Navara and 3000kg 5th wheeler

I am considering the purchase of a 2.5 diesel, probably a King Cab STX to tow 25 ft 5th Wheeler ATM of 3,000 kg with a pin weight of just under 500kg. From what I have read on the forum in places the that the 6 speed manual is the go yet the 5th wheeler manufacturers all say no, the auto is recommended as you need the torque multiply effect of the torque converter to get the load off the mark. Also these seems to be a common thought that the manual is a hard drive towing a heavy load. Always chasing the gear box. This was told to me by an owner I talked in WA who was towing a 2500 kg caravan that he was always changing gear in even slightly hill terrain. Interested to hear from anybody towing 2500kg plus. The vehicle will not be going off road with the 5th wheeler in tow.

BarryG

at 3 ton i would be worried about the clutch. you would be needing an after market clutch very quickly.
auto would be good but fit a better tranny cooler.

I have a manual KingCab, The clutch is very weak I'd go the auto for towing something that heavy.

I'd listen to the 5th wheeler manufacturers, the 2.5 will struggle big time especially with a manual!

I'd be looking at a 4.2TD cruiser/patrol at an absolute minimum (boarderline). I'd be looking at the US market or a small truck to handle that much weight.

3 tonne is a ship load of weight for a 2.5TD, especially since they have no torque down low.

That's the very reason why we bought the Navara we did. Auto is recommended for any heavy hauling, the D40 manual's clutch is Play-Doh. I had wanted a manual, but having put around 10,000km on towing near 2 tonnes I can say that the auto is very nice.

She can change gear a bit with hills, but it all depends on your speed. If you can get the train up over 100km/h, the thing almost locks in the overdrive and will carry itself over small gradients without changing.

It's when you get ruddy crap fuel in it to make it spit and fart all the way from Wilcannia to Cobar that gives you the bruddy sheets. Mine wouldn't get into overdrive for nearly the whole distance, even downhills it struggled (not that there are many downHILLs there, more like "slight deviations off level".

Anyway, go the auto. The 2.5 will struggle now and again, but if you're into the journey, and not the deadline, you'll never notice it.

Thanks for that . there are plenty of people towing the Travelhome, which I am considering with a D40 auto. Most seem to need air bags on the rear axle ( twin cabs) but I was looking at the King Cab as I need to connect unaided so need to see the coupling and also get the coupling in front of the rear axle rather than just behind as the twin cabs have.

May also look at the Isuzu. not so big but strong and ugly and have 3 litre motor and according to people using this (as a Rodeo) seem very happy.

BarryG

Geoff Dutch sells the Travelhome with a Navara as a package (well, it's organised like that). I've stood there in the showroom with a 25-footer hooked up to a dual cab, it fits but you have to toss the sport bars. The link is over the axle, they use a forward-mounted connector on the Travelhome to achieve it.

I can't wait to get mine. Sure it's $130K, but these things are awesome inside. They're supposed to tow a lot easier than a caravan and I am looking forward to being shorter than a Greyhound bus!

Geoff's people know to use a properly-oscillating hitch, Geoff wrote about this very problem a few times in recent years - some of the American rigs come with single-oscillating hitches which is fine for going over bumps (pitch), but not good when your vehicle changes angle (roll) with respect to the trailer. No idea why the Americans risk the stability of their vehicles like that.

The only thing I'd probably change is the water tanks. They have one tank for fresh water, the other for grey - I'd be highly inclined to ask for both to be fresh water tanks (giving 340L of drinking quality water available). I can use a hose to dispose of grey water properly just like I do now.

Hi Tony,
I will have a second go a this I did it yesterday and my reply was either deleted or I stuffed up, most likely the latter. Well if they are now $130k they have had a price increase of 30% in the last 2 years. Geoff used to make a sliding hitch also may be that has probably gone with the extended tow which would be cheaper to make, people used to tow in the rear position anyway. Then they lost the full advantage of a 5th wheeler. The pin needs to be in front of the centre line of the rear axle to get more weight on the front wheels. Yes any 5th wheel type unit tows better rear tow bar set up.

My experience is with a goose neck horse float over a trailed version. The trailed common horse float are very dangerous devices.

I would get rid of the "poofter" bar anyway they are only decoration held on by a 4 PK screws.

You may have to add air bags to the rear also, apparently the Navara STX is pretty soft and with 4 people aboard or a lot of stuff in the back seat area it may drag its bum especially if you go to the water tank configuration you are talking about .

BarryG

Hey Barry,

Yes those air bags are looking like the way to go, she's soft in the tail until you hit a bump and then it's a bone-jarrer. We've a canopy at the moment, Engel 60L chest fridge, 2x50Ah deep cycles plus 2KVA Honda EU20si genny in the back. Add the 180Kg ball weight of the van and she's sitting low despite the levellers that I use.

The 25' Travel home comes with two water tanks already - but one is for grey water. I don't want that, I want one that will forever be my pure drinking water, and one that will be "the best water I can put in it" for washing up, showering etc. 340Kg might seem like a significant load, but for a journey south and over the Nullabor (which means South Australia and *their* water which by all reports is horrid) I'd rather have the extra water on board than not.

our waters good tony, its yours that is bad mate!

We've rarely had water issues crossing the Nullarbor, as a precaution we always take plenty of water with us when leaving either east or west coast but it's not like it's been a necessity.

On our 05 trip the water in some of the smaller roadhouses was average but still drinkable and once you get to Norseman you're on Perth water so that isn't an issue and from Ceduna east has never been a problem. Eucla has been running a desal plant for a number of years now and their water is even drinkable. As far as shower and washing water goes I don't think we've ever found water across the Nullarbor that hasn't been fit for that.

That's what hearsay does - I was worried about the SA water, have held off explorations in that direction so far.

This Christmas though, we're heading north to Rocky, out to Longreach and then back down through Bourke and to home, will be pulling the same sort of stunt as we did last Christmas. Get out a map and follow the pins: Newcastle -> Kiama -> Eden -> Orbost -> Bairnsdale -> Melbourne -> Great Ocean Rd -> Petersborough -> Warrnambool -> Penshurst -> Hamilton -> Mildura -> Broken Hill -> Wilcannia -> Cobar -> Narromine -> Parkes -> Wellington -> Mudgee -> Newcastle.

We haven't finalised the exact path we're taking yet, but it'll be another epic journey. I promise to take more pics this time! We just finished a run to Telegherry, easter will see us @ Dubbo then back at Wellington for some cave exploration. Fun fun fun, be nice to have a Travelhome to come back to, but the 18'er will have to do!

Stupid question...... whats a 5th wheeler?

Matt76 said:

Stupid question...... whats a 5th wheeler?

Click to expand...

has a tow hitch like a big truck tractor unit has. basically the "tow ball" (so to speak) is mounted in the bed of the ute rather than the rear. means weight is on the ute a lot better. can handle much bigger loads and is far better to drive with.

Ah yeah I get it, thanks.

Checkout this 1974 VW Beetle 5th wheeler, always makes me crack up!

YouTube - Retro VW beetle pulling a 5th wheel camper trailer!

Thats only small compared to today's 5th wheelers (and kind of ugly) but none the less it's pretty impressive, beats reversing it into parking spots when you can just drive it in. All those grey nomads struggling with their vans because they've never driven anything bigger than an 8x6 box trailer until they retired ought to start off with one of these things.

YouTube - When an RV is too big for the Trailer

Speaking of trailers, watch this Yota driver. lol.

Dave.

I'm not sure I'd get away with 40mm of lift in the car park I use in town, I'm running really close as it is - I might get a measuring stick out and see what that's going to do to the mix. It's worth a try, and for $120 it'd be a bargain, thanks!