i am currently researching the purchase of a new tow tug. I currently tow my Retreat with a Prado and while it is doing the job okay the ball weight exceeds the legal limit (I have tried everything to reduce it but without success). To remain safe and legal I am going to upgrade...
My intention is to eventually get a small fifth wheeler so I am looking for a vehicle that will in time be able to be used for this purpose....
Now, the question. I am looking at 4 options... Ford Ranger, Holden Colorado, Mazda BT-50 and the DMax.
So far my top choice is between the Ranger and the Colorado but I note that the Newton Metre rating on the Ranger ranges from 375Nm @ 1500-2500rpm for some models to 470Nm @ 1500-2750rpm in others. The Colorado has 500Nm @ 2000-2200rpm
Can anyone tell me if this difference is important in making my final choice betwe the vehicles?
rockylizard said
08:51 AM Nov 26, 2014
Gday...
Those with more technical knowledge than me will follow I am sure. But in the meantime - the best is high Nm and broad rev range - eg the Ranger 470Nm @ 1500-2750rpm.
This means that the torque begins at low revs - to get you going and then pulls consistently through to cruising revs - and should therefore maintain cruising speed and ability to pull up hills ... with probably minimum of gear-shifting.
A narrow rev band, even if lots of torque, is not as flexible in towing - eg 500Nm @ 2000-2200 would probably mean slower in take-off and constant gear changing to maintain the engine in its 'working range'.
In some ways, it may only be when your 'bum is in the seat' that you can really tell - engineers are pretty clever in their designs.
I now throw this over to the more technical to enlarge (or dismiss) that information.
[edit: OH yeah and, ultimately, the final choice of vehicle just may end up having nothing to do with Nm@RPM, but simply what you like and are most at ease with.]
Cheers - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Wednesday 26th of November 2014 08:55:39 AM
revemike said
09:07 AM Nov 26, 2014
rockylizard wrote:
Gday...
Those with more technical knowledge than me will follow I am sure. But in the meantime - the best is high Nm and broad rev range - eg the Ranger 470Nm @ 1500-2750rpm.
This means that the torque begins at low revs - to get you going and then pulls consistently through to cruising revs - and should therefore maintain cruising speed and ability to pull up hills ... with probably minimum of gear-shifting.
A narrow rev band, even if lots of torque, is not as flexible in towing - eg 500Nm @ 2000-2200 would probably mean slower in take-off and constant gear changing to maintain the engine in its 'working range'.
In some ways, it may only be when your 'bum is in the seat' that you can really tell - engineers are pretty clever in their designs
.......
This is very helpful John. Thanks. Plain language is better for my non-technical brain
Plendo said
10:56 AM Nov 26, 2014
Mike, when it comes to towing torque is the answer, the greater the torque the easier the vehicle will tow. And as John points out the broader the spread of the torque the easier it becomes to drive.
Also note the revs at your preferred cruising speed, and in the ideal world that would be in the torque range of the vehicle this would give you good swift response when you need it.
The other thing to consider moving from a wagon to a ute is how much longer the ute will be that the wagon, and how that will affect how well it works for you at other times.
Ultimately it comes down to selecting the vehicle that you are most comfortable with. When I chose my tug I thought which one would I be happy to have to hop into and drive every day.
revemike said
12:39 PM Nov 26, 2014
Plendo wrote:
Mike, when it comes to towing torque is the answer, the greater the torque the easier the vehicle will tow. And as John points out the broader the spread of the torque the easier it becomes to drive.
Also note the revs at your preferred cruising speed, and in the ideal world that would be in the torque range of the vehicle this would give you good swift response when you need it.
The other thing to consider moving from a wagon to a ute is how much longer the ute will be that the wagon, and how that will affect how well it works for you at other times.
Ultimately it comes down to selecting the vehicle that you are most comfortable with. When I chose my tug I thought which one would I be happy to have to hop into and drive every day.
Thanks David. The Ford Ranger is certainly looking like the one that is ticking most boxes at present. I am going to go and have a test drive on Saturday. Our main everyday vehicle will still be the Hyundai Santa Fa (we got stuck with this after doing insufficient research when initially getting a tow tug. I was given very bad advice and filed to research enough myself - hence the vigilance this time). The Santa Fe is a great everyday vehicle but NOT in anyway suitable for towing - which is why we initially got it.
If I can convince Sue to stop needing chemo (just joking or we would go crazy) we will be doing a lot more travelling next year so the new tow vehicle will be necessary for safety and legal reasons.
I was sorry to have missed meeting you again last weekend. Our travel companions had to get back to catch a boat of the Friday and so we had to leave Greens - what a top spot that is!!!
Have a close look at the D Max, read reviews & test drive...they do look the towing goods even though on paper they are less powerful.
Cheers Neil
-- Edited by Delta18 on Wednesday 26th of November 2014 12:43:32 PM
circlek said
01:39 PM Nov 30, 2014
Hi Mike, before we retired from showing horses, we used our Nissan Navara STX to tow our gooseneck horsefloat, tare around 1700kg, with two 500kg horses on board, handled it like a dream. The gooseneck was much nicer to tow but bought a van due to the cost of buying a 5th wheeler van. We love our Nissan
revemike said
02:04 PM Nov 30, 2014
Thanks for all the feedback. After lots of thought and research we have settle on the 2014 Ford Ranger. XLS 3.2L 470Nm @ 1500-2750. Not the cheapest option but we feel confident that it will do all and more what we will ask of it.
i am currently researching the purchase of a new tow tug. I currently tow my Retreat with a Prado and while it is doing the job okay the ball weight exceeds the legal limit (I have tried everything to reduce it but without success). To remain safe and legal I am going to upgrade...
My intention is to eventually get a small fifth wheeler so I am looking for a vehicle that will in time be able to be used for this purpose....
Now, the question. I am looking at 4 options... Ford Ranger, Holden Colorado, Mazda BT-50 and the DMax.
So far my top choice is between the Ranger and the Colorado but I note that the Newton Metre rating on the Ranger ranges from 375Nm @ 1500-2500rpm for some models to 470Nm @ 1500-2750rpm in others. The Colorado has 500Nm @ 2000-2200rpm
Can anyone tell me if this difference is important in making my final choice betwe the vehicles?
Gday...
Those with more technical knowledge than me will follow I am sure. But in the meantime - the best is high Nm and broad rev range - eg the Ranger 470Nm @ 1500-2750rpm.
This means that the torque begins at low revs - to get you going and then pulls consistently through to cruising revs - and should therefore maintain cruising speed and ability to pull up hills ... with probably minimum of gear-shifting.
A narrow rev band, even if lots of torque, is not as flexible in towing - eg 500Nm @ 2000-2200 would probably mean slower in take-off and constant gear changing to maintain the engine in its 'working range'.
In some ways, it may only be when your 'bum is in the seat' that you can really tell - engineers are pretty clever in their designs.
I now throw this over to the more technical to enlarge (or dismiss) that information.
[edit: OH yeah
and, ultimately, the final choice of vehicle just may end up having nothing to do with Nm@RPM, but simply what you like and are most at ease with.]
Cheers - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Wednesday 26th of November 2014 08:55:39 AM
This is very helpful John. Thanks. Plain language is better for my non-technical brain
Also note the revs at your preferred cruising speed, and in the ideal world that would be in the torque range of the vehicle this would give you good swift response when you need it.
The other thing to consider moving from a wagon to a ute is how much longer the ute will be that the wagon, and how that will affect how well it works for you at other times.
Ultimately it comes down to selecting the vehicle that you are most comfortable with. When I chose my tug I thought which one would I be happy to have to hop into and drive every day.
Thanks David. The Ford Ranger is certainly looking like the one that is ticking most boxes at present. I am going to go and have a test drive on Saturday. Our main everyday vehicle will still be the Hyundai Santa Fa (we got stuck with this after doing insufficient research when initially getting a tow tug. I was given very bad advice and filed to research enough myself - hence the vigilance this time). The Santa Fe is a great everyday vehicle but NOT in anyway suitable for towing - which is why we initially got it.
If I can convince Sue to stop needing chemo (just joking or we would go crazy) we will be doing a lot more travelling next year so the new tow vehicle will be necessary for safety and legal reasons.
I was sorry to have missed meeting you again last weekend. Our travel companions had to get back to catch a boat of the Friday and so we had to leave Greens - what a top spot that is!!!
Once you have chosen your vehicle and it is time to look at a 5th wheeler you could do worse than this I reckon...http://www.ultimarv.com.au/index.php/intl/public/rv/prodline/product/pilgrim-2500/page/overview
Have a close look at the D Max, read reviews & test drive...they do look the towing goods even though on paper they are less powerful.
Cheers Neil
-- Edited by Delta18 on Wednesday 26th of November 2014 12:43:32 PM
Hi Mike, before we retired from showing horses, we used our Nissan Navara STX to tow our gooseneck horsefloat, tare around 1700kg, with two 500kg horses on board, handled it like a dream. The gooseneck was much nicer to tow but bought a van due to the cost of buying a 5th wheeler van. We love our Nissan
Thanks for all the feedback. After lots of thought and research we have settle on the 2014 Ford Ranger. XLS 3.2L 470Nm @ 1500-2750. Not the cheapest option but we feel confident that it will do all and more what we will ask of it.
now the fun of fitting it out with all the toys