Towing camper trailer with zd30 patrol.

[mrcorlett]

Apologies if this has been covered, searched, but couldn't quite find the info i'm looking for.

I have a 2002 ZD30 manual patrol with 300k on the clock. Only had it a few months, and have had to replace leaking intercooler, and dodgy MAF sensor. Has part NADS installation, having a dawes valve, and catch can, but nothing else. As far as I am aware, its driving fine, no limp mode etc... getting around 12l/100km with normal around town driving, better with highway driving.

This weekend we went on our first camping trip to Ballarat from melbourne. I was a little disappointed how much more sluggish the wagon felt when towing my camper trailer, which was probably about 1500kg all loaded up. I don't have much experience of towing (with small vehicles anyway), so what should it feel like acceleration wise? I was able to keep up 100km/h on the slow long inclines on the M8, but had to shift down to 4th gear on some occasions.

I'm wondering if my expectations of effortless towing are unrealistic. I felt that given the maximum tow rating of the vehicle being 3200kg, that my camper should be a breeze!

Once moving, and on the flat, I wouldn't have known the trailer was there easily cruised at 110km/h (a definite improvement over my previous car - Chrysler voyager)

Any opinions on how it should feel to tow such a load?

Thanks.

73341

[Yeti's Beast]

Howdy
I too have recently purchased a camper and on our trip I was a bit disappointed at how much the camper slowed down the car. I could sit on 100 -110 easily and when there was enough space could even overtake slow caravaners. Our fuel economy was around 15. We were doing 530k out of 80 litre of fuel. It sounds like our vans weigh similar amounts too
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2017/10/10.jpg


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[Maxhead]

I wouldn't expect too much out of the zd30 when towing.
Personally I wouldn't tow in 5th on too many occasions, keep it in 4th and stay in the rev range which feels sweet. Mine was around 2500rpm (crd model)

2.75 or 3 inch exhaust will improve towing a fraction especially down low torque.

It's not a rocket but will slowly get you there ...lol







................on the road

[Sir Roofy]

Towing with the z30 don't be in a hurry to get there mine goes pretty good at 96/7 you have to take them easy or you'll over heat on the long up hill grades and possibly crack the head or worse blow your motor - I did and wasn't even towing at the time

[mudski]

As the others have said. Dont be in a hurry. Its a ZD30. 3ltr, 4 cylinder diesel. Already lugging around 3T on its back, without a load and towing. Its only a little motor. My old 3ltr was the same, but once i got it at 100 it would pretty much stay there unless i hit a decent hill.
Don't expect too much out it the old girl bud. If you want effortless towing, dont tow with a ZD30. But they still do pretty good I reckon.

[GQtdauto]

I'm amazed that ours same year but an auto towed that 2.7 plus tonne van round oz three times , yeah it was slow but we weren't in a hurry and yeah didn't like steep hills but as has been mentioned find the sweet spot in revs and drop back a gear .
Ours used less fuel at around 2800-2900 and ran cooler but that was with OD turned off .

[Kevrana]

Just took our GU Patrol bush with a fully loaded camper trailer on the back. Handled really well once you got the revs up a bit otherwise it was a bit sluggish. Otherwise towed the trailer through sand and crawled over some rough terrain with ease.


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[BigRAWesty]

I'm amazed that ours same year but an auto towed that 2.7 plus tonne van round oz three times , yeah it was slow but we weren't in a hurry and yeah didn't like steep hills but as has been mentioned find the sweet spot in revs and drop back a gear .
Ours used less fuel at around 2800-2900 and ran cooler but that was with OD turned off .Not to out a dampener on it but your realize the auto is capped towing at 2.5t??

Not sure if the crd is better but I find mine fine..
Car was 3.5T and camper 1.4T.
Sure I missed the down low on hill starts but once above 1200rpm it pulls fine..
I wasn't in a hurry though (who would be in this outback country) and sat on 90kmh most the time but hills etc didn't seem to bother it.
Adelaide hills I was in 4th but they are long and steep..

If your wanting more power east coat performance can do mail order remaps on Di's.
They have done a lot of work on different parameters to suit each mod.
Of course on dyno is best to get the best but for $700 and a week down time it's imo a brilliant investment..

Worth a think about anyway if your towing a lot..

[megatexture]

And how's your 3.5ton gvm going kallen :animierte-sm

[Avo]

Not to out a dampener on it but your realize the auto is capped towing at 2.5t??

Not sure if the crd is better but I find mine fine..
Car was 3.5T and camper 1.4T.
Sure I missed the down low on hill starts but once above 1200rpm it pulls fine..
I wasn't in a hurry though (who would be in this outback country) and sat on 90kmh most the time but hills etc didn't seem to bother it.
Adelaide hills I was in 4th but they are long and steep..

If your wanting more power east coat performance can do mail order remaps on Di's.
They have done a lot of work on different parameters to suit each mod.
Of course on dyno is best to get the best but for $700 and a week down time it's imo a brilliant investment..

Worth a think about anyway if your towing a lot..

didn't you buy a CRD

[Avo]

Not to out a dampener on it but your realize the auto is capped towing at 2.5t??

Not sure if the crd is better but I find mine fine..
Car was 3.5T and camper 1.4T.
Sure I missed the down low on hill starts but once above 1200rpm it pulls fine..
I wasn't in a hurry though (who would be in this outback country) and sat on 90kmh most the time but hills etc didn't seem to bother it.
Adelaide hills I was in 4th but they are long and steep..

If your wanting more power east coat performance can do mail order remaps on Di's.
They have done a lot of work on different parameters to suit each mod.
Of course on dyno is best to get the best but for $700 and a week down time it's imo a brilliant investment..

Worth a think about anyway if your towing a lot..

it's gunna blow bigger than moby dick mate

[Maxhead]

Holly crap.. 3.5t vehicle... I suppose it had the upgrade.
We towed 2.7t and the Patrol would do it all day every day and would not miss a bit. Just was slow at doing it and required lots and lots of gear changing...







................on the road

[GQtdauto]

Not to out a dampener on it but your realize the auto is capped towing at 2.5t??

Not sure if the crd is better but I find mine fine..
Car was 3.5T and camper 1.4T.
Sure I missed the down low on hill starts but once above 1200rpm it pulls fine..
I wasn't in a hurry though (who would be in this outback country) and sat on 90kmh most the time but hills etc didn't seem to bother it.
Adelaide hills I was in 4th but they are long and steep..

If your wanting more power east coat performance can do mail order remaps on Di's.
They have done a lot of work on different parameters to suit each mod.
Of course on dyno is best to get the best but for $700 and a week down time it's imo a brilliant investment..

Worth a think about anyway if your towing a lot..

Stamp on mine says 3tonne towing but the GQ 4.2 says only 2.5 towing , never could understand it .

[BigRAWesty]

Holly crap.. 3.5t vehicle... I suppose it had the upgrade.
We towed 2.7t and the Patrol would do it all day every day and would not miss a bit. Just was slow at doing it and required lots and lots of gear changing...







................on the roadYea mate and you'd be surprised how much a regular patrol weights on a camping trip.
I have no doubt that most when packed for even a long weekend are over the factory 3050kg.
You also have to remember that when hitched up that 200kg of ball weight is classed as vehicle mass..
it's gunna blow bigger than moby dick mateNa mate you gotta do some reading.
Things have changed form the old grenade days.

didn't you buy a CRDYea mate I did.
And how's your 3.5ton gvm going kallen :animierte-smMate love it.
I have no doubt the mods fitted to get it have added 50kg but with all the stuff going down atm with vehicle weights and van weights I'm glad I have it.
Imo the way it's going I can't stress enough that blokes get theirs done.
It's expensive but the fines they'll start with and more than the upgrade, and it seems Vic are leading the way..

[BigRAWesty]

Stamp on mine says 3tonne towing but the GQ 4.2 says only 2.5 towing , never could understand it .Was yours converted to auto?

[GQtdauto]

Was yours converted to auto?

Nope original auto , I have no idea if it has been upgraded or not but thought all these models could tow 3 - 3.5?

[BigRAWesty]

Nope original auto , I have no idea if it has been upgraded or not but thought all these models could tow 3 - 3.5?The only auto that had it's full 3.??T payload was the Tb48 petrol. But that auto was a different box and 5 speed.
So gu td42 manual was 3.5t
Auto was 2.5.
Zd30 manual 3.2t
Gq td42 I think was also 3.2.
But both autos were 2.5.
I've seen a few data sheets on it I'll hunt it down and post it.

[BigRAWesty]

Not data's I was looking for but yea.

"The GU petrol and 4.2-litre diesel models were rated at 3500kg towing capacity but the ZD30 was restricted to 3200kg with the manual ’box and 2500kg with the auto"

https://www.motoring.com.au/buying-a-used-nissan-patrol-1988-2010-22866/

Maybe I've been reading it wrong and it's only the zd30 that's reduced??
But they all run the same auto box so not sure now lol...

[GQtdauto]

Not data's I was looking for but yea.

"The GU petrol and 4.2-litre diesel models were rated at 3500kg towing capacity but the ZD30 was restricted to 3200kg with the manual ’box and 2500kg with the auto"

https://www.motoring.com.au/buying-a-used-nissan-patrol-1988-2010-22866/

Maybe I've been reading it wrong and it's only the zd30 that's reduced??
But they all run the same auto box so not sure now lol...

Just went up and checked and was shocked you're right 2.5 max ,so now I have to work out where I seen the 3tonne figure , we bought the van and GU as a package both 2002 model for $34thou which was a bargain considering what we sold the van for after we went round oz .
Van was max load of 2750 and from memory unladen was 2450 , poor bugger I bought it off not only got ripped off by the dealer for services he's been sold either a car or van that wasn't right for weight and didn't check .
Just as well we never got pulled up we would have been in the shit .
I'll have to do some more searching because I'm sure I've seen a plate showing a higher figure .
No wonder it struggled on the really big hills .

[BigRAWesty]

Just went up and checked and was shocked you're right 2.5 max ,so now I have to work out where I seen the 3tonne figure , we bought the van and GU as a package both 2002 model for $34thou which was a bargain considering what we sold the van for after we went round oz .
Van was max load of 2750 and from memory unladen was 2450 , poor bugger I bought it off not only got ripped off by the dealer for services he's been sold either a car or van that wasn't right for weight and didn't check .
Just as well we never got pulled up we would have been in the shit .
I'll have to do some more searching because I'm sure I've seen a plate showing a higher figure .
No wonder it struggled on the really big hills .Unfortunately I have never heard of a towing upgrade for the patrol like you seen now for the yotas and dual cab range..
And look I would say 90% of the auto owners out there towing big vans would have no idea of the 2.5t limit.
But it's all coming out now with So many vanners on the road these days and so many big vans behind small cars..
I wouldn't stop using it but just keep it in your mind and hunt a solution..

[GQtdauto]

You're right Westy , most tugs these days don't comply and even if they did they're too light to be towing the vans they do .
Just going thru double checking a few invoices receipts from old owner to see what the actual weight of the van was but we obviously threw out the van rego papers out when we sold it .
But check this invoice out bearing in mind it's an auto and see if you can pick up the rip off .
73371

[Rocky the mean]

Looking to replace blown up ZD30 - anyone know where to get a good reconditioned one? Anyone used Yamato? Came up on google.

[4bye4]

Looking to replace blown up ZD30 - anyone know where to get a good reconditioned one? Anyone used Yamato? Came up on google.

G'day and welcome to the forum mate. I have used Yamato for fule pumps on Kia truck and merc vito van, both were good value compared to others around, and both worked fine and are still going after two years. Never had a short or complete motor from them though. Hope this helps.

[Rocky the mean]

Cheers, thanks.

[Rossco]

Try go2engines, can't recommend them highly enough. We sourced a ZD for Roofys car from him. Good value, immaculate work and awesome service. .

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[dermie72]

Just got back from a 3500km trip from southern nsw to fraser island and back.
Towed a camper trailer with a zd30 crd, 3" exhaust, dp chip, dawes and needle valve.
Sat on 100k most of the way and drove by the egt guage up the steep inclines north of sydney.
Dropped to 4th and 85k's to keep the temp's below 500c.
She'd be happy to tear up the hills at 100 but the egt climbs pretty quick.
Other than that she ran great, even up fraser at high tide in crappy sand with the trailer on - hard work, but great fun..!

[MB]

Just found a placard sticker thingy inside our Y61 barn doors that we never noticed was there. http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2017/10/140.jpg


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[MB]

Apologies to the OP for thread Hijack but was wondering if anybody out there knew why our newfound Y61 placard doesn’t feature the TB45 listed? Were they a completely different drive train beast possibly? Had heard rumours some of them may have had the bigger H260 DX ute type diff too?


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[the evil twin]

Apologies to the OP for thread Hijack but was wondering if anybody out there knew why our newfound Y61 placard doesn’t feature the TB45 listed? Were they a completely different drive train beast possibly?

Nah mate, no TB45 listed because that placard is for the series 2 to 4 (IE no TB45 power plant available or 2.8 for that matter)

[MB]

Cheers ET !


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[MB]

A Placard (All things Patrol/Safari -Global) thingo thread would be cool to learn for sure :-) “Show us Your Placards” :-)


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[GQtdauto]

Top idea MB , our GU is the same as the one just shown but must look at the GQ to see if it's any different to a manual 4.2 .
From memory it doesn't have a placard like the GU just a plate on the firewall .

[MB]

AB @Moderators :-)


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[GQtdauto]

GQ just has a GVM of 2800 , can't find anything else .
7356173562

Which is for a factory auto , no idea if the manual version is better .

[jff45]

Apologies to the OP for thread Hijack but was wondering if anybody out there knew why our newfound Y61 placard doesn’t feature the TB45 listed? Were they a completely different drive train beast possibly? Had heard rumours some of them may have had the bigger H260 DX ute type diff too?


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The TB45 placard doesn’t show the ZD30s ether. It also doesn’t show any allowed towball weight above 200kg. I have the normal diffs in mine.
I use a 250kg towball weight anyway with a 2500 kgs caravan.
I’ll try to remember to take a pic tomorrow.

[jff45]

My mistake, the TB45 placard does show the ZD30. It even shows it rated to tow more than a TB45.

I don’t understand how a stock TD42T is rated to tow 3500 kgs. They’re not exactly a powerhouse.
...
73565

[the evil twin]

snip...

I don’t understand how a stock TD42T is rated to tow 3500 kgs. They’re not exactly a powerhouse.
...


Not the most logical of things is it...

On a full chassis vehicle more often than not the engine isn't the lowest common denominator in the equation and it is the transmission or diffs.
On other vehicles it is the chassis load and unrelated to engine/transmission options

When it is the engine that is the limiting factor it is usually things like the engineers assessment of how much extra load the cooling system can handle or somesuch before the reliability might be compromised.

[jff45]

They don’t seem to have considered the cooling system too much with that choice. The TD42T is probably the worst of the bunch for overheating too easily :)

[the evil twin]

They don’t seem to have considered the cooling system too much with that choice. The TD42T is probably the worst of the bunch for overheating too easily :)

Tru Dat :-)

[BigRAWesty]

Not the most logical of things is it...

On a full chassis vehicle more often than not the engine isn't the lowest common denominator in the equation and it is the transmission or diffs.
On other vehicles it is the chassis load and unrelated to engine/transmission options

When it is the engine that is the limiting factor it is usually things like the engineers assessment of how much extra load the cooling system can handle or somesuch before the reliability might be compromised.I always thought engine braking capacity played a reasonable part in it to.
Td42, awesome.
Tb45/48 Yea ok.
Zd30... might as well be an auto....... lol