Towing upgrade 3ltr Gu automatic

[sarge]

Does anyone know how i can get a 3ltr 2010 GU upgraded to legally tow 3 tonnes Regards Mick

[threedogs]

I thought it was based on motor size ??
but feel your pain at 2.5t bit poor

[gu8 patrol]

isn't a auto 2.5t and manual 3.5t,thats what my 2012 GU 3ltr is

[threedogs]

Yeah my Auto only 2.5T even though have the bigger towbar fitted.

[Maxhead]

isn't a auto 2.5t and manual 3.5t,thats what my 2012 GU 3ltr is

hmm, not sure how you got 3.5T....as the Nissan specs say the auto is 2.5T and manual is 3.2T.

I had an auto 2008 and sold it and got a 2012 manual to tow 2.7t. You could strengthen the auto but getting the increased towing capacity engineered could be costly
\

Sarge, jump into the introduction section and say g'day and tell us a bit about yourself...

[june]

i have the heavy duty valve body from wholesale automatics they claim it will tow 4 tonne, however legally you can only tow 2.5 tonne. it all goes back to what the manufacture of vehicle states. my workshop manuals has this in black and white, there is also a sticker on inside of the small barn door stating this. I have rang up several modification company's to see if it could be changed and was told same as above. the only way [may-be] is what nisshead said check with a engineer. keep us up dated as I will be interested as well. currently towing illegally!

[Cuppa]

I may be a bit unpopular here, but my view of large caravans is that they are often 'accidents waiting to happen'. Putting a 3 tonne van on the back of a Patrol is, I reckon, asking for trouble , legal or not. Much safer to either tow something smaller, or get a more suitable tow vehicle. Just because a vehicle can physically pull a large van doesn't make it safe.

Cpa

[threedogs]

I hear you Cuppa are you saying ppl are on the Max and not leaving any leeway.
where as you could buy a 4x4 that will tow a max of 4.5 say and only tow 3t
that sound right???

[Cuppa]

I hear you Cuppa are you saying ppl are on the Max and not leaving any leeway.
where as you could buy a 4x4 that will tow a max of 4.5 say and only tow 3t
that sound right???

Yes 3D.
But I also have a bit of a 'thing' about caravans in general.
The average size of Australian caravans has increased dramatically since those that our parents towed, much longer & much heavier. (European caravans have generally remained at much more manageable sizes). Personally I think what I believe was once the rule, the 60% rule should still stand. Ie. max weight a vehicle can tow should be no more than 60% of the tow vehicle's weight. I also think that there should be a separate licence test for towing a caravan over a certain weight/length. There are too many accidents involving caravans, mainly because folk look at the accommodation when buying , but consider the towing issues less. Often the van then sits unused for long periods, then gets hitched up to a vehicle for the annual holiday when the frequently inexperienced caravan driver, often elderly, tries to drive it for much longer distances than they normally drive without it. Commonly there is little understanding of the need for weight distribution hitches. Our bus is slow, we cruise at 80-85kph, & the number of times we have been overtaken by a 4wd pulling a large van with it's 'tail' wagging from side to side at 110kph is scary. Even worse when you see vans with extra weight attached to the rear.
If the accommodation provided by today's huge caravans is actually needed, then IMHO 5th wheelers provide a much more stable & thus safer option. Nevertheless the size of the big caravans, & the big 5th wheelers still restrict where you camp.

But I digress, my primary concern is about mismatched tow vehicles & vans, inherent instability, & often inexperience towing them.

No doubt there will be caravanners who disagree with me, who have towed for years without problem. I can't argue from experience having never towed more than a tandem box trailer. But I have seen & heard of too many instances of rolled & disintegrated vans to believe anything other than 'extra' skills are required to drive these big vans, despite what those who sell them often tell prospective customers. (The shonky side of the caravan manufacturing & retail industry is yet another reason for avoiding them altogether!)

Ok, off my soapbox now. :)

Cuppa

[nissannewby]

I may be a bit unpopular here, but my view of large caravans is that they are often 'accidents waiting to happen'. Putting a 3 tonne van on the back of a Patrol is, I reckon, asking for trouble , legal or not. Much safer to either tow something smaller, or get a more suitable tow vehicle. Just because a vehicle can physically pull a large van doesn't make it safe.

Cpa

Cuppa I don't mean to offend but some food for thought. I agree with your statement but does this then not apply to GVM? Maybe for a different topic but the utes have a GVM of 3150 I suppose before anymore is said what's involved with the GVM upgrade? Is there a compulsory upgrade to braking?

Cheers mat.

[Maxhead]

I may be a bit unpopular here, but my view of large caravans is that they are often 'accidents waiting to happen'. Putting a 3 tonne van on the back of a Patrol is, I reckon, asking for trouble , legal or not. Much safer to either tow something smaller, or get a more suitable tow vehicle. Just because a vehicle can physically pull a large van doesn't make it safe.

Cpa

Not sure what to think of this post but I would agree if you were talking about towing 3t with a 1.5t vehicle but a large 4wd which is same weight or bit heavier shouldn't have any issues towing a large van.
I think vans/vehicles have changed a fair bit from the older style and tow a lot better.

I can easily say when we did 16000k's on out trip(first time towing large van for such distance)I was more then comfortable towing 2.7t. Not at any stage did I loose traction, nor did the van wobble or sway and the braking and cornering was fantastic. Even on the dirt with corrugations, dust holes and large crests it handled just beautifully. I did use a WDH tho.

Just my 2c but I think any vehicle with an idiot behind it can be dangerous or fatal.

[threedogs]

I think there is a braking test Which Cuppa underwent or the testing ppl did
Check Cuppas GVM upgrade