Shouldn't encounter too many situations you can't handle!
Yuglamron said
02:18 PM Apr 9, 2017
Nice to see a rig actually capable of towing that weight of Van.
Looks good.
mezza56 said
08:09 AM Apr 17, 2017
Dundiggin
You cud have colour matched the car and the van mate ! then I'd give you 10/10 instead of (/10
Obviously I'm pulling ur leg , I'm actually envious of your Larmie , I like them better than the effie and the chev.
I thought they had a cummins 5 lt in them , what motor is the 6.7 , a duromax?
Dundiggin said
12:26 AM Apr 25, 2017
Hi mezza56
We get that a lot about the colour in the parks and it certainly wakes drivers from their slumber on cruise cont from the contorted stare we get on the pass :-0
When on the track we like to ware holiday clothes, something just short of the psychedelic Hawaiian shirt look.
The rig seems to go with that concept so long as you have on dark glasses.
Before we settled on the Ram we looked at the effie and it is a great looking truck and the chev silverardo has seats better than most lounges to sink into.
We also had a long hard think about the VX Land-cruiser 200 series, but it was going to need a suspension upgrade and came up short on left over weight capacity after a 350 kg ball weight
In the end it came down to the best engine for the job and the proven reliability of the 6.7 cummins diesel engine inline 6 with a long stroke is hard to beat.
It has now officially knocked the Toyota to second place on the best tow tug list in Australia.
Built by Ram Trucks in America/ Mexico and conversion by Walkinshaw Australia (the Holden HSV people ) with a true Right hand steering box instead of electric or linkage from the Left sold me on it.
Then the most important Warranty this is underwritten by Ram Trucks Australia and there is a cummins dealer in nearly every big town and city around oz.
Insurance will give you a heart attack, all these imports are called Grey Area Vehicles, we had Quotes as high as $6500k a year from one truck insurer and that was upped another 1000K if we towed a van.
We ended up with $900 a year from one well known insurer if we travel up to 5000 km or $1300 if we go to 8000 km a year, easy as at over 6m long it is not suitable as a runaround shopper.
The other big factor is fuel economy towing a 3500 van
BAZZA44 said
04:37 PM Apr 27, 2017
Dundiggin do you know there is a Lotus get together at Kilkivan Bush Camping in June. Can show off your rig.
Barry
Dundiggin said
10:54 PM Apr 28, 2017
No I didn't Barry, thanks for the heads up
Just looking at Kilkivan now, Qld in June sounds like a good plan
Living and working over in the West our Goldfields is a cold place June - August
Can't make it this year, - next year would be a goa though.
Michael
grahos said
07:52 PM Apr 30, 2017
The Ram is a great rig,love the Cummins motor.
Branchie said
03:11 AM Jun 10, 2018
Hi Dundigin.. I read that you have had your Lotus Trooper now for over 12mths.. (nice set up) can I as what you thin of the van ? Has it lived upto your expectations.. We are currently on the market looking at vans, we have similar tug to pull, that being a Chev 2500 Silverado. 6.6 TD. Look forward to your comments.
Branchie
Bill B said
07:12 AM Jun 10, 2018
As Dundiggin hasn't logged on since last August I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a response.
Dundiggin said
10:55 AM Oct 7, 2018
Sorry I've been away, not inside! You must have new van by now The Lotus with the lithium /solar and compressor fridge /freezer 12V system, separate shower and toilet and a queen size bed etc make free camping a pleasure which is why we chose the layout. the Trooper side of things was for reliability on off road. Driving to the conditions we used to get the old vans most places and back its just these new off roaders do it without all the stress and can carry a lot more load with ease and are very stable at speed when needed. Michael
We selected this Lotus Trooper 22' to best meet our off road and free camping requirements, it has a fully loaded Aggr of 3485
To get there and stay we have an extra 300 lt of diesel and 400 lt of water tanks in the back of the Ram 2500 Laramie 6.7L 4 X 4 Aggr 4490 empty
The 6 speed auto pulls away at idle and gets 18lt / 100km at a sweet spot of 86 Kmh .
This goes up to 20lt / 100km at 96 Kph
The outfit is only a few months old and still in fine tuning mode but has no issues to date
Its great to meet other Lotus owners on the track and swap yarns as it is for every one that has an uncommon van.
My last van was a good old Jayco and they are every where
Happy Trails
Shouldn't encounter too many situations you can't handle!
Nice to see a rig actually capable of towing that weight of Van.
Looks good.
Dundiggin
You cud have colour matched the car and the van mate ! then I'd give you 10/10 instead of (/10
Obviously I'm pulling ur leg , I'm actually envious of your Larmie , I like them better than the effie and the chev.
I thought they had a cummins 5 lt in them , what motor is the 6.7 , a duromax?
We get that a lot about the colour in the parks and it certainly wakes drivers from their slumber on cruise cont from the contorted stare we get on the pass :-0
When on the track we like to ware holiday clothes, something just short of the psychedelic Hawaiian shirt look.
The rig seems to go with that concept so long as you have on dark glasses.
Before we settled on the Ram we looked at the effie and it is a great looking truck and the chev silverardo has seats better than most lounges to sink into.
We also had a long hard think about the VX Land-cruiser 200 series, but it was going to need a suspension upgrade and came up short on left over weight capacity after a 350 kg ball weight
In the end it came down to the best engine for the job and the proven reliability of the 6.7 cummins diesel engine inline 6 with a long stroke is hard to beat.
It has now officially knocked the Toyota to second place on the best tow tug list in Australia.
Built by Ram Trucks in America/ Mexico and conversion by Walkinshaw Australia (the Holden HSV people ) with a true Right hand steering box instead of electric or linkage from the Left sold me on it.
Then the most important Warranty this is underwritten by Ram Trucks Australia and there is a cummins dealer in nearly every big town and city around oz.
Insurance will give you a heart attack, all these imports are called Grey Area Vehicles, we had Quotes as high as $6500k a year from one truck insurer and that was upped another 1000K if we towed a van.
We ended up with $900 a year from one well known insurer if we travel up to 5000 km or $1300 if we go to 8000 km a year, easy as at over 6m long it is not suitable as a runaround shopper.
The other big factor is fuel economy towing a 3500 van
Barry
Just looking at Kilkivan now, Qld in June sounds like a good plan
Living and working over in the West our Goldfields is a cold place June - August
Can't make it this year, - next year would be a goa though.
Michael
Hi Dundigin.. I read that you have had your Lotus Trooper now for over 12mths.. (nice set up) can I as what you thin of the van ? Has it lived upto your expectations.. We are currently on the market looking at vans, we have similar tug to pull, that being a Chev 2500 Silverado. 6.6 TD. Look forward to your comments.
Branchie