Towing

Those holding out to order a new V8-power Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series are out of luck.Orders of the V8-powered version of the legendary tough truck have been paused for about two years and the chances of them opening are slim, according to Toyota Australia’s Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations, Sean Hanley.“At this stage I have no clear vision of that order bank opening again anytime soon. We’ve still got a way to go to clear what we’ve got,” said Hanley.“So I don’t foresee that order bank for V8 LandCruiser 70 Series opening any time soon.”The good news, for those with an existing order, is the company is now starting to fill that large order bank.“We are filling the orders as we speak, which is good for customers that have been waiting and we expect to be able to fill those orders,” said Hanley.The Federal Government's impending New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), which will come into effect next year, had put a shadow of doubt over these long-standing orders being filled.Under the NVES, carmakers will be fined for every vehicle they sell that produces CO2 over a certain level. This level gets lower and lower every year and an old V8 diesel motor will not meet this new standard.Toyota has brought in a new four-cylinder version to help prolong the life of the rugged four-wheel drive.This four-cylinder version uses the same 2.8-litre turbo-diesel motor found in the HiLux and is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.Hanley said at the time of the four-cylinder’s launch it would broaden its appeal even further, making it more accessible to a wider cross-section of customers than ever before.Now it appears customers will have no choice but to take the four-cylinder.Hanley indicated customers haven’t warmed to the smaller-engined 70 Series but he said the take-up rate for the four-cylinder was improving by the day.

The BYD Shark ute, which is expected to be released here by the end of this year, may not be the only dual-cab pick-up the company is preparing.

The influx of full-size utes from the USA has been a controversial development, with WWII American GI-style sentiment along the lines of ‘over-sized, over-priced and over-here’ summing up the negative commentary.

When I am towing my caravan, particularly using cruise control, in my 2015 Nissan X-Trail 1.6 DCI CVT, the gearbox changes down and sometimes the engine revs really high. I have to stop accelerating, at which point the engine goes back to normal. It’s almost like clutch slip if it were a manual.

I recently bought a caravan to tow behind my 2021 Isuzu MU-X. The weight of the van is 2150kg. The car kept changing down gears. It was so annoying having it do this. I wasn’t sure if I’d damage the car. I drove 400km with the car doing this. Is there something that can be done to my car to make it run better when towing?

The LS-M is the entry point to the 2024 MU-X range, sitting below the LS-M and LS-T models, and it’s now available with a smaller 1.9-litre turbodiesel engine, which lowers both your fuel use and towing capability.

Is the towing capacity the same for the automatic and manual 2004 Holden Crewman V8?

What is a light rigid vehicle? A light rigid vehicle is a vehicle “with a GVM [Gross Vehicle Mass] of more than 4.5 tonnes, but not more than 8.0 tonnes (any towed trailer must not weigh more than 9.0 tonnes GVM) vehicles up to 8.0 tonnes GVM which can carry more than 12 adults including the driver,” according to Transport for NSW.

When news of the incoming 2024 Toyota LandCruiser Prado broke, all eyes turned to its usual rivals, like the Ford Everest or even the Tank 500. But it turns out its biggest rival lurks much closer to home. In the same family, in fact.

Some off-road vehicles are capable of being driven straight out of the dealership and into the Simpson Desert … and some aren’t. Here’s our condensed list of some of the more important aftermarket mods and products you’ll need for safe and stress-free off-road adventures.