Best mainstream 4x4 pickup for towing 3.5t

[Joel77]

You don't need s pick up truck you need a unimog !! Personally I couldn't think of any thing more depressing then towing up hill n down dale all day everyday in a poor little underpowered pick up it's clearly a struggle

 

The only pick up for you is a yank if you don't want a mog

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Update on "Electric over Hydraulic Brakes"

 

My Mates setup is as follows:

 

- Allows you to tow max 4.5 tonne.

- Electrical side in truck - hydraulics modded to trailer in this case tri-axle ifor: weight limit 1.5t per axle.

 

Installed by LUCAS - sadly now no longer. Doesn't know who would fit such a system now; they were the cats meow apparently.

 

Cost £3.5k 10 years ago; est £5k now.

 

No pics yet sorry.

[waterbuoy]

Agree with Steve - I've had defenders, Range Rovers and early Discos, but have now settled on the D3/D4 (we have one of each) for work purposes. I've been lucky and (so far) have had good examples with nothing too major other than one gearbox which was a warranty item. Other than that it has been an air compressor and routine servicing - have just passed 165k on the D3. I did try a LC once but found the ergonomics were not for me (and VERY thirsty)

 

In part it is a mindset issue - pickups 'look the part' whereas the D3/D4 doesn't, and many regard it is a 'luxury' vehicle. The D3 regularly goes places fully loaded where our defenders would struggle or fail, and has a larger rear loadspace than even the 110. You have to accept that the door linings will get damaged (unless you buy a commercial), and that there will be scruffs and scrapes. However, in 4 yrs and 125k I reckon I've lost about £12k in depreciation on the D3, and have spent approx £2k per year on servicing etc.

 

Of the 125k miles, maybe 20k offroad and 40k towing trailers ranging from an old GM chipper up to fully loaded exhibition trailers across europe, 7.5m boats etc.

[Matthew Storrs]

Update on "Electric over Hydraulic Brakes"

 

My Mates setup is as follows:

 

- Allows you to tow max 4.5 tonne.

- Electrical side in truck - hydraulics modded to trailer in this case tri-axle ifor: weight limit 1.5t per axle.

 

Installed by LUCAS - sadly now no longer. Doesn't know who would fit such a system now; they were the cats meow apparently.

 

Cost £3.5k 10 years ago; est £5k now.

 

No pics yet sorry.

 

Just been reading on another forum (caravanning) about electric brakes, they mention that in Aus and US they commonly have fifth wheel arrangements for pickups and this has capacity for a lot higher trailer loads, the overrun system we have is rated at 3500kg because there is extra force in the pushing and 'snatching' involved. A fifth wheel is rigid.

 

I must say it sounds like a fantastic setup (electric brakes). Apparently you have dash controls to set how much braking force to be applied etc, and they are relative fail safe in that should the vehicle itself have braking issues the trailer is totally independent. Again overrun brakes really on the vehicle stopping in the first place ( more I think about in surprised they are still allowed up to 3.5t even!)

 

However all this is fine and dandy and not an unrealistic investment cost either. But I seriously doubt any of these small pickups and I think I would include LC in this too, are they really quite up to coping with 4 ton plus as a daily grind- I'm not so sure, yank pickups are a different ball game.

 

I still think a Mog would suit me down to the ground but Jon, your putting me off!

 

Actually, I used to work for a chap who had a 1980s U1000 and in the 5 years I worked with him it only had 1 big time expense recon engine to a tune of 8k. But other than that just welding and general wear and tear!

[Peter]

Electric trailer brakes are very common in the states, they tow 7-8 tonne gooseneck trailers with pickups. Admittedly their pickups are more like our 7.5 tonners.

 

Anyway, should be possible to import a system from the USA.

[Daniël Bos]

When it comes to trailers being heavier than the towing vehicle, artic tractor units weigh but a fraction of their trailers, and can happily tug 50 tons if you're in a less nannying country, and still several times their own weight here.

It's all about being in full control over the trailer brakes...

 

Sent from my D5803 using Arbtalk mobile app

[Matthew Storrs]

When it comes to trailers being heavier than the towing vehicle, artic tractor units weigh but a fraction of their trailers, and can happily tug 50 tons if you're in a less nannying country, and still several times their own weight here.

It's all about being in full control over the trailer brakes...

 

Sent from my D5803 using Arbtalk mobile app

 

Yes sure. An Artic tug is designed to have 50%(of whatever) of its trailer then placed on its own rear wheels in effect placeing the weight on to the tow truck whereas a standard hilux type truck towing 4.5ton still shouldn't have more than 150kg nose weight regardless of braking system (unless it was a fifth wheel setup). A hilux would never tow a dead 4.5t up a steep llane without a serious bit of weight in the pickup, not necessarily through lack of power but lack of traction. My tractor weighs a shade under 4 tons but I have towed 8 tons with it up steep hills purely because probably 3 ton of the trailer is on the tractors rear wheels.

[Joel77]

Iv got a Dodge Ram dually and a 34ft 5th wheel American caravan with electric brake system, as it's s caravan it's allowed in UK but as far as I know your not allowed to tow goose neck flat beds car transporter etc in the uk

 

It still boils down to the same old same old that your limited with a "run of the mill pick up & trailer !! All the agg of these brake systems, you'll need s tacho in to tow motor any way so why not just get a mog or lorry that can do the job

 

IM0 pick up,s ant much good for towing heavy loads and normally end up. Ring dragged off the road by there trailer as there too light to handle the weight unless you go the agg of loading the bed up with half a tonne of ballets

 

Only mainstream motor that will do your job is a landcruier amazon my old one 4.7 V8 on LPG bundles of power and no agg maybe you could turn one in a truck I did consider doing this to my old one but the Dodge Ram when needed gets the job done

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Only over 7.5 tonnes GTW requires O licence.

[Peter]

Over 3.5 tonnes GVW requires an o licence.