I goota BT50, I goota BT50.

Pop Corn and coke on order.

There's a few nice vehicles missing with good diesil engines but a com makes the list ?

Again another story written by an amateur, admittedly there are some good vehicles on the list but there are also some very good ones missing that generally rate much higher especially considering their including a Ram Laramie for towing a caravan me thinks they missed the mark with this article and need to do a rewright.

IMO the list is in order is plausible, taken away my preferences and I can see the lineup is quite capable on to what they can do.

To choose from their list well my preference would be the Ford Ranger XLT and not on their list second would be the Holden Colorado LTZ both in auto.

Cheers
Vince

I M O any of the yank tanks will tow better than the 200 series or the Landrover BUT who wants to drive a tank around town if not towing.
The 200 series and the Disco 3/4 3lt in that order will easly tow 95% of all vans sold in Aus.
The Ranger/BT50 and co dual cabs will be great for around 2.5 tonne vans or less. (Stated 3.5t but must be empty to do it).

The 200 series with Lovells suspension upgrade is my first choice for towing my 3.5t van.
Drives great with or with out the van. Reliable but just in case service and parts all over Aus. Good resale value helps the initial outlay.

The bottom 5  on the list not needed unless you already have one!

Safe travels
Moonraker

-- Edited by Moonraker on Saturday 1st of October 2016 09:54:44 AM

I notice a couple of people here very passionate about their own tow vehicles and how they perform. That's great, but it is all about horsepower for courses and the level of capabilities for towing a trailer. Consider safety above all else when choosing either a tow vehicle or caravan. Also, what comes first, the tug or the van?
If a current vehicle has to be "upgraded" to do the job of towing, then consider a smaller caravan. If the van of choice is the van of your dreams and it comes in at 3000kg dry weight with a load capacity of 3500 - 4000kg, then the tow vehicle, for safety reasons above all else, must be capable of towing up to 4000kg. + before any upgrade.

If considering an off road rig, then all of this info has to be taken into the mix. When we decided we "had to have" an off road caravan that had superb engineering and capabilities for most terrains, but not extreme, our tow vehicle had to be up to the task and be able to perform in any situation including an emergency.
The diesel engine was a no brainer, with hopefully an engine life span of up to one million kilometres on the clock.

So, for all the reasons listed in the review of the top 10 tow vehicles (long before this report), we chose a Ram 2500 Laramie. Our fortune at the time was the Aussie dollar was at parity with the US dollar. The conversion had to meet many and of course all of the "Australian" standards. We were able to pick the vehicle we wanted because the dealer worked that way with his clients. So, we knew what we were getting. End cost, same as the Sahara 200 series.

What a wonderful surprise. To our delight, this vehicle more than meets our needs, runs the best emissions standards as standard equipment and can be driven in 2WD when 4WD is not required. It tows our 21ft Van with ease, is not too big to make it impossible to park, or U-turn at the end of a dead end street or close. Power steering is standard, and has many great features to numerous to mention here. We always feel safe, vision is amazing and although it is a truck, rides reasonably comfortable. No upgrades necessary.

Oh, forgot to mention, around town driving or highway not towing, fuel usage is between 13.5 -14 litres to 100ks. (The computer in the dash keeps us posted, as well as tyre pressures). Towing a fully loaded van around 18 - 21, depending on terrain.
As for climbing in and out, for me who has arthritis in just about every joint, it is easier than in and out of our sedan. There is a grip handle in the door and another conveniently positioned towards the roof just inside the door up on the frame, very easy. A decent side step makes alighting easy too. All in all, a great vehicle, can be serviced across Australia at any Cummins dealer, parts not a problem.

Cheers,
Robyn and Phillip

@Moonraker
I tend to agree with you.

I had an F250 and it was a complete monster to drive particularly for duties like shopping etc.
When towing it came into its own.

It was a nightmare in the Colesworths car park.

I had the good fortune to drive a Ram and it was definately a better vehicle than the Ford but I did not tow with it so I could not compare.

Much to macka17's horror I now have a 200 series LC and it is so much easier to manoeuvre in carparks etc.

My wife would not drive the F250 at all but she happily drives the Toyota.
In my opinion the 200 series is without a doubt the best vehicle that I have ever owned.
The concept of a ute is attractive to be able to carry a bit more gear but they come into their own (necessity) if you have a 5th wheeler.

I considered buying a Ram when I bought the Toyota but the Ram was so much more expensive (new) than my GXL. I did not have the advantage of the dollar being on par.

Just a note on Patrols that macka17 neglects to mention is that the later model diesels had an oil feed problem in the engines which deprived the cylinder wall and the piston of oil resulting in the piston overheating and subsequent engine failure.
I am not sure but maybe that is why Nissan don't put diesel motors in there new models. I guess macka will tell us about it. 

Fair enuff Geoff
Everybody to their own. I wouldn't have a Toyota in my drive.
They have too many problems Just look at recalls as a start.

The US models. Only the front end, pedals and dash basically
for the conversion.
The structure doesn't basically get touched.
I test drove a 200 ser once. Stepped out of Patrol Cab into toyota cab.
Back into Patrol.
First thing. Jeez this is tight in here.
Second. it rolled all over the road.
Suspension Soggy as.
and typical Tojo steering.
Wanderlust.

Lotsa horses in the donk. But it's just an expensive engine basically.
with a label on the front.

Regarding the 3 ltr Patrol Engine.
It was taken from small Euro truck and not checked properly for our climate.
Minimal oil passage and level too low, causing overheating in the below piston areas.
basically.
Shorter dipstick and more oil not fully fixed it.
But by 2002. (Mine) it wasn't a problem.

5th gear. was a short term design fault. In SOME gearboxes
Original was noisy.
They Designed smaller multiple splines to quieten box.

Whoops. Some towed in 5th. Loaded. Pop. Stripped splines.
Had to drive to servo for rebuild.(AT NISSANS COST)
And in competition a few front coil supports cracked welds. Easy fix.
Which reminds me. What suspension do MOST Toyota's run under their cars in Comp.
Hellooooo. 85% run Nissan running gear.
You don't need to ask why. It takes the work without breaking.

Shall we start on Toyota. Gearboxes. Pistons. engines. Clutches.
Front suspensions dropping out from under the 100 ser on dirt roads.
Just for starters.

in 13 yrs.towing a 3 ton van.
Apart from tyres and std Maint.
my patrol cost me.
1 key ring sensor. $430
1 Belt tensioner on front.$240

I replaced Dual mass Flywheel and clutch (for myself. Nothing wrong) after160k just for better performance.
same as updating Intercooler,and fitting chip/
for myself. to improve towing and economy. (and deter any possible future problems.)
Which IS a lot better with them than Toyota's of same yrs.

Look on 4wd mags comparing the Toyota 200 to the new Patrol v8 petrol.
More herbs. Smoother quieter. and very similar economy towing.
Plus the Nissans have better reliability and comfort.
More stable suspension until the Tojo's updated.from the saggy. rolly stock.

I and a lot of others. Run the best most efficient. Reliable,

cost efficient veh (to suit themselves) on the market at that time

To do the best job they wanting it for.
An awful lot don't have Toyota's on the list. Look around.

Tojo's a bit like Coca Cola and Holdens. Advertising. In your face. C--p. shhhhh.

PS Toyota and Nissan ran Utes in US
In competition to the Yanks.
BASICALLY??? NO Competition. I tried 'em both last time we over there.

-- Edited by macka17 on Sunday 2nd of October 2016 01:01:41 PM

sorry but I have the best all wheel drive .aussie built aussie designed but sadley not to be continued no wonder this country is struggling ,FORD TERRITORY Diesel AWD 440 NM Torque towing rate 2700kg ball weight 270 kg .rides like a car handles like a car ,but has off road cap,within reason,been on the Daintree 10k`s .

Ahh you guys need to learn to drive !! No issues with 8m motorhome . Lol

Just back from a month up and down the NSW coast from Shellharbour to Moonee Beach. Rarely see a RAM before this trip but there was at least one in every park we stayed in (8 parks in all). And I think they were all pulling vans, not 5th wheelers.

And they the ones you NEED to be legal with the 3 ton and above.

People are learning hey.

Exactly why we did not buy a Ram or any American models. How do I for one get up into it at 5'2 and getting older. Our roads and shopping centers are no where near the American/ Canadian way of life. their way of life is very different to ours, shopping centers are huge with huge parks for these vehicles. They have them for a reason. Fuel is cheap, parking is easy, and they are good for their long winter climates. Plus one thing one has to remember about America is: everything is big over there. In Canada everything is bigger. We in Australia are no where near their size in roads firstly, and don't have the cheap fuel. So we will stay with our new Ford Ranger Wildtrak thankyou very much. We would like money staying in the bank instead of going into the rip off petrol companies that can appear to do what they like with petrol prices here. Our clearance is excellent, now it appears we have to find the perfect van to live in full time. Cell are looking to be our choice as they offer us recliner chairs, a separate dining, and a separate bedroom. All what we would like, room to move like our house used to be. Sold now and on the road for a number of years.

-- Edited by Stellaginger on Friday 7th of October 2016 09:54:15 AM

Stellaginger it sounds as if you have gone through the same exercise that we have, our one stipulation was to have recliner chairs that could be fully reclined. Separate bedroom, ensuite etc. Decided on purchasing the Ford Rangers half sister the Mazda BT50. This was an extra cab so the passenger could recline the seat and be comfortable, but we were planning on a 5 wheeler, so we got a tray top ute.
After much negotiation with the manufacturer, we decided to get a Jayco which came in at half the price, and still ticked all the boxes. At 24ft I am sweating about the combined mass of the vehicles.

One small point is the weight distribution for 5 wheelers is different than for caravans. However the combined weight limits are still the same.

Be aware that any vehicle or RV salesperson will sell you anything and tell you its OK.