Isuzu D-max towing

[RobRainford]

Surly the biggest problem with one of these d maxs is that althougth the towing capacity has gone up the gross train weight hasnt? As in if you tow 2.5 tonne you can have a tonne on the truck aswell, but if you tow 3.5, you cant, so you can only move the same weight in material as a truck with a lower capacity anyway??

 

 

The GTW can't be mixed and matched. Ie if you have a 3.5t truck and a 3.5t trailer you can't put 2.5t on the trailer and 4.5t in the truck.

[gensetsteve]

The GTW can't be mixed and matched. Ie if you have a 3.5t truck and a 3.5t trailer you can't put 2.5t on the trailer and 4.5t in the truck.

 

I think you can load your defender up and still put 3500kg behind and stay under the gross train of around 6000kg. The double cab you can put 1000kg in the boot but then only 2500kg on the hook. I dont fancy the idea of empty boot and 3500kg pushing me sideways down a hill in the wet in 2 wheel drive. I personally dont feel right with 3500kg behind any of the Landrovers 2500 is enough unless its a d3 or d4 . The Amazon copes easily with 3500kg a decent lorry is a much better idea.

[william127]

My defender has a train of 7000kg, im not trying to start a landrover isuzu argument as i currently have 1 of each, (trooper, not pick up though), if i was picking which one to tow a trailer it would depend,:

Up to a couple of tonne i would probably use the trooper for its greater manouvering ability and speed on the way home if you have dropped off the trailer, over a couple of tonne i would take the defender regardless of miles(and im talking hundreds) due to its greater weight, longer wheelbase and the fact you can shunt in low box without risking a blown up transmision.(plus it looks amazing with a big trailer:))

Imterestingly a local hay dealer/farmer has just traded in his d3 for a d max, which he has had chipped straight away.

[pycoed]

On mine there's a dipstick change, soft wear update and another minor thing which Iv forgotten.

 

 

Don't take any bullshit from the dealer on this: the dipstick change is mandated because the sump is getting filled with surplus diesel from needless particulate filter regeneration cycles. i.e Isuzu think it's fine that the sump oil level is rising ( & being diluted with diesel)!! Unbefudginglievable!! There's loads on this on the Farming forum& other forums.

Press the dealer to find what they are doing to remedy the excess diesel in the sump - 'cos just recalibrating a dipstick beggars belief! - This is not going to be a trivial issue 50,000 miles down the line...

[gensetsteve]

My defender has a train of 7000kg, im not trying to start a landrover isuzu argument as i currently have 1 of each, (trooper, not pick up though), if i was picking which one to tow a trailer it would depend,:

Up to a couple of tonne i would probably use the trooper for its greater manouvering ability and speed on the way home if you have dropped off the trailer, over a couple of tonne i would take the defender regardless of miles(and im talking hundreds) due to its greater weight, longer wheelbase and the fact you can shunt in low box without risking a blown up transmision.(plus it looks amazing with a big trailer:))

Imterestingly a local hay dealer/farmer has just traded in his d3 for a d max, which he has had chipped straight away.

 

The d max already has plenty of power for towing already thats not the problem. Its stopping the stuff and keeping it safely on the road with only two wheels driving and controlling. Yes they have a problem with fuel dilution caused by the pdf trying to regenerate. Not all of them have the problem if you have you will also find the fuel consumption has gone from late 30's to low 20's. I hope they get a proper solution with this as the Rodeo was a good vehicle and was on the way to restoring their name after the disaster 3.0 litre trooper.

[william127]

I agree completly about the stopping and steering being the problem, not the power, my 3.0 trooper has 50 more hp than my defender but isnt anywhere near as good with a big trailer.

I think the 3.0 is a good engine, but im glad i didnt have 1 from new!

[Aaron]

I have had no problems with stopping or steering and it had been loaded to its limits.

[gensetsteve]

I have had no problems with stopping or steering and it had been loaded to its limits.

 

Good to hear if they find a way of keeping the diesel in the top of the engine I may change my d4 for one. My discovery is superb for towing 3500kg with 245bhp and weighing nearly 3000kg but shockingly unreliable you cant own one.

[richy_B]

When you start pulling heavy trailers >2,000kg you are messing with an unforgiving mistress - physics. Once the weight of the trailer approaches the weight of the towing vehicle you significantly increase steering and stability issues. Oversteering, snaking/weaving, braking. You need to be spot on with your loading of the trailer as well as the centre of gravity will have a big impact here.

 

Round town you might not notice it as much but at 55mph on an A/M road you have so much more momentum. A unladen 110, kerb weight of 2000kg will have momentum at 55 mph equating to 49,000kg. If you load it to the limits (3000kg+3500kg) at 55mph you have momentum equating to 171,500kg. A factor of nearly 3.5 times.

 

Towing is a daily thing for most of us but it can catch out even the most experienced driver- my opinion is don't give it any encouragement! Towing heavy weights a lot, get a 7.5t> tow vehicle.

[gensetsteve]

When you start pulling heavy trailers >2,000kg you are messing with an unforgiving mistress - physics. Once the weight of the trailer approaches the weight of the towing vehicle you significantly increase steering and stability issues. Oversteering, snaking/weaving, braking. You need to be spot on with your loading of the trailer as well as the centre of gravity will have a big impact here.

 

Round town you might not notice it as much but at 55mph on an A/M road you have so much more momentum. A unladen 110, kerb weight of 2000kg will have momentum at 55 mph equating to 49,000kg. If you load it to the limits (3000kg+3500kg) at 55mph you have momentum equating to 171,500kg. A factor of nearly 3.5 times.

 

Towing is a daily thing for most of us but it can catch out even the most experienced driver- my opinion is don't give it any encouragement! Towing heavy weights a lot, get a 7.5t> tow vehicle.

 

agreed. You need the truck up together it will save your neck if you hit some unexpected tram lines or cross wind. a trailer tail end heavy is a recipe for disaster if you get a snake on. I actually find the big sprinters tow better than loose old 4x4 s