Tow Vehicle for bigger Ski Boats

T

thika

Sealiner
I have a Landrover Series II V8 Discovery

I do a lot of mileage in this car as I live high up on the West Coast and there are few tar roads

I also need it because my boat/trailer combo is 3050kg

Fuel is killing me :cry:

Your average bakkie may only tow about 1500 kgs

I need a 4X4 automatic vehicle with torque and legal towing ability

This is not urgent and will not happen tomorrow, but I am starting to look around....second hand yuppie/city vehicle will be ideal

So far with limited research (figures from the top of my head)

Ford Ranger 3.2 cdi 470 NM / 3350kg
Disco III TDV6 430 NM/ 3500kg
Merc ML 320 cdi V6 520 NM/ 3500 kg ( I have the E320 Cdi car and it is an unbelievable motor and gearbox)
Merc ML 420 cdi V8 700 NM/ 3500 kg ( but not available in RSA, so import)

The Disco IIII BIG pull (600 NM), but is still too expensive 2nd hand and can take nothing smaller than a 19 inch rim which is useless in the rough

Toyota Land Cruisers wagons are unaffordable

Your input please


PS:

Air suspension is out or must be replaceable with coils

High/low range imperative

Centre diff lock NB, with rear axle lock a bonus
 
B

benniejordaan

Sealiner
The Mercs are rubbish. Forget them. The most sensible buy there is the Ford. Discovery 3 is brilliant but repairs can be costly..

I like the ford.. There will be a new Hilux next year and I'm certain they will go the same "big" vehicle rout as ford.
 
B

benniejordaan

Sealiner
I sold my Disco 3 and got this that I will only use for towing. Bought myself a Diesel Focus for every day use.
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    38 KB · Views: 1,619
S

Simen

Sealiner
Just a question, have you considered a Ford F250 or a Dodge RAM, they seem to do Ok here by us.

Mostly all you see in front of larger ski boats
 
B

benniejordaan

Sealiner
Simen wrote:
Just a question, have you considered a Ford F250 or a Dodge RAM, they seem to do Ok here by us.

Mostly all you see in front of larger ski boats
Click to expand...
Here they are stupidly expensive. Even second hand ones. A Dodge Ram will cost you R400-R650k for a second hand single cab.
 
S

Simen

Sealiner
benniejordaan wrote:
Simen wrote:
Just a question, have you considered a Ford F250 or a Dodge RAM, they seem to do Ok here by us.

Mostly all you see in front of larger ski boats
Click to expand...
Here they are stupidly expensive. Even second hand ones. A Dodge Ram will cost you R400-R650k for a second hand single cab.
Click to expand...

Why I asked this is that I got a mate here in Nam that wants to sell his.

Some specs

Dodge Ram 2500

D/C 4x4

Model 2006 (American registered) 2007 Namibia registered

Cummins Turbo diesel motor

Automatic box

Bull conversion - set to Performance or Extreme or Towing option

Approx 50 000 miles

R300 000-00

Guys I have seen this vehicle and driven it

It is in immaculate condition.

Asked for pics, hope to get them tomorrow.
 
P

PCSMIT

New member
How about the New 4.5lt V8 Diesel Cruiser that was just launched,152Kw not sure about the rest,but we all know Cruiser says it all.
 
B

benniejordaan

Sealiner
Simen wrote:
benniejordaan wrote:
Simen wrote:
Just a question, have you considered a Ford F250 or a Dodge RAM, they seem to do Ok here by us.

Mostly all you see in front of larger ski boats
Click to expand...
Here they are stupidly expensive. Even second hand ones. A Dodge Ram will cost you R400-R650k for a second hand single cab.
Click to expand...

Why I asked this is that I got a mate here in Nam that wants to sell his.

Some specs

Dodge Ram 2500

D/C 4x4

Model 2006 (American registered) 2007 Namibia registered

Cummins Turbo diesel motor

Automatic box

Bull conversion - set to Performance or Extreme or Towing option

Approx 50 000 miles

R300 000-00

Guys I have seen this vehicle and driven it

It is in immaculate condition.

Asked for pics, hope to get them tomorrow.
Click to expand...

Bargain!
 
T

tkei

Sealiner
the new cruiser double cab it only comes in manual I think. Also no frills, and is a lot of cash for a farm bakkie, but it goes anywhere, does everything, slowly.
Thika needs an everyday car at the same time it must be suitable to tow. Of the lot listed I would be inclined to say Ford.
 
Q

QuQ

New member
I wonder what the towing capacity of the LC double cab V8 is .... Toyota are notoriously gun-shy when it comes to tow ratings. It might actually fall short of Thika's 3t requirement .... ?
 
K

Koper

Senior Member
Our work has been going through a similar exercise wrt legally towing generators.  The new Isuzu & Ford's seems to be the vehicle of choice for towing.

Another spanner in the works, refer to the attachment regarding driver license codes.  You need a EC1 license to tow these big rigs.
 

Attachments

  • Driver License Codes annexD.pdf
    60.2 KB · Views: 79
K

kaboem

Sealiner
PCSMIT wrote:
Maybe the Nissan Navara 3.0 V6 Diesel,170 Kw and 550 nm.
Click to expand...

+ R23k to repair the clutch... They don't last.


Look at the 2005-2007ish Ford Ranger 4000lt V6 4x4 DC reliable motor and box and cheap to maintain. They are a bit heavy when towing but real value for money.

In my opinion off course.
 
B

barryfish

Senior Member
kaboem wrote:
PCSMIT wrote:
Maybe the Nissan Navara 3.0 V6 Diesel,170 Kw and 550 nm.
Click to expand...

+ R23k to repair the clutch... They don't last.


Look at the 2005-2007ish Ford Ranger 4000lt V6 4x4 DC reliable motor and box and cheap to maintain. They are a bit heavy when towing but real value for money.

In my opinion off course.
Click to expand...

Those rangers are heavy on fuel all the time, and much more so on the tow. I had one, fuel guzzler of note. you will spend the difference in the purchase price in fuel.
 
B

benniejordaan

Sealiner
kaboem wrote:
PCSMIT wrote:
Maybe the Nissan Navara 3.0 V6 Diesel,170 Kw and 550 nm.
Click to expand...

+ R23k to repair the clutch... They don't last.


Look at the 2005-2007ish Ford Ranger 4000lt V6 4x4 DC reliable motor and box and cheap to maintain. They are a bit heavy when towing but real value for money.

In my opinion off course.
Click to expand...
They don't have the tow capacity of 3 tons required.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top