gearboxes

[ricksue1]

Hi All
My name is Rick and my wife Sue and we are new here, we are thinking of upgrading our caravan to a Lotus Trooper but have been advised that we cant due to our tow vehicle. We have a Nissan Patrol 3lt Turbo diesel Auto, it being an auto is the problem. Our question to you all is why the max tow wieght is 2500kg for an auto and 3.5 for a manual?

Thanks
Rick

[growler2058]

Gday mate welcome aboard theyre a good mob here full of useful info and advice

[Bob]

HI AND WELCOME ABOARD. i WAS UNAWARE THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN MAX TOW BETWEEN AUTO AND MANUAL.
SUGGEST YOU CONTACT NISSAN FOR THE REASON

[ricksue1]

Thanks Bob

Yes if you look on the plaquart on the side of the left rear door it tell you there. I was unaware also until we started looking around at off-road caravans.

[Bob]

thanks bob

yes if you look on the plaquart on the side of the left rear door it tell you there. I was unaware also until we started looking around at off-road caravans.

that is a bummer. Dont know what you can do other than buy another tow vehicle (expensive solution)

[TuffTD42]

Years ago auto's were the better one to have for towing. Different vehicle I know but I had an ed xr8 5spd & it's towing cap was 1500 compared to the same car with auto @2400 I think from memory. I think in the patrols auto case it's ratios are wide so towing over the spec load in od will kill the box. It's designed for smooth shifts which causes heat build up compared to the same box with a shift kit. You can upgrade the valve body ($$) so it shifts harder which will let the box live longer especially if towing the weight you want. Run a bigger trans cooler also & stay out of od. This will help give you a bigger towing capacity but it won't be legal or covered under warranty/insurance if it goes ar$e up.

[the godfather]

Hi and welcome. I haven't heard of this issue either, but I am curious as to why so please keep us informed. Good luck and all. Personally I would by a tent...problem solved. Campers and caravans remind me of my parents.

[Mrowka]

Heat is the biggest enemy of a slushbox, and bigger loads = more heat.

So maybe (talk to a slushbox specialist first) if you upgrade the tranny cooler, maybe you can increase towing capacity. Maybe. But TALK TO A SPECIALIST FIRST.

Do not blow up your transmission because some dude on the internet who does not even know how to drive an autobox told you about this little stunt. If you do blow up your transmission, do not blame the dude from the internet, no matter what any specialist or specialists tell you.

[ricksue1]

Thank you all, if the box blows up well it's my fault not anyone who has just given me suggestions. At the end of the day no-one put a gun to my heasd and said do this or that, I am a grown up who takes responsibility for his own actions. We have decided to go with another caravan (a Northstar Mudgee) it has all the bells and whistles that we want. Ian has told me he can upgrade the suspension for me, that is good. It comes in at about 1950kg so I have about 500kg to play with. Once again thank you to all and maybe I have got people talking about a concern not a lot of people may take into consideration when it comes to towing.

Rick

[YNOT]

Photo's of the van when you get it please, so we can drool on on keyboards in jealosy!

Tony

[Yendor]

Theres also the legal issue to consider.

If you exceed the vehicles maximum tow weight and have an accident, your insurance company may not payout on your claim and you could also face criminal charges.