what brand of tug do you have

koalaboy · Member

what brand of tug do you have

D and D · Guru

We have a Mazda BT 50 which is essentially the same as a Ford Ranger but cheaper. Both have a 3.5 tonne towing capacity, they're pretty big and comfortable. Our BT 50 tows a 3.2 tonne van with now problems and great fuel economy even though we've been cursed with head and side winds for the past couple of months we're still getting about 15 lt/100 km. We're seeing more and more of them at camps and parks and I haven't heard of any significant problem with them - highly recommended.

Phil C · Guru

We have a 2012 Ford Ranger XL, nicest little 4 cylinder diesel Ive seen. At 40 grand (we got a few extras) its not too bad. It has 3350KG towing capacity.

Cheers

Dougwe · Chief one feather

I have only in the last 6 weeks got a Holden Colorado and reckon it's great. I don't need the 3.5t towing now or when I get the new Den but nice to have it there if ever needed.

Jonathan · Senior Member

.. in November of last year I bought an Isuzu D-Max and couldn't be happier .. towing my NewAge Caravan (2.4 tonne) and

currently back in Tamworth after a few months in Nth Qld, I've been able to achieve 12.4 lts per 100 k's ..

Don't forget, we all prefer our own choice of tug .. and our reasons are all very much our own.

I'm not about to criticise anothers choice because he/she may see something that I personally don't find a priority ..

so the important thing in the long run is to be happy with your own choice when you make up your mind as you don't have to please anyone except yourself.

enjoy your freedom to choose !

Dougwe · Chief one feather

How true Jonathan's words are Cliff. I test drove a Dmax and spent a few hours in Jon's one day and loved it but ended up buying the Colorado, so there you go.

first timer · Senior Member

Hi Cliff. Ive just traded my 100 series petrol cruiser in for a 2012 Prado 3lt turbo diesel. I tow a 16ft 1600kg pop top van and although I have only towed the van around the local block with the new tug, I think I'm going to be very happy with it compared to the old tug especially in the economy stakes. While I currently don't have any trips planned ( too busy going cruising with the family ) we will however be going to Darwin next August, so the excitement has kicked in already. So best of luck with finding your new tug mate.

Ashley

Cloak · Guru

We sold our rig but it was towed with an EF Faimont. That little Jayco Dove was awesome.

The Fairmont however was unstable and thirsty.

We are looking at a LR truck probably a new Isuzu duel cab tray so we can carry a couple of tonne of water and a shed
load of gas.

We will be staying out very remote for several months prospecting before we get too old...

Cheers.

villatranquilla · Guru

Dougwe wrote:
I have only in the last 6 weeks got a Holden Colorado and reckon it's great. I don't need the 3.5t towing now or when I get the new Den but nice to have it there if ever needed.

ditto - we tow a 23 ft Roma - Colorado handles it very well

justcruisin01 · Guru

Iveco daily, reason, to be legal with the boat & trailer plus all the gear we carry & 20ft van.

hako · Guru

We use a Ford Territory which uses Falcon Engine and running gear in a SUV body - this means parts are cheap and readily available if you need them. It uses petrol and is not as economical as diesel vehicles although petrol is cheaper to buy and generally speaking diesel vehicles need servicing twice as often as petrol variants.. The Territory has a 4 litre engine so has heaps of power and is comfortable to drive as it's not a 4WD or twin cab utility which really are commercial vehicles.
Bottom line is that it is always a personal choice. If I had the cash I'd have a Landcruiser 200 with the twin turbo V8 engine at just under $100,000. My Territory cost 1/10th of that and has just done 14000km towing and hasn't missed a beat.(touch wood)
Good Luck.

deverall11 · Guru

Toyota 200 series Landcruiser diesel V8.

oldboar · Senior Member

Isuzu NPR200 single cab truck, to be legal towing 22' Coromal plus carry all the gear we consider necessary for full time life on the road independent camping. Few toys on there as well & still heaps of capacity. Anyone going the same way, we strongly recommend fitting a DP chip (turns a round town truck into a great highway tug).

Darrell & Sandra

-- Edited by oldboar on Monday 11th of August 2014 10:38:49 AM

rockylizard · Guru

koalaboy wrote:
Hi we are looking for a New to us tug just wondering what you have and why you chosen it , and any to stay away from , we have a 17ft a van 1570kg and ball weight 145 kg this is our first van and the v6 triton struggles on the hills

deverall11 wrote:
Toyota 200 series Landcruiser diesel V8.

Gday...

Are you really sure that they NEED a Tojo 200 Series diesel V8?? to tow the van they have?? confuse

It would seem very expensive overkill. hmm

Cheers - John

justcruisin01 · Guru

rockylizard wrote:
koalaboy wrote:
Hi we are looking for a New to us tug just wondering what you have and why you chosen it , and any to stay away from , we have a 17ft a van 1570kg and ball weight 145 kg this is our first van and the v6 triton struggles on the hills

deverall11 wrote:
Toyota 200 series Landcruiser diesel V8.
Gday...
Are you really sure that they NEED a Tojo 200 Series diesel V8?? to tow the van they have??
It would seem very expensive overkill.
Cheers - John

The question was ;what tug do you have & why; dont think deverall was suggesting that they need to use a 200 series.

deverall11 · Guru

Thank you justcruisin01.
Maybe someone needs to read the question and then open mouth to change foot.
Larry

koalaboy · Member

Has any one got a turbo triton if so what do you think of it as there cheap at the moment , 2.5 turbo diesel mn auto

Trevor law · Senior Member

We have a toyota 200 bit thirsty some times but we have 3.5 ton van

navynurse · Senior Member

I've got a Colorado, so far it has exceeded all my exptations.
Allan

PeterS · Veteran Member

We have an Isuzu D Max (2013) and tow a 2.5ton 5th wheeler, no problems so far!

The Hats · Senior Member

We have a 4.5 ltr V8 tyoopy love it biggrin

Cheers

The Hats

grahamg · Senior Member

The isuzu mux 7 seater -

Bayonetmadness · Veteran Member

My 2012 3L Nissan patrol makes light work of our Jayco Swan but it is a thirsty bugger and fuel in the NT is not cheap

Glenelg · Guru

will have a D max

paulmm · Member

Seems to be a lot of happy dual cab owners here. To me it proves that the standard of vehicles now is so good. Seems they will all do the job very well so it really comes down to taking them for a test drive to see what feels best for you.
I've got a 2011 Navara 2.5 with chip and I'm very happy with it. Funny thing is when I went shopping for a new tug the Nissan wasn't even in my sights. I took a Colorado for a drive and wasn't impressed and on my way to look at the tritons I walked past the Nissan dealer ......never did get to the Mitsubishi dealer......

BUSTADOG · Member

I have a MY14 Mitsubishi Challenger Auto ( Basically a Triton station wagon with some suspension mods )towing a 22ft (2.39ton) Golden Eagle Hunter. Very similar power etc to Izuzu dual cab ute. Nice comfortable car, reasonable fuel economy (16ltrs per 100Klm towing, 9.5ltrs per 100klms to and from work ). Not a race car but who,s in a hurry.

Terry

Plendo · Guru

As can be seen from the responses people have many different vehicles that they feel are appropriate for their purpose.

I am the kind of person who does has learned that once I see something better I become very dissatisfied with what I have, so if I do not buy what I regard as the best the first time, I will eventually blow the cash and upgrade. I was also aware that the tow vehicle I bought I bought I would be getting into to drive every day for many years, thus I wanted to buy a vehicle that would excite me, not frustrate me. That is why I bought a Landrover Discovery, clearly the best wagon capable of towing 3.5T, and it is significantly cheaper than a 200 series, both in initial purchase cost, and ongoing running costs.

Now I will duck back into my fox hole.

blaze · Guru

Plendo wrote:
As can be seen from the responses people have many different vehicles that they feel are appropriate for their purpose.
I am the kind of person who does has learned that once I see something better I become very dissatisfied with what I have, so if I do not buy what I regard as the best the first time, I will eventually blow the cash and upgrade. I was also aware that the tow vehicle I bought I bought I would be getting into to drive every day for many years, thus I wanted to buy a vehicle that would excite me, not frustrate me. That is why I bought a Landrover Discovery, clearly the best wagon capable of towing 3.5T, and it is significantly cheaper than a 200 series, both in initial purchase cost, and ongoing running costs.
Now I will duck back into my fox hole.

Don't duck and run for cover, you have probably the best tug available. Now if they put that funny little logo of the front of a Toyota on the front instead of the green oval they would out sell all others. My poor old series2 just died and sadly I am not in a position to upgrade to a 3 or 4 ATM but the day will come.

cheers

blaze

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Workhorse chassis with Duramax 6.6 turbo diesel / Alison auto Winnebago (van ) . Lol

ST391GQ · Senior Member

Have an oldy but a goody.

Nissan GQ Patrol turbo diesel.

Basic...simple.... comfy enough for us....good economy...easy to service...AND...I can fix it (mostly) out in the sticks if I have to..with a basic toolbox and a multi meter.

Plus...for the age of it (97) has really low K,s so will last a good few years yet.

Not saying that the OP should get one of these....but an older truck that's been looked after and is in good condition with low k,s is worth considering ....for all the above reasons.

Cheers Keith

-- Edited by ST391GQ on Friday 15th of August 2014 09:25:20 AM

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.