Replacement Vehicle for Towing

[PradoGXL08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PradoGXL08]

Hi All,

As we all know Toyota Prado is an excellent on Road machine and also in 4WD, but what it does lack is some serious towing capacity.
To this end, as I am starting a review of options, and I would like to know what would people suggest to look at - I'm a Single Person no Kids.


The vehicle must be Turbo Diesel, Auto, 4WD and have access to some decent rubber, able to fit long range tanks, and of course towing capacity of at least 3000kgs.

I have started to read up on the Toyota L/C 200 GXL
Toyota L/C 100 GXL
Holden Colorado LTZ Twin Cab

Is there anything else worth looking at, excluding Ford Utes.

The reason for this, is that I am looking at selling my Tvan, and upgrading to a Caravan.
The trouble being Semi Offroad Vans (18'6 up) have a Tare of 2300-2650kgs, so my Prado must go in order to get a Proper Tow Tug.

What are peoples thoughts / suggestions or experiences?

All comments gratefully received

Stuart

[QUICKY Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close QUICKY]

I was in the same position with my Prado and van, fully loaded it went 2.8t. So we went the way of the LC200 and have had no regrets, apart from not having a Prado to go to any more GTG's . We are about to up grade to a full offroad van and it tares in at 2.8t so the power of the 200 will come in handy. My brother inlaw went the way of the Mazda BT50, same as the Ford Ranger though, it has been getting better economy than my cruiser so far (pulls a 21ft offroad van) but his trips so far have been on the black top. Will be interesting to so how it goes in the long term. All my trips pulling the van so far have been time restricted so I have not been driving for economy, set cruise at 100 and go for it and then it only costs me about 6km/100lt over and above it's around town consumption. The cruiser with all its add ons and fully fueled and water tank full now goes 3.3t instead of the standed 2.6t. You also get plenty of options for the LC200, with the 17"wheels you have a good selection of tyres and other bits.We have fitted a LongRanger combo tank 121lt fuel and 55lt water and gives a total of 215lt of fuel, good touring range

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Hi All,

As we all know Toyota Prado is an excellent on Road machine and also in 4WD, but what it does lack is some serious towing capacity.
To this end, as I am starting a review of options, and I would like to know what would people suggest to look at - I'm a Single Person no Kids.


The vehicle must be Turbo Diesel, Auto, 4WD and have access to some decent rubber, able to fit long range tanks, and of course towing capacity of at least 3000kgs.

I have started to read up on the Toyota L/C 200 GXL
Toyota L/C 100 GXL
Holden Colorado LTZ Twin Cab

Is there anything else worth looking at, excluding Ford Utes.

The reason for this, is that I am looking at selling my Tvan, and upgrading to a Caravan.
The trouble being Semi Offroad Vans (18'6 up) have a Tare of 2300-2650kgs, so my Prado must go in order to get a Proper Tow Tug.

What are peoples thoughts / suggestions or experiences?

All comments gratefully received

Stuart

If it is just you, why go for such a big van, I would go for a smaller van and keep the Prado, or if you can find a swb 150, they can tow 3500kg legally.

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

If it is just you, why go for such a big van, I would go for a smaller van and keep the Prado

x2

Dmax utes are getting good reviews

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Utes are a compromise even now. One or two up isn't bad but if you have to subject adults to rear seat travel for more than 2km your friendship is going to be tested.

You know the options so the question is whether you want to go for a wagon still and that limits you to Rovers, 200s and 70s possibly the other P word. Utes are plentiful with a 3t towing capacity.

You could of course go all out and run a fifth wheeler.

A mate has just bought a 70 series wagon and it is quite good, larger exhaust and Steinbauer and a few other bits. Still primitive compared to a Prado but it does have the 3.5t towing capacity and live axles. But cart springs at the back.

[sweetpea Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sweetpea]

If it is just you, why go for such a big van, I would go for a smaller van and keep the Prado, or if you can find a swb 150, they can tow 3500kg legally.

My SWB 150SX with Toyota tow bar says 3000kg on the plate.

I tow a relatively light off road hard floor camper trailer and it drives as if there is nothing there.

On the last trip thru the Flinders, Oodnadatta, Dalhousie, Mt Dare and Finke etc. it returned just over 10lt/100k.

S.

[Guest Close Guest]

The SWB only has 1 tank. Is a long range tank available?

[Bassett Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bassett]

The SWB only has 1 tank. Is a long range tank available?

There is a replacement tank available that has a capacity of 137 litres. From memory, I believe "Dulcie" has one installed.

http://www.longrangeautomotive.com.a...category_id=17

[D4Dforme Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4Dforme]

I recently stepped into a LC200 for towing my boat......only 1800kg fully loaded but wanted something that would do it easily.....the 200 does this job well.........Bigger vehicle more room and much more planted when towing........in fact its hard to not speed it will do 120-130 if you don't watch it carefully.......Just did a 600k round trip towing with the cruise control on and returned a 14.2ltrs per 100k fuel average and I passed every road train at 140kph with ease.........I had a 4.7ltr V8 petrol 100 series before my prado which I thought was a good tow rig but the 200 blows it away in power economy and ride.They are that good.....650nm torque is hard to beat.

Dan

[JoshF Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close JoshF]

problem with the stock 200 series is the low GVM (if that matters to you)

[JPH Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close JPH]

Just depends how big you want to tow, the next step up from a tvan for one wold surely by an AORC Quantum or a Complete Campsite Exodus, still can be towed quite comfortably by a Prado. I suppose it just depends where you want to go, how comfortable you want to be and how deep the pockets are. True offroad vans start from around $75k +... Add to that a 200 series with a gvm upgrade plus all the toys..... Can't see any change out of $200 k... That's why I plan keep the 150 for now and build a light weight van that's only about 14 foot.

Good luck with the search.

[Sako85 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Sako85]

I would be going for a lighter van for sure but if you want tow heavy, weight is king.

I don't think you could find a better tow vehicle than a 200 series

[rhs58 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rhs58]

I have bought a Land Rover Discovery 4 and sold the 120.
Ask me in 3 years if I've done a good thing.
I tow an AOR Quantum, but am looking to upgrade that to something bigger from AOR. Fantastic trailers - recommended.
Prado is an ok tow vehicle. Toyota Australia however is a disappointment.
LR D4 with SDV6 is sensational. 188 kW, 600 NM.
Apparently my pockets are endlessly deep. I shall keep working.....

[PradoGXL08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PradoGXL08]

Hi All,

Thanks for the suggestions to date.

While the Tvan is an excellent Product, and I don't really want to sell it down the track, I need to.
My preferred option is to keep it, so I had one Offroad Camper and One Semi OffRoad Caravan.

Unless Money falls from sky, in which case I will keep it.
The funds from the Tvan will go towards the new Caravan, which will be more comfortable and I will be able to take my dogs with me, without
the problem of it being to hot or humid.

I have been reviewing Lotus Caravans as one possible brand, either the Freelander or Trooper.

I plan to use the van on the following tracks:

Birdsville Track
Oodnadatta Track + others in same area
Gibb River Road
Tanami Track
Sheepyard Flat (Mansfield)
Maybe Gunbarrell Hwy
+ the Big Lap.

But that is it. It will be a caravan for GTG Base Camps and General Holidays in.

By the way, has anyone heard any whispers about the New Prado 150 (Upgraded) increasing Tow Capacity to 3000kgs?

I ask this as a Caravan Dealer (not Lotus) mentioned it to me.
It said it was going to happen middle to late this year.

Stuart

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

I plan to use the van on the following tracks:

Birdsville Track
Oodnadatta Track + others in same area
Gibb River Road
Tanami Track
Sheepyard Flat (Mansfield)
Maybe Gunbarrell Hwy
+ the Big Lap.

Stuart

I've driven all those roads except sheep yard flat, a good off road will be fine for most of them, but I wouldn't be taking a van on the Gunbarrel. All the others are maintained roads but the Gunbarrel hasn't seen a grader in decades, it's a whole different kettle of fish compared to the others.

Cheers Andrew