Hi. We have just put a deposit on a 23foot van and are working out what to get to tow it with. The Isuzu mux is rated to 3000kg and has great reviews and efficiency and is priced well, but I would like to know if it actually lives up to its rating in real life. We are looking forward to hitting the road in Feb 2017.
Welcome to the gang Jenken, enjoy here and out in the playground.
Mmmm, 2800kg is getting pretty close to the bone and not giving much play room really. I reckon the MUX will be working hard. IMO. I would personally like to have at least 500kg spare. If you like the Isuzu maybe take a peak at the Dmax, you probably already have anyway.
I tow 2600kg with a 2014 Colorado rated at 3500kg very comfortably.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
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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 Doug and Macka.
I did start looking at Dmax today because of its greater towing capacity, even though it it is the same engine and transmission.
Hi Guys. Many people unwittingly tow vans your sort of weight with vehicles smaller than the MUX or DMax. Ignorance is beautiful I guess, till they come a cropper! You often see them on school holidays - 22 ft van or so being hauled by the small Prado or XTrail that Mum uses the rest of the year to take the kids to school. The difference is now theyre hauling something way too big and the tow vehicle has Mum/Dad, the kids and dog as well as sundry canoes, bikies etc.
I congratulate you on seriously considering what tow vehicle will be safe for you.
I have a DMax and it pulls the full 3500kg and I have no doubt it would pull heavier loads - but putting aside safety you need to also take into account those nasty people called "scallies" - Dept of Transport guys who roadside weigh nomads and issue nasty fines or stop you on the side of the road forbidding you to move a metre until the tow/weight ratio is right - and also your insurance in the event of a motor accident.
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
The other thing to consider is will the van actually weight what the manufacturer says.
Some people have been caught with very unreliable supposed weights, as soon as you add extras like another battery or a couple of solar panels, things can get interesting weight wise.
These supposed towing capacities are absolute fairy stories. Our van weighs 1570kg fully loaded. Our Navara is rated to tow 2800kg & our previous tug a Ranger was rated to tow 3000kg. With a bit of gear in the tub both vehicles struggled on occasions.
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Cheers Keith
Our land abounds in Nature's gifts, of beauty rich & rare. We'll be out there enjoying it somewhere, camped by ourselves much of the time.
I tow a 21ft(Windsor) van with my 2012 Dmax man dualcab....it does a reasonable job, 13 to 14 ltrs per 100km @ approx. speeds of 90 to 105 kph all things being good re road, wind etc.
We travel with two other vans generally towed by a V6 diesel Nissan Navara (21ft Retreat) and a Toyota 200 series(24ft Traveller). We all arrive at the same time and we keep up or don't hold them up as maybe expected due to us having the least power on paper.
Economy is similar between the Nissan and Isuzu with the Toyota using about 5 to 7 ltrs more per 100kms or so. To be expected as it has the biggest load.
The main difference between the Nissan and Dmax is that the Nissan will accelerate somewhat more quickly but once your rolling there isn't much in it overall.
Like I said.
it's not the horse sunder the bonnet.
Gearing sorts that out along with a chip and exhaust.
The thing most don't realise. OR ignore.
Is the fact that if you tow a 3 ton and\or more trailer with a 2.? vehicle.
The TRAILER will ALWAYS control the tug when something goes untoward.
Which it always will at some time or other.
Go over the scales. or with new van
make sure dealer goes over with it. and gives YOU the ticket.
With the bottles.roll out etc on board.
and MAKE SURE they put Ticket No. Date and weights printed on the van rec't.
THEN you have a come back if it goes over when loading.
Then weigh it again after you loaded it up.
So you KNOW... exactly what it weighs.
If you starting out.
There are two ways of doing it.
Buy your favourite veh for a tug. Load it for travelling then WEIGH it on scales.
that's your towing weight.
Then buy a caravan to suit. that is around 1\2 ton less than.
or as close as possible to. When it is loaded.
Other way is buy a van.
Load it up weigh.
Then buy a tug, again in correct weight range for your safety.
to suit towing that van.
Very few do.
They just look at figures on paper.
Ahhh She'll be right.
Van heavier than tug BUT dealer and papers say it LEGAL to tow.
Nothing about safety aspects of it.
Till you end up on side on side of road.
Or under a road train.
The size of these modern 'caravans" is bloody ridiculous and getting grosser by the yr.
There are VERY few Australian market vehicles that can legally tow them.
even your super duper 200 ser is only rated to 3.5? ton.
and rating any ute capable of that too, is criminal.
No ute should have more than 2.5 ton MAX behind it. they all light on in rear.
and IF you load them up to make same as or heavier than trailer.
The weight differential allowances by MFG. Sliding scale of veh weight to tow weight.
stuffs you up by reducing allowable towing weights.
I doubt that around one in ten of these 20 plus ft vans towed behind UTES.
would be legal if they were put over the scales.
The Highways guys. Are NOT vultures.
They trying to make the roads safer ,
for the other veh's out there with women and children in them.
when on same roads as MANY inexperienced rig driver. You. And Missus??,
How much experience has she actually got at vehicles that size weight.
Normally that little Corola at best.
Please.. get a little instruction first. And try to balance your rigs,
so the tow veh is heavier.
AND SAFER....
From somebody that does and has for over 50 yrs.
Trucks. Haulage, and caravans.
I know a lot will go off at me for this post.
But it's true.
think about it. weights and balance.
The heavier ALWAYS controls the lighter.
Something to do with gravity and equality.
Appreciate everyone's comments and input, and Macka I do admire and share your passion for safety on our roads.
I have been towing trailers for over 40 years but do not have much experience with large caravans so am happy to get all the advice I can from those who have.
Just put your MUX over the scales and get your towing weight.
If it same as. Or lighter than the van.
The van WILL have much more chance of controlling you
when things go wrong.
A mini van can tow a 25 ft caravan.
but NOT control it all the time.
Might is right.
When things aren't going right.
And don't people quote semi's as an example of small front end towing 30 or 110 ton.
Different thing altogether.
Tug is "integral" with trailer and load.
carryng normally around 1\3rd to 1\2 of total load on tray according to axle loadings.
Multi's tow dolly's with trailers mounted to them
But all have braking to stop themselves. and tug has the front tray mounted on it
for weight/traction.
