Hi all, It's been a while since we have been on this site but all for a good reason. finished work, sold home, bought a caravan. Now all that's left is to buy the tow vehicle [wish it was as simple as that].

We will be pulling a 2007 Roadstar dreamtime van, 22 ft, about 2150 kgs and are planning to be doing this travelling thing for at least 6 years or so, dependant upon health and money, etc.

After many hours of looking, listening to many peoples advice, etc we have decieded to go the way of a 2007-2008 Pajero, intercooled, turbo diesel or similar. Intend to mainly travel on the black but at times on the carefully dirt. There will be times when we will leave the van behind and travel in the vehicle, if needed we will overnight in it.

Now here's the test, I am inviting you to post your comments on our thoughts. I would wish you to be honest as for us this is a major cost [the van was a bit like that too] so we want and try and get this right. I realise that there are lots of variables in all this but I don't wish to try and reinvent the wheel.

We have about three months before we head off and we will have the required cash to pay for it outright.

So there you are, please free to knock, offer advice or whatever you have to say, we are looking for the best way to fly


Brian and Cheryl Yeoman.

Hey guys, Good luck to you on your travels, I have a 2007 Ssangyong Actyon Q100 Dual cab sports ute with canopy and bullbar, 2l diesel which is rated to tow upto 3000kg braked....it has had its issues as do all new models but I would happily buy another one of these. I tow a 300kg 4.4m tinny and have full bush camp stores so fully laden truck and trailer top the 3600kg mark, I am getting around the 10l/100km in fuel economy on the open road and just the ute unloaded around town is about the same, I do have a lead foot though. It might pay to have a look atthe new tradies version of these vehicles as they are quite a bit cheaper than the rest and offer a higher level of comfort and style for you and your navigator. JMHO Hoo Roo Haooy Days Grumpy

I've been happy with my 2003 Pajero (diesel, manual) however my rig is much lighter than yours at 1350 ATM. The model you're looking at has the common rail engine so delivers more torque than mine. (torque is more important than power when comparing towing performance) 2150kg? is that tare or ATM (total fully loaded, legal). You will need a weight distribution hitch (WDH) to tow that size van with a Pajero (and probably any other tow vehicle)

Check the vans compliance plate for the ATM.
This is the maximum legal loaded weight of the van including water in the tanks etc.
Is the 2250Kg the Tare weight or the ATM?
Cheers, ozjohn

100 series 4.2 turbo diesel landcruiser great vehicle

Hi ozjohn, The ATM weight is 2735 Kgs and the Tare mass is 2335 Kgs. So if I have it right the max weight we can load into the van is 400 Kgs with is everything including water, etc. However the guy we brought it from says the trailer has a HD chassis with a Gross Trailer Mass of 3200 Kgs so he worked on that as his towing guide.

Now we got to have a look at how this all appliies to the tow vehicle

Thank you for your input
Brian

Hi jimricho, thank you for your comments also. The van already has WDH fitted but I was going to fit them if they were not. This matter of sorting stuff out is getting a little clearer now

Thanks
Brian

Hi signwilson, I must admit I have always had a bit of a soft spot for the 100 series. The trouble is that they are a little hard to find now but I have been loking at the 120 series. Not sure what your thoughts are there. In the back of my mind is that I would always like to have that little extra bit of grunt with the 4 ltr on those times when you really need that bit extra. I have not really decieded yet but just tending towards the Pajero but could have my mind changed.

Thanks once again
Brian
 

Hi GrumpOne [love the name] Thanks for the info. I guess its a matter of gathering up all the comments plus what I can find out from the various forum, etc and try and come to a conclusion. Our first post on this topic is just the start so we will just take on board everyones comments.

We thank you all
Can't do beat experience

Regards
Brian

Re the ATM... go by whatever is on the compliance plate, not on what someone might have told you. I think (not sure) that the Pajero you're looking at has a towing capacity of 3000 kg, better you check that though.  Mine has a capacity of 2500 kg.

For that size van you may be better off with something the size of a Landcruiser or similar.  Others may be able to offer better advice than I can based on their actual experience of towing similar sized rigs.

Thanks jimricho, I agree with your comments. At the end of the day its whats in writing that counts esp if things went a bit wrong

enjoy your day
Brian

Brian,
The 2375Kg ATM is the maximum legal loaded weight including everthing.
The 400Kg personal load allowance given by manufacturers is a joke and there is absolutely no way that any van with two full water tanks can keep within the personal load allowance than thus not exceed the plated ATM.
The tow capacity of a Pajero won't be enough for your van as the permitted maximum Tow Ball weight will be insufficient for the ball weight of the van.
Looks like you'll have to go a bit larger to something like a Land Cruiser.
Cheers, ozjohn.

ozjohn wrote:

---

Brian,
The 2375Kg ATM is the maximum legal loaded weight including everthing.

---

Without wishing to "nit pick" I think there's a typo there, John as the ATM is 2735kg.

Your comments are quite valid and relevant however.  The current model Pajero does have a towing limit of 3000kg but I take it from your comments that the model Brian is looking at is the old limit of 2500kg, same as my 2003 NP model.

I too feel that a Landcruiser size vehicle may be more suitable to tow a rig that big.

Jim

 

Toowoomba Special Vehicles have an immaculate white 100 series 2006 model with 96,000k on it. It was there when I dropped a mate of to pick up his new car. It is a 4.2 turbo diesel

Thanks for that info ozjohn. The feeling I'm starting to get is more towards 4.2 toyota is them prefered.

Thank you
Brian 

Thank you signwilson, I'll go and have a look and see what they have to offer.
Brian

Hi guys,
The way i see it in steps are:
1.Your ATM includes the total weight including your ball weight.
2.A Land Cruiser is the best towing truck going around for the weight that your looking at   diesel or petrol. it all depends on your money availability
3.Purchase a 2AKV Generator
4.Purchase an 500 to1000watts inverter
5.Purchase 2 x 85watts solar planes Plus batteries 2 x 100 amps
6.Make sure you have 3 water tanks
7.Toilet and shower
8.Washing machine to keep the wife (happy)
9.Good tyres all around
10.All brakes check and serviced.

"Now" if your going for 6 years????? these steps should save you heaps of money for a while and at less you no you can travel safely. If you are looking at free camping"Boy" you will be set up nicely.
I've a couple of items with photos that if your interested in I can post them through

cheers
Mick
See ya 

Thanks Mick 17, You have just about called it right. We are intending free camping as much as possible. The Batteries we have to purchase, the inverter we have and the generator, sola panels are the same, water are right and toilet and shower is all there.

As far as $ are concerned in about the $45k or so available. I have been considering  petrol 4.2 as the are a bit cheaper and as long as we are in the 4.2 to 4.5 range I think the vehicle will cope as long as we don't try and set a new land speed record. As one person put it the other day, petrol is a bit cheaper and you can buy a lot of petrol for $10k, sure worth considering.

I would appreciate your posting of your photos.

Thanks for your support, it all helps to bring it together.

Regards
Brian

A couple of comments, firstly I made the point about petrol cruisers being significantly cheaper than diesels.... this referred to a second hand purchase and was the experience of a mate of mine but... it was one example only so it may not be universally true. I think most GNs here would agree that otherwise a diesel would be a preferred option for towing.

Also re the batteries, and this one can be a bit controversial, it's my view, based on previous experience with a stationary engine application, that in order to achieve a 200 amp hour capacity it is better to install two 200 amp hour 6 volt batteries wired in series than two 100 amp hour 12 volt batteries wired in parallel. This ensures that the load is always shared equally between the batteries and that there is no interaction between them. I have found that the batteries last longer this way. I have a friend with a van set up this way and his batteries are 10 years old and still working ok. They are normal "wet" (or flooded) deep cycle batteries. He uses his solar panel to keep them charged.

PS: Add a good quality multi stage "smart" battery charger to Mick17's comprehensive list above.

-- Edited by jimricho on Tuesday 30th of November 2010 09:20:36 PM

Thanks jimricho for those comments re petrol/diesel. I'll continue to try and find a diesel tow vehicle. Just to fill you in on the battery thing, I was an electrician with civil aviation looking after power generation plant. Your comments about the 2x6v batteries is not controversial at all. nearly all power plant uses that concept to get the ahr capacity. I had already decieded to go that way but thanks for the encouragement.

Regards
Brian

Thanks Brian for backing me up on the series vs parallel argument. You're right, this should not be controversial, just the normal way to do it, however you will find that most vanners have them paralleled.

My experience too was with back-up automatic starting standby generators. I have also seen first hand the battery life shortening effect of paralleling batteries but despite this there are those who will argue this is not so. Standby to get flamed by some of them!

I haven't experienced this myself but it's my understanding that in the case of parallel batteries, a failure of a cell in one of the batteries can sometimes lead to a thermal runaway condition spectacularly destroying both batteries. You would be more au fait with this than I am.

Oops, hope I haven't drifted us too far off topic.

Jim

-- Edited by jimricho on Wednesday 1st of December 2010 07:02:10 AM

Hi jimricho, no worries, just getting ready to head off to the radio station where I work [ only 17 more days]. The parallel issues can lead to the battery with a faulty cell can lead to the problem of the system trying to maintain system volts will attempt to get it from the good battery.

Thanks for your advice to me and others

Better hi the road
Brian

Jim.
Yes it was a typo Mate and should have been 2735Kg.
However this is still to heavy for tha latest Pajero as over 2500Kg the maximum Ball weight is reduced to only 180Kg which is insufficient for a van weighing 2735Kg.
Hence my recommedation to look at a more appropriate tow vehicle like a LC.
Cheers, ozjohn.

ozjohn wrote:

---

Jim.
Yes it was a typo Mate and should have been 2735Kg.
However this is still to heavy for tha latest Pajero as over 2500Kg the maximum Ball weight is reduced to only 180Kg which is insufficient for a van weighing 2735Kg.
Hence my recommedation to look at a more appropriate tow vehicle like a LC.
Cheers, ozjohn.

---

Jhon, mtae,

yuo do nede to taek moer caer to gte the letetrs adn nmubres teh rihgt wya ruond!

cheres

Jmi

 

Brian, if you are keen on Mitsubishi products, the way to go is the Triton with a tray back. The current ute with the tub back has a max tow capacity of 2700 kg. However if you get it with a tray back, the tow ball is closer to the rear axle and this allows a 3,000/300 kg tow capacity.

I prefer towing with a ute as it gives more luggage capacity (both weight and bulk) than a Patrol or a Cruiser. If you are carrying smelly things like fuel it also means you can carry it in the tug without having to hang it on the ends of the van. When you load the ends of the van it reduces it's stability. See this link to see the effects of loading up the ends of the van. Or have a look at http://postimage.org/image/2m3q4ahc4/ to see what can happen

Hi PeterD, Thanks for your comments. I'm not fully sold on Mitsubishi's it was just that they were in the melting pot along with the Triton. The Triton does have a some good points esp the dual cab and ute or tray body and as you pointed out 3000Kg's tow capacity but they are still only around the 3 Ltr's. I am rather quickly realising with all the comments that have been along my thought line that we need to start looking for 4.2 ltr Land Crusier or similar.

The trouble is that there are not too many available in Tassy so we will need to start to look further field. If I had my way I would go for a troopy but mother is not keen as we need to upgrade the fronts seats.

Anyway, to you all, your comments and advice hase been invaluable se I am now better equipped to find what we need hopefully sooner than later as we need to be ready to head for Melb later Feb.

Regards to all
Brian & Cheryl



-- Edited by briche on Friday 3rd of December 2010 07:46:17 PM

Hi Brian, welcome to the forum - we went through all of your pain earlier this year. Sold the Jackaroo when we knew we were purchasing a Kedron ATV

We knew the only solutions for us was either a Nissan Patrol 4.2 litre or a Landcruiser. We looked at both, in particular anything up to 2006 models - pre emmission control and no computer. Nothing else (unless you started looking at the F trucks or the V8 cruisers) was suitable for our tug.

Chose a 2003 Nissan Patrol 4.2 litre intercooled turbo diesel. Why? In our price range, Nice colour, low milage, capable of towing 3.5tonne. Cruisers pricing for similar vintage of our range - $15000 dearer.

We found ours locally on-line through carsales.com and can't wait till we pick up our new Kedron in February

Dunmowin

Hi DUNMOWIN, what a wonderful name. I can relate to that. Thanks for your input to this ever growing topic. I have been looking for the past 5 months trying to sort out the info from all the comments that have been going over that time. When you throw in people's preferences [in some cases quite vocal ones] it becomes a bit of nightmare in trying to sift thru it all.

I do have to say that over the life if this post I have got a lot of very good advice and info that puts me in a better place and I think I can now see the way thru a bit clearer.

Once again, thank you for your input

Regards
Brian & Cheryl 

You are right. Patrols are cheaper, but more expensive for parts, and harder to get. I am a toyo man , but would not turn down a good patrol. Maybe I have sold my sole to the devil!In the bush, landcruisers rule!