Newly retired, my wife and I are planning to do some GN with a van once we get a few things in order at home.
We don't have anything really nailed down yet but as our old car just blew it's motor I need to decide on a vehicle sooner than expected.
I'd like some vehicle recommendations, makes and models to look at.
I'm a keen fly fisher and would like to be able to sleep comfortably in the back for short solo trips to snowys or tropical salt flats etc.
It would be OK to remove the rear seat and add a false floor for sleeping.
I'd like to be able to tow an off road van, prefer single axle (just easier to manage a smaller lighter van)
Carry a small boat like a flats runabout, on and launch from the roof.
Prefer diesel without the CO2 burn.
Part time 4WD is OK
Definitely require low range.
Regards,
Ken
If you have 50grand to spare any of the extra cab utes would get you long way, I personally would not recommend a crew cab ute to anyone (I wish I had listen to my own advise) great for 5 people but very hard to load extra weight forward if the drive axle.
It would handle all the things you wrote about sleep in the back, tow most vans, carry a boat.
The length of the cabin varies depending on your height (for sleeping), 2 or 4WD depends on where you want to go, Engine size depends on what you want to pull, Ladder chassis required for safe off road. Creature comforts depends on depth of wallet.
Do you want a second hand or new: Terracan, Sun Yang, 4.2 Patrol, 70 GXL troop carrier - If you can get a good one - They are old so modicum of mechanical skills required.
More recent 100 series Cruiser, 3.0 Turbo Diesel Patrol, Mitsubishi Pajero, all still relatively sound buys.
If you are looking new; TI Patrol, 200 series Landcruiser, Dodge Ram, Ford 250.
You may like to fit out a van and make it into a camper. VW Van (available 4wd), Mercedes Sprinter, Fiat (front wheel drive not suitable for off road).
Answer the queries on first line- You will get answer.
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Possum; AKA:- Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan
Sent from my imperial66 typewriter using carrier pigeon, message sticks and smoke signals.
It's difficult to be specific at this stage but I need a vehicle anyway. As I am into fly fishing, and live in central west NSW, there are areas locally where a 4WD is handy. I used to own a Suby which was just OK for the local area and as a family car at the time.
I intend to do some fishing trips by myself when I would prefer a real 4WD and sleep in the vehicle if possible (168 cm). However, for GNing with my wife, towing a caravan seems the best option to allow for lighter weight day trips from a base camp. We do not want to be limited sealed surfaces and would like to stay in bush areas, NP, SF, CR etc I do not fancy the idea of a large heavy caravan so want to limit it to a single axle with off road suspension. This perhaps gives an idea of tow weight.
For the tow vehicle, I don't think a ute body types will be suitable. Cost is not too much of an issue but nobody wants to waste it. I have begun looking at reviews online but so far only found older ones, like medium size diesel 4WDs up to 2009 which suggest Pajero as the best value for money or Prado best off road. I don't think I want to go really extreme 4WD, probably will only go where there is some kind of track so on road driving remains an important consideration. At this stage I am leaning toward Pajero based on this but I need to look at newer information on 2nd hand vehicles.
I am not sure if the type of vehicle I am considering are suitable to sleep in however, I am prepared to remove the rear seat and fit out to get the required space.
Hi Sailfish welcome to the forum, I was out Mudgee way a few weeks ago and wet the line in a couple of places down near Sofala that required me to use LR 4WD to gain access down to the river. The Pajero Sport handled it easily, we also went out to Burrendong Dam to try our luck but that was basically just dirt road so no problem getting around out there. We towed our 2600kg van out to Mudgee via the Golden hwy from Newcastle without any issues and travelled some fair distances using Mudgee as a base on day trips minus the van. The Sport is probably approaching it's limit as an effective tow vehicle around 2600Kg (is classed as 3.1T towing) but considering all the things that you have listed it is well worth a look at. The internal distance between the back of the seats when folded up and the tailgate is 180cm and it is a little over 10cms between the wheel arches (I know that because I just went out and measured it). There are probably a few of them starting to appear on the market now as used vehicles as they were first released around 18mths ago.
I hope you catch more fish than I did although zero shouldn't be too hard to beat.
Sailfish, one advantage to Prado is that rear seats may be unclipped and removed whereas all others, Patrol, Pajero, etc. will require seats to be unbolted and technically require an Engineering certificate to do so, as you are altering the carrying capacity as described on compliance plate. Not many Police Officers check this matter but HWP will defect vehicles not complying to Compliance Plate.
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Possum; AKA:- Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan
Sent from my imperial66 typewriter using carrier pigeon, message sticks and smoke signals.
Just be a wary of the CRD engines - especially in second hand cars. They do carbon up the inlet manifold/head - but they can be cleaned before the engine is at the throw-away stage. We have friends who had a Pajero - it cost them $11,000 to get the engine done up - then they traded it in on another Pajero & got $5,000 for the trade-in!
If you're after a new (or near new) car/ute, have a good look at the IZUZU pair. Just remember the Prado has a 180L fuel tank - good range but could be expensive.
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Warren
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If you don't get it done today, there's always tomorrow!
Sailfish, my wife and I were faced with the same question six months ago. After a lot of research I came up with a short list and finally selected a Land Rover Discovery 4 MY13 SDV6 HSE and A JB Gator off-road caravan. Total purchase cost of about $140k to do a once in a lifetime full lap of Aus. Apart from the 4WD being huge, (our other car is an ancient Subaru Forester) it is an absolute pleasure to drive and tows the caravan (tare weight 2153, ATM 2800kg) like it is not there. How the total rig performs is yet to be determined because we start our journey in a couple of weeks heading from Melbourne to Cape York Peninsula.
The only other vehicle I would have chosen was the Land Cruiser 200 series (also huge). Some of the principles used in my choice were:
*Car should be heavier than caravan
*Diesel
*3.5 tonne towing capability
*350kg tow ball capability
*Not a ute - wagon is better for sleeping in
*No shortage of torque/power
*Very capable off-road
and specifically for the Disco 4,
*Economical
*Quiet
*Comfortable
*Very neat and practical 7 seater
Luck also comes into it as to what is available at the time.
I hope that helps...
I've got a coupla mates go Barra fishing on a lot of the dams up here.
Plus fly for Tuna.
First one has a D-Max Dual cab like me with tub\fibreglass canopy..
Carries ALL good gear locked inside. Can lay passenger seat back for O'Night kip while travelling
Reasonably comfy.
He has 3 x surf bars on top.
Has Roll out along Pass side. with a Velcro'd 2.5x2.5mtr tent to hjyggiiiiiihang off it. For self and missus
Carries Beds. Fridge Porta potti (missus) etc in tub.
Bars have solar panel.rods. Hot water 4in PVC tube etc. Shower rose at rear end.
Tows boat. or camper trlr for longer trips. Could easily be a van.
His Brother has a King Cab. Mazda. Full Size ALLY bin on tray. with full cooking\camping gear in. Rooftop tent on top. Solar panel at front as windbreak.
Water tube shower etc fitted on top.
Can again. Tow boat. Van. Camper behind.
I have D-Max 2010. dual. full tub fibreglass top.
3 Bars. with boat loader plus solar panel set inside bars so it'll work when boat off.
Can slide out sideways if necessary.
Tinny on roof. 535 van behind. (Iffy weight wise shhhh)
or no tinny and 535 Stacer\90 Opti, on back for sea fishing.
Any Disco from 5 Cyl onwards a great veh
ONLY buy ANY second hand if it has FULL service books\papers.
Pay the extra.
I bought mine 4 months out of wty. from Indroopilly Council for $23,500
Plumbing Managers wheels NO towbar ever fitted. As new.
Just a coupla looks.
There are plenty out there. Disco. Pajero. Patrol .
Mazda.D-Max.Triton utes.
ALl great value and will do a good job. Superceded or EX demo the way.
Di's Honda had 350km's with $3.6k off list. Full wty. Roadside assist.
My Patrol superceded again, 34km on clock full wty roadside.
$4,2k off list.
It's worth looking. the $$$'S off purchase price will usually cover most of what you going to fit to it afterwards.
Possum.
UNLESS the law has changed.
You WERE allowed to remove some of the rear seats to make roof for Fridges. etc for a trip.
AS LONG AS.
You replaced them at end of that trip.
I took mine out. 2 x dick plus rear passenger behind driver. (in NEW PATROL).
replaced them when I sold it 14+ yrs later when got it certified? for sale in QLD
EVERY trip I was on. IF stopped. was the first one hey.
StewG hit it. I have had 7 Pajeros and never had a problem except factory recalls for things like airbags. But even if you get a small van you rapidly approach the legal towing capacity of both van and vehicle once you chuck in all your camp gear. I have a 3.5 ton van but still only tow at at best 3.1 ( Ive checked it on weigh bridge) but I found the Paj was able to tow at below 3 ton, but their wasnt the margin for error you get when towing with a heavier vehicle. I bought a 200 series Land cruiser and immediately felt the difference in towing with the heavier vehicle. Remember it is combined weight that counts and none of the dual cabs apart from a Ram can match a cruiser for its ability to tow and actually carry stuff in the vehicle. Sorry dual cab drivers but thats my opinion.
Pete
-- Edited by Cyclops on Sunday 5th of August 2018 08:09:14 PM
-- Edited by Cyclops on Sunday 5th of August 2018 08:13:38 PM
StewG hit it. I have had 7 Pajeros and never had a problem except factory recalls for things like airbags. But even if you get a small van you rapidly approach the legal towing capacity of both van and vehicle once you chuck in all your camp gear. I have a 3.5 ton van but still only tow at at best 3.1 ( Ive checked it on weigh bridge) but I found the Paj was able to tow , but their wasnt the margin for error you get when towing with a heavier vehicle. I bought a 200 series Land cruiser and immediately felt the difference in towing with the heavier vehicle. Remember it is combined weight that counts and none of the dual cabs apart from a Ram can match a cruiser for its ability to tow and actually carry stuff in the vehicle. Sorry dual cab drivers but thats my opinion.
Pete
-- Edited by Cyclops on Sunday 5th of August 2018 08:09:14 PM
I am coming up in just under 2 months time to purchase a tow vehicle & caravan. As we will be doing the Nullarbor & Cape York, I am opting for the Landcruiser 200 as I am not a "ute bloke"; just dont like the ride/feel. We had looked at Prados previously but want plenty in reserve, even though we are now set in stone on the Landcruiser 200, we have no intention of going over 2700kgs fully loaded in a van. There is nothing worse than a tow vehicle that struggles or is working it's heart out.
