.
Warren
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Warren
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If you don't get it done today, there's always tomorrow!
I bought my current Patrol when it was eight years old & with 271,000 kms on the clock. I had the Diesel-Gas Aust system put on & now has just over 400,000 now - still going as well as the "new" figures as far as fuel consumption goes. Power wise, the 3L might be a little better.
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Warren
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If you don't get it done today, there's always tomorrow!
Thank you all for the feedback. I will go with the Pajero. I will spend up to the limit and see what I get for the money. Most important lesson. No one was negative, although some preferred other vehicles. I take it as a good sign.
Had a Pajero - best ever, fitted Reccaro seats it was the bee's knees, - Unfortunately got swept off a causeway it couldn't swim - but family survived Mighty Mitsy didn't.
Bought a repossessed six cylinder diesel Patrol (90 K on clock) to replace Mitsy, loved that to bits economical could tow a brick building - but decided to get a new (rest of my life car) when retired - no new six cylinder patrols being made any more (Was offered $3K trade in from dealer (Thief) on new common rail 4 diesel. I paid cash for new truck and sold old 4.2 for $25K (only had 120 Klm on clock) to a nice lass from Newcastle that wanted to do a bit of off-road (friend of Copper mate) she is still over the moon with her truck and I'm driving the last diesel common rail patrol - it could just about out perform the old six. It is manual of course I had the clutch upgraded to suit towing van, 30mm lift and air bags from Pedders - It is a "Ball-Tearer" Love it - it is comfortable all with anti slip and diff locks - been in places I shouldn't have but got out OK. Go patrol it is a Toyota eater. Only problem We've had is massive turning circle - just have to be aware where you are doing U-Turns.
Go Patrol and spend savings on having a good time and Helicopter and Gliding tours.
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Possum; AKA:- Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan
Sent from my imperial66 typewriter using carrier pigeon, message sticks and smoke signals.
Thank you all for the feedback. I will go with the Pajero. I will spend up to the limit and see what I get for the money. Most important lesson. No one was negative, although some preferred other vehicles. I take it as a good sign.
rossg
Hi Rossg, I just had a niggilly thing happen to my Pajero, it has two glove boxes, the upper one does not have a lock on it, the lower one does, All of a sudden I was unable to open the top box so tried everything to do so, I did some asking and investigative work and there is in fact a barrel lock behind the sliding facia plate of the lock, The numbers on the rear of the lock coincide with the numbers on the lower glove box, so they must be keyed alike. If you or anyone has the problem of the top box locking by itself you have to very carefully drill the centre of the plastic out to expose the barrel 10mm drill is the size, a smaller one to find centre to start, thn use your key remember that one key is a service key and will not unlock it.
Now to try and find a barrel to fit the lock, Mitsubishi can supply one but at$140 no thanks. Yhe wreckers can supply but $75.00 But no key, useless as it wont fit my key either.
Hi Ross,
If you decide on a ute and require comfort seating have a look at Airhawk on top of this page. They are regular advertisers. Before we bought our motorhome we used them in our BT50 and found them extremely good and minimizes fatigue. We now use them in the m/h.
Cheers,
David.
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Hi Ross, If you decide on a ute and require comfort seating have a look at Airhawk on top of this page. They are regular advertisers. Before we bought our motorhome we used them in our BT50 and found them extremely good and minimizes fatigue. We now use them in the m/h. Cheers, David. .
I tried the air hak on a motorbike, I didnt like it, I have a Gel pad in the Pajero for distance driving and it works well for me, 1450klms in one hit at the last trip and no numb bum at the end of it, Eucla to Perth.
With regards to the tow rating of the Pajero, make sure you look closely at its GVM as by the time you take 3500kg + tow ball weight and vehicle weight off the GVM you will find there may be nothing left!!!!
What they quote as the towing capability and what is real are two different things!
David
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Nissan Patrol TIL and highly modified Retreat Fraser full offroad version
