Im back and need advice please !!!

[beno]

Hi all I am back!!! It was August 2008 since I was last on here but now I am back and need some advice please. I am looking for a 3.0ltr surf but firstly I need to know what the towing weight is as we have bought a twin axle caravan the weighs 1700kg fully laidened. I am currently pulling it with a 96 uk spec shogun that I have to say has been a real good car but I have had it for 2 years now and really do fancy another surf. I did have the 2.4 version before that served us very well but with problems with head gaskets and been under powered I have decided to go for the 3.0ltr Also what sort of mpg will I get from the 3.0ltr ? I have got my eye on a few nice looking ones but need to get the shogun sold first. Any help and advice would be great. Nice to be back

[Hazzo]

Hi Beno

my first caravan weighed about the same as the one your planning to tow with no problems, in fact I couldn't even tell it on there but after replacing the van for a 1785kg empty van last summer I've blown the head. I suggest you fit a tranny oil cooler and independent temp guage to help with the cooling problems suffered by these cars under load, the rating is 1500kg which I reckon relates more to the cooling issues than the cars ability for towing. My new van laden I reckon is close to 2200kg or so, also twin axle, and though the actual towing seemed fine it did struggle slightly on hills, which I reckon overheated the tran oil, the rad and blew the head, fit a temp guage that works to at least be able to monitor the situation. Driving like a fairy, sticking to 55-60 I got no less than 25mpg and nearer 30 on the Mway, not towing. H

[yoshie]

Buy a 3rd gen, tow rate is much higher than the 2nd gens

[Albannach]

Remember too; there's a huge difference between what something can tow, what it can tow safely and what it can tow legally.

[Tallyman]

I hate to say it but better still is to buy a Land Cruiser, as that will tow a large twin axle van effortlessly.

[beno]

Thanks for the replys :-) I have just pulled up an old topic and they reckon a surf will tow 2000kg legaly so that will ding dang do for me !!!! So fiiting an oil cooler will help when towing ? I know when we had the old 2.4 surf the transmission tunnel used to get very hot when under load. I will look into this.

[beno]

Just having another look now what year did the 3rd gen come out ??

[Scorpion]

Just having another look now what year did the 3rd gen come out ??

1996 - N plate.

[beno]

Cheers that will help narrow my search !!! Im going to get the Shogun up for sale this week and lets see what I can find looking forward to getting back into a surf and the wife will be happy driving an auto again More brownie points for me