It will be at D maximum, another tail wagging the dog.

Gday...

Welcome to the forum Simshaz

Unfortunately, almost all the utes currently on the market (let alone the older models) are not as capable as the marketing blurb states when it comes to loading the vehicle up and then hitching up a big van.

The article in the following link is a little long-winded and deals with more than just the D-Max but it does cover how difficult it is to tow upto 3,000Kg with the D-Max ... let alone to tow more the 3,000Kg.

Click to read the information

Perhaps one day someone in a position of authority will legislate to force manufacturers to more accurately state the capabilities of their vehicles rather than the current situation where the marketing blurb misleads buyers.

As the same authorities are yet to conduct regular weigh-ins of vehicles and vans on the highways, but when it comes, there are going to be many who will be left red-faced and very annoyed on how they have been mislead with overweight vehicles and vans.

Cheers - John

Simshaz wrote:

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Thanks everyone for your replies ...may have to look at a 200 cruiser

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 Hi 

Just be as vigilant with that choice also, sorry I am not trying to be negative. 

All I am trying to do is making you awhere of the pitfalls of purching a overweight dream and that soon become a nightmare.

We had a smaller caravan told the sales people we will use the dual cab ute for caravaning, reply " we sell lots for towing caravans". 

Navara was great with the 2tonne caravan under weight in lots of areas, then purchased the larger caravan with ensuite 2749 kg, first thing noticed we were heavy on the towball then found we were close to maximum in other areas. We are now after 3 months of negotiations we are legal and still with our dream caravan. But it did cost extra dollars.

Most of us choice dual cab utes for there flexibility, including economy of the small powerful motor, automatic transmission and car like comfort.

On this forum there has been lots of talk about weights, engineered up grades on tow vehicals including Land Cruisers, so once again be awhere 200's have there share of problems also. There tare weight is quite heavy to start with.

Hope you have success with your choices.

Thanks again and thanks for the heads up radar ...have been checking out 200 weights etc ...very similar problems ...kinda makes you wonder who's towing all the heavy vans around ...I do get the feeling things are going to tighten up as regards to supposed mobile weigh stations etc ...this lap thing can be an expensive excercise lol

Simshaz wrote:

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Thanks everyone for your replies ...may have to look at a 200 cruiser

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 Hi Simon....Great decision,and good advice from Radar.I note that you have asked the same question on the 

other site and,as always,you got reports from the wannabe brigade waffling on about how well their little cars

tow big vans! Your suggestion that you may purchase a 200 is your best bet,but,as Ralph has noted,you

will need to do a GVM upgrade to 3800kg.I got my 70 series done by Carroll Springs in Wacol,at a much lower

price than Lovells.Unless absolutely necessary for weight transfer,forget the WDH that so many insist on using,

and a DO35 hitch gives you much less TBO (towball overhang) than does a McHitch.Always remember that both

a WDH and a McHitch increase that TBO,making the whole rig a lot less stable.From memory,Toyotas maximum

loading on the rear axle is 2300kg,with 1560kg on the front axle on later models. If you Google Claytons towing

caravan rescues,or similar,you will see that the vast majority of their photos show twin-cabs,Prados and the like,

towing big vans,that have come to grief.Simple physics seem to be beyond the comprehension of some owners

of twin-cabs etc,but few people will admit that their purchase was a mistake! I wish you all the best with your 

research,and trust that you will have safe and happy travels!

                                                                                       Cheers.

 

PeterD wrote:

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What ever tug you get, read the link in rockylizard's  reply first and digest it fully. Even the great Cruiser can get effected by the GCM rating. The Iveco Daily seems to be the best alternative suggestion to-date.

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 Hi Peter...I just had a quick look at the link you suggested,and it appears to say that GCM is the sum of the cars GVM                             plus ATM.Surely this is incorrect,as GCM  is the total of GVM plus GTM? Its been a long day,but I believe thats right?..              Assuming that I am right,it is easy to see how newbies,and even older members,get confused.

                                                                                                                                               Cheers.

There's a pretty simple recipe for avoiding all of these weight problems, buy a smaller caravan.

How much room do two elderly people need?

We've had a 17fter for the past 5 years, plenty of room.

We spend most of our time relaxing under the roll out awning.

Who needs to be dragging a massive ''box on wheels'' around constantly worrying about being overweight?

Our parents did 3 laps of OZ back in the early 70's towing a 12ft caravans in total comfort.