Why a 3500kg tow rating may not really be a 3500kg tow rating - I suggest you read that article before proceeding.

Nobby Simpson · Veteran Member

Is there such an animal !!

SouthernComfort · Guru

Plenty of these animals around, and suggestions aplenty (you will get many opinions but not necessarily a consensus, everyone has their favourites!).

It will depend on many factors, but to begin with: Your budget, new or used, fixed top or pop-top, desired size/length, your tug's capability etc. etc.

Nobby Simpson · Veteran Member

Your right of course Tony, I should have been more specific. We plan to live in the van for a long period so we are thinking something around the 24 foot length, hard top pulled by a Toyota Hilux. Budget for the van $55,000.

Regards

Nobby

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Buy a van built from fibreglass/polyurethane/fibreglass sandwich panel. Our 13 year old 4WD motorhome is testament to its toughness.
This company supplies first class material of this nature to a few caravan manufacturers, I am sure that they will give you a list.
vanglass.homestead.com/
Alternatively, they are developing flat pack kits for DIY builders.

Cheers,
Peter

Nobby Simpson · Veteran Member

Thanks Peter, I will follow it up.

Regards

rockylizard · Guru

Nobby Simpson wrote:
Your right of course Tony, I should have been more specific. We plan to live in the van for a long period so we are thinking something around the 24 foot length, hard top pulled by a Toyota Hilux. Budget for the van $55,000.
Regards
Nobby

Gday...

As others have stated so far, there are 100s of 'animals' such as you desire. it will all come down to just which one piques your fancy.

However, I would like offer a comment regarding the size van you were thinking about and your tow vehicle.

A 24ft van will have an ATM around 3,000+Kg. I assume you have a very recent Hilux ... the new Hilux variants have the 2.8-litre engine and manual box in common the best auto-equipped Hilux can tow up to 3200kg with only one of the seven HiLux variants with the maximum 3500kg braked towing capacity.

This link will give some food for thought -

https://practicalmotoring.com.au/car-advice/why-a-3500kg-tow-rating-may-not-really-be-a-3500kg-tow-rating/

I would definitely not tow a 24ft van with any of the existing popular utes on the market - no matter what the 'marketing specifications' are.

This site gives a very detailed review and specs of the current Hilux range -

http://www.caradvice.com.au/385576/2016-toyota-hilux-pricing-and-specifications/

and contains this table of specs -

Hilux 02.JPG

Despite what sounds like negative feedback above, I do wish you good luck finding the balance between what you want, what you need, what you can afford and what you can safely tow ... I am sure you will find what you want.

Cheers - John

-- Edited by rockylizard on Monday 13th of November 2017 11:47:52 AM

Nobby Simpson · Veteran Member

Thanks John,

Often unfavourable news is the best type of advice, I hear what you say and will look more carefully at the wish list.

Many Thanks

Nobby

PeterD · Guru

Why a 3500kg tow rating may not really be a 3500kg tow rating - I suggest you read that article before proceeding.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Nobby Simpson wrote:
Your right of course Tony, I should have been more specific. We plan to live in the van for a long period so we are thinking something around the 24 foot length, hard top pulled by a Toyota Hilux. Budget for the van $55,000.
Regards
Nobby

Sell the Hilux and buy a motorhome - about 6m-7m. 4WD, even better.

Cheers,

Peter

macka17 · Guru

Hi. Welcome.

Pete.

You forget to mention that your plastic fantastic. is built on a full offroad 4WD truck.. rolling chassis with diesel engine pulling it.

----------------------------

DO NOT BUY ANY UTE to tow much or anything over 2.5 ton MAX.
Regardless of whet the paper figures say.

Never done it before. Have you ever towed much more than a box trailer or small fishing boat.

Personally I'd be looking at a Properly built van that will take our ever worsening roads (once we get off freeways and city streets.(Even some of them shouldn't be).
Toyota Utes ARE Pretty much. the most GUTLESS of ALL of them. Read up on it.
Plus waaaay overpriced. and NOT all that reliable after all.
Around No 5 or 6. in a list of 7 (B4 a Great Wall.)

If you have one of them. DEFINITELY not much more than 2 to 2.2 ton in van.

I'd, (if starting out), . Buy a Mitsubishi Pajero. Nissan (D22 over the 40).
D-Max. 4wd or Ser 4 Disco.
With a Aust made van around 2.5 ton.

Plus. for towing. Nowadays. BUY AN AUTO. They ARE MUCH. MUCH better.
Plus. earlier ones. if it hunting gears on hills.
Buy a Converter Lock up. ($470ish and magic.)

Ute's. I'd look at the D-Max. Mazda. Mitzi. Around 2012\14 models.
Spend MORE on tug than van. For the reliability.

Just remember. the only Aust market veh's to tow OVER 2.5 ton. SAFELY
are the Patrol and that 200.

Small trucks. and imported Yank's.

It's no good having a fancy Big van. That is legally too big\heavy for you to tow.
With a tug on side of road needing repairs. Police will LOVE you.

Coromal do Ally framed decent vans that are lightweight, (Pretty much) and tow well.
Roadstar. Regent. Regal and a few others strong and reliable.
A lot of these imported "Lightweight" vans are doing the wrong thing on our roads.
I.E. .Falling apart. They NOT built for it.

Owners on forums rave. But in reality They not really good choices for our conditions.
There's one on here with a broken chassis. and repairer is in process of designing a new chassis for his own. Hmmm.

That big New Patrol. I've read some reviews where when towing. there's not that much difference in fuel t'ween it and the 200 ser, Plus. It's a Nissan.
Much betterer for reliability.

Pick of Smaller rigs nowadays. Other than utes.

I think I'd be looking the Mitzi. Nissan Pathfinder v6 diesel.

for 2.5 ton tow. Or earlier Disco "with books".

2.5 ton will give you around 5.35 to 5.6 mtrs. More with Coromal.

POP TOP V Full height. Windage is around the same. either way.with dropped fronts on full heights.

I've towed both. With same vehicle, same roads.

The roads in this country are only going to\getting worse, to travel on believe me.
Buy a well built solid chassis van.
Just look at some of the import van reviews. Falling apart. Chassis breaking etc. etc.
I changed recently. From a 3 ton plus offroader and Patrol. Legal weights combined.

To a 1999 Coromal 535 Full height Tandem axle. (4 wheels) With a 2010 D-Max. with FULL service record. The MOST IMPORTANT thing to ask for with a veh.
FULL Main,. records. Cost me $37ish, total. and ideal.

You'll find you need less and less. the more you travel.

I've been doing it since '63 in vans.
No van of mine is ever. Much more than 2\3rds full.

Every 3 months. check full contents of your rig.
Anything NOT used in prev 3 months. Is DEAD weight.
Disregarding seasonally climatic items obviously.
Family Friends?. Have a shed Container. room at their place. or storage shed.
Put everything you don't want to take but WANT to keep, in there.

Anything that you find you need.
Get them to pack up. In one man, size\weight lifting parcels.
Go to "Greyhound" depot. They the cheapest to move parcels\boxes.
Virtually ALL OVER Aust.

I've used them for Trolley jack. Tool boxes. Engine parts.

Just keep weight to what the DRIVER... Can lift.

Have fun.

and bring your expectancy DOWN a bit. Your sizes. with the way the law is going. are not real. if wanting to stay safe, AND Legal.

-- Edited by macka17 on Monday 13th of November 2017 01:33:47 PM

iana · Guru

Hi Nobby, I have done what you are planning to do, so much advice, a lot of it wrong, especially by those selling you the tug and van. I have definitely made all the mistakes, and if I could shut the game down, go back and load my game at a much earlier stage I would, but I am stuck with what I have. If you want my opinion on the journey send me a message and I'll write something up. There are so many different avenues to take, it is very confusing.

Ge · Senior Member

What Macka 17 has said is very sound advice, utes are not the best for towing in a lot of times tow ball is to far from diff/rear wheels. An 18ft van and SUV type tug is better towing ( Patrol, LC ect).
Do not have diesel motor under 3lt and please stay away from European utes and motor home ( VW Fiat ect ) not built for Aus and you wont want to break down 500km from the nearest dealer as then your nightmare
will be just starting. Food for thought check out www.centaurproducts.com.au/index.php?id=57

Good luck. smile

Ps As said don't go under 3lt diesel the as a lot of problems coming thru with them pollution gear wise. I have been told that Toyota, Dmax, Nissan ect are phasing out under 3lt. smile

-- Edited by Ge on Monday 13th of November 2017 01:51:33 PM

macka17 · Guru

Basically. Ute. 2 to 2.5 ton MAX.
over 2.5 ton. Restricted, basically to 200 ser. Patrol.
Light truck or Yank import.

Licencing and weight restrictions. CONTROLLING. IS coming.
and a lot will have noses out of joint.
Don't be one of them.

What we would LIKE. and what we can have. With safety and legally.
are two different things.

Long term In a Motorhome. By all the ones I've spoken to.
Don't go under 25ft if you want a half comfortable LIVE IN one.
27ft ideal.
And you WILL need a LT\HT (SEMI for 5thers) licence for quite a lot
when the rules are sorted.
It HAS to be. you can't have two sets of rules on same roads.

Nobby Simpson · Veteran Member

To Macka, Ge and the others,

Thank you for your advice, the truth often hurts and in this regard we will take stock and re-formulate our plan. We are most grateful for your thoughts and time taken to deliver same.

Regards

Nobby

Tony Bev · Guru

Hi Nobby

It was my experience while looking for a caravan, within my price range, within my vehicle towing capabilities, and the creature comforts I/we wanted

If there was such an animal, (for my situation), they must be few and far between

After six months of looking, we compromised, and picked the caravan which ticked the most, (but certainly not all), our boxes

Hope that you find exactly what you are looking for

As others have already said, a 24 foot caravan, may be on the heavy side, for your tow vehicle

As Peter (Peter n Margaret) has said, a fibreglass skin, is better than a tin skin, for hailstones

Nobby Simpson · Veteran Member

Thanks Tony - good advice

Regards

Nobby

Ge · Senior Member

Also Nobby check this site for info dogandlemon.com/

Pamela G · Senior Member

We have just sold our van with single beds, whilst the extra space between the beds is great, just be aware that the cold comes through the walls and chills the beds.

SouthernComfort · Guru

So, lots of views Nobby! but that's the name of the game. Rather than assume you're in a position to change your tug, at least you can be guided by the capacity/limitations of your Hilux when looking at vans. I only pull a 16' fixed top so I don't feel qualified to offer any more advice on larger vans, whereas others have more experience. I hope you find the ideal thing to suit you.

macka17 · Guru

Pamela.

We have twins in a Coromal.

Cold. Simple. Stay up here in Queensland.

But Spring matresses.with quilted cover and a Doona on top.
You''ll be warm in the snow.

Personally. Most of the time we sleep on top of Sleeping bags. and slide inside If
it starts to get cooler.

Singles and sleeping bags go hand in hand anywhere.

There's NO WAY I'm having anybody share my spread out bed with me thank you.
It took me long enuff to get rid of them in first place.

Single is PURRRRRFECT. In bed.
My Queen. YOU Queen. Two doors t'ween us.
Cat only in my bed.

the rocket · Guru

Hi nobby simpson, it can only get better For you. Geist is a good light weight van. Depends what your car can tow. If it is 2.5 ton then you would need a light weight carAvan. Included in the 2.5 ton would be the caravan n everything in it including water n gas.

When looking at single beds you need to measure both. We had them in another van n they were not the same size/length. Very annoying.

We have a holden colorado 3.5 ton 2014 model n tow a 25 foot supreme territory. Any smaller car would not have been big enough.

good luck

-- Edited by the rocket on Tuesday 14th of November 2017 08:42:47 AM

macka17 · Guru

And Rocket.

if you add and subtract the figures to suit.
I think you'll find with a 25ft Territory. You are a little over the limits too.
Unless Holden different to others??.

What's the axle and drawbar weights on that van?.
And reductions in allowable tow weights according to weight of veh\trlr. loaded to suit.

Mate has a 21fter. He was similar to my Roadstar 6.5m.
2.85 ton on axles. loaded.

He went up from a Mazda ute to a Patrol.

-- Edited by macka17 on Tuesday 14th of November 2017 10:50:21 AM

Mackayak · Veteran Member

Hi

Sorry to hear you where in that storm. As yet have not traveled in a van it is ordered and so is the tug. All of the advice above needs taking into account as it is important for your safety. When we where looking around we ended up stretching the budget for van to have it with composite cladding not hail proof but will take it better as if you are on the road a long time you will come across it sooner or later. Hope I made a good decision. Best with your new van.

Nobby Simpson · Veteran Member

Thanks Mackayak,

Wise advice. Good luck to you.

macka17 · Guru

Cladding irrelevant. (Though some like a plastic y look)

Insurance covers all.

Plus cheaper easier, to repair.
Plastic. WHOLE panel. even if just a sand down and cover paint a touch..
You CAN'T do a patch. It shows.

Ally. Just Replace per strip of sheet.

I hope you didn't buy a Jayco Plastic. I've seen a fair few,
going back to factory for repairs\ replacements. Coming through Yeppoon.

Some. The whole roof,,
or side sheets splitting behind suspension stress points.
Apart from Cupboards showers etc falling down.

MAINLY the longer models

NZ\Tassie, timber frames. with decent cladding sheets.
Have a long. proven record of strength and looks.
Or a decent thickness\section ally frame too. NOT Jayco or early Coromal.
They BAD.

-- Edited by macka17 on Wednesday 15th of November 2017 11:39:04 AM

Nobby Simpson · Veteran Member

Your a fountain of info Macko - many thanks

macka17 · Guru

Plus.

After a good Hail storm.
There are "normally" quite a few Insurance write offs.
with just a dented roof or one end\side (Part of)

Coupla mates have bought some real NIICE vans.
Upmarket. Owner won't be seen driving round in a damaged van.
There are some real goodies around.

It's a good time to be looking. And the sheets ARE easy enuff to slide out
and replace if you REALLY fussy.

Buy new transfers from MFG if really into it.
Norn's driving round in a near half price 21ft Manhatten with slight "dimples" on rear roof and rear side quarter.
You can hardly see if the reflections aren't right.