100 series land cruiser advice?

[peter h]

hello all
I am after some advice as to our next tow vehicle. We currently tow our outback 16-49 with a 2005 4.0l manual Prado. Its an good all round vehicle but on the mountains while towing it is back to 3rd or some times 2nd.So I know we our at our 2.5t limit.
I am looking for some real world experience of towing 2.5t with the Lc 100 series.
I would love to get a 4.2 turbo but i can not justify the $30.000 price tag. There a a few 6 cyl petrols around in our price range. would I be disappointed in the performance if we made the leap to the 6 cly 100 series just to get the 3.0t tow. or would we be be better looking at the v8 or trying to find a 4.2 turbo in or price range.
thanks in advance
peter

 

[Bellbirdweb]

Hi there @peter h , I'm towing a 21ft Expanda with a 100 series turbo diesel.

My son has a 100 series petrol.

Towing a 3 tonne van with my turbo diesel, it can really struggle with a head wind and on long hills, but generally goes pretty well.

I don't think the performance of the petrol will be disappointing, as it probably goes a bit better than the diesel, however the fuel economy is going to be a killer.

Around town my diesel gets around 14l/100 vs my sons petrol that gets around 20l/100.

Towing my diesel jumps up to 23l/100, so if the petrol jumps by the same amount you could be looking at 26l/100.

If that's not a concern then the petrol would be ok, you can pick a good one up for $15k or less.

 

[peter h]

Thanks for that. It was the real world experience I am after.
The economy is a small concern, as it will be the shopping trolley come city runaround. but must be happy on the beach & Tracks With the panda on the back.
would love a turbo diesel just finding it hard to justify the Extra $15000.
or would we be better off looking at the V8?
Peter

 

[crackacoldie]

@peter h , I have towed a 25' sterling with my 100 4.5l petrol and it towed well. Will always work hard in the hills and use more fuel. I used to get around 25l/100 with the big van at 100, although as high as 40/100 into a serious head wind.

Yes the petrol drinks more fuel, but $15k buys ALOT of fuel and the maintenance costs are lower.

Still love my 100 after 10 years and still have not put $15k of fuel down the neck. On my calculations when I bought mine, it would take nearly 200000kms to break even on sale price, not including the fuel a diesel would use in that time, so probably closer to 300000kms for a true break even.

 

[bigcol]

hiya @peter h
although everyone knows I am a Patrol man, the Boss (SWMBO) drives my 100 series Kakadu V8 petrol

with her driving it all the time, she gets around the 14-17L per hundred (about 80kms per day peak hour traffic, Perth)
when I drive it, I get around the 17-20l per hundred (heavy right foot, used to diesel)

last year we did a trip from home (Swan Valley) to Exmouth and various visits and then home using the Cruiser
6120kms and cost about $1200 in fuel
towed at about 110k/p/h on average
biggest advantage was overtaking - no looking for 5km straights to overtake - zoom swish over and done
it was the best trip, as there was no "come on you stupid thing, get out of the way........ damn, there's a corner, try again later"

when I brought the cruiser, I wasn't prepared to pay the extra $30K for the diesel, and have yet to regret my decision
very comfortable, tows with ease, just thirsty depending on your right foot.

only reason I use my Patrol to tow, and not the cruiser....... SWMBO wont let me take it off road and get it scratched - thats why she "inherited" it in the first place

when I originally brought the cruiser, I was actually looking for a BMW M5 - but the prices gave me a heart attack
so I call her my M8 (V8)

 

[bigcol]

PS
if I had a choice between the 4.5 6cyl or the 4.7 V8 cruiser

go the V8
the V8 does it alot easier than the 6cyl
you wont regret it

 

[BUSH PALACE]

Ive got a 99 petrol 4.5 cruiser 100 series and have never looked back , ive towed our expanda into some pretty hairy places and done long runs youve got the power and comfort ( check out some of my trip blogs ) love my 100 even went out and supercharged it with an adjustable haltec ecu .GO THE 100 SERIES PETROL ..

 

[Moto Mech]

I tow our Jayco (2T) with our 4.5 Cruiser and it sucks down about 22lt/100km. But think very hilly twisty roads down here in Tassie which dont help.
There is no doubt the TD is the ducks nuts to tow with but you pay for it.
Next the V8 has more power and is more fuel efficiant than the 4.5 but if you want a powerful, cheap to maintain, easy to work on, cheap to buy vehicle, its hard to go past the 4.5.

 

[peter h]

thanks all.
just trying to justify the change over expense.
if its still going to be a slow hill climb and drinking a bit of fuel we might be better off staying with what we have. as i said i am happy with the playdo. i know it is not the perfect vehicle but it is a really good all round vehicle for us. and now have just got it set up with all the gear and gadgets i think we may need.
all the 100s around us don't have andersons or brake controllers fitted so it would be a new project to refit all the gear we have fitted to our 120.
just wish i could drag the van and all the gear for a week of free camping to the local car yard or private seller and go for a real world test drive to really see how well they perform under load.
unless any one knows of a td 4.2 or v8 100 series in good condition going cheep?
peter

 

[peter h]

for some reason i can not edit the above post.
we intend to update 120 playdo with in the next few years any way. so now i have an idea now of what to look for next.
thanks
peter

 

[bigcol]

thanks all.
just trying to justify the change over expense.
if its still going to be a slow hill climb and drinking a bit of fuel we might be better off staying with what we have. as i said i am happy with the playdo. i know it is not the perfect vehicle but it is a really good all round vehicle for us. and now have just got it set up with all the gear and gadgets i think we may need.
all the 100s around us don't have andersons or brake controllers fitted so it would be a new project to refit all the gear we have fitted to our 120.
just wish i could drag the van and all the gear for a week of free camping to the local car yard or private seller and go for a real world test drive to really see how well they perform under load.
unless any one knows of a td 4.2 or v8 100 series in good condition going cheep?
peter

depends on what you call cheap..........
there is a few V8 GXL 100 series in Perth for between $20K and $30K

I know of a GREAT, fantasticly looked after V8 100 series Kakadu - 5 sp auto, constant 4wd, center consol fridge, over head DVD player, BLACK, Leather interior (yes Anderson plug and Brake controller)air bags in rear, dual batteries, Black Widow draw system (rear seats in plastic in spare bedroom)17' Factory rims

make me an off I could not refuse.....................................................

 

[bigcol]

oh, and it tows the Expanda like its not even there.........................
hills...........???
what are they

 

[peter h]

sounds fantastic however I am in Brisbane. I am looking to spend around $20,000. about change over price for the prado.
thanks