GU Patrol towing a monster 6 tonne load

[Mark]

Hi all, just thought i would show you my work horse.

Its a 2000 model GU 4.2 litre turbo diesel Patrol we use for my playground business called Imaginationplay.

At the start of our business without my Nissan Patrol we would not be where we are today.

I ended up running a 3 inch exhaust through which increased the torque and KW.

I'll have to hunt around and find the dyno results as running a 3 inch exhaust and tweaking the turbo a bit was a massive difference.

With a full load i can even hit 5th gear going up hills such as the Eltham-Yarra Glen Road heading up from Yarra Glen to Christmas Hills if anyone knows that area you will know its a big hill.

The trailer is 2 tonne and ive had maximum 4 tonne (scary stuff) on the back which means it was towing a total of 6 tonne...

Heres a pic of the rig towing a smaller load but you get the idea!

Cheers!

[AB]

Wow! That's one monster trailer you got there Mark.

That's some serious weight your pulling "6 tonne", any issues with over heating coming up hills, etc?

What about pulling up going down hills?

[Mark]

Yeah, going up hills can overheat her sometimes if carrying a big load.

I think a lot of that has to do with the radiator blocking up with dust, common problem with the Patrol I heard?

After a good clean out though it should help a bit.

Pulling up down hills...haha...Yep, you need to choose your gears wisely and slow up way before the T intersection thats for sure!

[Timbo]

If that's a DX ute I don't think they came out standard with intercoolers.. If you chucked an ST bonnet with scoop on it, and the top mount intercooler from a 2.8td, your EGT's (exhaust gas temperatures) would come down a lot more I reckon. If you're pulling 6 tonne up hills then I guess nothing is really going to help much, but in general, an intercooler would help your heat issues if she's overheating up hills.

[Mark]

Yes, It's the DX G-Unit and the Intercoolers are not standard on that series. That has crossed my mind a bit for the ST bonnet, scoop, etc but like you mentioned pulling that kinda weight may not help it cool down that much. It seems to be doing the job ok but I'm worried that she'll boil one day.

[Mark]

Here's another pic close up with it full loaded up with steel and playground equipment.

This was taken a while back as my Patrol looks new and clean..haha...Actually i can tell its old because a while back i left the undercarrage compartment door open it was dragging along the ground for a few kilometres and bent the door up. I remember driving along thinking "whats that sound", pulled over and realised what happened.

Those were the days!

The photo doesn't really give it much justice by how big this trailer is.

[DX grunt]

G'day Mark.

Boy are U my friend ! LOL. I've got a 2005, 4.2 TDi Ute - ex Telstra job. Being ex guvvie, it's got all the fruit including snorkle and 'hole in the bonnet'. I checked my radiator out today and found about half an inch of 'sludge' at the bottom of the overflow tank. I guess it hasn't been flushed out for a while. It used to be up around Broome & Kununurra, which is full of red dust.

Love your ute.

Take care out there.

Ross
DX grunt

[Mark]

Cheers DX Grunt, yep thats the only issue with Patrols that i can see.

I spoke to another mate the other day and he had the same issue.

Red dust especially getting stuck in the radiator and causing overheating.

Apparently you need to flush them out, Gerny the hell out of them and keep on top of it every 6 months or so.

[GU89]

Just on the low down, but wouldnt 6 tonne be illegal lol

[Mark]

on the low down....Not on private property for testing....It's all good!