Thread: tried towing with the 3.9!!!!!

How many km has it done? It could be due for a top end freshen up. Heads, cam, etc.

Set the Dizzy to 9 degrees
Check that the vacuum advance is working

What size tyres you running?

There has got to be something wrong with it. Cam? Dizzy? Vacuum advance? handbrake off?

Sounds like something is wrong as previously mentioned. My '85 - with stock 3.5 and 256KKM can tow 2300Kg at 110KPH on the freeway no probs - mine is a manual though, and while accelaration is slowish, and hills slow it down a couple of gears, it is an absolute pleasure to tow with. This was with standard size tyres - I have just put some 31" muddies on it, so I would expect things to be a bit more sluggish from now on, but not as bad as you are describing.

thanks for all the quick replies, Rangie has done 215 ish ks, is that enough to need a freshen? Running 245/70 tyres, bit bigger than standard but nothing massive so don't think that will be gearing it up much, will check the dizzy and the vacuum advance, did actually check the handbrake, it was off!

wasn't sure if the auto had a problem towing, on one hill where the Prado drops to third (its a manual) the Rangie was into first at 40 kph, its actually a relief to hear it shouldn't be like that!

thanks again

Sounds like time for a new cam, head gaskets , head overhaul.

Regards Philip A

If it has been well maintained, it should be fine at 215KKM, but without knowing how it has been treated, it is hard to say. If you go over all the basic stuff and it is still sluggish, you may have to check into things a bit further, like engine compession, cam, etc, but don't despair, it could be something simple!

thank you all again for the replies, only had the car about 6 months, no real idea how it was treated before I got it, all I've really done so far is a couple of oil changes (stuff that came out was like was like treacle) and started the long job of fixing things.

Will take the suggestion to heart, start with the simple things and work from there, still drives ok solo so all is not lost, and see if anything is obviously wrong.