Gooday, we are planning the' big trip' and have settled on a 14ft 1400kg pop top van. With regard to the best vehicle to buy, so far we have decided on a double cab ute , we have +/- $25k to spend. What ute will give us the necessary power and fuel economy ? Any recommendations ?
Welcome to the forum. I'm sure many with motre experience than I will contribute but I think just about any dual cab ute will tow the caravan you've selected without too much problem and with reasonable fuel economy. What you need to be careful about is, since you'll be buying a used vehicle, that you're not also buying someone else's problems. If you don't know much about dual cab 4WD there's plenty of information about them on forum sites across the web. Use the search function on the menu bar above to access some of the discussion on this site previously. Best of luck.
Gday and a warm welcome to the forum, with the van you are considering buying any 3ltr diesel will pull it so well you may well forget that the van is on the back and if you should later move to a larger van then the vehicle will still handle it easily. As Dave said the issue is making sure that you don't get caught with somebody else's problems so if you are buying 2nd hand have the tug checked out by a qualified Mechanic and preferably your state motoring group.
We hope you have great success in selecting your tug and remember you are the one that's going to be driving it, each of us on the forum believes their own tug is best and they are right because it meets their requirements.
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Welcome to the gang MGB, enjoy here and out in the playground.
All I can say to your question is don't go back too far in years for your tug. My tug is a 2014 Holden Colorado Twin Cab Ute with canopy and reckon it's the best car I have ever owned. Maybe see if the budget can stretch a little further. Well worth the check.
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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)
Do you need a 4x4 ! Have a think about where you are going to travel and on what surfaces. Most 4x4's never get used much in four wheel drive.
We have a Dmax 3ltr Diesel which is very good and economical for our set up. Our Avan Cruiseliner is rated at 1200 Kg but mostly were running at 1100 all up. Generally we get about 10 Ltrs to 100 Klm towing. Across the Eyre Hwy (Nullarbor) both ways last year it was 9.7- 100km
We had an Xtrail towing the same Avan a few years ago and that went around Australia (and Tassi) twice. Good economy. Also had a Mitsubishi Challenger which was not good economically and the driving position irked me.
We are in a 4x4 club as well so do use the vehicle in four wheel drive regularly. We also get off the bitumen a lot in our travels. Even so, the percentage of time we actually have it in 4x4 is very low.
I am not sure about the Chinese 4x4's, but they are cheap. One or two owners I have spoken to said they were pleased with their vehicles. I have a friend who does a lot of Bush Camping towing with a Hyundai Terracan. When he bought it a few said, You'll be sorry. that was about eight years ago. He was just here today driving the same vehicle and he goes real off road camping.
Shop around get, the advice off here, talk to other owners of vehicles you fancy, second hand if you are confident. There are some good vehicles that never get off the black stuff for sale.
Good Luck with your search, and enjoy the time on the road. And off it.
Met a couple at Zebrastone Mine Campsite, Lake Argyle, a couple of years ago. It's about 20 klm off the bitumen to the CP. They had a big Off Road Van, towed with a Landcruiser all brand new. They bored everyone, moaning about the dirt road into the Camp ? Obviously the first time they had ever been on one. The campers got a bit fed up with them moaning and a lady asked "why all the off road rig then" if you don't like that perfectly good bush road, why the big 4x4 etc. They seemed to have no idea of bush roads and the varying conditions that could prevail. But they had a lot of money invested in an over the top rig, they would never use properly. I wonder if they got home from their big trip and sold the lot.
hi there and welcome.
I know a few that have Nissan Navarra and seem happy
I was looking in the local rag Friday it has car section
seen ad for a new Nissan d33 for about 32000 new
also Mitsubishi were selling there utes on special recently
and there are a few good second hand ones out there
but as others have said get them checked out
enjoy
Hi MGB,
If you can stretch it, they are selling new triton dual cab 4x4 for $29,000 drive away, even with a free tow Bar! (Well, nothing is really free, is it.)
PS. My first post as well...
Hi MGB, If you can stretch it, they are selling new triton dual cab 4x4 for $29,000 drive away, even with a free tow Bar! (Well, nothing is really free, is it.) PS. My first post as well...
ill second this one too i brought one of these GREAT UTE & tow vechile.
