Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

Hi All. New to this site & embaressed about my general ignorance. Anyway - "Hi all". Question: I've got a 4.8 GRX Tiptronic with 109,000km on the clock. Kids old enough for more serious safari now. I'd like to kit the vehicle with some better towing shocks and perhaps raise the suspension slightly. I heard a TIPTRONIC gearbox is a nightmare if you have to be towed in the bundus. Ag, please can someone provide a few pointers. Many thanks in advance.

It is not possible to start an automatic vehicle by towing it in gear. It is possible to tow it, though: place the transfer box in neutral and then the transmission is isolated from the rest of the drivetrain.

Hello Clags

Welcome to the site. Well done on your Patrol. It won't break and leave you stranded. Just look after it and don't murder it. . If you are planning on doing serious towing, get either OME heavy duty coils and shocks at the back, or similar TJM XGS coils and shocks. This will also give a 50mm +- lift. The suspension will be very hard unladen, so keep that in mind. Otherwise go for a medium duty shock at the back and an airlift system in the coils! Works like a charm.

Like Gerrit pointed out, towing it is possible, but push start, no way. . Patrols are known for their reliability and durability. So don't worry too much. I have heard about the auto gearbox getting hot when driven hard in low range - long periods of hard driving in thick sand or mud, while towing - but I've got a manual, so I am not familiar with the auto box. There are threads on this site regarding that, as well as on the Aussie website.

But first of all, gooi some

Just keep in mind some late model transfer boxes have an oil pump driven by the input shaft similar like the auto boxes and therefore you can’t tow it for long distances even if you put it into nutral. The box will run with no oil feed and you could end up with huge repair cost. Rather disconnect the driveshaft at the pinion.

Ratau, as far as I know, the Patrol transfer case does not have an oil pump.

Eish - what a lekker bunch of replies. Even my wife enjoyed your responses - thank you all!