Weighing Up My Options

[caax]

Hello everyone as the topic reads I'm currently weighing up my options for a upgrade to a new van mid to late this year, fingers crossed. New house build first.

It's come down to 3 vans ATM all pop tops because none pop top wont fit in the garage.
Garage height will be 2.75m even room for outback.

Van 1 - Expanda 18.58-2 = my pick because of extra shower space and separate toilet.
Van 2 - Expanda 17.56-2 = wifes pick.
Van 3 - Starcraft 17.58-3 = wifes pick again but wants to upgrade to fiberglass sides. Me not so because of kitchen to close to main bed.

Wife is looking at ensuits now due to last stay but I've told her I'm not cleaning the bloody thing,
NO WAY IN HELL! or I'll end up like this guys.

We have a 14.44.4 ATM, my real concern is towing. I have a Ford Falcon G6E Turbo (modded) no issues with power (318rwkw) and torque (730nm) Without selling and buying a new car will I be able to tow something that bigger?

I think I'm within my limits with weight and tow ball weight if I up size going off the Jayco van specs.
Advice is great appreciated.
Thanks

Photo for towing spec inside the car door


Current car and van.

 

[bigcol]

first problem you will have

the Jayco spec's are NOT accurate to what they do build
most of the people with the 18' outbacks have to upgrade FROM a Prado, as they are only good for 2500Kgs

 

[steve67]

I would be checking the specs of your car in conjunction with the specs of the tow bar. There are limits on the vehicle as well. I was going to like your post until I watched the attached video! That's a shocker, I'm glad I don't have to do that with our van.uke:

 

[bigcol]

there is a reason why the BT50 / Ford Ranger / Holden Colorado / Isuzu DMax are so popular for towing
3000 - 3500kg towing capacity

then the
Land Cruiser 100 series / 200 series
Land Rover Discovery 4
Range Rover
Audi
VW Toerag

all with 3500kgs towing

and not forgetting the next level
Pajero etc

 

[bigcol]

Wife is looking at ensuits now due to last stay but I've told her I'm not cleaning the bloody thing,
NO WAY IN HELL! or I'll end up like this guys.

mate, that was GREAT

re-confirms why I dont have one of those evil things in my Van

 

[caax]

I would be checking the specs of your car in conjunction with the specs of the tow bar. There are limits on the vehicle as well. I was going to like your post until I watched the attached video! That's a shocker, I'm glad I don't have to do that with our van.uke:

I know thats a shocking vid but funny because I know I would be a statistic. Thats why i like ensuite site if we can get them, keeps wife happy and peace of mind with the kids.

Mate the 18 footer is too heavy in both outback and non outback and Van 2 you will only be able to tow the onroad version, haven't checked the Starcraft yet.
A trick Jayco Advertise is Tare, don't be fooled by that, you need to work on ATM as your allowed towable weight, tare plus allowed load, which is in the fine print of each vans Spec.

HM

I would have factor in the extra load but I wanted to make sure i had plenty of room for safety.


Thanks for the feed back guess I'll have to get a new car if we're to upgrade. I have looked at Ford Range first pick, Ford man.
I had been checking out the Pajero this arvo not bad, only 3100 towing.

 

[caax]

Just did a slight edit about the Starcraft, it's ok as long as you stay with aluminium sides, fibreglass side will push weight up.
Welcome to the car upgrade club.... I'm in the same club.

LOL. I wonder if I play my cards right first get a new car for the wife (ranger but really for me) I can keep my car also. HMMMM.

 

[dagree]

and not forgetting the next level
Pajero etc

and ??????????

 

[caax]

The next level Pajero it's the soccer mum look Pajero Sports?

This one New Pajero Sports

 

[Bluey]

Once you load up the utes what can they tow then still 3.5 i dont think so ??????

 

[bigcol]

Once you load up the utes what can they tow then still 3.5 i dont think so ??????

thats still an on going debate @Bluey

 

[bigcol]

The next level Pajero it's the soccer mum look Pajero Sports?

This one New Pajero Sports

what an UGLY PoS

my opinion only peoples, my opinion only

 

[bigcol]

and ??????????

he is looking at 18' mate

if he was keeping the 16', I would suggest the Playdoh

 

[dagree]

he is looking at 18' mate

I knew that but I was waiting for a comment as you were going down the list of weights

 

[rodney]

Grab and older patrol manual and you'll be right I have an 18 and patrol with all the bits and it doesn't know it's there egt sits on 200 towing and temp is unchanged at 80

 

[twscoot]

there is a reason why the BT50 / Ford Ranger / Holden Colorado / Isuzu DMax are so popular for towing
3000 - 3500kg towing capacity

then the
Land Cruiser 100 series / 200 series
Land Rover Discovery 4
Range Rover
Audi
VW Toerag

all with 3500kgs towing

and not forgetting the next level
Pajero etc

And not to mention the mighty CRD Jeep GC! (3500kg). Our upgrade from a Pajero came as a result of our new Starcraft.

 

[yabbietol]

Do not trust Jayco on tow ball weights.
In late 2014 we had a Jayco 18' Outback on order for about 4 months and it was suppose to have a ball weight that would be fine with the Pajero NW (i.e. 170kg well under 250kg). When we went to pick it up its tow ball weight on the compliance plate was 270Kg which would have made it illegal for us to tow. I did expect it to be a bit over, as we had order an extra battery, but not 100kg over.

So Jayco gave us back our deposit, they did behave OK. However they asked as where I got the tow ball weight of 170Kg from and I said their brochure, they then said the brochure was only guidance, but luckily I also asked for confirmation of all the 18' Outback weights ATM, AGM and tow ball weight. Jayco fortunately sent me an email which I produced at their request. Game over, deposit refunded and a good deal offered on a 16'.

We moved on and decided not to go with Jayco and bought another brand of caravan. I do note they have now increased the 18' tow ball weights on their brochure.

We have a toilet and shower in our new caravan and it is fairly easy to get use to emptying the cassette. My best advice is to buy some disposable gloves and use sodium percarbonate (Napisan, COSCO white king, etc) on a daily basis and try to empty the cassette when under ½ full if possible the longer you leave it the worse it is.

 

[Matty4]

I haven't laughed so hard in ages at that video. That was GOLD!!!!

Confirms my reasons for not having one either......haha.

 

[twscoot]

And to add to the towball weight issue - be careful of what the empty weight is compared to the weight when loaded. Our plate says 170kg. Loaded with water, gas, food and clothes (not overloaded) it is closer to 300kg.

 

[Dobbie]

Yep. Agree.

Ours sits around the 210 mark which is fine for the Patrol but we check it every time before travelling and have invested in a towball scale .....while its close to accurate, it does give us peace of mind that we haven't overloaded or put things out of balance. (We had it checked with a much more sophisticated one)

It's very easy and temping just to shove things in and guess but it's amazing how much difference some things, wrongly placed, can make.

Food and wine can be very heavy!