Whats the best tow wagon?

[BradM]

I own a '95 Hilux Surf. My bro has also owned 3 Surfs- a 94 a 95 and a 96. All 4 hav been awesome tow vehicles- until you put a heavy f'glass boat behind them and the Brynderwyns in front of them!

3000rpm for extended periods of time and in excess of 1500kg tow weight and the engine temp starts to move. Slow right up to keep revs under 2000 (20km/h) and A/T OIL TEMP light comes on (cooking the trans). Do this often enough and it spells cracked head. I hav cracked 1 and my bro has cracked 2. After experiencing temp needle moving a couple of times (not overheating, just needle moving off normal), it began to take less and less to heat up (head experiencing stress and begun the deterioration of the integrity of the head).

Also had SR5- 5 spd manual- 3000rpm ALL DAY LONG!
Also: Bro changed to manual radiator and separate trans cooler- still overheated at critical rev and loading as mentioned above.

My point? Auto Surfs fail in the critical rev range and weight combination mentioned above. Leave out the Brynderwyns/ Kaeo/ Coromandel and they fine.

My question? What do other people use to tow big boats up big hills? Cos I've just returned from Xmas at Matai Bay, and I'm so over SURF SYNDROME!!!!!!

[skid]

80 series VX landcruiser, preferably manual

[swampa]

ive had 3 safaris, auto and manual, lwb, swb and turbo, a 4.5 petrol 80 and a 24v diesel turbo intercooled 80 and my clear best by a country mile is the 24v diesel turbo 80 series for under 30k

[Jerry]

Surf temp guages have a resistor in them to make them read cold/normal/cooking motor, fitting a secondary guage is recommended as well as a pyrometer (monitors Exuast gas temps), sitting at under 2000rpm on a hill with a 1kzte is not good due to the heat build up. some auto surfs have the AT cooling pipe pass thru the bottom radiator hose outlet. Bigger exhausts help keep them cool as well.

What about something like a 80 series or a GQ (Safari)

[wopass]

80 series VX landcruiser, preferably manual

best by a country mile is the 24v diesel turbo 80 series for under 30k

X2



or a V10 Taurag VW if you have moonbeams of money

[curly12]

Any heavy as lwb 4.2 turbo farken diesel pos that has a manual trans or has an auto fitted with aftermarket oil cooler and 4wheel disk brakes will do it.

In saying that I towed my 2.5 ton boat all over the north and south island with a non turbo 4.2, was fine if you don't mind hitting 60k up the bombay hill

Farked my hilux towing horse floats for a few years

Will never go back to a light weight wagon again

So go a heavy as Nissan or Toymotor

[ClassicCruiserSpares]

Ive got a 94 manual surf with the 1kz in it and i use it as a tow wagon and never have any heating issues and tows good but the best would be 24v 80series or 100series cruiser.

[skid]

this auction finished today

no bloody idea why the hell it didnt sell

good price if ya ask me

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =265175636


if the link dont work, then keep and eye out for listings under member name FETGA

or ring fully equipped Tauranga

[DaveM]

I've always run Safari's (non turbo) and thought they were good. Have just bought a VX Cruiser, and the difference is huge.

Unless I was going to buy a GU, I doubt I would get another Safari as a daily driver. The VX is so much nicer on road, quieter, and a heap more power.

[BradM]

Yeah, cruiser or safari it seems- just havent got my head round the fact I need a TANK just yet!

Anyone towed heavy shite with a 4x4 sr5?

[Jerry]

SR5 still runs the 3L 4Cyl motor similar to the 1KZTE in your surf, If it was me I would be looking at a 6Cyl 4.2 as these don't have the head cracking problems. My 90 Series Prado is a similar size to a Surf and the 80 Series isn't that much bigger in height, its just wider.

[sig]

24v 80 is the bomb had a turbo patrol but the 80 would leave it for dead.power,comfort and handling

[mudtroll]

I've got a 94 Surf 5 speed as daily drive/tow wagon. Have towed 6m tinny & double horse float[ approx over 2 tonne]all over NI,runs like a dream. Had a non turbo saf for 7 years doing same, gutless, didn't have any problems with it but it didn't like going up hills!

[UBZ]

I've got a 94 Surf 5 speed as daily drive/tow wagon. Have towed 6m tinny & double horse float[ approx over 2 tonne]all over NI,runs like a dream.

i cant imagine the heat that is generating.
As Jerry siad , the stock gauge has a flat spot in it from factory.
When the guage moves it will be two late.

I towed my Zuk on a trialer (approx 1.5t ) over the weekend. (95 manual surf 1KZ-TE) anything over 90km and the temp gauge (aftermarket) started to climb. Had to slow down to 50km going up the Bombays to keep the temp under 90. my cooling system is in top notch condition as well.

IMHO the 1KZ-TE is not a good tow engine as it generates far to much heat under load.

[tweake]

they all generate the heat, its how they get rid of it is the catch.

1500kg is not exactly heavy.
while they are well known for overheating, part of it is poor radiator setup (trans cooler blocks the radiator flow). the rest is typical for a vehicle of that age. block up intake runners, EGR, poor exhaust etc.

[mudtroll]

i cant imagine the heat that is generating.

You might be right but I've been using it to this for 3 1/2 years, 100,000 ks, like I said runs like a dream.

[koma]

Seen plenty towing that without any troubles, all stock and not mega super well maintained or anything. Dang we had 2.4 and 2.8 hiluxs towing 2&3ton trailers without a hitch, dont know what all the fuss is about.

[Jerry]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 907411.htm

[haynzy]

I towed my hilux with my 2.4 prado ( truck 2t+ and tandem trailer) and never had any problems, sure emp rose but it was working hard and was mainly up to the green hut at rallywoods that it showed any signs of heat. Now I tow my 6m fibreglass boat (1.5t inc trailer) and its sweet as. Biggest thing is to not pedal it down keep that exaust temp down and maintain the truck.
My head did crack but they all do it

[NJV6]

Not a 80 series 12 valve auto!

A friend has a 2001 1KZ 90 series Prado manual which has towed the 2.5ton race truck all over the South Island and now with 270k on the clock has given no trouble. This vehicle has done ALOT of towing.

I towed a 2.2 ton Hilux to Refton late last year and was extreemly disapponted. The tow vehicle was a 1HD 80 series. Not far out of culverton the auto light came on and drove the Hilux instead. 1st gear on an decent hill.

The Prado would leave the 80 for dead. Maybe a manual one would be better or the auto was shot

[whitetrash]

..

[Steve_t647]

Down here the diesel experts do what the truck drivers do and monitor the exhaust gas temps, if these temps get too high 900 odd deg they pull over for 1-2 min.

Some trucks even new ones have no water or oil temp they all have exhaust pyro's tho, shows how important this is to the life of an engine.

[4WDbits]

This is comfortable for general driving, very stable towing heavy trailers and great off road.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=266738535

[Andrew1706]

Factory 24v manual diff locks drooooooooooool

[Landcruiser70]

If you want something cheap, hard to go past the old 60 series. My old one was used soley as a tow wagon for drag cars it whole life, never missed a beat. 4L, non turb, had headers and a scoop tho.

[flyingbrick]

Uncle test drove a turbo 80 series and was very dissopointed with how it went. He bought a turbo 1993 SWB safari 4.2l diesel truck and he said it pulls his 2.5ton boat and trailer with absolutely no problems at all and it goes a whole lot better on the road with no load than his late model turbo surf.

[callum007]

i'd have to say go the 80 or 100 cruiser. my merc van will tow my POS on its trailer (1900kg) all day. just dont be in a hurry.
that cruiser auction that Skid posted was a bloody good buy, that might be why a member has now bid on it