We have a 2014colorado. It is 3500ton. We love it. Older models i think r 3000 tons.
the type of vehicle u will need depends on what caravan u buy. Some r light, some r heavy. Depends what extras they have ie. Solar, batteries, annexes, tv's too many to name all extras. Also include in car weight everything in car including people n fuel n anything else.
U r in the right place here cos almost always someone will b able to help.
We have a 2014colorado. It is 3500ton. We love it. Older models i think r 3000 tons.
the type of vehicle u will need depends on what caravan u buy. Some r light, some r heavy. Depends what extras they have ie. Solar, batteries, annexes, tv's too many to name all extras. Also include in car weight everything in car including people n fuel n anything else.
U r in the right place here cos almost always someone will b able to help.
enjoy. Rocket n strop
Also, when we purchased our first caravan, we were like u n the salesman told us a lot of people find the caravan they puchased will just b a stepping stone to what they want down the track. If u r anything like us we first bought a secondhand van that could b towed with a falcon. Now we have a 25foot caravan n of course our falcon could not tow that, so , we had to buy another car.
Hi Rocket.......
Thanks for the welcome and the info...
Ive been looking more at the 2013-14 LTZ Colorado's more than anything else.. Just a good all round vehicle from what people tell me.....And not to mention they look good too...
For my first ever van I'm looking at a 2006-7 21ft Jayco Sterling. Ensuite at the rear, East/West bed etc etc. Just seems perfect for what my wife and I need... Not too big and not too small. I think the ATM is roughly 2600kg.. Almost bought one last week but someone beat me to it. It will be used as a weekender to start with as I'm still working. However, there will be extended trips when I get the chance to do so. Hopefully I'm not aiming to high to start with..
Hi Rocket....... Thanks for the welcome and the info...
Ive been looking more at the 2013-14 LTZ Colorado's more than anything else.. Just a good all round vehicle from what people tell me.....And not to mention they look good too... For my first ever van I'm looking at a 2006-7 21ft Jayco Sterling. Ensuite at the rear, East/West bed etc etc. Just seems perfect for what my wife and I need... Not too big and not too small. I think the ATM is roughly 2600kg.. Almost bought one last week but someone beat me to it. It will be used as a weekender to start with as I'm still working. However, there will be extended trips when I get the chance to do so. Hopefully I'm not aiming to high to start with..
Hi stringa68, Good luck. U have lots of research to do. If u need some other advice there r heaps on here who know lots. Put a post on general or if its technical put it in techies.
-- Edited by the rocket on Monday 6th of February 2017 11:55:41 AM
-- Edited by the rocket on Monday 6th of February 2017 12:01:04 PM
we are very happy with out 2013 Colorado twin cab - has no trouble towing our 23' Roma. But wish I'd bought an automatic. It has quite a high first gear making take-off on hills with the van behind a bit of a challenge. We've done about 70000 now and probably 40000 was towing. Expect I'll eventually need a new clutch although we don't do a lot of towing now as we were originally on the road full time. We also put in an extra heavy duty leaf into the rear suspension as the suspension was very soft for a van with a 350 ball weight (van wheels are a fair way back) Fuel consumption is pretty good- 15-17 lts/100 k's towing at 90ks/hr and about 9 highway use when not towing. Yes I'd have another one - in an auto
-- Edited by villatranquilla on Saturday 11th of February 2017 09:37:02 AM
__________________
Jenny and Barry
2009 Roma Elegance / 2013 Colorado. Permanent travellers 2011-2015 now just travel for 4-6 mths
We have a 2014colorado. It is 3500ton. We love it. Older models i think r 3000 tons.
the type of vehicle u will need depends on what caravan u buy. Some r light, some r heavy. Depends what extras they have ie. Solar, batteries, annexes, tv's too many to name all extras. Also include in car weight everything in car including people n fuel n anything else.
U r in the right place here cos almost always someone will b able to help.
enjoy. Rocket n strop
I agree with this. Can I also add that you need to remember that the ball weight of the van you get will need to be factored into to payload of the tug you get. This is a trap that many fall into. I have a friend who tows a 3000kg van who has discovered that the GVM of his tug is almost reached with just two passengers, full tank of fuel and his 270kg of ball. The thing to remember is that ball weight is part of the allows payload.
I have a 2014 Colorado LX diesel manual. It is 3500 tonne towing the salesman told me, and I believed him.
So anyway I hooked up the new Lotus Trooper with an agg of 3495 and off down the freeway and up the coast.
Stop laughing -- let me go on
I managed nearly 500 km on the shake down trip before the smell of the burning clutch saw me turn for home
The last 100 km to the driveway became noisy as the clutch slave bearing got the dreaded death rattle.
Turned up the music to fix that
Lesson for today -- stop calling the Holden Colorado 2.8L a truck
As a rule of thumb for all tugs litres = tonnes ie 2.8L can tow 2.8 tonne.
This story has a happy ending for me
I fixed the Colorado by turning it into Ram 2500 Laramie 6.7L
that the "Paper" figures on towing capabilities.
on Utes especially.
Are dreamers figures.
2 5 ton MAXIMUM. at the extreme.
Is what most should be towing.
LESS. if they load tray to give safe traction.
Which also lowers tow capacity.
Anything over 2.5 ton. Realistically.
are restricted to Troopy. Patrol. Landcruiser. basically.
in 4wd veh's (NOT USA based).
or small trucks.
ALL the others are minimal, going to unsafe..
And that Holden. In Utes I'd be looking as same yr Isuzu D-Max 5 spd.
Or Mazda. Mitsubishi.
Toyota's still gutless, overpriced, outdated crap.
Even the pro-Tojo Ute reviewers,
admitting they "nice" but don't quite cut the Mustard yet.
Performance wise, several steps behind the rest.
D-Max and others have
Better engines. Transm's and Chassis.
Proven.
Read the non Holden/Toyota Biased reviews.
My 2010 D-max Auto. weighs 2.7ish ton over scales,
when loaded uncoupled.
Van, on it's axles goes around 1 8/1.9 ton.
and that's a 535 Tandem full height. Nicely balanced rig.
Uses very little more juice in the flat (East Coast) than by itself.
The secret is.
to leave all your unused clothing,junk etc. either with family/friends.
OR in Container. Them having access to.
When you want to change (seasonal), replace things.
Bus the items from where you are,
to where you'll be in a weeks time.They send to that location bus depot
they keep for a week (or used to)
Buses cover 99% of reg'd roads in Aust.
and the cheapest way to move managable items.
Fairly swiftly.
Dundigen the slave cylinder has no bearing on towing . It's like saying your windscreen wipers stopped working due towing a van ., I guess too much preload on clutch and towing in too high gear . . I would consider an older Landcruiser or Patrol ? Or sorted light truck ? Over all weight needs considering depending on licence . Late model single rail diesel motors go well . But not bullet proof !!
Gee Aus-Kiwi the comment regarding windscreen wipers stopping while towing reminded me of the day's of vacuum wipers as you put your foot down they slowed down.
Pomme.
Aha I can remember them days . Even some cars had to reverse up hills . Due to having no fuel pump !! Sheesh ! Well ?? At least we can still remember !!
I stand corrected --I should have said ---------clutch thrust bearing ----------- not clutch slave bearing
and yes I was---------------- towing in too high gear---------- on my Dec 2014 Holden Colorado LX 2.8L diesel its called---- FIRST GEAR---- which is to high to get my van moving from a standing start
with out slipping the clutch a lot if you do not want to stall.
I read to much into the dealers sales brochure ------------ "this is one powerful truck with unbeaten 3.5 Tonne Towing"
Holden still advertise these Colorado's will tow 3500 tonne ------- and yes they will-------you may burn out the clutch in doing so however
which is why my Holden Dealer had no problem replacing my clutch under WARRANTY
I agree with the opinion of macka17 ----3.5 tonne towing for these light 4X4's is dreamers figures
DD your lucky some will say it was driver abuse . Please don't take it as being critical ! ( text seems that way) the issue with these motors . Being turbo and smallish engines . There power / torque is NOT strong at low rpm . They come on power band rather fast with load . This is the problem when reversing etc at low speed in short distances such as parking. It heats the hell out of clutch etc . This is where an AUTO comes into being better . The Mitsi 2.5 is prime example of low torque at low rpm . Being a smaller capacity engine . If you are aware of clutch issues you can try driving a little different ?? Yes usually stalling a few times !! We had 6 litre 8 ton manual work trucks and had similar issues reversing our winches into correct location . So don't feel too bad !! Lol
You raise a very important point here. Despite vehicle manufacturers telling you your Colorado or Ranger will tow 3.5 t, the facts are it won't legally, which is all the insurance company will be interested in following an accident!
Fact: Ranger = 3000kg advertised towing capacity and has a 6000 ATM (van + Ranger + everything you put into both + tow ball weight).
This means 6000 (ATW)- 3500 (caravan weight) - 2200 (Ranger tare - with no luggage) - 350 (tow ball weight) = you are already 50kgs over weight legally!!!!!!!
I think a 3000kg caravan would be more acceptable to your insurance company if you have an accident, regardless of whose fault it is.
My 4000cc V6 Prado will pull a 3.5 t van easily but I need my Landcruiser 200 to do it legally and to be able to put any weight in the van or Landcruiser!!!
Facts don't lie!
__________________
Nissan Patrol TIL and highly modified Retreat Fraser full offroad version
