Tow Vehicle

Hello Dave,
lone Ranger here.... I am trying to lay back and encourage others to have more of a go here on the Forum, but with 42 viewings and no answers to you, I thought I might interject something.... Primarily because I have towed with a Troop Carrier since the prototype Bushtracker I first built over 13 years ago... A steel framed Viscount, with two spares on the front, a reinforced a-frame, light truck tyres and suspension, and was the laughing stock of my 4x4 Club for about a year.... The butt of all jokes... Ha! Poor old van only lasted a short while before it literally start to come apart at the seams, but it was the birth of the Bushtracker concept. I took a hiding in my 4x4 Club, the butt of all kinds of jokes..

Then like all Pioneers I could have my smile as I started to see them with vans the next year, as they saw it was possible to go 4x4 with a van. Nevermind my old Viscount only lasted about 18 months and the corners of walls and roof started to open up, and cabinets were walking out from the walls and my normal 20 minutes with a screw gun every time we stopped could not keep it together any more.... The ground was broken and more followed. A tent just did not cut it when they saw the level of comfort I could drag in Low Range 4x4 !!! The pioneering breakthrough was done, we just had to build one that could hold together and so Bushtracker was born about 12 years ago.

I have had three Troop Carriers. Tracy has also had at least one, and a couple of 80 Series, and we both had 100 Series and I still have an old Sahara that my Son drives now and a 100 Series, my Wife drives. I have had two Turbo Troop Carriers, Tracy one. Your van at 2480, must have almost all of our Optional Equipment on board, a very well equipped van. You Troop Carrier can tow 3500, there may be typo in your Post. I am somewhat of an engineering expert on what can be done with a Landcruiser.. Now to the Crux if it all:

I had the same dilemma, towing extensively out West and in the NT. I investigated a year and looked at 20 vehicles that had the V-8 diesel conversion in Toyotas and studied all the engineering myself. The long and short of it is two fold, first of all it is just not necessary. Second of all it is just not worth doing the conversion, which will cost about $20,000 and is hard on the gear boxes. I can tell you the engineering details involved, but it is just not worth the overcapitalization of the vehicle. I ended up buying a second hand Ford F-350 7.3 litre diesel Crew Cab 4x4, 6-7 years ago when it was so rare people stopped and stared...

NOW, having towed Bushtrackers with three different Fords, one of the first to do so many years ago, I will tell you something you should take to heart.... Is it better? YES in every way except city parking... BUT IS IN NECESSARY???? RESOUNDINGLY NO !!!!! In your sized van it is definitely not necessary. There is probably no other vehicle as capable and durable as your Troop Carrier, in that size of van. So you have the choice to go to the big Fords (or Dodge or Chev) but in a 19' you cannot justify it. Me, oh heck yes! But I fully realize that under about 21' Toyota is still the King and our most common tow vehicle, and for that job the Troop Carrier is about as good as it gets.

Maybe just slow down and accept that you are not going to pass everybody. The Troopy will do fine. Expect about 500,000 miles out of the engine, and do the tranmission and transfer case rebuild at about 250,000 km. Do your tailshaft u-joints at 100,000 and spines at about the 200,000 if they are getting loose. Accept it and live with what is probably the best tow vehicle for your sized van... The Fords are superior in every aspect except tight corners out Bush and parking in town. With a bigger van you have no choice over about 21', but at 19' it is hard to justify anything more than what you have... The backing and filling in tight spots out Bush with a Ford, is not worth it when the Troop Carrier is so capable in a smaller van like a 19'.. For me it is, I love the big bed, and the power, and better fuel economy towing, and more the room and more storage, but it is not necessary in your size of van. I love the bigger towing capacity of 4500 in the Brazillian built Fords, and 6000 kg towing capacity of my full import one... But I have an over equipped 22' Bushtracker. It would be hard to justify with only a 19'. Live with the Troopy, She's all right...

Kind Regards, lone Ranger, been doing it longer than most....

Hi Dave

Can I suggest you run the loaded van over a weighbridge. I have seen many people shocked at the differance between estimated weight and real weight.
Knowing the real weight should help you choose what vehicle would be best suited.

Cheers

Darryl

Yes Steve it was, i did not mention the brand as i felt that as i had not weighed the van at its completed stage and then had 'extra's' fitted at a later stage [2 extra 62lt tanks] & things like the genny, chainsaw, fuel for both, outboard, TV etc, i felt that because i could not give an honest figure of its before weight it was unfair of me to cast any judgement on its total weight, all i could write was what it actually weighed on the weigh bridge regardless of where the weight came from it was a heavy 16'6" van, It was perplexing to us as we have been camper trailer owners for many years and tend to travel fairly light compared to some we know & seen. Hope you understand my thinking.

Suffice to say we have gone with BT as we feel they better suit us and our lifestyle.

I fully support Steve's comments re Toyota's and particularly the Troopies with the extra space & load capacity.
If I was buying new now I'd certainly wait for the V8
As for am turbos on the 1HZ motors,I have just learned the hard way that they have a not uncommon tendency to blow pistons/ and or con rods as they are NOT built to turbo strength.

Particularly when loaded to 3.3 t and 3.5 ton of BT behind and a van brake seizes and you dont see the temp guage til too late.

Mine is going to cost me around $3,500 to put in turbo strength pistons con rods and gudgeons if I do it myself, Don't know about the head yet but something is leaking there too.
I'm going to spend another $1,800 on a Denco intercooler kit while I'm at it.
If you are going 2nd hand, look for a factoury turbo troopy and save yourself a potential problem.

Hi Dave
We have a IHD Turbo 100 series Toyota.Our BT is 20ft.We purchased the Toyota and BT new around 2.5 yrs. ago.We think they were made for each other.The BT has done around 80,000 klms around Australia.Dirt roads include Birbsville Track,Gibb River Rd.,Strzelecki Track,Oodnadatta Track,Savannah Way and a few more.The 100 series has done 105,000 klms.I find that a max.speed of 95klms. per hr.is pretty good on the tar.On the dirt we drive to the CONDITIONS.While towing I change the oil and filter every 5000 klms.Diffs etc every 20,000 klms,Some might say that its to often,but oil is cheaper than nuts and bolts.Touch wood the Toyota has given us no trouble.BT. I service bearings etc. every 10,000klms.Suspension tolerances after 80,000 klms are still in range Hope this helps a bit. Bob

Gotta agree with the L.R., we travel fairly regularly with our B.T. which is 6 point something Metre's from "noze cone" to blunt end and our last 2 x L.C.100 series have been searched out as we prefer the solid front end, the un-complicated naturally aspirated diesel's which we have fitted with after market turbo's ( namely Dynamic). We have purposely searched out low km used manual vehicles and handles all situations without fuss.

"Sundy "

Well having not a tojo but a new 2006 4.2 turbo intercooled Nissan Patrol fitted with tray and canopy and towing an 18ft BT I have found that the slightest slope or head wind and the motor is working hard. I would reckon that I am all up around the 6 ton mark, This is a fair load for the Nissan and I for one will be seriously looking at the new Tojo v8 as I feel that mine is seriously lacking torque, because I have only done 20000k in the Nissan most will say that the vehicle is not run in yet. But I reckon that the power is just not there to tow 6 ton constantly.
As far as comfort etc the Nissan is fine but it is the old motor fitted with turbo and intercooler that is lacking the capacity to tow and carry that sort of weight.
I am open for comment or advice but to me being an ex tojo man for 20 odd years the Nissan is seriously lacking motor wise.
cheers
Kev

Hi
Have a 2002 1hz aftermarket i/c turbo with gas conversion have not towed van yet but will be off to Victoria 11 jan 07, so will have a full report later that month.Fuel consumtion has reduced by app 3 lt/100 km here on Magnetic Island fairly hilly and short runs, so would expect around 17lt/100km towing as against 20lt/100km pre gas conversion towing at around 90 kmh. The other advantage is reduction in turbo lag, oil runs cleaner, motor cooler as most of the diesel is used by the motor as the gas acts as a catalyst to fully burn the fuel.The $2000 rebate is also available.

Regards Terry Bridges.

We towed our 21ft BT with a 100 series Land Cruiser, tare 2480 and gross about 3300 before we added extra battery, 2 water tanks and extra solar panel. Cruiser had plenty of power.

Changed to F250 to get ute for storage and boat carrying, and found longer wheel base helped with stability when towing especially when a truck pushing a lot of air was overtaking.

We have travelled with friends who have a 16ft BT that has a gross of over 3000 kgs and he tows with a Patrol 3lt turbo and he finds it also tows well. He was able to tow his van around the 95 - 100kph while we were travelling with them.

Brian

Ian, (Mobi Condo) I tried to get a recond 1hdt (factory turbo) exchange motor for mine but no engine reconditioner wants to exchange a blown 1HZ for a hdt which is the motor that drops strait in . any later models require extensive mods.
Even at the quoted $5,300 (includes new head, HZ turbo pistons, heavier con rods & gudgeons) for a recondioner to do the job I tkink its the best way to go

Yes Ranger I agree that over heating was the cause of MY engine failure
Since I have been looking for remedies tho I have talked to a lot of engine reconditioners etc. and Their reports are the basis for my statement that it is not oncommon for AM turbod 1HZ motors to blow piston and or con rods & gudgeons when worked hard for extended periods.
I also agree with you that ANY unmaintained motor is sure to fail early.
That was certainly NOT the cause of my engine failure.
When towing I check engine oil & water & tyres every morning, gearbox & rear diff weekly & change engine oil @ 5000 ks and filter @ 10,000 @ fuel filters @ 20,000.
I've had 2 older Tojos 1 was still going past 400,000 and 1 past 300,000 with original motors, clutches, gearboxes & diffs (can't say much for body conditions tho)

We bought the BT and 100 series T/D as a set. We are 2460kg but with 5 tanks plus the bits run out at 3300 kg loaded.
We have 225,000 ks on the 100 series, about 30,000 of this towing the BT.
We live in NSW and fequently are travelling the south coast which has a range of hills. I found it a little frustrating on the hills, but it is fine and I averaged 100km/hr on most roads. Cruising at 110-115km is no issue and had it higher overtaking.
I run road radials with Bilstein shocks most of the time as open road driving/handling is important to me when not towing. Here the car is better than a lot of options.
Off road it does everything I need. I compensated for wheel travel with a rear diff lock (no traction control in 2001) and with anti-stall, it's more capable than me.
I gave up waiting for the V8, and recently put the safari chip and a 3" exhaust on and it has changed the power so much. I got 35% more torqe at 50km/hr, and no dead spots in the curve. It's a different vehicle.
While I was intending to buy the 100 series replacment, I now am considering getting the last of the 100 series. Power is more than I need and I have so many bits.
The only issue I have is dirt and especially corrigations. I have stiffened rear + front and if the V8 has struts like the Hilux, it may sway me. I'll wait for the new model to be at least 2nd release anyway, so meanwhile I'm more than happy with the 3 'faces' of my tow vehicle.