We get that a lot about the colour in the parks and it certainly wakes drivers from their slumber on cruise cont from the contorted stare we get on the pass :-0
When on the track we like to ware holiday clothes, something just short of the psychedelic Hawaiian shirt look.
The rig seems to go with that concept so long as you have on dark glasses.
Before we settled on the Ram we looked at the effie and it is a great looking truck and the chev silverardo has seats better than most lounges to sink into.
We also had a long hard think about the VX Land-cruiser 200 series, but it was going to need a suspension upgrade and came up short on left over weight capacity after a 350 kg ball weight
In the end it came down to the best engine for the job and the proven reliability of the 6.7 cummins diesel engine inline 6 with a long stroke is hard to beat.
It has now officially knocked the Toyota to second place on the best tow tug list in Australia.
Built by Ram Trucks in America/ Mexico and conversion by Walkinshaw Australia (the Holden HSV people ) with a true Right hand steering box instead of electric or linkage from the Left sold me on it.
Then the most important Warranty this is underwritten by Ram Trucks Australia and there is a cummins dealer in nearly every big town and city around oz.
Insurance will give you a heart attack, all these imports are called Grey Area Vehicles, we had Quotes as high as $6500k a year from one truck insurer and that was upped another 1000K if we towed a van.
We ended up with $900 a year from one well known insurer if we travel up to 5000 km or $1300 if we go to 8000 km a year, easy as at over 6m long it is not suitable as a runaround shopper.
The other big factor is fuel economy towing a 3500 van
Hi Dundigin.. I read that you have had your Lotus Trooper now for over 12mths.. (nice set up) can I as what you thin of the van ? Has it lived upto your expectations.. We are currently on the market looking at vans, we have similar tug to pull, that being a Chev 2500 Silverado. 6.6 TD. Look forward to your comments.
Sorry I've been away, not inside! You must have new van by now The Lotus with the lithium /solar and compressor fridge /freezer 12V system, separate shower and toilet and a queen size bed etc make free camping a pleasure which is why we chose the layout. the Trooper side of things was for reliability on off road. Driving to the conditions we used to get the old vans most places and back its just these new off roaders do it without all the stress and can carry a lot more load with ease and are very stable at speed when needed. Michael
