Just wondering if any of you own and use a MAZDA BT50 for towning your van..Looking seriously at buying one - dual cab 3200cc TD diesel 6 speed auto.. Would like you views etc..
Lance
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I love poor little defenceless animals, especially in gravy. Crazy Dog
I tow a 25ft van around 3 tonne plus, and plus loading on ute. Very happy with the BT50 performance, pulls well with little effort. Mine is a 3.2 4x4 auto extra cab. Brought that to get the load on the back, further forward, while still being able to recline the seats for comfort.
One interesting thing this week was we were camped in a small paddock with about ten other vanners, soon the passageway through the gate turned into a bog mire after heavy rain. While most vans made the passage with difficulty, the BT50 went through with little problem, towing that weight.
I'm towing with a BT50. I have the freestyle model, same motor, auto transmission. No problems towing my rig, but it is not a heavyweight with a total weight of approx. 2.5ton
We love our BT 50. Not 4x4 as I have no intention of going seriously off road. It pulls our 19ft Jayco with ease. We both have bad backs so comfort was important for us if we gave up our Territory. We have not been disappointed. Good luck with your choice.
Stopped a chap here in cairns today and asked him his view on his BT 50.. The answer was not what I was hoping for. He has had no end of problems and now turbo leaking oil as well...He is in a battle with Mazda to get it fixed.. He said no way would he get another - he is a tradie..
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I love poor little defenceless animals, especially in gravy. Crazy Dog
I have had to upgrade the rear suspension, they don't carry what the book says otherwise. Fitting the accessories on the dash is not easy, but it is possible. I have had the rear oil seal replaced under warranty. Draining the oil has some funny quirks to be aware of, and I believe that one must not run the fuel tank low as the fuel is used to cool the injectors.
We are looking at buying a 19.6 van with a Ball weight of 152 kg GTM 2970 kg ATM 3300 kg Tare 2584kg and have been looking seriously at the BT50. Our NT Pajero cannot pull it leagally and their is no GVM upgrade available and would like to know if the BT50 will struggle. We will need to upgrade the GVM on it also. Looking at the Ford Raptor or Patrol but the BT50 is a cheaper option if it works well.
Dave
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-- Edited by M80 D on Wednesday 13th of January 2021 03:37:07 PM
I have been towing a 3 tonne van for 5 years now with a 3,2 litre 6 speed auto Ford Ranger which is the same vehicle mechanically to the BT50 that you are looking at.
It has now done 4 trips across the continent and back, the last a complete lap, plus a few trips inside WA, all with the van on the back.
It has been exceptionally good and I would buy another in an instant.
I have gone through 3 batteries in that period, but that is the only thing I have to complain about.
They do run a variable vane oil pump which means changing the oil has to be done quickly to avoid totally draining the pump, as it will not self prime. Really not a big deal even for a stiff slow old fart like me. Details are in the owners handbook. I change the oil filter, then dump the oil, only waiting for the bulk to drain, then sump plug back in and new oil in as quick as you can. You have about 10 minutes.
As far as the injection system goes, they do not like dirty fuel, so either fit an extra prefilter or do as I do, and change the fuel filter at every oil change.
Running low on fuel is a myth, just don't run it out of fuel, which goes for any diesel.
As far as the tradie you met, all brands have their odd lemons. The Monday car that nothing goes right with, but the number of Ford Rangers and BT50's that have been sold, which is a large number, there really isn't massive issues with them. Properly maintained, they are a very good and capable vehicle both on and off road.
We are looking at buying a 19.6 van with a Ball weight of 152 kg GTM 2970 kg ATM 3300 kg Tare 2584kg and have been looking seriously at the BT50. Our NT Pajero cannot pull it leagally and their is no GVM upgrade available and would like to know if the BT50 will struggle. We will need to upgrade the GVM on it also. Looking at the Ford Raptor or Patrol but the BT50 is a cheaper option if it works well.
Dave
-- Edited by M80 D on Wednesday 13th of January 2021 03:37:07 PM
Dave,you must absolutely IGNORE the towball weight,as it means nothing until your van is loaded and ready to set sail.At that point,the towball weight should be around 10% of the loaded van's weight,say 300kg.Upgrading a Ranger/BT50 GVM will do little,as the GCM will stay at only 6000kg. From this,you must first deduct your van's ATM of 3300kg,leaving 2700kg....well under the Ranger/BT50 GVM.Simple.And trying to SAFELY tow 3300kg with a vehicle that has a GCM of 6000kg is an exercise in stupidity.Look elsewhere.The Patrol may be a viable option?Cheers
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-- Edited by yobarr on Wednesday 13th of January 2021 06:50:20 PM
We are looking at buying a 19.6 van with a Ball weight of 152 kg GTM 2970 kg ATM 3300 kg Tare 2584kg and have been looking seriously at the BT50. Our NT Pajero cannot pull it leagally and their is no GVM upgrade available and would like to know if the BT50 will struggle. We will need to upgrade the GVM on it also. Looking at the Ford Raptor or Patrol but the BT50 is a cheaper option if it works well.
Dave
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-- Edited by M80 D on Wednesday 13th of January 2021 03:37:07 PM
you might want to check your towing capacity of the raptor
We are looking at buying a 19.6 van with a Ball weight of 152 kg GTM 2970 kg ATM 3300 kg Tare 2584kg and have been looking seriously at the BT50. Our NT Pajero cannot pull it leagally and their is no GVM upgrade available and would like to know if the BT50 will struggle. We will need to upgrade the GVM on it also. Looking at the Ford Raptor or Patrol but the BT50 is a cheaper option if it works well.
Dave -- Edited by M80 D on Wednesday 13th of January 2021 03:37:07 PM
you might want to check your towing capacity of the raptor
Doesn't matter...neither the Raptor nor the BT50 can do the job.Cheers
Raptor certainly can't do the job as it's towing capacity is only 2500kgs due to the coil spring rear end Ford put in it and they reduced it'stowing capacity.
The Wildtrak would do it provided you didn't load the van to capacity and kept the actual loaded ATM below 3100kgs as that still has a 3500kg rating, although not in a practical sense. It would also need some careful loading of the car too but is possible.
