how much are you wanting to spend?

Cruisers all the way if you can afford one...Mate pcked up at a  09 Low Km V8 Deisel last year for around 40-45k cant remember exactly.

What is th weight of the boat?

Cruisers all the way if you can afford one...Mate pcked up at a  09 Low Km V8 Deisel last year for around 40-45k cant remember exactly.

What is th weight of the boat?

 spend the money up front and you will never look back!

No doubt that outside an F Truck a turbo diesel 100 or 200series cruiser will be the most comfortable for towing a boat that size. That said some of the new navara/BT/Ranger tray backs are very capable and comfortable and have the benefit of no FBT if you have a business. As far as value for money goes a late model 3lt patrol is an exceptionally capable tow vehice, can be modded out really well and whilst a little down on power is very stable and tows well. I have had all 3, patrol, 100series and now 200 series and I would say all were on par when comparing purchase price vs capability and comfort.

I think the diesel 100 series are ridiculously overpriced second hand at the moment but its what people are happy to pay, but you can pick up a patrol for half the price with half the KMS.

If budget is no problem then the new 200series standard would be my pick - barn doors, twin turbo diesel, 5 seats and auto. You can then accesorise as much as you see fit.

Its not the length but the weight you want to tow.  A 6.1m all would weigh nothing compared to a 6.1m glass boat.

If your willing to fork out the coin the F250 or the V8 diesel cruiser are the best . I personaly went the F250 as the price of a 2nd hand cruiser is just stupid . In case your after a older 4x4 I'm selling my 95 patrol turbo 4.2 ute .. its what I have had for quite a few years . It towed my 7.5m westerberg no issue .

Agree on the 100 series diesels.

Apologies to any owners, but in my limited experience the non-turbo diesel ones are not suitable as a tow vehicle for a heavy boat. I borrowed a mate's one and couldnt get higher than 85km/hr on the flat towing an 8m glass boat. Some hills I had to go back to third or even second to hold speed!

Turbo diesel obviously a much differnt story.

I used to tow my 6m glass boat with a D40 Navara TD. It held whatever legal speed you wanted to no dramas. The boat weighed 2.5t fully loaded.

My D40 Navara 2.5 towed our 25' (3 ton) contender over from Sydney and went beautifully !

Have heard whispers through a dealer though; that all the current model navara's are being run out at the moment; as the ST-X will come standard with the V6 diesel within 2 months ;) - 3L V6 with 7sp auto !! :)

Any decent 3.0L + Turbo diesel from around 2005(ish) on will do the job.

TD's started kicking ass from about then on, and have been getting even better since.

I tow my 6.1m glass rig mainly with a late model LR Discovery 3 TDV6 and it's awesome.

My 2004 TD Rodeo is adequate, but it's the model just before they really started to ramp up the KW/torque - so does labour a bit on a climb.

But Alfred's on the money with his comment about weight.

If you're talking 6.1m Ally, then I'd focus on value-for-money and all-round vehicle reputation.

Tow my 6.8 plate ally no problems and far far better fuel economy than a V8 Cruiser ............have owned cruiers for years but much prefer the Prado for performance and economy despite it being a petrol   

 Thanks guys for all the info. It is ally and 1.5 tonne

3.5t towing get one new for the cost of a cruiser or patrol second hand, nice to drive, but once outa warrenty choof it off....

as the others have said it will get down to whether you just want a tow rig or full time driver and how much you are spending

havent followed the nissan pricing , but in the cruisers a good 80 series 12 to 18 k , 100 series petrol 16k through to 25 k which all can go on lpg , the later V8 petrol are well sort after car at 25k through to 40 k then the 200 series take over, i would have to agree that the T/Diesel in 100 s are over priced and the 07 model i had was not impressed with its performance  IMO 

You have said your 6.1 ali boat is 1.5 t  does that include the weight of the trailer and gear inside , i have a trailly 6.1 which sneeks in over 2 ton on the weigh bridge lightly loaded so do your home work

It depends on what you want to spend don't want to get into ford v Holden I have 3 lt patrol that tows 2ton cat to exmouth sitting on 100 with no problem very stable and comfortable can only speak of my experience

If it's only 1.5t then any of the mid range 4WD will do the job. I have the new turbo diesel Triton and fully loaded with cartons of piss and food and the boat loaded to the gunnels it towed it sitting on 110k's on average and no probs overtaking all the way to Gnaraloo.

 Once loaded with fuel and gear plus trailer I suppose it would be over 2 tonne. Appreciate the advice. 

The Gekko is a dedicated tow boat. It is specific to watersports. The power to pull a skier or wakebaorder up with steady smooth power makes it easier to learn. The other boats are swiss army knife types of boats. Direct drive is the way to go. Gekko is a pretty good boat your not paying for the name like a mastercraft or nautique. The only problem is if you get 5 people on that baot its going to start to feel cramped. I have a Boomerang and I only like 4 people on the boat and 1 in the water at best. Power is awesome on these little direct drives and the handling is so much fun. If you can find one with an open bow tha would be perfect.

I have a 100 series V8 petrol and it pulls the 31 footer no dramas at all. May chew a little juice but worth it!

 6.6L diesel with a 6 speed auto. Will pull your boat and a small house off it's foundations. Pricey @ ~$130k new, but will destroy any F truck or Landcruiser. 

I had a 2007 Prado, which I have just upgraded, but the 2007 Prado towed my 6.5m fibreglass boat from Perth to Karrartha on about 105km's the whole way without skipping a beat, and still had more in it when I gave it a kick in the guts to over take trucks. You really can't go wrong with Toyota's! 

 If you Want to save some cash mate,Get a diesel chip and exhaust fitted to a rodeo and you will have plenty horse power and better fuel consumption.

Im running a 2007 rodeo and tow a 7.3 ali ,the rodeo handles well but goin up hills lacks a bit , so im savin for the chip and exhaust which im pretty sure will give up to 25% more power

I paid $20000 for the rodeo and the chip and exhaust will cost around $4000 fitted

 just brought a gq rb30 petrol patrol,and it tows my 5.9 fraser boat no problems after i sold my hilux about a month ago,it has 2.5 tonne towing capacity,a little thirsty on petrol,but waiting to save for a lpg system,to make it more ecconomical,paid around 7000 dollars and very good mechanically etc,if you want more info on towing cappibilities of 4wd do some researeach on redbook