Looking for a truck to tow the new van (17-56.2 OB)

[Smergen]

G'day Gang,

New to the forum, but loving the site and the great tips people have. Will post a "Welcome" post in the appropriate thread later...

Now, a bit of background...

We decided to go from tenting to 'vanning, and decided that we'd go all out. We're planning an "around the block" tour of the country in a few years and, after thinking we'd go camper trailer between now and then, decided why go half hearted.

So on a bit of research, we decided that the 17ft Expanda was the layout for us (3 young kids). After a few weeks of scouting around, we have now purchased a nice secondhand 2012 17-56-2 OB... It's an awesome bit of kit and we can't wait getting our hands on it in a few weeks after the checks, cheques and balances have been made.

But now I have a problem... got no rig to tow it!! Got carried away with a purchase, and a didn't want to pass up on a great deal.

So, whilst we don't have the coin at the moment to get the rig to go around the country at this stage, we're looking at getting something "cheap and cheerful" to help introduce us to the world of caravanning.

I'm looking at advice on what might be suitable to tow the van on a reasonable budget. I'm curious to know if a diesel is a must... Should I stick to manuals...

Our budget is around $10k so I know I'm not going to get much, but this thing is primarily just a tow vehicle and not a daily runner. It also needs 7 seats for when the outlaws are in town and we don't need to take two cars.

So any thoughts on what I should look for, what should I avoid and, well anything else would be greatly appreciated.

Really looking forward to becoming part of the Expanda Collective!

 

[Matty4]

I guess the first thing you'll need to check before you purchase any tow vehicle is the plated ATM on the van you are getting/will get.
This will dictate some responses.

If the plated ATM is 2500kg or less you will have a far greater choice of tow vehicle (from a legality point of view).
Let us know.

 

[bigcol]

if you want to spend under $10k
and its not a daily driver

I would suggest as late a model 4.2l Diesel GQ Nissan Patrol as you can afford
or go for an early GU with the 2.8L diesel

in your price range
fits 7 comfortably
diesel for better range per $ (petrol is good - but they are thirsty as)
gives you the ability to get yourself a 4x4 to also practice with, and when the time comes for your "round the block" tour - you will have a better idea on what you want / need

cheers

PS, Im Biased towards Nissans

 

[Smergen]

I guess the first thing you'll need to check before you purchase any tow vehicle is the plated ATM on the van you are getting/will get.
This will dictate some responses.

If the plated ATM is 2500kg or less you will have a far greater choice of tow vehicle (from a legality point of view).
Let us know.

Thanks @Matty4, when I do the final inspection on Saturday I'll check the plate and update. I suspect that it'll be a few 100kgs under 2500kg given that (from what I found on the interweb thingy) that it's under 2t tare weight stock. With options and a full load, I doubt I'd get over 500kgs.

But like I said, I'll check it out and let you know.

 

[Smergen]

if you want to spend under $10k
and its not a daily driver

I would suggest as late a model 4.2l Diesel GQ Nissan Patrol as you can afford
or go for an early GU with the 2.8L diesel

in your price range
fits 7 comfortably
diesel for better range per $ (petrol is good - but they are thirsty as)
gives you the ability to get yourself a 4x4 to also practice with, and when the time comes for your "round the block" tour - you will have a better idea on what you want / need

cheers

PS, Im Biased towards Nissans

Thanks for the top feedback. Bias is fine by me... It means you've had a good/bad experience which is worth noting and reporting.

The Patrol is right up there. My brother has a diesel mechanic mate who has told us to stay away from the 3L Patrols "like the plague". Didn't elaborate, but the 2.8L was a good truck.

Appreciate the feedback.

 

[Dandy]

Hi @Smergen we got our 17.56.1 a few months ago. Our tow vehicle is a 05 nissan patrol 3.0 diesel auto. We have upgraded the auto and chipped the diesel to give more torque and ensure reliability. Your budget will mean that you will almost certainly be looking for something a bit older. For 7 usable seats in an older vehicle with decent towing capacity, it will narrow your choices to a couple of models. I'm thinking an 80 or 100 series Toyota or a GQ or GU Patrol. Both are available with either petrol or diesel and auto or manual. Both cars have a huge range of factory and aftermarket accessories available and will not be pushed around by your van.

In our house an auto is a must for day to day driving. This isn't a problem especially if you have an upgrade to the auto to make sure you don't lose too much power to the torque converter with the extra weight.

For the age of the car you are looking at, a diesel with a good service history is probably the best bet. The reasoning for this is torque, economy and reliability. Petrol models are cheaper to buy but far more expensive for fuel.

I love my Patrol and am also a bit biased. An 80 series diesel (Sahara) would also be worth a look. :thumb:

 

[twscoot]

If it's under 2300kg there are plenty of Territory's available under 200,000km and plenty that have many more k's than that - indicating their longevity. I towed with one for a couple of years and the 4x4 model is a good (thirsty) rig. 7 seats too.

 

[Smergen]

Some top tips there @Dandy and you've pretty much named the two front runners. The other were late 90s, early 00s Pajero's. Any thoughts.

If we can, we'll get a diesel for sure... and it's a good tip about the auto. It won't really be a daily driver other than to get my sorry butt to the train station. It will only rarely be used as a "daily driver". I would have thought a manual might have then been a little bit more useful to tow with to help select gears. But I'm happy to corrected.

We know we're not going to get the "ducks guts" but it just needs to be something that won't cost the earth to maintain but most importantly will tow safely the big beauty behind it.

 

[Dandy]

Some top tips there @Dandy and you've pretty much named the two front runners. The other were late 90s, early 00s Pajero's. Any thoughts.

If we can, we'll get a diesel for sure... and it's a good tip about the auto. It won't really be a daily driver other than to get my sorry butt to the train station. It will only rarely be used as a "daily driver". I would have thought a manual might have then been a little bit more useful to tow with to help select gears. But I'm happy to corrected.

We know we're not going to get the "ducks guts" but it just needs to be something that won't cost the earth to maintain but most importantly will tow safely the big beauty behind it.

@Smergen I've had a few 4x4's....just not caravans before. Amongst others....I had a petrol v8 Discovery that would pull all day but the seating, economy and reliability would rule it out for you. It was followed by a v6 Pajero that was a good car (not as solid) it doesn't have the same "weight"but nice to drive. I had a 4.5 petrol/gas gu patrol and loved it but found the auto struggled with towing because it hadn't been set up properly. However the range and economy were ordinary. I then shopped around for a while and ended up with the current patrol. I could easily have ended up in a 105 series Landcruiser! I have a preference for the live axle coil spring models. My recommendation is that you drive each one and see how it feels.

The auto v manual question is also a personal preference but when your wife only wants to drive an auto..... I had my auto upgraded at Wholesale Automatics and found it gave me more confidence towing. There are heaps of write ups on Nissan and Toyota forums that support either

 

[Smergen]

Thanks @Dandy... like most of these types of things, there will be many personal preferences.

The wife I know would like a manual, but I think she thinks it will be a "dream to drive" with nice smooth gear changes like her old Peugot (sp?) rather than some of the long throws these things are known for.

Like most cars I've bought, it'll come down to a history of vehicle, and how well it's been looked after I think.

I'm also aware that fuel economy is somewhat of an oxymoron. We're not looking at doing massive trips at this stage so economy, whilst a factor, will become more critical when we move up to a vehicle made after the last kid was born!

 

[Matty4]

I'd also recommend looking at a Pajero, they are quite "car like" to drive.
For that kind of money you'd be looking at an early 2000's NM with the
3.5V6 petrol (you may even find one on gas) or a late 90's NL 2.8TD

I had an 05 3.8V6 petrol and whilst very thirsty towing, that may not be of great concern if it isn't your daily.
2500kg towing, 5 speed auto, 7 seats.

Very under-rated 4x4 by lots of people, certainly worth a look.

 

[Smergen]

What are people's thoughts on Land Rover Discovery? There's more than a few in the price range, has the seating arrangements and more than likely more than capable towing ability... Servicing costs? Parts?

 

[Smergen]

I'd also recommend looking at a Pajero, they are quite "car like" to drive.
For that kind of money you'd be looking at an early 2000's NM with the
3.5V6 petrol (you may even find one on gas) or a late 90's NL 2.8TD

I had an 05 3.8V6 petrol and whilst very thirsty towing, that may not be of great concern if it isn't your daily.
2500kg towing, 5 speed auto, 7 seats.

Very under-rated 4x4 by lots of people, certainly worth a look.

Thanks for the feedback. I hear some good things on the Paj's, just wanted to make sure it wasn't just the more recent models.

 

[bigcol]

What are people's thoughts on Land Rover Discovery? There's more than a few in the price range, has the seating arrangements and more than likely more than capable towing ability... Servicing costs? Parts?

ummmmmm - Landrover..............uuuummmmmm

as per @Dandy I have had a fare few 4x4's over the years (mainly Cruisers)

I currently run a 04 V8 100 series LC Kakadu (the Bosses car)
and my '99 GU4.2Ti for towing and my run around
for some info on the Land Cruiser try -
http://www.lcool.org/forum/login.php
for info on the Nissan's try -
http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/
or
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/forum.php

the 3.0l is not a bad motor (its not a good one either, but its not as bad as some say)

with your projected budget, either a Cruiser or Patrol would be the way to go - if you had more coin - I would suggest the Prado
but this way you will still sell it at a later date for around the same money as you buy

as stated before, drive a few, and see what you like to have in your driveway

cheers

 

[Smergen]

Thanks for the awesome links @bigcol, I'll look at them over a sanga at lunch.

 

[Smergen]

I guess the first thing you'll need to check before you purchase any tow vehicle is the plated ATM on the van you are getting/will get.
This will dictate some responses.

If the plated ATM is 2500kg or less you will have a far greater choice of tow vehicle (from a legality point of view).
Let us know.

OK got a few weight specs back:
Empty Ball Weight: 170kg
Max Ball Weight: 218kg
TARE: 1884kg
GTM: 2189kg
ATM: 2359kg
Axle Capacity: 2700kg

Sooo... other than the Patrols and Cruisers, does it open much more to me? To be honest, I'd like something that won't struggle at all, so if it's rated to 2500kg and is only just going to get the job done, I'd prefer to go something stronger. But what I've read on here, perhaps some of the towing capacities are conservative (as I would be if I was the car manufacturer) and if it's rated to 2500kg, it should do it fine.

Thoughts?

 

[DRW]

Just bear in mind the van should have an ATM of around 2.4 tonne so the vehicle needs to have enough towing capacity for this PLUS the 7 people you are looking at, this may rule some of the suggestions out. Personally I would have a good look at the Nissan as I think the Pajero might be slightly punching above its rating with 7 people on board but I stand corrected if I am wrong.

 

[Smergen]

Thanks @DRW ... It would be a very rare occasion that we'd tow the 'van with 7 people in it. That requirement comes more from the 6 weeks a year the 'outlaws' are in town from OS and we got sick of taking two cars to go out to dinner, or down to the shops or a day trip. If we are taking them on a holiday with the van, I suspect we'll still end up taking two cars.

But from the sounds of it, sounds like I better stick to the Patrol and Cruiser options just to be sure.

 

[Smergen]

I'm curious to hear thoughts on what options would open up if I ditched the 7 seat requirment. Obviously it would bring Dual cabs into it, but we're still in the toddler/booster seat phase for the next while, and 3 anchor points would need to be in there...

 

[Burnsy]

Hi @Smergen, what ever your choice I'd go diesel, as mentioned they are better in fuel but after owning a petrol they don't compare for torque which comes in real handy for 2T plus up hills. (No offence to petrol owners)
Cheers.