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SWB for towing

Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 2:32 pm
by Dace
Hi peoples

I got a friend (just 1, they cost to much! :lol: ) who is interested in getting a early 90s SWB patrol or Safari for 4x4 tasks, but also needs to be able to tow with it.

The question is, the horse float is gonna be about 2.5-3 tons loaded up and is quite long(its braked), will the SWB be stable enough to handle it?

Also, any one got one for sale in the lower north island, preferable manual, in the low 200k

Cheers guys
Dave.

Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 5:26 pm
by DaveM
Should handle it ok, but I would go for a LWB for added stability.
Would be a little slow on hills too I would think

Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 8:23 pm
by T
I have just recently towed a funiture trailer bigger than a horse float from Dunedin to Palmerston North it weighed around 4 tonne completely full and my shorty towed it no probs sat really well on road although yes a bit slow on the hills. I have added a fair bit of weight to it with front and rear bumpers etc so it weighs in quite heavy which probably helps to sit on the road better when towing heavy weights.

Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 8:55 pm
by safari_mulisha
turbo it haha
makes an awesome difference 15psi up hills you can pass cars

Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 11:18 pm
by Mark
We tow a 8m boat with our LWB Safari. The boat weighs between 2.5 and 3 tons depending on fuel and water load on board. We towed it from Wellington to Tauranga and back over Christmas and while it was slow on the hills it handled it really nicely.

I would have some reservations about using a SWB to tow something so heavy though. I found that when we went around a downward sweeping bend on the open road that was the slightest bit bumpy my guts suddenly appeared in my mouth almost every time. You just have to take your foot off the brakes and ride it out! It feels as though it would push you around in an instant if you actually tried to brake. The shorter the wheel base the more likely that the trailer will push your back end around on a corner.

When my brother tows the boat behind his SWB Pajero it is a really awful feeling when it starts wobbling from side to side on the motorway for no apparent reason. It's not so much fish tailing, but more like the boat trailer just dictating where it wants to go as you are going around a corner. Admittedly a Paj is not as heavy as a Safari though.

That's just my experience. Everyone sees these things differently though.

Re: SWB for towing

Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 9:26 am
by PR
DBWRacing wrote:Hi peoples

I got a friend (just 1, they cost to much! :lol: ) who is interested in getting a early 90s SWB patrol or Safari for 4x4 tasks, but also needs to be able to tow with it.

The question is, the horse float is gonna be about 2.5-3 tons loaded up and is quite long(its braked), will the SWB be stable enough to handle it?

Also, any one got one for sale in the lower north island, preferable manual, in the low 200k

Cheers guys
Dave.


I dont think you will have any problems towing
and theres plenty on trademe at the moment

Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 1:10 am
by fishjoe
depends on engine,
TD42 are ok only with turbo.
rd28t, forget it.

Nissan autos are tough as long as you keep it cool. You need to fit the aftermarket valve kit and a bigger decent cooler.