As I have stated in an earlier post I am getting a new ute I have just recieved a price for a Dmax all set up to tow, my van is 2800 atm and I will crack 3ton when all loaded (van/ute)
I know there are other Dmax owners here they have been kind enough to answer my post in the past but what I would like to know is how heavy are the vans you tow and what speed do you travel at. The mazda dealers (bt50) recon they are not really up to the job and they would,nt lie to me,
Allso there is a 6 month old Colarado with all the bells a whistles for sale but a bloke I know who works in the caryard told me on the sly that the previous owner traded it in because it it was not up to the job couldnt handle hills etc with a big van on the back I must addmit I have heard nuthing but good stuff about them so the search goes on.
Waiting with baited breath on this one too....
Our Ranger spit the big one today! Not worth fixing.
So now what?
Dmax? BT50?
Kinda gone off the Ranger about now!!😩😩
Without trying to appear funny. I believe the old saying, "nothing beats cubic inches".
You do have to wonder why truck motors are all like 14 litre plus motors. I realise they haul far greater loads, but they don't strain doing it.
I do not own one, and at this point do not wish to. I just believe while very capable utes, this task may be asking a bit much in the long term, whilst there are other vehicles that would do the job better and easier.
Waiting with baited breath on this one too.... Our Ranger spit the big one today! Not worth fixing. So now what? Dmax? BT50? Kinda gone off the Ranger about now!!😩😩
I heard there was a problem with transmisions on b50s and rangers is this your problem buffy61
Toyota Landcruiser used to be the number one tow vehicle until Toyota started pricing themself out of the market, on our last 4 month trip I started taking more notice of what was towing the larger vans and talking to people in Caravan parks that had large vans.
There is a noticeable shift to Mitsubishi Pajero diesels and comments from owners went along the. Lines that they have plenty of pulling power are reasonably economical very comfortable to drive and affordable, there were also an increasing number of Colorado Utes and owners of these were also happy with the performance and economy but I still like the idea of a waggon.
Some may think I am biased because I currently own a Pajero which I will probably replace in the near future but I am not wedded to Mitubishi even though this one has been a very good vehicle, the Pajero is old technology and due for a major upgrade but owners of diesel powered ones are all happy with them and nobody had negative comments
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Our van is about 3300kg and we have towed it for 28000 km with a BT50 with no problems. There are about 6 BT 50s in the CP where we are staying and all the owners report similar experience. Fuel consumption is good (about 16 - 17.5 L/100k) and they just pull and pull. I can't comment about the sister, the Ford Ranger other than to say that all vehicles have some produced that don't perform up to expectations - doesn't mean that all of them are the same. If someone offered me an F250 or similar I'd take it but until then I'll stick with the Mazda.
D Max firstly is possibly the lowest power rating of all the main contenders Ford, Holden, Mazda, Toyota, Mitz and Navara.
One big thing it has in it's favor, is oldest technology in the motor department, the motor has been around a long time with small improvements over the years from non turbo back in the nineties to turbo then having inter cooler fitted then a little later computerized. In some form or another that motor has been around a long time and proven.
I am not saying it is the greatest but they do have reliability and some good records to go with it.
Myself in selecting what I have was comfort plus power second, our Navara V6 Turbo diesel 170 kiliwatts and 550 nm torque was hard to walk away from linked to a 7 speed auto at about 2/3 the price of a Toyota what ever. We stepped out of Land Rover Discovery for comfort pretty hard to beat but the Navara giving it a shot.
I have Dmax for two month it tows a ulTama cafe' 5th wheeler 2800 k plus all my gear no problems at all . I picked it for the reason the same motor for a few years. Some of the others have new motors that have not been proven yet. This is my opinion only all I wanted is the Dmax. Y cas I could..
Yep the auto transmission went on us this time last year. Replaced with newer and apparently better version at around $3500!!!
This time the whole %^*#~<£ engine has died! Some rod...Think the con rod. But told around $6k for replacement engine plus costs to fit. To repair current engine around $8k!!
its a 2008 Ford Ranger and just not worth spending that sort of money on.
Yep the auto transmission went on us this time last year. Replaced with newer and apparently better version at around $3500!!!
This time the whole %^*#~<£ engine has died! Some rod...Think the con rod. But told around $6k for replacement engine plus costs to fit. To repair current engine around $8k!!
its a 2008 Ford Ranger and just not worth spending that sort of money on.
I have Dmax for two month it tows a ulTama cafe' 5th wheeler 2800 k plus all my gear no problems at all . I picked it for the reason the same motor for a few years. Some of the others have new motors that have not been proven yet. This is my opinion only all I wanted is the Dmax. Y cas I could..
Thanks Glenelg, your right it has been proven but I have a 3 ltr in my navara and it seems under powered
We have a 2013 BT50 and tow a 21.6ft van. Travelled to WA last year and FNQ this year from SA. Goes like a dream and we have had no problems. Like the economy and comfortable drive. Always stick to the servicing schedule and have had it serviced both years whilst on the road.
Now, I will state right up front, I drive a Landrover Discovery 4, and I am really biased. I drive the Disco because I think it is the best tow vehicle bar none. It is cheaper than its main rival, better equipped, more comfortable, miles more economical etc.
Now I realise the Disco is not for everyone, and many of you would not even consider it, preferring to stay with one of the utes with good towing capability, basically Dmax, Ranger/Bt50, Colorado, or the larger Navara (do they still make that one, heard a rumour they were dropping it).
Some things to consider, the manual boxes in the current crop of utes are not great, so stick with an auto. I hear some of you favoring an older vehicle because it has an engine that has not changed, trouble is the recent advances in diesel engines are so huge, you would be throwing away a lot staying with the perception of reliability.
Beware the towing capacity and/or payload varies across the range depending how it is configured, and some of the utes that you would think would be on a par are specified with very low towing weights, examples would be the Hilux at 2,500kg, and the Amarok at 3,000 (many others are 3,500).
Also beware of maximum ball weights, and check the manual not just listen to the salesman, as in many vehicles the maximum ball weight drops as the weight of the van increases, rendering the vehicle almost incapable of towing the heavier Aussie vans say above 2,500kg. The Pajero is the best known example of this problem, but that will be fixed with the new model in 2016.
I would recommend really doing your home work, check the specs thoroughly, and also remember that a couple of the current crop of utes are not upgrades from the prior model, but are totally new vehicles from the ground up (eg Ranger/BT50).
Also if you are looking for a wagon, and can wait a few months the Everest will be here, and it WILL shake up that segment of the market. It is basically a Ranger Wagon.
Some of the other models that are coming in 2016 will feature 2 liter diesel hybrids, and you can bet that will redefine towing economy down from the current benchmark of about 15l per 100k with a big van.
I have a 2012 PX ranger 3.2lt and pull full van about 2800 kgs and it has more than enough power to take away the stress of driving
It has a 6 speed auto and does it easily
Ken
We bought a......
Holden Colorado!
Wahoo!! Drove so nicely and had nicer bells and whistles and got it for a price we were happy with!
Now for them to unwrap it and add the bits and bobs to it!
Should be able to drive it away Monday!
Merry Xmas to us! Haha
We bought a...... Holden Colorado! Wahoo!! Drove so nicely and had nicer bells and whistles and got it for a price we were happy with! Now for them to unwrap it and add the bits and bobs to it! Should be able to drive it away Monday! Merry Xmas to us! Haha
Just took delivery of my tug today - Holden Colorado LTZ (Dual cab), Canopy and 3.5T towbar. From the test drives I did by far felt the best, and I reckon a lot of room in the back compared to the others - important with 'full grown' kids.
