Spotted a new one on display in Lavington Square,Lavington NSW yesterday $149,500.00 drive away. White, 4 door hard tub lid. Wifes old Avon customer said " thats twice the price of my house cost". Looks smart, but bloody big
Aus-Kiwi said
10:13 PM Jan 4, 2018
Good ole Cummins power !
Dickodownunder said
06:17 AM Jan 5, 2018
I would have one in a heartbeat if I were allowed.
Yuglamron said
10:40 AM Jan 5, 2018
Australian Caravan Industry spokesman just before Xmas said. The demand for Caravans is growing fast and there is now a need to increase our product to 4500 Kgs.
Dodge RAM etc would be needed to pull something that big. Imagine someone trying to back a Caravan that big with a tow vehicle that big into our sites in a lot of Van parks.
And all on a car driver's licence.
Aus-Kiwi said
01:55 PM Jan 5, 2018
Strange part I find is the longer vans are easier to reverse . But anyway ! Some just buy these things and drive ! A little practice before goes a long way . Two way between yourself and Mrs makes things SO easy !!
Dickodownunder said
04:21 PM Jan 5, 2018
Some of us actually have licences to drive combinations a little larger than a car and a caravan. I watch many try to reverse a caravan with an Aussie ute and I have come to the conclusion that in a lot of cases when failure occurs it is not the vehicle or the vans fault. Rams etc are large vehicles and there will be parks and areas where they may have problems. Personally it would not worry me, I would just go find somewhere where I would fit. If only I was allowed to have one.....
Aus-Kiwi said
04:25 PM Jan 5, 2018
^^ Or more the point allowed to ? Lol. ^^
PeterD said
11:47 PM Jan 5, 2018
Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Strange part I find is the longer vans are easier to reverse .
The large vehicle is not the problem. The problem is the narrow roads in a high percentage of parks coupled with the small sites.
Brenda and Alan said
05:25 PM Jan 6, 2018
Approx Au dollar price for this vehicle in America is approx. $66,000.
Are we being ripped of again.
Alan
Craig1 said
10:36 AM Jan 7, 2018
probably, $25-30k for conversion, $3k to get it here, $15k at least stamp duty,luxury tax, so a handy profit at the end, but it was still there yesterday. 9 year old boy hanging all over it as well. cheers Craig
Aus-Kiwi said
10:49 AM Jan 7, 2018
Hey Pete . Iāve seen plenty have issues with 18ā van, 12ā boat at ramp . My car trailer is much easier to reverse than our 7X4 . As example .
Brenda and Alan said
10:34 PM Jan 7, 2018
Ain't it funny but i also saw it at Lavington on Saturday morning about 9 AM
grahos said
08:07 PM Jan 9, 2018
It is just waiting for you to collect the keys.
Warren-Pat_01 said
09:39 PM Jan 20, 2018
I'd like one too (a 2500 would suffice) but parking & reversing out of some of Townsville's shopping centres would be mayhem!
My brother-in-law went to the States three years ago, bought a RAM 2500 dual cab for $40,000 (new). Cost another $40,000 to bring it out here & convert to RHD, etc. He said it's still cheaper than getting one here.
He uses the 6.5T towing capabilities for his headers, etc.
Economy wise, it's almost as good as my Patrol, better in other cases.
Aus-Kiwi said
09:48 PM Jan 20, 2018
If you ever consider US vehicles ? Donāt be afraid of spares etc . I have had a set of shocks sent over for GM bassed motorhome to Victor Harbour in 5 days . Trust me it lakes that long or longer for parts interstate here !! Oh btw the shocks half the price and CORRECT type !!
Yuglamron said
11:01 AM Jan 21, 2018
I had a Japanese built 2005 Ford Escape (Mazda Tribute) Needed the passengers side Fog/Spotlight for a roadworthy. Nothing at the various wreckers and the Hervey Bay Ford agents couldn't source one. The Mazda dealers were the same. Mob in Melbourne wanted $360 with $25 postage fee. Tried EBay and Found lots from the USA. $35 US including delivery. Got here to Qld in ten days. By the way it was Ford Original equipment with all the Ford marks.
As Aus Kiwi said don't be afraid of USA spares.
Dickodownunder said
11:12 AM Jan 21, 2018
As I said above I am not allowed to have one but I have done a bit of research just in case circumstances change
and I have found that apart from the purchase price, if compared to say a Toyota 200 series the biggest cost is the insurance if comparing the two vehicles.
Vehicle components from the US. are easy to get in Aus and as others have said, their volume in turnover over there creates a great advantage over goods that are held in stock here and marked up to cover costs.
Craig1 said
09:05 PM Jan 22, 2018
Very pleased I didn't put this under " I Digress", but as always a great forum. cheers Craig
HunnyBunny said
04:18 PM Jan 25, 2018
I drive a 2001 F250, I love it. If I had the money & wanted to trade up, I would still be looking at the Effie's. The Ram is nice though.
HunnyBunny said
04:23 PM Jan 25, 2018
Check this set up out! Wouldn't want to pay the price of petrol to run this outfit.It sure is nice though!
Seeing that we have gone onto other brands in this topic, I recently read that the Ford F-150 is to be released later this year with a Diesel engine.
Its all alloy body makes it quite favourable, weight wise, for all things towing.
I cant put the link up as it came to me on Facebook.
May have made a "m......e" probably a 2500, but still big and expensive, didnt win the 50,000,000
RobandFlip said
02:57 PM Apr 28, 2018
We have a 2014 Dodge Ram 2500 Laramie. It was sourced in America by SCD in Brisbane. At the time, the Au dollar was parity with the US dollar. The vehicle was $65000 USD. With the importing costs and conversion the total in the end was $108000. We tow a 21ft Bushtracker and find the Ram does it easily. Too easy sometimes because we have to keep checking to make sure the caravan is still attached. The running costs, including fuel, are comparable with the Cruiser 200. We make sure we have the Ram serviced every 10000 ks. Fuel and oil filters are readily available here and an integral part of ensuring the Cummins 6.7 is always in tip top condition. For those here who would be interested, second hand Rams are around, as people who love them, upgrade regularly.
Cheers,
Robyn and Phillip
Ron-D said
08:55 AM Apr 29, 2018
Theres probably 108,000 reasons why most people would not buy one no doubt there top dog ,but unaffordable for most people .and why would you bother theres cheaper vehicles around that do the job extremely well..unless what your towing is absolutely massive then your options are limited I suppose...
-- Edited by Ron-D on Sunday 29th of April 2018 09:03:01 AM
RobandFlip said
08:09 AM May 10, 2018
Yes Ron-D, horses for courses. Remember, a LC200 cost a lot more, without the grunt and most people do a Lovells upgrade. The American trucks are comparable with the Japanese trucks with regard to fuel and running costs. They also have anti pollution measures, exhaust braking and tow haul mode built in. Space, comfort and visibility ensure these vehicles contribute to a great adventure around this great land.
Spotted a new one on display in Lavington Square,Lavington NSW yesterday $149,500.00 drive away. White, 4 door hard tub lid. Wifes old Avon customer said " thats twice the price of my house cost". Looks smart, but bloody big
I would have one in a heartbeat if I were allowed.
Australian Caravan Industry spokesman just before Xmas said. The demand for Caravans is growing fast and there is now a need to increase our product to 4500 Kgs.
Dodge RAM etc would be needed to pull something that big. Imagine someone trying to back a Caravan that big with a tow vehicle that big into our sites in a lot of Van parks.
And all on a car driver's licence.
Some of us actually have licences to drive combinations a little larger than a car and a caravan.
I watch many try to reverse a caravan with an Aussie ute and I have come to the conclusion that in a lot of cases when failure occurs it is not the vehicle or the vans fault.
Rams etc are large vehicles and there will be parks and areas where they may have problems.
Personally it would not worry me, I would just go find somewhere where I would fit.
If only I was allowed to have one.....
The large vehicle is not the problem. The problem is the narrow roads in a high percentage of parks coupled with the small sites.
Approx Au dollar price for this vehicle in America is approx. $66,000.
Are we being ripped of again.
Alan
Ain't it funny but i also saw it at Lavington on Saturday morning about 9 AM
My brother-in-law went to the States three years ago, bought a RAM 2500 dual cab for $40,000 (new). Cost another $40,000 to bring it out here & convert to RHD, etc. He said it's still cheaper than getting one here.
He uses the 6.5T towing capabilities for his headers, etc.
Economy wise, it's almost as good as my Patrol, better in other cases.
I had a Japanese built 2005 Ford Escape (Mazda Tribute) Needed the passengers side Fog/Spotlight for a roadworthy. Nothing at the various wreckers and the Hervey Bay Ford agents couldn't source one. The Mazda dealers were the same. Mob in Melbourne wanted $360 with $25 postage fee. Tried EBay and Found lots from the USA. $35 US including delivery. Got here to Qld in ten days. By the way it was Ford Original equipment with all the Ford marks.
As Aus Kiwi said don't be afraid of USA spares.
As I said above I am not allowed to have one
but I have done a bit of research just in case circumstances change 
and I have found that apart from the purchase price, if compared to say a Toyota 200 series the biggest cost is the insurance if comparing the two vehicles.
Vehicle components from the US. are easy to get in Aus and as others have said, their volume in turnover over there creates a great advantage over goods that are held in stock here and marked up to cover costs.
Check this set up out! Wouldn't want to pay the price of petrol to run this outfit.It sure is nice though!
https://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/Dodge-Ram-2016/OAG-AD-15514757/?Cr=30
Its all alloy body makes it quite favourable, weight wise, for all things towing.
I cant put the link up as it came to me on Facebook.
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/2018-ford-f-150-revealed-with-diesel-power-news
Aussie Paul.
Cheers,
Robyn and Phillip
Theres probably 108,000 reasons why most people would not buy one
no doubt there top dog ,but unaffordable for most people .and why would you bother theres cheaper vehicles around that do the job extremely well..unless what your towing is absolutely massive then your options are limited I suppose...
-- Edited by Ron-D on Sunday 29th of April 2018 09:03:01 AM
cheers,
Robyn and Phillip