Towing with a Y62

[fillmc]

Ok - here is the state of play on the new Patrol towing capability
Nissan repeat that the vehicle is within specifications ???? What does that mean?- it was designed to drop 3+" when 280kg is put on the tow bar? - with of course a corresponding rise at the front to the extent steering is compromised? "within specification" come now Nissan
Anyway with car fridge, toolbox and sundry other necessities the car ( without van) sat a few centimetres low at the rear until ARB fitted their OME 200kg springs. Again without the van this realised an 84cm lift at the rear. With the van this produced a very level ride to the extent the ride leveller bars are redundant
Towing at 100km/hr and more is now comfortable and our trip will proceed in safety and comfort. BUT when I get home and unhitch the van and unload the car I am not sure what all to expect of the vehicle - that can however wait until then.
Have Nissan reimbursed the $90 for the weigh bridge certs - NO
Have Nissan offered to pay for the OME springs -$491 - NO
Has anyone from Nissan customer service contacted me - NO
Damn poor show Nissan but understand I have now had 23 enquiries about this vehicle from travellers and grey nomads - and expect that number to increase significantly over the next 5-6months travelling. What message do you think I will be carrying Mr Nissan? The vehicle performs to specifications which are to drop 3+ inches with 280kg on the ball , of course.
Buyer beware - this is not the ideal towing tug you will be lead to believe it is by all the written info and the spiel you will get from the salespeople. Basically a pack of lies.
Thanks for reading the rant and the help along the way (thanks Mudrunner) -- next stage Consumer Affairs. Cheers Phil

[monkeeman]

Hi Phil,
I bought the same car 3 weeks ago and have towed a 1,500kg camper and a 4.5m boat (light) and it went very well. I had electric brakes for the camper on my previous GU but I'm not going to worry about it for the new Trol.
Speaking to the dealer he said a client towed a 3,200kg boat and put in airbags from ARB, but it sounds like you have it sorted.

Brilliant car. Economy is 12l/100kms on the highway not towing and 16 - 18l/100 towing. its 25 - 30l/100 when flogging it, as you'd expect so overall very impressed!

Its light years beyond the GU, may she rest in peace!

Mark

[fillmc]

Did fit 200kg rear springs and all is well (at least until I get to unpacking and running around empty) Similar fuel use - I am towing 2.8 tonne tandem wheeled caravan. Forced to travel at 90kph for an hour the other day and got 18 l/100km
Yes an awesome vehicle - Nissan just lie bare faced about its towing capacity/performance

Hi Phil,
I bought the same car 3 weeks ago and have towed a 1,500kg camper and a 4.5m boat (light) and it went very well. I had electric brakes for the camper on my previous GU but I'm not going to worry about it for the new Trol.
Speaking to the dealer he said a client towed a 3,200kg boat and put in airbags from ARB, but it sounds like you have it sorted.

Brilliant car. Economy is 12l/100kms on the highway not towing and 16 - 18l/100 towing. its 25 - 30l/100 when flogging it, as you'd expect so overall very impressed!

Its light years beyond the GU, may she rest in peace!

Mark

[Luke62]

I've got an STL without the HBMC and had the same problem, put the camping trailer on the back and it was sitting on the bump stops, questioned Nissan and they said put a 2 inch lift in it! Pretty poor on nissans behalf. I've put a dobinson lift with 350kg springs in the rear and it's a lot better, doesn't sag at all with the camper on now. Check out Arb Dandenong as they have a TI with a 2 inch lift in it

[bullo]

Hi, I just had the Firestone coil air bags fitted and they work really well. Only have them pumped to 15 psi with a 220kg ball weight on an almost 3 ton caravan. Mine is a Ti with the kinetic suspension and tows really well. Cost was $500 even and works really well, no back to front pitch on undulating roads either. Also only used 19.4l/100k's towing for the first fill, my Gu 8 uses much the same, same caravan similar speeds, road was hilly and windy so had to travel around the 95k/h, probably only 5 kph faster than the oldie but never dropped below 80kph even on the steeper hills. cheers!
t

[bullo]

Hi, I just had the Firestone coil air bags fitted and they work really well. Only have them pumped to 15 psi with a 220kg ball weight on an almost 3 ton caravan. Mine is a Ti with the kinetic suspension and tows really well. Cost was $500 even and works really well, no back to front pitch on undulating roads either. Also only used 19.4l/100k's towing for the first fill, my Gu 8 uses much the same, same caravan similar speeds, road was hilly and windy so had to travel around the 95k/h, probably only 5 kph faster than the oldie but never dropped below 80kph even on the steeper hills. cheers!
t

Back now, averaged 21L/100 over 940 k's however 2/3 of trip against a head wind and then averaged 23L/100K's. One day hopefully I will get a tail wind and this should bring the average down. The head wind although 45 degrees off being straight ahead was very strong maybe 40kph. Big caravan, "big blunt instrument",
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[preacher]

[QUOTE=fillmc;498539]Todays update for those interested

Got a phone call from ARB - great chaps- who recommend replacement of rear springs at 200kg or 400kg rating depending on what else I am carrying in the car.

Anyway with car fridge, toolbox and sundry other necessities the car ( without van) sat a few centimetres low at the rear until ARB fitted their OME 200kg springs. Again without the van this realised an 84cm lift at the rear. With the van this produced a very level ride to the extent the ride leveller bars are redundant
Towing at 100km/hr and more is now comfortable and our trip will proceed in safety and comfort. BUT when I get home and unhitch the van and unload the car I am not sure what all to expect of the vehicle - that can however wait until then.

Did fit 200kg rear springs and all is well (at least until I get to unpacking and running around empty)


Thanks fillmc
Am I to understand that my Ti-L once loaded up with rear drawers, water tank, fridge, tools, camping gear, roof top tent etc etc AND/OR my caravan, can be fitted with 200kg or 400kg stiffer springs that will put the suspension back within spec for the hydraulics to work.
AND that when the Y62 is empty MAY raise it by 84mm - which is over 3". I appreciate at this stage that you haven't reported on these results on your return - however you must have measured the lift at some point to get that precise 84mm.
If this is the case and ARB can and are willing to do this mod then together with a variety of pressures in the after market airbags the Ti-L should be able to do anything, anywhere within spec, utilizing the benefits of the hydraulics both on road, towing and off road.
Please comment!!

[threedogs]

I read alot of bashing the Y62 for towing, I would think you would need to set the 4x4 up suspension wise
to be able to tow safely.
Most I've heard of pack the 4x4 to the hilt then hook up a van that is on the limit of the vehicle
then blame the 4x4 because it cant handle it.

Even the 4.8 GU would benefit from a larger radiator and decent suspension [not OE] and airbag assist in the rear.
Do all this and you might be singing its praises rather than canning it for its short comings.
Its an Off road 4x4 but we change a hell of a lot to go "Off road"
Do we can the GU cause we got stuck on some ruts when fitting 285s might have been all thats needed
plus a 2" lift to safely go "OFF ROAD".

[preacher]

I've got an STL without the HBMC and had the same problem, put the camping trailer on the back and it was sitting on the bump stops, questioned Nissan and they said put a 2 inch lift in it! Pretty poor on nissans behalf. I've put a dobinson lift with 350kg springs in the rear and it's a lot better, doesn't sag at all with the camper on now. Check out Arb Dandenong as they have a TI with a 2 inch lift in it

ARB Dandenong have a Ti-L with a lift and a winch, but have done away with the hydraulics HOWEVER it has been a heck of a lot of work and are not keen to emulate that job for the public.

[BigRAWesty]

Back now, averaged 21L/100 over 940 k's however 2/3 of trip against a head wind and then averaged 23L/100K's. One day hopefully I will get a tail wind and this should bring the average down. The head wind although 45 degrees off being straight ahead was very strong maybe 40kph. Big caravan, "big blunt instrument",
<img src="http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=52609"/><img src="http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=52609"/>

They are some very respectable fuel figures there I think. I'd be happy with that for a full size van and 3 ton car.
I bet you'd gain a few litres if you dropped to 90km/h everywhere.