The Dark Side

[Georgie]

Hi All
Well after a short absence due to work commitments im back on the forum but I don't know that I will still be welcome. After a lot of thought and deliberation I might be going to the dark side yes that's right I am thinking of going to a 200 series Landcruiser I have been worrying about the weight factors when towing my off road van don't get me wrong the Paj pulls it with no problems but the van weighs in at just over 2490kgs empty and is legal at 3000 kgs so I don't have a lot left to play with
So I am looking at 3.5 ton tow vehicles and so far the Cruiser is winning the one I am considering is a 2015 model Sahara with 75k on the dial its a one owner vehicle and is in immaculate condition as you would expect of this type of vehicle
I maybe selling my Paj private and would be asking around $36k its done 70k on the clock
and its got a lot of add ons as you can see from my avatar
So guys whats your thoughts on this and the purchase of the Sahara
Cheers
Georgie

[sharkcaver]

Seems like all the chickens are leaving the coup lately

[jkwpajero]

If you need to tow a heavy caravan comfortably and safely then a 200 Series Landcruiser is the go to machine. It will outperform all the dual cab utes on the market and you can cover huge distances easily. Still the king of tow vehicles, if you can afford the fuel bill. They do like a drink of diesel if heavily loaded and pushed hard. I have just gone the other way. From a very well setup auto diesel 80 Series for remote touring to a standard 2014 VR-X with low kilometers. I heading into grey nomad territory in my mature years.

[gaz1]

Be sure to do all the sums about weights for the 200 cruiser as you configure it for your purposes, including the van's ball weight and any heavy items you want to carry in it or add to it (eg steel bullbar/winch etc) - they actually have a relatively small payload capacity, and many owners who tow heavy vans have had to get a GVM increase on the 200 cruiser in order to stay legal.

[bsperka]

You have around 600kg to play with in a 200 landcruiser before you get to gvm. This is without a full tank of fuel. Add a bullbar and tow bar, a driver and some passengers and you are near /at / over the gvm. Still havent added luggage and food. Or the van's ball weight. Look at a Discovery instead.

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[Hill]

200 series is a lovely beast. There is a window of 2013-2015 models that have DLC injectors and no DPF. Not as carpark friendly as Pajero.

Hill

[starjunk]

You have around 600kg to play with in a 200 landcruiser before you get to gvm. This is without a full tank of fuel. Add a bullbar and tow bar, a driver and some passengers and you are near /at / over the gvm. Still havent added luggage and food. Or the van's ball weight. Look at a Discovery instead.

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A Disco???? No, Georgie doesn't just want to get there, but back as well
Sorry just baiting.

[gaz1]

200 series is a lovely beast. There is a window of 2013-2015 models that have DLC injectors and no DPF. Not as carpark friendly as Pajero.

Hill

Beauty must be in the eye of the beholder - not nearly as lovely as a 100 series (disclaimer: I did own one of those from 2000-2002; nice but boring).

[G Potter]

You have around 600kg to play with in a 200 landcruiser before you get to gvm. This is without a full tank of fuel. Add a bullbar and tow bar, a driver and some passengers and you are near /at / over the gvm. Still havent added luggage and food. Or the van's ball weight. Look at a Discovery instead.

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I have recently been through upgrading to a larger 4x4 due to van weights. I ended up with a 2013 discovery 4. GCM of6720kg 725kg payload the suspension has no need to be upgraded being air bags.
We have recently been through WA and Gibb river road towing a 2500kg tare full size off-road dust proof van. Van weights 3000kg when full of water. Only modification to the disco was a snorkel. Was on 19" time with Maxxis tyres did not have a tyre problem on the entire trip. The only downside is the fuel tank size.
Average fuel consumption was 18-20 l/100k on our trip, but we travel at 100k/he on the open road.
The motor/ gearbox combination with the off road drive system is awesome in these vehicles.
Cheers
Greg

[Dicko1]

After having used the NW for towing 1/2 of its 40,000klm I cannot fathom how anyone could say towing a van at 2 tonne or over is comfortable or even pleasant. My camper fully loaded may be 1.5 tonnes. I normally use 4th gear in sports mode. Often down to 3rd. Might be good if you lived on the Nullabor. Paying for a GVM to increase the vehicles potential is not something I,d be interested in. I,d rather buy a vehicle that was safer and built to handle a heavy load. The Disco would be a good choice. F250/350 would also be a good tow vehicle. Spending 100k on a 200 series and then more to enhance its towing capacity seems crazy to me. Everything's a compromise I suppose so in the end it comes down to money and really you have to ask the question...Why do I need a 3 tonne van?

[G Potter]

After having used the NW for towing 1/2 of its 40,000klm I cannot fathom how anyone could say towing a van at 2 tonne or over is comfortable or even pleasant. My camper fully loaded may be 1.5 tonnes. I normally use 4th gear in sports mode. Often down to 3rd. Might be good if you lived on the Nullabor. Paying for a GVM to increase the vehicles potential is not something I,d be interested in. I,d rather buy a vehicle that was safer and built to handle a heavy load. The Disco would be a good choice. F250/350 would also be a good tow vehicle. Spending 100k on a 200 series and then more to enhance its towing capacity seems crazy to me. Everything's a compromise I suppose so in the end it comes down to money and really you have to ask the question...Why do I need a 3 tonne van?

I agree with all that you say there Dicko.
In answer to the question why do I need a 3 tonne van all I can say is that it is bloody comfortable and we can bush camp for weeks on end. A well designed van will tow excellently behind the correctly set up vehicle, unfortunately there are a lot of dual cab utes out there overloaded with the big vans. But that is another discussion.
Cheers
Greg

[Dicko1]

I agree with all that you say there Dicko.
In answer to the question why do I need a 3 tonne van all I can say is that it is bloody comfortable and we can bush camp for weeks on end. A well designed van will tow excellently behind the correctly set up vehicle, unfortunately there are a lot of dual cab utes out there overloaded with the big vans. But that is another discussion.
Cheers
Greg

I see hundreds during the annual lemming run up in Cairns. I did meet a chap with a bloody big dodge ram and a 3 1/2 tonne van. About $350,000 set up. Nice bloke but he even admitted he had to spend many tens of thousands getting the dodge set up to tow the van. Money was of no concern to him. I have a small soft top camper and it wouldn't matter if you put me in a million dollar set up. Sleeping under the canvas with midgee proof netting will beat chipboard and plastic any day...but...each to their own.

[06PAJ]

2017 RAM 2500 has 4500kg towing capacity
Similar price to whats shelled out on cruisers
Maybe just not all the ARB extras available

[Dicko1]

2017 RAM 2500 has 4500kg towing capacity
Similar price to whats shelled out on cruisers
Maybe just not all the ARB extras available

This blokes van was 3.5tonne new. He added shitloads of extras (even carried 2 x 60litre kegs of beer, all set ready to drink!!). Nice rig. The springs on the rear of his truck were 10mm steel but unsure of how many leaves...lots. Massive amount of steel work as he also had a yammie quad, 40hp honda outboard, 14 foot tinny and more...all on the truck. He and wifey with 2 kids were living the dream for the 6 months at least. He did admit that he was also a little overweight. Wish I had taken photos now as the set up was elaborate. I would estimate at least $5000 just in aluminium bar work on the rear of the truck. Rear mounted winch and massive van hitch setup...Front winch and once again thousands of dollars of bar work. Reckon I,d like to be a millionaire for a while....lol.

[bsperka]

I've been looking at the Iveco Daily 4wd. Uglier than a hatful but towing wise and 4wd capable off the showroom floor. $100k price tag though and estimated 15l/100km.

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