Nh 3.0Ltr Towing Capability

[hughy69]

Hi i have a 3 ltr NH 5spd gls LWB ,and was wondering if anyone has towed a Tandem axle caravan with theirs and how it pulled it , and cruise speed etc..The tare Weight of van will be about 1600 kg with all stuff in it that we would need for a holiday .I am Told it wont do it and maybe i need to sell the old girl off for maybe a nissan deiselAny input would be great as i dont wanna spend $$ on a patrol

Hughy69

[bounceferret]

The towing capacity of the NH/NJ pajero is 750kg unbraked, or 2500kg braked.
I know someone who towed a tandem up to tocumwal from melbourne in an NJ 3.0. He could quite easily tow @ 100km/h on the flat open highway but when i came to acceleration and hills...... expect 50 - 80km/h WOT up the hill maybe less depending on the hill.

[6G74]

Try it and judge for yourself?? Then if not satisfactory, consider upgrading...

Safety wise, it will tow it no problem, as it will sit on the speed limit, your only issue will be the ease in which it does it...

[Scolers]

I tow a 1.2 tonne van (single axle) with a 3ltr V6 ... Bounceferret pretty well summed it up ... she's fine on the open hwy but come to hills and she slows down. ALso, don't tow in fifth gear ... just keep it in fourth and that will save your gearbox ... BIG TIME!

Scol.

[pjchris]

As others have already said, fine on the flat, slow in the hilly bits. Just like many older diesels.

The current crop of direct injection/common rail diesels are different as are the more powerfull petrol models.

The NH will get lousy fuel economy too. When we towed a 1600kg tandem from Melbourne to Wedderburn (N-W Vic and mostly uphill on the way there) consumption while trying to keep up speed was over 20l/100km. Modern diesels will give better fuel economy than petrol but a petrol on gas would probably be the cheapest option (Don't put your NH on gas though, they don't like it)

Peter

[hughy69]

Thanks guys for the info , i will wait and see what it does when we get van as its been made as we speak , i forgot to mention i have had magna cams put in mine of late and it might even improve it a bit ?? will update as i go thanks again..

[6G74]

I tow a 1.2 tonne van (single axle) with a 3ltr V6 ... Bounceferret pretty well summed it up ... she's fine on the open hwy but come to hills and she slows down. ALso, don't tow in fifth gear ... just keep it in fourth and that will save your gearbox ... BIG TIME!

Scol.

Thats such a crock of shit - I have never heard of ANY 5th related problems with the V5M31, nor the V5MT1. The KM145 and even possibly the V5M21 (someone else know specifically which gearbox's it effected?) were garanteed to pack up 5th gear, wasnt a matter of if but when. Nissan had trouble with 5th for a little while aswell. This doesnt mean EVERY box under sun isnt capable of towing a maximum approved and designed load in top gear - thats not fool proof, and no manufacturer under the sun would intentionally risk their reputation with it.

Further to that, my car would near be redlining in 4th at say 110... (same gearbox still used currently in the NS)

[Scolers]

Charming come back ...

I've been told by many mechanics not to tow 5th. I do, and take their advice as well meant and thus passed it onto this forum. Drving at 100k (speed limit in QLD) I am reading 3500rpm ... no where near red line for a petrol motor.

Cheers ...

Scol.

[bounceferret]

I thought it was a well known fact that when towing heavy loads keep o/d off or drive in 4th gear, maybe on the highway I would change to 5th but at the first sign of a hill I would instantly change down.
4th gear (in a 5 speed box) is a direct connection between the engine and the wheels. there is no gearing used by the transmission, therefore the transmission or gearbox is not having to work too pull the extra weight, that's always a good thing in my book. So driving in 4th or the no O/D WILL prolong your transmission/gearbox

[sunny]

I have to agree with Bounceferret - I dragged my Jayco campervan ( fully loaded ) on my NH all around the coast of Aust and used 5th all the time only for the gearbox to crapout by Townsville..

$3200 later - new 5th gear / new shaft / bearing kit - the gearbox mechanic warned me not to use 5th when towing my van or any excessive load..

Funnily enough I cruised around 90 - 100 km/hour in 4th with the van and noticed no real difference fuel wise.

[6G74]

I thought it was a well known fact that when towing heavy loads keep o/d off or drive in 4th gear, maybe on the highway I would change to 5th but at the first sign of a hill I would instantly change down.
4th gear (in a 5 speed box) is a direct connection between the engine and the wheels. there is no gearing used by the transmission, therefore the transmission or gearbox is not having to work too pull the extra weight, that's always a good thing in my book. So driving in 4th or the no O/D WILL prolong your transmission/gearbox

Im not sayin labor 5th as much as can on every hill possible...

4th isnt 'direct', it has a ratio of 1:1 but just as many gears, shafts and bearings are turning as there would be for 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc. (aka its no stronger)

Redlining was an exaduration, your right, at 110 im doing nearly 4k

[Scolers]

Funnily enough I cruised around 90 - 100 km/hour in 4th with the van and noticed no real difference fuel wise.

I noticed that as well ... we get approx. 17ltrs/100k when towing a van irrespective of whether we are in 4th or 5th. I wonder if this is partial evidence that the gear box is labouring in 5th thus obtaining similar fuel figures when driving/ towing in 4th?

Scol.

[bounceferret]

Im not sayin labor 5th as much as can on every hill possible...

4th isnt 'direct', it has a ratio of 1:1 but just as many gears, shafts and bearings are turning as there would be for 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc. (aka its no stronger)

Yes these shafts/bearings/gears are still turning but with significantly less strain as to when in a lower / higher gear. Less strain, less wear. And for the sake of scrutiny , 4th gear is the most direct gear of them all (while it may not be exact, the gearbox is spinning at almost the same speed as engine. When in 5th gear the gearbox is turning faster)

In the end it's up to the driver, if you feel happy towing in 5th, tow in 5th. Just feel and listen and to the car, if it feels like it's struggling, change down

[Yonnee]

Easy way to tell...
While travelling along in 5th, give the throttle a squeeze. If it starts to accelerate, you're in the right gear. If it wont increase speed with ease, then you should be in 4th.