Canter 4x4

[mog]

Thanks for the links Mog, good info. I think some background may put my question concerning gear ration in a better light.
I am looking at a new Cantor FG4x4 with flatbed and a 13-15 foot camper with a pop top. I wish to use this vehicle to tow my boat.
As you can see it sits pretty tall on the trailer and creates a lot of wind resistance. On the trailer with a full load of fuel but no gear etc it weights 8660 lbs.
So I do wish the taller "singles" for some off road and snow & sand but it still needs to perform reasonable well on the highway.

I’ll start with my disclaimer, mine is not a ‘new’ Cantor but a 2002 Fuso FG. On paper they have a similar HP and Torque ratings but I'm sure the real-world will be different.
2001 to 2004
Mitsubishi 4D34-3AT3A
Displacement 238.0 cu. in. (3.9 liters)
Max. output (SAE, gross) 145 hp @ 2900 rpm
Max. torque (SAE, gross) 275 lb.ft. @ 1600 rpm
2005 to 2011
Mitsubishi 4M50
Displacement 299.0 cu.in. (4.9 liter)
Max. output (SAE, gross) 147 hp @ 2700 rpm
Max. torque (SAE, gross) 347 lb.-ft. @ 1600 rpm
2012 . .
Mitsubishi 4P10(T5)
Displacement 183 cu. in (3.0 L)
Max. output (SAE, gross) 161 hp @ 3500 rpm
Max. torque (SAE, gross) 295 lb.-ft. @ 1600 rpm

I can give a fair comparison of my 2002 Fuso FG (manual) to my 2002 Ford F-250 (Crewcab, V10 - auto) on the road. While I love both trucks, the Ford has only gotten about 2000 miles on it since I bought my Fuso. They are complexly different mind-set trucks to me. I used the Fuso much more because of it’s 14 foot bed in a 20 foot long ‘package’, while the F-250 has a 6.5 foot bed in a 22 foot long 'package'. When hauling loads (not towing) on 150+ mile trips, the difference in time is less then 15 minutes in the Ford's favor (2 lane mountain roads, no interstate) and about the same fuel usage (about a 20% favor to the Fuso, but diesel is more expensive, so a wash cost wise). But I spend most of the time in the F-250 bitching to myself about all the slow motorhomes or jerks who bought fancy red sports cars and then drive like old ladies, grrrrrrrrrrrr. When I drive the Fuso, my mind is in 'VW bus mode', and realize that 60 mph is great and hills are something lower gears were made for. I am the ‘traffic’, not bitching about getting around it. Now if I was going to tow anything heavy, the Ford would be the hands down, no questions, would not think twice choice. Big cubic inch I6, V8s (ok and V10s) gas or diesels just don’t care. If a head wind makes a difference of 5+ mph in my Fuso, it would not be happy with a heavy boat (Nice boat BTW) behind it for a living.

How will it do at highway speed, 55 MPH, when it hits a two mile long 3-5% grade, while towing a 9000lb trailer?

That is about 40 to 45 mph in mine, depending on load and wind WITHOUT a trailer

Just my 2 cents and YMMV . . . .hey, I can give you a good deal on a very low mileage F-250 :sombrero:

 

[mog]

I am in the same spot your are..........well sort of..........do I purchase a Cantor and build a box on it or do I use my F350. With the Canter I get a 13-14 foot box with that 20' overall length. With the F350 I can get a 10' flat bed and perhaps a 12' box max but be a much longer package. However I have yet to find a hill I can't climb at 65mph with boat in tow.
It really is great to have choices. That is half the fun.

Again just my 2 cents, but if towing the boat is a 'big reason/job' for your truck, the F-350 is going to be a much happier ride. You are going to be 'long' anyway with the boat, so I think the trade-offs of a short Fuso are not worth the lack of performance when towing your boat.
BTW the turning radius of the Fuso is unbelievable compared to the Ford. Not only because of wheel base, but also the turn angle of the front wheels.

For size reference here is a 10 foot long Pinzgauger Ambulance box on the back of an older Ford flatbed (Photochopped version I did for the guy I sold the box to)
View attachment 135309