Towing with Cruiser TDV8 trayback

Rob,

TD (Turbo Diesel) V8. The trayback is already turboed. It has the same power and torque as the LC100 Cruiser. The LC200 has much more power and torque and would obviously be the better tow vehicle but I prefer the trayback in the bush.

cheers

We have just fitted rear air bags to the rear of our F250 as these can be adjusted to suit towing and non towing,

Motherhen

Matt, thanks for the input. My current van is a 16'6'' model made by another off road van manufacturer based in Victoria. Reasons for moving to a bigger van are a bigger ensuite. The van we have ordered has an ensuite right across the back (it has a modified departure angle) with a separate toilet and big shower cubicle. The longer floor allows an island bed but still allows a lot of underbed storage via outside hatches. The east west bed in our current van is OK and hasn't been a problem but an island bed allows easier access for both people. My current van is let down by the use of Camec products, particularly the boot lid and some side hatches. They are just not dust proof and the bootlid allows water in (although I think I have solved that by using some rubber extrusion from Clark Rubber).

We went to the Sunshine Coast in October and booked a BT tour just out of curiosity. We had no intention of ordering but it is just constructed so well that we took the plunge. We were shown around by one of the senior people who took so much obvious pride in his work (as they all did) that it showed in the end result. I also must say that we found Steve to be a charming man. I was very aware of "perceptions" prior to our arrival and I was actually prepared to dislike him, but I cannot criticize a man's idiosincracies when I possess most of the same foibles myself. I would hate to think that people would dislike me because of their perceptions so that's how I approached the meeting.

But it was the van's construction that swayed us sufficiently strongly to sign up. Not a small decision either, when SIM get involved it will break the $120K barrier.

cheers

Just a short follow up regarding prices, for any one reading this who is thinking of ordering. I mentioned that we saw a van being delivered during our factory tour that we liked. The owner said that the cost of his van had gone up $15K in the year since he placed his order. He was very glad that placing the order locked in his price on day one.

Talking to Tracey confirmed this and also that the current lousy value of the Aussie dollar and the economic woes we are all seeing virtually ensures higher costs in the next 12 months too.

That also helped our decision to order and lock away the price, scary as it was.

cheers

At the factory we were told that a significant percentage of the materials and fittings are imported. Most products ordered from overseas by Aussie companies have to be paid for in US dollars. It did not sound like a fabrication to allow increased prices.

Also, I think we have to remember that less than 12 months ago BHP and Rio Tinto were crowing that they got a 96% increase in the sale price of iron ore to the Chinese (96% !!). Now that iron ore is coming back to us as expensive steel.

I take some comfort in knowing that BT have 12 months worth of orders and there's sufficient margin in those orders to ensure they do not follow Boroma.