UK Pickups - reviews

[Grahams]

I’ve got both a Ranger 3.2 auto and a D-max manual.
The Ranger is extremely comfortable and tows fantastically. Would always go for an auto as so much better in traffic. The downside is mine has done about 100,000 hard miles, mostly towing 3500kg and is broken again. Had a piston ring go at 62,000 which totalled the engine, fan belt snap and now some problem with the fuel pressure pump that just shut the engine down with no warning. Towed home three times in just over three years isn’t good, but I know other people with them who have had no problem.
The D-max tows 3500kg no problem. A little slower on the hills than the Ranger, but makes up for it in better fuel economy. That has done about 75,000 miles, again mostly towing, with no issues. I don’t find it as comfortable as the Ranger, but the guy who works for me finds it more comfortable, which is good as that is what he drives.
Graham

 

[Brendan]

May as well add my two cents i have a 2016 l200 single cab regularly tow 3 ton and carry a ton legally. 2.4 engine in it 154bhp 6 speed manual.. granted i have added air suspension to the rear not fancy just two mini air bags that you air up with an airline no compressor on the l200 but believe you can add one. Got 40k on the clock and to be honest i think its a great wee wagon. Does bout 32- 36mpg no trailer on.. never really looked at mpg when towing haha. Oh and i put it on a set of bf tyres.. 4x4 works well can change on the fly up to.35mph between 4x2 and 4x4..

Jordan

Take it yours is modified with the airbags to be able to pull 3t and carry 1t at the same time.
You can switch most pickups on the fly between 2wd and 4wd at upto 60mph

 

[Big Jordy]

No not modified can tow 3 and carry 1 standard airbags just stiffen the back end up a wee bit.. haha i stand corrected about switching on the fly.. i tried to get the towing capacity up rated by a crowd that do motorhomes but apparently even though i can carry a ton on the pickup i cant half that and tow an extra 500. Train weight stays the same so whats the problem... new l200 is identical to mine in every way but low and behold they done what i wanted to do above....

 

[Grahams]

Priced up a Mercedes sprinter with 3500kg towing pack. Didn’t bother with the 4x4 as they are so high off the ground it will be horrible towing. Mid length, low roof (might want high roof so I can walk about in the back, but probably not), 319, so should have enough poke to actually tow, best part of £52,000 including the VAT. Seems a lot of money, but they do have unlimited mileage three year warrenty.
Unfortunately I don’t have a spare £52,000 at present.
Graham

 

[Grahams]

Does anyone know if you can retro fit 3500kg towing to a sprinter? All it seems to involve from the factory is a different ratio back axle and a 3500kg rated tow bar?
Graham

 

[Monkeybusiness]

Priced up a Mercedes sprinter with 3500kg towing pack. Didn’t bother with the 4x4 as they are so high off the ground it will be horrible towing. Mid length, low roof (might want high roof so I can walk about in the back, but probably not), 319, so should have enough poke to actually tow, best part of £52,000 including the VAT. Seems a lot of money, but they do have unlimited mileage three year warrenty.
Unfortunately I don’t have a spare £52,000 at present.
Graham

And it’ll be rusty in 3 years time... That’s an incredibly expensive van!

 

[Antony Holmes]

a lot of the iveco van's can tow 3500kg full spec twin wheel with all the bells is about £30k new if is a van you are after haven't towed with one but i think you can chose axle ratio and 160 break lot of van for the money.

 

[fred]

I got a daily from new. Had the bare chassis and specced hiab and tipper body. The downside is zf auto box doesn’t have a pto kit

Drives and tows lovely. I did put airbag suspension on the back so when it has 4 ton of stone on it it still looks level !

 

[Brendan]

Does anyone know if you can retro fit 3500kg towing to a sprinter? All it seems to involve from the factory is a different ratio back axle and a 3500kg rated tow bar?
Graham

Try svtech they might be able to help you out

 

[TiltyShaun]

Priced up a Mercedes sprinter with 3500kg towing pack. Didn’t bother with the 4x4 as they are so high off the ground it will be horrible towing. Mid length, low roof (might want high roof so I can walk about in the back, but probably not), 319, so should have enough poke to actually tow, best part of £52,000 including the VAT. Seems a lot of money, but they do have unlimited mileage three year warrenty.
Unfortunately I don’t have a spare £52,000 at present.
Graham

Beer currently spat across the room!! My second hand Iveco was around £2500 and that rows 3500kg quite nicely!!

 

[Grahams]

Just been on Iveco website, but they are not very forthcoming about price. You have to request a contact from them, which I have done. Much prefer them to be upfront like Mercedes, especially if they are considerably cheaper.
I’ll let you know what they say when I get a quote. Obviously difficult to get absolute like for like. They say the offer 7000 factory options (Mercedes only 6000), but tried to spec it the same. Don’t seem to have as high safety options, but everything these days is relatively safe.
Graham

 

[Grahams]

Try svtech they might be able to help you out

I’ve already emailed them some time ago, but the didn’t even bother replying. Unfortunately, it would look like they are only interested in paperwork rather than engineering.
Graham

 

[Brendan]

I’ve already emailed them some time ago, but the didn’t even bother replying. Unfortunately, it would look like they are only interested in paperwork rather than engineering.
Graham

I know they do helper springs for the ranger to take the gtw to 7t
Wabtec developments also do a kit for the ranger so could be possible they could offer a solution for the merc

 

[cheggars]

I was watching a thread on the farming forum about pickups towing.
A guy there was adamant that a pickup Towing needed a full Operators licence if they travel more than 100k of base( i know they should have a Tacho).

 

[Brendan]

I was watching a thread on the farming forum about pickups towing.
A guy there was adamant that a pickup Towing needed a full Operators licence if they travel more than 100k of base( i know they should have a Tacho).

Think your exempt as long as your trailer is under 1t unladen

 

[pettsy]

SV tech did my old crafter from 2t to 2.8t towing capacity. Only a paperwork exercise and sent me a secondary data plate.

 

[fred]

Just been on Iveco website, but they are not very forthcoming about price. You have to request a contact from them, which I have done. Much prefer them to be upfront like Mercedes, especially if they are considerably cheaper.
I’ll let you know what they say when I get a quote. Obviously difficult to get absolute like for like. They say the offer 7000 factory options (Mercedes only 6000),but tried to spec it the same. Don’t seem to have as high safety options, but everything these days is relatively safe.
Graham

my bare chassis (3 litre engine, auto box, air con etc) was around 20k, then to add hiab, tipper body etc. This was 2016 I used Pitters commercials on the south coast.

 

[Nick...]

I run a 2018 invincible x hilux auto regularly pulling my ecr25 about.can fault it really.150hp is fine sticking to 40/50mph which is fast enough.if you boys had 300hp some of you would want 500.they are made to tow 3500 kg and the manufacturers know more than us lot do
Nick...

 

[Routy56]

Keep the real life reviews comings on pickup trucks guys
Will be replacing my Disco 2 TD5 auto General Grabbers Dixson Bate etc very soon

 

[fred]

could allways go mini artic, tow 10 tons on a car licence!

https://imgur.com/nUneg0P