The new tow truck, Trooper

[Kristoffer]

I hope you enjoy driving it

[Thebusofwoe]

Nice buy there mate, bet it shifts a bit quicker than my 3.1. Is it manual or auto?

One of my favourite things about these is the driving position - until you get behind the wheel of one you don't realise how high up you are, it gives you a good view of the traffic ahead. I almost feel like I'm driving blind when I get in to 'normal' cars now

Best of luck with it mate

Thanks chap. Yea manual. It is massive compared to what I'm used to

[lewd lude lover]

so people say the older engine is bulletproof and good for a half million miles or more I hear, but its maybe a bit tractor like (no real issue there imho). what do they say about this newer one then? I will be getting a 4x4 at some point and it will be an isuzu or a landcruiser. What info and knowledge is there available on the engine choice in the isuzu range?

Opinions appreciated.

[lewd lude lover]

what of the 2.8l?

[Thebusofwoe]

What do you want to know ? We have been an Isuzu dealer/service for over a year now, hence I have brought a trooper. The most unreliable motor is the one I have, the 4jx1. All sorts of common problems, but as I work for them, no big deal to me. The 3.1 and 2.8 engines are amazing. A little under powered in the trooper (3.1) buthe 2.8 in the rodeo is a brilliant motor. I worked on a 2.8 rodeo yesterday actually. Drives like a car, goes and tows like a picup. The 2.8 & 3.1 engines are so basic, mechanical injection with very little electrics. The newer motor,4jx1, is almost completely reliant on ecu. So the injectors are pressured by high pressure oil and fired by solenoids. I would of gone for the 3.1 older trooper, but I wanted something newer than that. If your prepared to spend money then the 3.0 is fine. But for reliability then the older diesels are much better. The cars them selfs are fine, nothing common apart from usual wear and tear items.

[lewd lude lover]

cheers thats great. Just what I was getting as a picture.

Basically diesels work best if left to run themselves

As I understand it the Rodeo and the trooper can tow upto 3.5t? Like a decent sized horsebox. Due to extra support beams in place. Where as many other 4x4s are only rated to 750kg. Which would be next to useless for me..
What do you know of this? I am sure the fact you bought it to tow a car will have something to do with your answer but I would like to hear it from you in your experience if at all possible

[Drax]

looks a brill track day trailer truck to me great purchase!

[jjmartin349571]

@lewd lude lover I bought my Trooper to tow because it's one of few cars in the UK that can legally tow a 3,500KG braked trailer. The chappy I use to move my cars uses a Rodeo and a 3 axle tilt and slide trailer, when he dropped my Scooby off he mentioned that he'd had a big old classic on the back on the way to Southampton which he reckoned brought him up to just shy of 3.5t in tow. I asked him how it was, he said you noticed the weight more but the truck was still as stable as ever. He said he didn't even notice the Scooby was there on the drive back

FWIW his is a newer model, but I can't see the handling characteristics being that radically different in the recent shapes.

[Thebusofwoe]

Thanks Drax. Yea the manual says a total GTW (trailer and load weight combined) of 3500kg. But as a rule, you should try and keep the GTW to 70-80% of the towing vehicles weight. Just as a safe rule.

[Thebusofwoe]

FWIW his is a newer model, but I can't see the handling characteristics being that radically different in the recent shapes.

Spot on. The ladder chassis is almost the same, if not the same in the various models.