TOW VEHICLES

[Peter T]

Hi all. I am considering getting rid of my Pajero with 3 ton towing capacity. the discussion I would like to start is this.
Do you think that an ALL WHEEL DRIVE car with 2 TON towing capacity and 200KG tow ball download be sufficient to tow, launch and retrieve an I563, given that the bare boat comes in at around1200kg.
Your thoughts are appreciated,
Cheers

[Geoff]

Hi Peter,

Pretty sure the bare weight of the boat is about 750 kg. Mine is 1300 kg all up. Boat trailer outboard fuel water and all the bits to hit the water.

My tow car is a Hyundai legal for 1600 kg. It tows on very rural roads at 100 clicks and doesn’t know it’s there. Launches and retrieves no problems at all. Before that it was a Mazda Tribute, same deal.

You’ll do it easy with your specs.

[Peter T]

Thanks Geoff. its really interesting when buying a new vehicle. I am looking at a new Mazda CX70 which is what they call a " Soft Hybrid". You can get it with a 3.3 L turbo 6 cyl Diesel or a 3.3 L 6 cyl Petrol engine. If you go for the Diesel, it gives towing capacity of 2000kg and yet with the petrol engine you get 2500kg. I have no idea why and the Diesel is around $3000 dearer. I was presuming that the diesel would be better, but there you go. I drove a CX80, same size car with the petrol engine as well as a CX90, again same size car with the Diesel and you wouldn't have a clue which one was the diesel. Impossible to pick. Also, I had not heard of a Diesel Hybrid before. With both of them, there was absolutely zero turbo lag under acceleration due to the electric motor. Technology, Interesting stuff
Thanks for your reply.
Cheers

[Geoff]

Peter,

I know exactly what you mean.

I used to run my own trucks and I loved diesels. Thought they were vastly superior to petrol cars when they went to intercooled turbos and pretty much fixed lag and noise issues.

But now I wouldn't choose one. This Hyundai only has a 1.6l turbo petrol donk and a dual clutch tranny. No clutch pedal but a robot changes the gears in a manual box so you drive it like an auto. I just cannot believe the power, it has much boondie.

Plus diesel was always a cheaper fuel to buy, because it was cheaper to produce. Now that prices are determined by sales volumes and not costs of production ULP is cheaper, often by a lot.

Back when we were kids a 1600cc car was your sister's car. Things have changed and I am awed by the development in motor vehicles generally.

[IanS]

Hi Peter,

I (actually my wife) have a 2.5l Mazda CX-5, towing capacity 1800kg (I think). The ramp at Brooklyn is about 30km up the M1 from here. I tow at about 90km/hr with no problem. Wouldn't want to go much smaller.

Would be interested to know what model Geoff's Hyundai is.

Ian.

[Ozzie]

viewtopic.php?p=5294&hilit=GVM#p5294

This thread may be useful to read again. It’s always interesting to look at towing capacity relevant to “spare”towing capacity. It’s amazing how much weight you can add up on accessories etc which detracts from your capacity to tow but anyway, lots of reference government material on the net.

Cheers

[Geoff]

Hey Ian

Its a Tucson 2020 model.

[IanS]

OK, thanks Geoff. Very similar vehicles, except yours has a diesel and probably more torque.

[Geoff]

Hi Ian,

No I have the petrol job. They did a diesel I think 2.5l, and 2 petrol variants. A 2l naturally aspirated which is reportedly fairly doughy, and the 1.6l turbo petrol that I have.

[Andrew]

My tow car is a Toyota workmate, 2004, 5sp manual, rearwheel drive ute, 2.7L 4cyl petrol (or E10) with 1800kg towing capacity. It's robust, simple, economical to run/maintain/ easy to get spares and my ole mechanic knows these well. I'd say it's about my minimum sized tow car.

Tows I563 on Highways comfortably at about 90km/hr and easy around town at 50-80km/hr. I prefer petrol to diesel, it costs less, fewer oil changes and simpler fuel system (no turbo to break). E10 , 10% ethanol mix, every now and then, helps clean out the fuel lines etc, and the ethanol is agriculturally produced locally.

Don't have too many hills to climb and the roads are flat and fairly straight around here. Might be different in hilly terrain place like Tassy, where you might need more grunt and cornering capacity (the Pajero size/wide stance might be better for that?)