Maximum Towing Weight

[Bacon Sandwich]

Evening everybody!

Are we sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin!

I spend my time delivering cars all over the UK using my trusty Ssangyong Korando and a twin axle Ifor Williams trailer. I deliver cars as small as a Fiesta and up to Disco 3's, XC90's and X5's. Before you start complaining, I borrow another car for the heavier cars! However, I don't really want to borrow this cos I feel like I'm taking the mickey! How would you like to lend me your car and it comes back 4 days later with an extra 2500 miles on the clock!

I was wondering if some of you lovely people could tell me if the 3.0 ltr version of the Surf can pull up to 3500kgs? Also, a rough idea of the fuel economy is like, both laden and unladen. I have read previous threads about ATF coolers etc and that would be one of the first thing I would fit.

Also, do the back seats fold down completely flat? The reason I ask is I do spend a lot of time away from home and was thinking of converting the back into a bunk. I hate staying at the Travelodge, Days Inn soul-less pits for £60 a night (and no b****y breakfast!!!!!)

Your comments would be greatly appreciated!

[andy]

That would be too much weight for a Surf, would think that you need to go for something a bit biggerl like a Landcruiser.

[da SLUG man]

you'd need to fit a tachograph to tow that much weight too... then do your cpc and get an operators licence.

may aswell get a 7.5 tonne recovery truck, but then 3.5t load would be close to limit.

[Bacon Sandwich]

you'd need to fit a tachograph to tow that much weight too... then do your cpc and get an operators licence.

may aswell get a 7.5 tonne recovery truck, but then 3.5t load would be close to limit.

Sorry to be a pedant slug man, but you do not need an operators license for a vehicle that is 3.5 tonnes GVW and under, which a 4x4 is! You only need an "O" license if your prime mover is over 3.5 tonnes. As you can tell, I already have a CPC!

If the Surf isn't up to the job, I'll go back to the drawing board!

[NeillOP]

I have a 4Runner (3l manual) and I have pulled 3500kgs with it. It is absolutely fine powerwise, very good on the motorway, but I got a bit of clutch slip on windy roads at around 30-40 mph. That was 30,000 miles ago and the same clutch is still in it.
You have to be careful not to get too much weight on the nose of the trailer as the back end of the car is quite soft.
If you take the rear seat squabs out ( 4 12mm bolts, about 2 mins) the floor goes flat and is just long enough to stretch out in. I've slept in mine loads and it works well. I'm 5'10". I've slept in it with the squabs in and it's still OK.
With a gentle right foot 26 - 28mpg is achieveable. I once had 35mpg, on flat roads at 55mph driving across Poland and Northern Germany.
If heavy cars are the exception rather than the rule, a 3ltr would do the job and the economy would be better than a 'Cruiser, but the 'Cruiser would be a nicer car to spend all day in. Plus the 'Cruiser is rated to tow 3500kgs and the 4Runner only 2200kgs, although for some markets I think it was higher at 2500kgs.

[dirtydog]

As far as I know you can only use a Nissan Patrol or Toyota LandCruiser or Amazon to tow 3500kgs.

[Bacon Sandwich]

Cheers guys.

I have found conflicting towing weights myself, ranging from 1800kgs to 2800kgs.

The maximum weight would be the exception rather than the rule but my local Land Rover garage wants me to deliver their stuff so I'm looking at pulling a 2.5 tonne Disco and a 750kg trailer.

I must admit, a Landcruiser would be a nice place to spend all day in but it would mean an increase to my spending budget and I think that the more you spend on something like that, the better it will be (or so the theory goes!) and I'm not sure about the running costs.

Back to the drawing board I think!

[dirtydog]

The LandCruiser heavy towing with not too light a right foot does about 16mpg towing 1700-1800kgs
I wouldnt have thought it will get too much worse

[lizardinc]

Sorry to be a pedant slug man, but you do not need an operators license for a vehicle that is 3.5 tonnes GVW and under, which a 4x4 is! You only need an "O" license if your prime mover is over 3.5 tonnes. As you can tell, I already have a CPC!

If the Surf isn't up to the job, I'll go back to the drawing board!

in fact you only need an o licence for hire or reward '' i know i have one i operate two trucks ' you can drive any thing to your licence class but not for hire or reward '' vehicles over 3.5 gvw require a tachogarph only but again not neede only for hire or reward

[da SLUG man]

in fact you only need an o licence for hire or reward '' i know i have one i operate two trucks ' you can drive any thing to your licence class but not for hire or reward '' vehicles over 3.5 gvw require a tachogarph only but again not neede only for hire or reward

yeah, and his business is delivering cars on a trailer.

i'd always wondered how people got away with towing so much on the back of transit vans!... e.g. 3.0t diggers + plant trailer.... i always thought it was set on the train weight, not the weight of the primary mover...

mind you... everywhere you go people seem to inerpret the rules in their own way!... the thing with lifting axles up or down, the whole WTD rules on POA etc... it all seems to change each week!

[Gizmo]

Lancruiser / Amazon, Isuzu Rodeo I Believe [new models] and some other flatbeds, Nissan Patrol.. I don't believe there are alot of vehicles actually rated to the maximum of 3500kg

[Chillitt]

what you need is one of them fifth wheel conversions on a (hilux) pick up, so you can use a normal car trailer most of the time and the full rig for the heavy stuff

[Bacon Sandwich]

what you need is one of them fifth wheel conversions on a (hilux) pick up, so you can use a normal car trailer most of the time and the full rig for the heavy stuff

Have you and idea what those trailers cost???? If I'm going to go down that road, I might as well spend £4000 on a 9 car artic transporter!

So far, the Mitsubishi Shogun/Pajero is in the lead. The LWB can pull 3300kgs and is in my price range. However, if I decide to slum it, I can always get a Land Rover Defender!

[dirtydog]

Have you and idea what those trailers cost???? If I'm going to go down that road, I might as well spend £4000 on a 9 car artic transporter!

So far, the Mitsubishi Shogun/Pajero is in the lead. The LWB can pull 3300kgs and is in my price range. However, if I decide to slum it, I can always get a Land Rover Defender!

Wow, i never knew they were rated so highly apart from the defender.

[Chillitt]

hehehehe yeah they aint cheap, are they...