Retirement looming and issue of tow vehicle now important. Looking at Quest Spirit 1 campervans. Would be interested in views from members re suitable vehicle ..... Would like to know if anyone nas thoughts on the new Great Wall?
Mixed opinions by the responses from online forums ..... All thoughts and opinions appreciated and alternate suggestions welcomed
Tks Libby and Charlie
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The Maccas ....
2013 Avida Esperance Motorhome - based in northern NSW.
I drove one the other day and was not impress but that was after the hoons who stole it went bush bashing in it I had to drive it home from where the police found it in gloves and all and put it under cover till the finger prints was taken.
Hi Elizabeth and Charlie and welcome to the forum,
I'm not sufficiently familiar with the Great Wall to make a critical comment beyond suggesting to stick with the tried and true when it comes to tow vehicles. Let someone else sort out the possible teething problems. (There's a saying in the computer industry; "Never buy version one of anything")
I use a Pajero (2002 manual diesel) to tow my Goldstream camper trailer (see my profile picture) and find it an excellent tow vehicle. I feel sure a Prado would be similar.
I think any six cylinder (or equivalent) "family" sedan or wagon or larger "soft-roader" would be fine, I'll leave it to others to make more specific suggestions.
One suggestion: Don't buy anything that doesn't have a full size spare wheel identical to, and interchangeable with, those on the road.
Retirement looming and issue of tow vehicle now important. Looking at Quest Spirit 1 campervans. Would be interested in views from members re suitable vehicle ..... Would like to know if anyone nas thoughts on the new Great Wall? Mixed opinions by the responses from online forums ..... All thoughts and opinions appreciated and alternate suggestions welcomed Tks Libby and Charlie
G'day Chaslib, We have a Great Wall x240 Petrol 4by. So far have been very satisfied with it.
We have done two different trips towing our Jayco Starcraft 1200Kg loaded.
1st trip was up to Rockhampton via the Newel and Leichart hwys.and back via the princes highway. Home is in Melbourne. We did 6229 klms and averaged 12.634l/100k.
2nd trip was from melbourne to Portland again via the M1 and back home via the Great Ocean Road. Only covered 2120 k's and averaged 11.481l/100k. There are some big hills on this road.
Great Wall have just bought out a diesel model which seems to be pretty good.
We are all different and I think we have our favourite brand of vehicle that we prefer. So far we haven't had any problems with our choice. Continue your search and you'll find one that you will prefer above all others.
I have looked at them and driven them (all the models) and to be honest they don't feel incredibly well made.
From what I have heard they seem to be pretty reliable and economical but I have not heard what their parts supply and dealer availability is like across the country especially in the outback centres for example.
The price is very inviting but I would be thinking that they are probably more aimed at the trady who only uses it as a big tool box or mum to drive the kids to School and Footy rather than the long distance tourer.
This is not saying that it would not do the job as mentioned above, it most likely will not do it for as long as say a Pajero or Prado.
My Mum has done 1/2 a million kms dragging her Jayco in a 2003 Prado Manual Diesel with only a couple of clutches to show for it so I would think that that is pretty good value for money for $50k.
I personally prefer to tow with a 4wd with a solid ladder bar type chassis but I tow off road a lot but I would steer away from the 2wd family cars if your doing a lot of towing unless you want to spend up big on suspension and brake mods to make it safe and reliable and I would steer away from the V6 petrol variants of the 4wds if you want to be able to afford to go away as they can get expensive to run when towing.
I normally run a 97 Landrover Discovery auto diesel but I would not recommend that to you unless your good on the spanners and you like to tinker as they are well known to take some playing with to keep them going well.
At the moment I'm playing with a 98 Landrover Auto V8 on LPG which I'm finding is great around town but frustrating having to fill it up every 3 to 600 kms due to the small gas (60ltr) and petrol (35ltr) tanks.
Good luck with it, I hope this has been helpful.
Cheers Damo
-- Edited by Mccanic on Wednesday 9th of May 2012 02:28:32 AM
I have looked at them and driven them (all the models) and to be honest they don't feel incredibly well made.
From what I have heard they seem to be pretty reliable and economical but I have not heard what their parts supply and dealer availability is like across the country especially in the outback centres for example.
The price is very inviting but I would be thinking that they are probably more aimed at the trady who only uses it as a big tool box or mum to drive the kids to School and Footy rather than the long distance tourer.
This is not saying that it would not do the job as mentioned above, it most likely will not do it for as long as say a Pajero or Prado.
My Mum has done 1/2 a million kms dragging her Jayco in a 2003 Prado Manual Diesel with only a couple of clutches to show for it so I would think that that is pretty good value for money for $50k.
I personally prefer to tow with a 4wd with a solid ladder bar type chassis but I tow off road a lot but I would steer away from the 2wd family cars if your doing a lot of towing unless you want to spend up big on suspension and brake mods to make it safe and reliable and I would steer away from the V6 petrol variants of the 4wds if you want to be able to afford to go away as they can get expensive to run when towing.
I normally run a 97 Landrover Discovery auto diesel but I would not recommend that to you unless your good on the spanners and you like to tinker as they are well known to take some playing with to keep them going well.
At the moment I'm playing with a 98 Landrover Auto V8 on LPG which I'm finding is great around town but frustrating having to fill it up every 3 to 600 kms due to the small gas (60ltr) and petrol (35ltr) tanks.
Good luck with it, I hope this has been helpful.
Cheers Damo
-- Edited by Mccanic on Wednesday 9th of May 2012 02:28:32 AM
Great, balanced reply IMO .. Thanks Damo
ps my 1996 4.2 EFI Patrol has only done 1/4 mil km pulling a 2.4ton van & only the second clutch, but the g /box gets a bit noisy under load if the revs are not kept up.
