Hi everyone - I have just joined the forum and have a few questions to ask, but firstly, let meintroducemyself. My name is Linda and I am a registered nurse living in Townsville. I have recently decided to follow the road and work my way around the countryside. My first question is about my car. I drive a Kia Sportage v6 turbo. Can anyone tell me how much this vehicle can tow? The sticker on the car says 1500 kegs, but the book appears to say 750kgs which is a big difference. I was thinking of buying a smallish caravan - there is only me -, can anyone recommend a place in queensland that has good second hand vans? And lastly, for now, what sort of equipment, besides the normal stuff, should I be looking at getting? Thanks for the replies, in advance!
Hi oz in NZ I am guessing by your user name you are another kiwi? :) Don't know the answer to your question but I believe that info is available in your cars handbook/manual. The other option is to ask mr google! We bought a brand new Jayco today and have yet to get a tow vehicle. The jayco salesman was really helpful re tow vehicles and tow weights. He had a great big manual that listed pages and pages of different vehicles and their tow weights and ball weights. Could always feign interest in buying a caravan from a yard and get them to pull out their manual and give you the answers you want! Do you plan to do some nursing as you travel? I too am a nurse and am hoping for some short term contract work as we travel. Cya out there! Good luck Buffy
Your best bet is to ring the techs at the R.A.A> (or equivilant over there give them the make and year of your car and they will tell you what you can tow that is what we did we then bought an A'Van like Dougwe but unfotunately have to sell it. Hope this helps. Helena.
-- Edited by Helena on Friday 18th of January 2013 07:03:13 AM
Welcome from me too Linda, enjoy here and out in the playground when you get there.
I think the 1500kg is your max tow weight so your tug would need electric brake control fitted. As Duh has suggested the 750kg would be max tow weight allowed without electric brakes on the CV or trailer. Avans are within your limits and only take 30 seconds to put up or down and have solid walls, so easy to tow as well.
Did I say I love my Avan.
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Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
Welcome to the site Linda - you will enjoy getting to know the people on this site - friendly, happy people, doing what they love most - travelling this wide brown land.
Can't help you with your towing question - we are in a motorhome fulltime. I am sure you will get work around the traps, a friend worked as a child health nurse for QLD health, and did a lot of travelling with them, to some remote places as well as in big towns and cities - she loved the life, and is now travelling solo and not working.
Enjoy - and as Dougwe says - the Avans are great for one person, very easy to put up and tow.
There is a book put out by the conveners of this forum called The Grey Nomad Guide - well worth a read if you are a newbie - heaps of great info, and pretty cheap, it is available on the shop on here.
Happy and safe travels.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
Thanks everyone for the welcome. Buffy, I am actually an Aussie but was in NZ at the time I needed an email address. I've kept it because I like it and it is too much trouble to change it. The Kia handbook did say something about electric brake control but I think I might either use my friend, Mr Google or the Kia man
Hey ozinnz like you I am new to the forum, I say a big g'day to everyone and I am sure i'm gunna enjoy my stay here. Well I have travelled around Aus but mostly on working hollidays but I soon will be hitching the Patrol with a 22ft van and going on a permanent holliday as I will be joining the cue to roll up every fortnight for pay from the government and my hand wont be shaking because I have earned it. So I'm gunna be a hasbeen but like the words in Slim's song " I'd soona been a hasbeen than a never was atall" and I look forward to catching up with you somewhere in the great outdoors and sharing a beer. In answer to your question consult the Kia book and then trade em both on a Patrol you wont be disappointed lol Cheers Kev
