Tow Vehicles

Go for a test drive in a F250 7.3 diesel. Take the kids and try a 4 door. If the kids are happy go for it.
We are towing with F250 2 door single cab and can't be happier.
Fuel consumption not too bad either.
Last trip Plenty, Tanami, GRR, Gulf Rd, 19,000 Kl, hooked up all the time, van 3000 Kg, 200lt long range tank and gear in truck avge for trip was 21.7 Lt/100 K
Cant get Cruiser and Patrol drivers to give fuel figures, I think that they are embarressed

Don't be fooled into thinking the only cost of crarvanning is the fuel cost. For overall economy in total cost of caravanning I''l bet my petrol patrol will be a fraction of your F250. I once saw a study of costs of diesel verses petrol vehicles and the petrol won hands down and that was when diesel was cheaper which is certainly not the case now. Fuel is but one of the costs to be considered when quantifying the total outlays in satisfying the pangs of our leisure time. Take the time and do some sums and make a judgement form there. Nomad

We have a 21' van with 5 water tanks fully loaded 3300 kg. We used to tow it with 100 series Turbo diesel which was adequate, but up graded to a Ford F250 twin cab ute with carryboy canopy. We now have included a tinny on top and outboard and all the boat equipment goes in the back. The Ford uses 20Lts per 100km with more load than the Toyota that used 25lts per 100km. The Ford has so much more power on hills and we often overtake Toyotas and Patrol towing smaller vans as they slow on hill. The long wheel base also makes a much better towing platform, as well as legally being able to carry 1000kg more than the others. Brian.

Well I have to agree with Nomad on that point.
Even at current fuel prices fuel is still the cheapest thing you put into a vehicle when you look at servicing, insurance, rego etc etc.
But who cares.
I just love powering past cruisers and Patrols going up long steep hills.
Especially when they are not even towing.
The power trip does great things for the ego!!!!
Turist

Yeah Turist I guess it's a sort of male "mines bigger than yours thing"........I envy you. Trouble is when you are a self funded retiree, you have to pull in the old head and try and dodge the circling sharks taking a little chunk out of ya at every opportunity and get paid for the privelege of doing it. It eventually comes to all us and the feds couldn't are less. Nomad

Brian,
Your rig is the same as ours any chance of photo or details of your roof rack system.
We have not got to that point yet, got the boat etc, but no racks.
I have been wating for Rhino to develop there boat loader for the carryboy.

Graham

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Re: Carryboy and Rhino.
We have an F250 with Carryboy canopy.
Also long range (200Lt) fuel tank if you want details.
To fit Rhino gear to the Carryboy we have used the Rhino commercial tracks as they will accept the entire range of Rhino supports, clamps, racks, bars etc.
To strengthen the rig the tracks are rivetted through the fiberglass to 50 x 25 Duragal RHS painted matt black so you dont notice it from inside.
The tracks are also bonded with black sikaflex.
We used this with a Rhino roof rack on the last trip and it was well loaded with firewood at times and no signs od stress over the corrugated roads.
The next step is to fit vertical supports from the top edge of the tray to the RHS and this will be done before we fit the Rhino boat carrier that came off our Patrol.
Give me a call if you need to discuss.
Turist aka Bob 0417 246694

Carry Boy in Brisbane got some longer tradesman bars over from New Zealand and put them on their roof mounting. I then went to Roof racks Galore in Brisbane who put the boat loader on, but used steel instead of the normal aluminium. They were not happy with the amount of overhang due to the sloping rear window, so I put an aluminium square tube between the rear of boat loader and rear bumper bar on each side and now there is no flex at all in the roof.
Brian

Brian, loved the photos of your setup. Angie (Angie luuurves photos)

has anyone considered any other type of canopy for the F250 than carry-boy. i know andy had a chequerplate one made, but are there any other options out there worth considering? angie

Angie is back!
Whersyabin luv, thawing out those frozen fingers ?
I have seen 2 other canopies produced by local manufacturers and quite frankly you would not want one. Poor finish of fibreglass, no internal lining and a poor match to the vehicle.
Although Carryboy are produced in Thailand they seem to be the best so far.
And it's not a bad idea to have an opening rear window fitted to the cab when the canopy is fitted.
You can get access to the beer fridge while you are driving along.
Turist

awww he missed me! how sweet. actually the spring flowers are starting to come out and we actually had 2 hours of sunshine against a blue sky the other day. a joy to behold. thanks for the info. i was just checking the options. i see from your photo the window - open all the time is it? angie