I have recently bought a new van witch I tow with an 06 Navara dual cab the new van is somewhat heaver than the old one 2.4 ton and when I load it up and the ute I recon I would be close to 3 ton if not more.
So I have decided to buy a new ute 3.5 ton towing capacity the utes I have been looking at are the Ford Ranger. Holden colarado and the Isuzu all 3.5 ton tow I have been looking at the specs on the web The Holden has more grunt followed by the Ford and then the Isuzo.and they are all perfect for what I want (the sales men said so),Ihave been looking at the comparison tests but none have been towing a van around the country. So I would like to know if any has or knows anyone with any of these utes that has done a lap or any long trips and if they done the job.
I have spoken to the reps of these companys but they are salesmen!
Henry, if the salesmen have said so it all must be right Salesman are just like a TV really, if it is on TV it is right
Now, I went through all this earlier this year and ended up with the Current Model Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy as it was the best to drive IMO. The Dmax came very close though.
I haven't towed more than a 1000kg yet but will be hooking up a 2,600kg new van this Wednesday and don't expect any problems at all. I have spoken to a few people now that tow around 3000kg + and all say no problems at all.
I chose the Colorado for the 3,500kg capability knowing I won't be over working it. Also got a good deal.
One thing though, if you want Bull Bar, Canopy, etc, go with ARB or TJM as much better quality. I chose Holden stuff thinking it was good. It is but the others are better.
-- Edited by Dougwe on Sunday 16th of November 2014 01:42:39 PM
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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)
Thanks Dougwe. Just the info I was hopeing to hear the colarado is the one iLiked 3.5 t and 500 nms The quote that I am waiting on is with the Holden canopy and snorkle and a few other bits and pieces but I can change them .
our 2013 Colorado tows over 3 ton easily with good economy - very happy with it. Have done nearly 25000 k's since January more than half towing our 23' Roma
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Jenny and Barry
2009 Roma Elegance / 2013 Colorado. Permanent travellers 2011-2015 now just travel for 4-6 mths
Henry, there is a new model wagon coming out from Ford called the Everest, it is a 7 seater wagon based on the Ranger platform. I know this is not what you are looking for, but I expect it will trigger a lot of competitive advertising across the large wagon, and the related ute segment.
Isuzu may not get involved, but you can almost guarantee that Holden will have some great specials on at the time of the release, so they can run spoiler adds, and stop the new model gaining momentum.
Could well be worth waiting for.
Last info I had was the Everest was due in showrooms in January, but I believe the review cars are out there now, so it may even be sooner.
I am a ford man and dont especially like anything holden so Im biased.
We have a 2012 XL dual cab ranger, 2.2 CR turbo diesel that can tow 3350KGs (according to the book). I tow a Jayco Starcraft 20 footer at 2500KGs ATM
We recently completed a trip of 2500KMs up hill, down dale, wind from all points and some great and not so great roads.
The total trip returned 13.8 liters per 100KMs. Now as I have said im biased, when we purchased the ranger we looked at a few different wagons, including holden. Frankly IMHO nothing can touch the ranger, easy to drive and comfortable.
Do yourself a favor, take a look.
Good luck.
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P B Crockart EX RAAF Electrician,
Aircraft Avionics tech. Senior high school teacher.
No worries mate, apology not needed. I may have a better mileage had I taken the brake off, but in the big scheme of things its a drop in the bucket.
All is going well and my health is on the mend. I was told I have to have an operation on my 3 middle toes on the right foot, seems I am walking on the toenails (hammertoe), bugger me if that hurts like crazy too.
Take care mate, thanks for your friendship, very cherished by me.
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P B Crockart EX RAAF Electrician,
Aircraft Avionics tech. Senior high school teacher.
We have the 2014 Isuzu D-Max duel cab 4x4 with the 3.0l turbo charges diesel with an aluminium canopy and tow a 22ft Roadstar with very little effort. We bought the vehicle in Coffs Harbour in july this year and towed it up to Brisbane and up Mt Mee in third gear. We are getting a fuel economy of around 11 litres per 100 km fully loaded and towing on highway.
The only issue we had was that the suspension of all the small 4x4's (Ranger, BT50, Colorado, Mitsubishi, I don't know about the Hilux) is that they do not carry the 1 ton weight as advertised before the springs invert. we are carrying a constant load of around 750kg then the ball weight brings us up to our max. As a result of the sagging of the springs we had the suspension upgraded using a Sax suspension full mine kit which enables us to carry the constant load.
hope this gives you some food for thought.
Regards
Rod
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"No matter what happens travel gives you a story to tell"
I think before you make a decision about any vehicle start crunching the numbers, its not all about what you pull.
you need to consider a. GMV .....the Tare weight is it with a full tank of fuel plus driver and passenger, or is it an empty vehicle, which you need to add the accessories to the tare, Bull Bar or Nudge bar, side steps, towbar + the ball weight of the van and anything else you consider as standard fit out for a life on the road. Quite often most twin cab 4x 4's have around a tonne to work with.
Next CVM which is everything tug, van fully laden a ready to roll.
My Ranger has 3T towing cap with a CVM of 5.99T therefore depending on the van I choose to buy will have a big impact on how much is left over for the ute or available weight in the van.
So may I suggest you weight the van in its current configuration and work back from there.
A word of caution check the vehicle manual before making a decision, don't rely on web site or dealer salesmen as they generalize, some brands do not allow the same weight to pulled by auto, in some cases you can come up short on the towed weight by as much as 1/2T, again using my ranger as an example a manual 3T auto 2.5T, that's why I have a manual.
We have the 2014 Isuzu D-Max duel cab 4x4 with the 3.0l turbo charges diesel with an aluminium canopy and tow a 22ft Roadstar with very little effort. We bought the vehicle in Coffs Harbour in july this year and towed it up to Brisbane and up Mt Mee in third gear. We are getting a fuel economy of around 11 litres per 100 km fully loaded and towing on highway.
The only issue we had was that the suspension of all the small 4x4's (Ranger, BT50, Colorado, Mitsubishi, I don't know about the Hilux) is that they do not carry the 1 ton weight as advertised before the springs invert. we are carrying a constant load of around 750kg then the ball weight brings us up to our max. As a result of the sagging of the springs we had the suspension upgraded using a Sax suspension full mine kit which enables us to carry the constant load.
hope this gives you some food for thought.
Regards
Rod
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Virtually the same setup as above .. same vehicle .. but with a New Age Van (ser 18) about the same external length and weight ..
and carry a constant tug weight of about the same too .. (but occasionally more due to a 160ltr fuel tank)
I chose however, to add Firestone Air-Bags for the rear suspension .. and .. yep .. very similar consumption figures ..
as he says .. more food for thought .. and I'm not biased .. (hehe) ..
We have the 2014 Isuzu D-Max duel cab 4x4 with the 3.0l turbo charges diesel with an aluminium canopy and tow a 22ft Roadstar with very little effort. We bought the vehicle in Coffs Harbour in july this year and towed it up to Brisbane and up Mt Mee in third gear. We are getting a fuel economy of around 11 litres per 100 km fully loaded and towing on highway.
The only issue we had was that the suspension of all the small 4x4's (Ranger, BT50, Colorado, Mitsubishi, I don't know about the Hilux) is that they do not carry the 1 ton weight as advertised before the springs invert. we are carrying a constant load of around 750kg then the ball weight brings us up to our max. As a result of the sagging of the springs we had the suspension upgraded using a Sax suspension full mine kit which enables us to carry the constant load.
hope this gives you some food for thought.
Regards
Rod
.....................
Virtually the same setup as above .. same vehicle .. but with a New Age Van (ser 18) about the same external length and weight ..
and carry a constant tug weight of about the same too .. (but occasionally more due to a 160ltr fuel tank)
I chose however, to add Firestone Air-Bags for the rear suspension .. and .. yep .. very similar consumption figures ..
as he says .. more food for thought .. and I'm not biased .. (hehe) ..
I have taken the Ranger for a test drive and it is a nice ute to drive and no doubt will do the job but by the time I add all the otherstuff it,s getting expensive but that will no doubt be the same no matter what I choose
Sorry gollmolly, wrong ute in wrong post we dont have a Isuzu dealer where I live but I am arranging a test drive at Kadina
the concrne I have is the the Dmax has a 3ltr donk and so does my Navara so will I be much better off but untill I have the test drive and talk to the salesman it is still acontender.
Thanks Gundog, I think I will wait till after this year and hope to get a better deal early next year that will give me time to find where I can get everthing weighed theres nowhere around here.
Plendo I am going to waite untill the new year in the hope of cheap deals on last years models.
Thanks Phil C I liked the Colarsdo becouse it has a more powerfull donk than the Ranger but apart from that I really dont care if it,s Holden or Ford Isuzu or Nissan so long as it,s not from china
Boy has this post sparked some interest. We have recently bought a Mazda BT50 dual cab GT. (ie. Bells and whistles!). LOVE IT!
For the price you will pick up more extras than the Ford Ranger I think. The Mazda hasn't been without a couple of issues, so if you consider buying one let me know. Brownie2
Thanks Brownie, The BT 50 is anotherone I was looking at but because it is the same as the Ranger I just stuck to the Ranger but if the Mazda is cheaper I will allso have onother look.
Salesman are just like a TV really, if it is on TV it is right 
