Have noticed a few Nomads and caravanners upgrading to either Hino or Izuzu light trucks. Being close to my legal capacity I am about to do the same. I have also looked at Iveco but will more likely stick to the Izuzu then Hino. I am towing a large Crusader and will be on the road permanently. Also weighing up whether I need to go 4x4. Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.
Peter_n_Margaret said
04:20 PM Nov 9, 2020
For normal roads including gravel, you don't require 4WD, but be aware that these vehicles are light trucks, not sedans, and the ride on bad roads will not be what you are used to.
They can be improved (many 4WDs versions are) with "super single" wheels and tyres and parabolic springs to improve the ride, but those mods cost $$$s.
In your position I would ditch the Cruiser as well and buy a 4WD Izuzu or Hino (or even better a 4WD Iveco which has all those mods off the showroom floor) and put your accommodation on the back.
You will then be able to go to many places that are currently impossible with the Crusader.
Cheers,
Peter
Chris61 said
10:41 PM Nov 9, 2020
Iveco with suspension front seats and air bag rear suspension is almost as good as most 4x4's comfort wise. They are a larger vehicle and probably in the middle of Jap light trucks and Aussie 4x4's. Very happy with my Iveco 50C21 towing a 5th wheeler, it would make a great rig to tow a caravan as well.
Rusty W said
11:55 PM Nov 9, 2020
Hi Stevo, I thought about going the small truck route also, on paper only. The smaller models have coil spring front ends, tick for ride maybe.. Again on paper these vehicles do not have the horsepower to tow a decent load up hills as you can load and tow up to nearly 8 ton with around a 120 kw and less than 400nm. The Iveco with around 150 kw would be probably be ok.\
A ram or chevy should be investigated for as they can quite easily tow 3.8 to 4 ton. Over that is impractical. The comfort level is by far superior to any of the trucks and fuel consumption
would not be that much greater. The small trucks can only tow 3.5 ton but do have a good payload.
Just my thoughts.
regards Russell
outlaw40 said
06:12 AM Nov 10, 2020
Another vote for the ivecos from me . the airbag rear end on the iveco gives a better ride and i am pretty sure the current model come with diff lock as standard .
Have noticed a few Nomads and caravanners upgrading to either Hino or Izuzu light trucks. Being close to my legal capacity I am about to do the same. I have also looked at Iveco but will more likely stick to the Izuzu then Hino. I am towing a large Crusader and will be on the road permanently. Also weighing up whether I need to go 4x4. Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.
They can be improved (many 4WDs versions are) with "super single" wheels and tyres and parabolic springs to improve the ride, but those mods cost $$$s.
In your position I would ditch the Cruiser as well and buy a 4WD Izuzu or Hino (or even better a 4WD Iveco which has all those mods off the showroom floor) and put your accommodation on the back.
You will then be able to go to many places that are currently impossible with the Crusader.
Cheers,
Peter
A ram or chevy should be investigated for as they can quite easily tow 3.8 to 4 ton. Over that is impractical. The comfort level is by far superior to any of the trucks and fuel consumption
would not be that much greater. The small trucks can only tow 3.5 ton but do have a good payload.
Just my thoughts.
regards Russell