Trucksales Reviews the NLR 45-150 Traypack
Geoff Middleton from Trucksales.com.au jumped aboard the Isuzu 45/150 NLR AMT Traypack. If you’re sick of overloading the ute with just a tonne in the tray, Geoff confirms that this is the next step.
2024 Isuzu NLR 45-150 Traypack | The truck you get when you’re finished mucking around with utes
The Isuzu Traypack is a vehicle that you can get from the dealership and put straight to work, and right now they’re on for a bargain driveaway price
If you’re sick of being overloaded and having your ute dragging its bum on the ground with just a tonne in the tray, this is the next step.
The Isuzu NLR 45-150 Traypack is a purpose-built truck that carry two tonnes, tow a 4000kg trailer and will cost you around the same price as a dual-cab ute – in some cases less.
Sure, the Isuzu Traypack won’t (in most cases) double as a recreational vehicle to take the kids to the beach, but it will tow your caravan, boat or camper with ease. It’s a truck, but a truck you can drive on a car licence.
The Isuzu N Series Traypack is a great step up from a ute
Inside
Climb into the cab of the Isuzu N Series trucks and there’s no doubt you’re in a truck. However, it has all the features you need to keep you comfortable – just like a ute. Out of the box, it has air-conditioning, power windows and mirrors and a suspension seat for the driver.
There’s plenty of storage around the cab for all your needs for a day’s work including drink holders in the dash, door pockets, overhead storage on both sides and phone storage in the dash.
Then there’s the new A/V screen called the MyIsuzu Co-Pilot which is an integrated system that features tailored truck-specific navigation with a user-friendly interface. In addition to truck-specific routing (which accounts for the dimensions of the truck being driven), the system will provide the user with over-the-air ‘smart’ capabilities such as live traffic information and live map updates (provided the unit is connected to WiFi or a phone hotspot). It also comes with speed camera alerts, maximum speed, hazmat specifications, and more.
The driver gets a suspension seat
The Package
The Traypack’s tray is a 3.4 metre by 2.1 metre heavy-duty drop-side tray with built-in features like sturdy internal and external tie-down points, a tough headboard protecting the cab and steps to the front of the tray on either side.
Power is supplied by a 3.0-litre turbocharged and intercooled Isuzu diesel engine with either a six-speed automatic or five speed manual transmission.
The tray has internal and external tie downs plus a handy step on each side
The four-cylinder engine has ratings of 150hp (110kW) and 375Nm. However, the interesting part is when you have a look at the torque curve; well, it’s not exactly a torque curve because it’s basically flat. Maximum torque is produced at 1600rpm and it stays flat, that is at maximum torque, all the way to 2800rpm, which incidentally where the maximum power is produced.
That all equates to the engine being ideally suited to the job at hand – hauling loads.
The tilt cab gives easy access to the engine
The transmission in our test vehicle was the auto which is Isuzu’s MYY-6E torque-converter six-speed with both fully automatic and clutchless manual operation modes. It has a very low first gear of 5.979 so it generally starts off in second. Fifth is a direct 1:1 and sixth is a generous .750 overdrive for highway cruising.
Full safety
The Isuzu N Series comes standard with all the safety features we’ve come to expect in a modern truck.
Starting with driver and passenger airbags, the features continue with the all regular stuff like seatbelt pretensioners, forward collision warning, electronic stability control, lane departure warning and hill-start for manual models.
We had a tonne of concrete in the tray which had little or no effect on performance
Braking is handled by ventilated discs front and rear with dual circuit hydraulic control, vacuum assistance and electronic brake force distribution (EBD).
Add to that the fact that this model comes with independent front suspension using wishbones, coil springs and double-acting dampers which gives better ride and more direct steering and you have a pretty safe truck.
On the road
There’s no trick to driving an N Series Isuzu. It’s as simple as driving a car. Sure, the suspension is a bit stiffer when you’re unladen and it’s not going to be as quick off the mark as the latest V6 utes, but it will happily keep up with the traffic and it doesn’t have any really bad manners.
The auto has a Park position just like a car
On the freeway, the Traypack, in auto guise as we had it, is geared to 118km/h maximum speed. At 100km/h at full 4500 GVM, the engine will be spinning at just over 2400rpm due to that deep overdrive.
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During our test I have a 1000kg lump of concrete chained into the tray, and the truck didn’t feel thing. Try that in a ute. The suspension felt well sorted, the engine wasn’t struggling and the auto transmission acted perfectly.
Although this is only around half the payload this truck is rated to take, it certainly felt like it would easily handle two tonnes.
Internal tie-down rails make securing a load easy
One thing I think is really worth noting here is the truck’s manoeuvrability, I found I could easily do a U-turn in a normal suburban street. The turning circle is quoted as 10.2 metres. By way of comparison, a Mazda BT-50 4x2 has a turning circle of 12.4 metres and a VW Amarok is 12.95 metres, so the Traypack is a pretty nifty bit of gear.
As mentioned, these Isuzu trucks have an enviable reputation for reliability, and Isuzu Australia know that, so they’re offering a six-year, 250,000km warranty with unlimited hours.
The MyIsuzu CoPilot screen is a big improvement
There is also a six-year roadside-assistance package with unlimited kilometres.
Isuzu also has multi-tiered service agreements covering all aspects of the truck.
The deal
As an end of financial deal, Isuzu is currently offering the NLR Traypack SWB at a bargain price of $62,990 driveaway – and that’s for the auto too.
And if you buy one of these great little trucks before the end of June this year, Isuzu will throw in $3500 worth of free extras from the accessories catalogue. It’s a very tempting offer.
The driveaway pricing is a tempting offer
Specifications
GVM: 4500kg
GCM: 8000kg
Towing: 4000kg
Power: 110kW at 2800rpm
Torque: 375Nm at1600 to 2800rpm
Transmission: Six-speed auto / five-speed manual
Fuel: 75 litres
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