Thanks Granny

I've got a 17 foot pop top with ATM 1760.

Tows okay with my 2001 model Commodore but am starting to look at my options.

The car being advertised is second hand 2.9L turbo diesel with a towing capacity of 2500 kilos. I think they stopped construction of these in 2006 and started on the Sante Fe's.

I'd like a cruiser or prado, even a pajero but pricewise, even the second hand ones have over 200,000 on the clock for the same price as a Terracan.

As I said just exploring my options at present.

Cheers
Ross

rosco wrote:

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Thanks Granny

I've got a 17 foot pop top with ATM 1760.

Tows okay with my 2001 model Commodore but am starting to look at my options.

The car being advertised is second hand 2.9L turbo diesel with a towing capacity of 2500 kilos. I think they stopped construction of these in 2006 and started on the Sante Fe's.

I'd like a cruiser or prado, even a pajero but pricewise, even the second hand ones have over 200,000 on the clock for the same price as a Terracan.

As I said just exploring my options at present.

Cheers
Ross

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Apparently the Nissan Patrol is a good, cheaper alternative to the Land Cruiser. My sister and husband have towed their 18' 6" Avan all over the country with theirs. I think the Patrol is a '02 model, diesel, 4 cylinder...don't know how many litres. 

My son just bought a '06 model from Vic with only 30,000 kms on it! It was like new! I don't know exactly what he paid, but he said it was a bargain.

 

Cruising Granny wrote:

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Jeez I hope not! Unless you intend to tow a cub camper trailer.
Personal choice. You haven't said what you'd be towing.
I've seen a couple of these towing large vans to begin with, but returned to the caravan park on the back of a tilt tray, with the van hanging off the back of the truck.
It's all about chassis structure and where the tow bar is mounted, the engine capacity, gearing etc.
Just because it's a 4 or all WD, with a diesel motor, doesn't mean it's up to the hard work of towing a caravan over 12ft long.
The car gets loaded up, the van gets loaded up, and oops! Too hard for little motor car.
You may think it's the economical option, but if you're making the poor little car work to the maximum of it's capabilities you'll spend more in fuel and drag the guts out of it.
You'd be wiser to get a bigger tug with spare horses in the name of economy and tug-ability.
The country isn't all long, flat stretches of highway. Some of the steep and winding country really makes the toughest tug work to the max.
It's all about "horses for courses" (pardon the pun).

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Gday...

We bought a Hyundai Terracan CRDi Auto new in 2007 (2006 build). We did 56,000km with it and there was not one single fault or problem with it for all that time.
It puts out 125Kw at 3400rpm and 345nM Torque at 1750rpm.  As you say it is rated to tow 2500kg.
We have a Golden Eagle 23ft van ... had an ATM of 2450kg and it towed this with ease and returned 13.5ltr/100km to 15.8ltr/100km during about 2000km towing. We sat on 1800rpm in Drive (with cruise when sensible) which is 85kph.
It returned 8.3ltr/100km not towing at highway cruising.
We only sold it after we put our van over the scales and found it had an ATM of 2650kg (due to the Tare being nearly 200kg over the compliance plate).
Given the ATM you are talking of towing it will pull it with consumate ease and do it reliably and economically. It is a very comfortable highway cruiser as well.
Three things to make sure of ... make it a turbo diesel 2.9ltr, auto and have it set up with a Hayman Reece WDH.
You will not regret it ... and there is not as capable a full size 4x4 on the market for the price of a 2nd hand Terry.
If you go to www.camperz.com.au ... select Forums ... and down the bottom of the list just above Grey Nomads forum you will see the Terracan Owners Forum. A visit will be worthwhile.
Cheers and happy travelling
Julie & John

 

-- Edited by rockylizard on Monday 25th of October 2010 04:02:43 PM

This whole situation of tow vehicles has completely lost the plot by manufactures & RTA,
Not to many yeasr ago we had Tojo & nissan,s with 4 & 4.5 lt motors with a tow limit of 1.5 t.
Now we have mid size tugs with 2.5 /3lt motors rated to tow 3 tonn. Admittidily they are producing good power but working them hard, must affect reliability & duration.
Pulling some thing is one thing, having the tug mass weight to control these heavy weights is another,
I beleive if it keeps going the way it is there will be a major mishap some where  & it will all hit the fan for every one.
Same as driving licence,s
eg, F250 near 4tonn.  23ft Bushtrakka  near 4 tonn==8tonn
     F250  + 5th wheel =very little difference to a semi.
      All this on a car licence.

    If we want to drive a 5tonn rigid traytop truck we must have a LR licence ,
   If we want to go to a 8tonn boggie drive we need a HR licence.
None of this makes any common sence. Manufactures are pushing up the tow cap,s trying to make sales with disregarde to saftey.

Our previous tug was a Terracan and we loved it.It towed our 24' Adria (2000KG) with ease.
Only reason we no longer have it is our new van is 3250KG.

Very reliable and fantastic on economy.
I would not hesitate in recommending.

You get the go, but what do you do to stop?
I agree with justcruisin'.
Better to have more weight in the tug and more power than you need, than to pull the guts out of the poor little mid-sized tug. Especially an automatic transmission.
Then there's the braking and slowing down stuff.
I also worry about the expectations of these little vehicles.
If you want this lifestyle you may have to compromise a little comfort and luxury for practicality and realistic expectations of your vehicle.
My cruiser is 4.2 ltr diesel, not turbo. She's now got just over 300,000 kms on the clock and strong as an ox. I'm the 3rd owner, and just love my truck, Rosy.
I've now got new springs, shockies and bushes, I keep her will serviced and check everything.
She has a few dings and scratches and might not look pretty, but she's a good truck.

That's very good comparison. Good technical stuff Rocky Lizard.
It sounds like I might have been a bit harsh on the Terry.
I see them in the same category as the Hyundai, Kia, BMW, Subaru and all those little "something" wheel drives.
I have always wondered about the logic of using these mid-sized 4x4 or AWD to tow huge heavy vans. It appears some believe if it's 4WD and diesel it will pull, and stop, anything.
Is it power or just enough power, in the name of economy. I'm wondering if it's not false economy to run under-powered vehicles in the long run.
If I had my way I'd have the V8 turbo series Cruiser - my personal dream machine.
I've travelled in an F250 with a 22ft van, and I hardly noticed it. But they're a bit big for everyday stuff like parking at the shopping centre.
I know, I'm a bit strange as "girls" go. I love the GRUNT! The throb of that V8 always turns my head. No soft bottomed, plush upholstery luxury limousine for me. It's all about GRUNT!
To each his/her own. As long as we do it safely. LET'S DO IT!!!!

Thanks all for your replies.

They are much appreciated.

You've given me a few alternatives too, might sus them out.

Thanks again.

Ross

Think I will hunt out some pics of our set up and change my avatar too.   Might take me a while though

Well, I suppose you know who it is don't you.   If I put another one up you would think I was another newbie or someone.

yeah, it's kind of nice being icognito.  If I posted a real photo people might run a mile.......