Towing with mahindra

kerrylyn · Member

Towing with mahindra

yobarr · Guru

kerrylyn wrote:
Anyone have a mahindra for towing

Hi Kerry...while I am not being having any experience with this car,a bit of research has revealed some figures that,to me,are quite impressive. Tare is around 2000kg for the twin-cab model,while GVM is 3150kg,so good carrying capacity,on paper.Strong points are that the rear axle is rated at an impressive 1940kg,only 10kg less than that of the ubiquitous,but much overrated,in my opinion,LC200. As well as having a good carrying capacity, the Mahindra also has a good wheelbase,at 3040mm.This not only dramatically improves stability,but it also minimises the weight transferred to the car's rear axle by the weight on the towball.Downside is maximum towing weight of only 2500kg,but there are many caravans in that weight range. Upside is that,with the generally accepted 10% towball weight (250kg),which will put around 360kg(+/-) onto the car's rear axle,you still would have great load carrying capacity if you were able to get weight to the front of the tray,and perhaps in the back seat area,where it may be safer? Perhaps you could transfer some of the caravan's contents into the car when travelling? And,a BIG plus is that if you were to tow a 2500kg ATM van,with 10% towball weight,you would have GTM (weight on van wheels) of 2250kg behind a car that,if loaded carefully,would have weight on wheels of around 3000kg. With this combination,the car would be more than 30% heavier than the van...having the car at least 10% heavier than the van is critical if safety is of ANY concern.Combined with the long wheelbase,this would be a VERY safe set-up...stable and well balanced.While I wouldn't be seen dead in one,the Mahindra seems to be a very capable vehicle,perhaps limited only by its maximum towing weight.I am being wishing you good luck with your research,but please feel free to ask questions.Cheers

gdayjr · Senior Member

Its good to see people looking outside the square when it comes to prime movers.

I do not need, or want a 2 ton 4wd to tow my caravan when i buy it.

I will be taking at least one motorcycle with me, that bike weighs 250 kg.

I will have numerous tubs filled with hand tools, workshop tools etc.

My solution is an Iveco Daily E6 van.

It will tow 3500 kg, its a longer wheel base than a 4wd, and has all modern driving aids. ABS, Stability control, traction control etc.

It has more than enough oomph from a twin turbo diesel engine, and also useable as a smaller camping vehicle when unhitched from the van.

You don't need a big heavy 4wd tank to tow a caravan these days.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

kerrylyn, there have been good reports on this vehicle in 4wd magazines such as 4x4 Australia, Overlander - featured in 4wd of the year tests. From memory, the Mahindra factory produces Land Rovers now.

I did look at it several years ago but legroom for me was an issue (I'm tall).

Yobarr is a "facts & figures" member, if it wasn't so good he would have told you - instead he's given it the thumbs up. Mind you, I don't believe he has told us what his vehicle is.

Craig1 · Guru

Warren, you surely jest, It now looks a fair bit like the latest Mahindra

yobarr · Guru

Warren-Pat_01 wrote:
kerrylyn, there have been good reports on this vehicle in 4wd magazines such as 4x4 Australia, Overlander - featured in 4wd of the year tests. From memory, the Mahindra factory produces Land Rovers now.

I did look at it several years ago but legroom for me was an issue (I'm tall).

Yobarr is a "facts & figures" member, if it wasn't so good he would have told you - instead he's given it the thumbs up. Mind you, I don't believe he has told us what his vehicle is.

My car is 79 series Cruiser...legal on all axles at 6800kg GCM.Nothing compares or competes! Cheers

-- Edited by yobarr on Sunday 18th of April 2021 05:13:14 PM

Craig1 · Guru

Craig1 · Guru

LC70 Single Cab Chassis.jpg

yobarr · Guru

Craig1 · Guru

ma water.jpg sensible water

oldbloke · Guru

Mmmm, red, I want one. Must go fast. Lol

rgren2 · Guru

Roothy tested them.

www.youtube.com/watch

peter67 · Guru

Yup John ( rooth) wrote for years with motorcycle trader too, knows what he is talking about.
ps craig1 that red thing looks a bit like robin williams on acid, as in very surprised.

-- Edited by peter67 on Sunday 18th of April 2021 10:20:25 PM

yobarr · Guru

Craig1 wrote:
sensible water

Hi Craig...sometimes people have to do things that others may not consider "sensible". Cheers

Eaglemax · Guru

To the OP, sorry, no, I haven't towed with one nor driven one. What some people miss here in leaps and bounds is that such a vehicle like the Mahindra dual cab is very low cost for what you get. At $39990 drive away top of the range model it is extraordinary value. While the likes of some (Yobarr and maybe others) "wouldn't be seen dead in one", such people can, for whatever reason, afford to purchase a vehicle at $80,000+ being the twin can LC. The golden question- is the LC worth double the Mahindra? To some the answer is yes. Such buyers might be farmers or come into inheritance or a real estate windfall and I'd likely make the same choice with such funds. However, the OP is considering the Mahindra for his reasons and price I'd suggest, is likely the driving (sic) factor. For such buyers what is the alternative? Certainly not a vehicle costing 80 grand. There is few. So, for some that "wouldn't be seen dead" in one, I believe it's a good tow car going by the specs and ignore the poshy comments. Tony

Jaahn · Guru

Hi smile ,

Well I can see the similarity between the Mahindra and the Tojo and now understand where the Toyota designers looked for inspiration aww Gees put a snorkel on the Mahindra and it might become the fourbee of choice for the serious off roader ! confuse Toyota must be worried and time to bring back another old model to fend off the competition again biggrin

I hope the transmission breathers are better protected on these new vehicles than they were when I was working in another country. Doing the average fords required on the main roads and not draining the water out and flushing them would guarantee a ruined transmission. Unbreakable Toyota YEA SURE !! Do not believe all that you see in the adds or the magazines. furious

Jaahn

montie · Guru

Been a long time since I drove a Mahindra.

Have they discovered synchromesh yet?

hodgie55 · Veteran Member

That picture Yobarr was a landcruiser crossing the Condamine river out near Warwick a couple of years ago.

Rob Driver · Guru

Even the Duke of Edinburgh apparently would not be seen dead in an LC 79 so made the decision to use a modified Land Rover.

Regards

Rob

Craig1 · Guru

Followed a" Ma " Hindra yesterday towing a small trailer. At least All the lights worked correctly.

HandyWalter · Senior Member

Having previously owned a non main stream 4Wd (Great Wall X240) I can to some extent understand peoples concerns. I had all the rubbish about spare parts in the out back etc. But guess what the car never broke down! Also watching Roothy's selling job (commission coming???) sometimes you just need to be aware of alternative brand spare parts. In my GW case parts from Toyota, Mitsubishi, Holden, Isuzu, and Daihatsu, were interchangable and often cheaper than asking for the Great Wall part. This idea that the only car that does not breakdown is just hearsay because in the next breath the same person will tell if they breakdown everybody in the country knows how to fix them. My only issue with any of these new brands is whilst the numbers say they can tow XXX, can they really do it in comfort and at a reasonable pace. That is why once I moved to buying a caravan, the GW went. Its still being driven around in Qld by some young buck who just loves it. Now with in excess of 350K on the original motor.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Hi again kerrylyn,
There's been quite a bit of info written about your query - both to the point & some wandering off.
You don't say what you're going to tow with your new purchase - I suggest that if the Mahindra tickles your fancy, then go for a test drive & weigh up the pros & cons about the vehicle. Check your weights carefully, including any extras you consider to be necessary in your travelling experience. Never stress a vehicle by towing to its maximum weights.

We've been amazed what vehicles "get out & about" on outback roads, tracks. On our last trip up the Birdsville "Highway", we saw a family in an awd Ford Territory that had low profile tyres on it. At the stage when we came upon them, they said they didn't need assistance when they did a tyre. On another trip, we discovered a Volvo awd wagon at the Bungle Bungles with a camper trailer on the back. That track was narrow, extremely rough & one had to contend with AAPT Unimogs being driven by hooligans!

I'm certain a car like a Mahindra would have been more suitable in those cases. Let us know of your final choice.