heavy duty pickup - established leader or new upstart?
Discussion
Hi all,
Currently I have a 2015 Ford Ranger but with its increasing mileage and the increasing Toyota adverts about the new "extended" warranty (and their general reputation for reliability, especially compared to a Ranger and its "f-you" warranty and attitude from Ford), I have been seriously looking at jumping ship into a 2016-19 Hilux.
Unlike a lot of double cab pickup buyers, I need it for work, not posing. I do about 15k miles a year, day to day mixed commuting but also fairly regular serious towing of cars and other big heavy objects things for hobbies - which in the past has killed an old Range Rover and tired out a US-spec Jeep, so I need something built tough. There's nothing worse than expiring at the other end of the country with 3 tons of trailer on the back! I do regularly use the full 3.5 ton towing capacity of the Ranger, so I'm not interested in suggestions of Amaroks and the like.
A Hilux seemed the obvious route, however my eye has been caught by the Ssyangyong Musso. This seems to boast the same, or better, towing and train weights than the Ranger and Hilux, and has a huge 7 year/125k mile warranty. Oh, and a brand new one can be had for less than the cost of a 3 year old Hilux.
My question is, is it too good to be true? Yes, its not exactly pretty, but at the end of the day it's a working vehicle not a show toy. The only negatives I've seemed to find online are rubbish fuel economy and ride, but then I'm used to the dire figures and crashiness of the 3.2 Ranger so that's not a deal breaker. I'm also guessing the resale value once it's a few years old with leggy mileage will be about £2.50, but I normally keep vehicles until they die anyway.
Does anyone have any thoughts please?
Thanks!
Currently I have a 2015 Ford Ranger but with its increasing mileage and the increasing Toyota adverts about the new "extended" warranty (and their general reputation for reliability, especially compared to a Ranger and its "f-you" warranty and attitude from Ford), I have been seriously looking at jumping ship into a 2016-19 Hilux.
Unlike a lot of double cab pickup buyers, I need it for work, not posing. I do about 15k miles a year, day to day mixed commuting but also fairly regular serious towing of cars and other big heavy objects things for hobbies - which in the past has killed an old Range Rover and tired out a US-spec Jeep, so I need something built tough. There's nothing worse than expiring at the other end of the country with 3 tons of trailer on the back! I do regularly use the full 3.5 ton towing capacity of the Ranger, so I'm not interested in suggestions of Amaroks and the like.
A Hilux seemed the obvious route, however my eye has been caught by the Ssyangyong Musso. This seems to boast the same, or better, towing and train weights than the Ranger and Hilux, and has a huge 7 year/125k mile warranty. Oh, and a brand new one can be had for less than the cost of a 3 year old Hilux.
My question is, is it too good to be true? Yes, its not exactly pretty, but at the end of the day it's a working vehicle not a show toy. The only negatives I've seemed to find online are rubbish fuel economy and ride, but then I'm used to the dire figures and crashiness of the 3.2 Ranger so that's not a deal breaker. I'm also guessing the resale value once it's a few years old with leggy mileage will be about £2.50, but I normally keep vehicles until they die anyway.
Does anyone have any thoughts please?
Thanks!
Double-check the towing capacity with Toyota if you need to tow the full 3.5 tonnes. Our last one (2017) is only 3 tonnes on paper, although it tows 3.5 with ease (I didn't check the documents until quite recently).
Note - I'm in Belgium - and I wouldn't be surprised that it's a weird Belgian rule. Checked the paperwork on a mate's Landcruiser and that's also only 3 tonnes. Our Landrover is 3.5 tonnes though.
Note - I'm in Belgium - and I wouldn't be surprised that it's a weird Belgian rule. Checked the paperwork on a mate's Landcruiser and that's also only 3 tonnes. Our Landrover is 3.5 tonnes though.
I have an Isuzu D-Max 2016 2.5 ltr version, that's been fine for me, although I don't tow big loads with it.
Has been reliable, 5 year / 125,000 mile warranty and the dealers have been great. Isuzu dealers tend to be smaller operations, often linked to commercial vehicle sales operations, and so understand people need to be kept on the road
D-Max was the original pickup that offered the full 3.5 ton towing capacity. The newer 1.9 engine sounds small, and probably does not have the same torque curve as the previous engine, but I've not heard of any horror stories.
Has been reliable, 5 year / 125,000 mile warranty and the dealers have been great. Isuzu dealers tend to be smaller operations, often linked to commercial vehicle sales operations, and so understand people need to be kept on the road
D-Max was the original pickup that offered the full 3.5 ton towing capacity. The newer 1.9 engine sounds small, and probably does not have the same torque curve as the previous engine, but I've not heard of any horror stories.
I had a 2019 InvincibleX for 18 months / 15,000 miles. Didn't do any towing with it but it felt very strong - had 800kg of paving stones in the rear once.
Given you know that it will be used an intended, I wouldn't even contemplate the newcomer and would stick with a vehicle which has an excellent reputation for robustness worldwide.
Wife has also run a couple of Toyotas over many years and the dealer service & support is always excellent.
Given you know that it will be used an intended, I wouldn't even contemplate the newcomer and would stick with a vehicle which has an excellent reputation for robustness worldwide.
Wife has also run a couple of Toyotas over many years and the dealer service & support is always excellent.
Thanks all for the suggestions so far. Looks like I will avoid a Musso for now (they also seems to be extremely scarce in the classifieds!)
I think the Toyota towing capacity is a paperwork/ approval thing but yes, I would definitely check!
The DMax was the main rival when I initially bought my Ranger, what swung it initially was the much plusher and more ICE-heavy interior of the Ranger compared to the poverty-furnished recycled Playmobil dashboard of the DMax.
The only negative I've heard about the DMax is that they can have issues with ridiculously short interval DPF regens and oil dilution (as this is done by the overfuelling method on the Isuzu engine compared to an exhaust injector on the Ford)?
Thanks,
Matt
I think the Toyota towing capacity is a paperwork/ approval thing but yes, I would definitely check!
The DMax was the main rival when I initially bought my Ranger, what swung it initially was the much plusher and more ICE-heavy interior of the Ranger compared to the poverty-furnished recycled Playmobil dashboard of the DMax.
The only negative I've heard about the DMax is that they can have issues with ridiculously short interval DPF regens and oil dilution (as this is done by the overfuelling method on the Isuzu engine compared to an exhaust injector on the Ford)?
Thanks,
Matt
ChemicalChaos said:
Thanks all for the suggestions so far. Looks like I will avoid a Musso for now (they also seems to be extremely scarce in the classifieds!)
I think the Toyota towing capacity is a paperwork/ approval thing but yes, I would definitely check!
The DMax was the main rival when I initially bought my Ranger, what swung it initially was the much plusher and more ICE-heavy interior of the Ranger compared to the poverty-furnished recycled Playmobil dashboard of the DMax.
The only negative I've heard about the DMax is that they can have issues with ridiculously short interval DPF regens and oil dilution (as this is done by the overfuelling method on the Isuzu engine compared to an exhaust injector on the Ford)?
Thanks,
Matt
Toyota did upgrade the UK spec towing limit to 3.5 tons without any vehicle changes, and so just a paperwork exercise. Ref the Isuzu interior, I would agree they use cheap plastics, but they are easy to wipe down. I have the Pioneer double DIN upgrade, and thats really good. ref the DPF regen, not had that with mine, it generally seems to be on trucks used for short journeys but it does definitely happen - if you are within the 5 year warranty the dealer should sort itI think the Toyota towing capacity is a paperwork/ approval thing but yes, I would definitely check!
The DMax was the main rival when I initially bought my Ranger, what swung it initially was the much plusher and more ICE-heavy interior of the Ranger compared to the poverty-furnished recycled Playmobil dashboard of the DMax.
The only negative I've heard about the DMax is that they can have issues with ridiculously short interval DPF regens and oil dilution (as this is done by the overfuelling method on the Isuzu engine compared to an exhaust injector on the Ford)?
Thanks,
Matt
Op - if you passed your test after 1997, you can only drive a vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes or 3,500kg MAM towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM, or Tow a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as the combined weight of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg
You may well have the correct "+E" on your category B entitlement on your driving licence, but a few of my mates didn't know they needed it so I thought I would mention it.
You may well have the correct "+E" on your category B entitlement on your driving licence, but a few of my mates didn't know they needed it so I thought I would mention it.
Thanks all, currently weighing up a 2017-19 DMax (to get the warranty balance but not too expensive to buy) Vs a 15-19 Hilux.
Hmmm, decisions. Can't really find any bad words about the Toyota even on farmers forums where stuff is thrashed to death, but the towing weight paperwork could be a headache.
Does the Hilux come ready fitted with a Russian anti-tank gun in the pickup bed?
In terms of licence, I've had my +E since 2016
Hmmm, decisions. Can't really find any bad words about the Toyota even on farmers forums where stuff is thrashed to death, but the towing weight paperwork could be a headache.
Does the Hilux come ready fitted with a Russian anti-tank gun in the pickup bed?
In terms of licence, I've had my +E since 2016
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff