With regards to the towing ability.
I agree with D4D and Mace. I work for the Government and we need to tow boats and use our vehicles in off road conditions. We also use them at their upper load carrying ability all of the time. Our fleet has slowly changed from Patrols and Landcruisers to, Hiluxes, tritons, Dmaxs etc. However cracks are now starting to appear in this cost saving approach.
After weighing a number of these vehicles as used they don't comply with front or read axle weights (some GVM). Also we have been doing diffs, clutches and gear boxes in the 3 years that we keep them (60-80k km). I noticed that the last vehicle we had replaced (a hilux) which frequently tows a 3t boat was replaced with a TDV8 cruiser.
With regard to warranty, essentially we have none. The manufacturers basically claim we are using them beyond there design limits. Essentially yes they can tow 3T but are not designed to do it daily, and especially off road in demanding conditions. This is very similar use to using one for touring when you think about it.
There are currently a lot of negotiations going on to try and sort out warranty, and axle load issues with manufacturers.
Without doubt the first thing I would look at when buying a new vehicle would be, can the GVM be upgraded?? Most of the time this needs to be done prior to it being first registered. But if you are serious about touring and when it all turns to sh!t, to me the piece of mind of knowing that I was legal and covered by insurance is worth far more than the 3k for a GVM upgrade.
In my opinion the new 200 series isn't worth a look with its factory load carrying capacity. Unless the GVM had been upgraded their wouldn't be one loaded up with a family, roof rack, winch, bar, draws, spare wheel carrier, water tank, long range tank etc that would be legal. Most will get a way with it. But if it did turn to sh!t and someone was seriously injured (your fault or not) or killed you will be on your own.
Speaking the the RTA inspectors recently when I got our workmate V8TD weighed confirmed this. They indicated basically that they were not interested in vehicles under 4t (4.5 maybe) HOWEVER if there was a fatal or serious accident and the police asked for an expert witness, then they do investigate and you would be screwed once the issues were identified.
They concede that 99% of the passenger vehicles towing caravans around the country at the moment would be overloaded and illegal, either GVM or axle loads, trailer weights, overall weights etc. They just don't want to know about it...............................................................................................YET.
Regards
Jas
