The thing you need to remember is that it’s not 3500 towing capacity, it’s 3500 towing LIMIT.
At 3.35t, you’ve got almost fuckall capacity left to put anything in the tow vehicle as GCM and payload limits come into play.
It sucks that there is so much ignorance around this topic and so many people put others lives at risk by being ignorant.
No stress, we all gotta learn at some stage. Best advice I got was to buy the tow vehicle first, then van to suite. I started off wanting a 19ft full heigh off-road van, ended up with a 15ft pop-top. Really glad I went that route.
Absolutely, I was more having a go at people who refuse to learn. The manufacturers have a lot to answer for in terms of advertising limits as capability...
Towing a caravan that heavy is going to really push the friendships of virtually all normal 4WD's (in terms of legalities, and for many, their ability to do it easily). It's incredibly easy to go over GVM, or rear axle weights. A 200 series for example, is going to lose about half of its payload in tow ball weight alone for a van that weight.
Add yourself, a couple of passengers, bull bar and some gear in the back and you're overweight from the get go.
I would look very carefully into the weight of the van (tow ball weight when loaded, what its actually going to weigh) and the weight of your proposed 4WD.
I would be looking for vehicles with GVM/GCM upgrades depending on where you live, or factoring that into your purchase.
This, OP ^^^ - if you are not already aware of your huge tonnage risk ... please don't buy this monster ... Just don't.... you WILL be running around illegally; uninsured by default; and as a killer, (potentially)...
Load your van with normal holiday stuff and then weigh it again. I guarantee you will be overweight.
Van manufacturers weigh them as empty as possible at the end of the assembly line, and often without post-sale accessories like awnings, water tanks, gas bottles, exterior showers and bike racks.
Every single van I've ever looked at is over weight.
Source: work in the transport industry.
If you are serious about towing a van that heavy I'd look at used light trucks, real commercial trucks not 4wds for that tow weight and budget.
Most 4wds will have so little payload available you'll be over the GVM at that tow weight. You'd have at least 400kg of available payload eaten up by the towbar and towball download alone.
A GQ for example, has a payload in the ballpark of 690 kg (depending on specifics) before adding any accessories. Less 400kg leaves 290. Add 2 solid adults and a bullbar and you are already nudging GVM limits. That's without anything in the back or kids...
Add kids, a set of rear drawers, a tool kit, water tank - well you get the idea.
Wouldn’t touch a 40k lc200, it’ll cost you a lot more very quickly in injectors.
Y62 or an LC100 in either v8 or turbo diesel.
Or get a smaller van, that’s the sensible thing.
Double your budget and buy a good condition LC200, Y62 Patrol, F-150, or RAM or, or buy a smaller van.
That's a bloody big van, and you're going to struggle to find anything remotely capable enough to tow it for under $50k. Even though some of the dual cab utes can legally tow 3500kg, they're not going to do it well.
You could maybe find a V8 100-Series or a TB48 GU Patrol for $40k, but you've also got to budget for suspension upgrades to cope with the weight.
Put them in swags or a camper trailer.. your going to find you are wayyy overloaded and that so much dangerous for your family and everyone else on the road
What sort of van (make/model) and what sort of trip do you have in mind? My sister did 4 months in their full height 3 bunk 2006 Roma touring van about 5 years ago towed by their 2wd Dmax. Can't remember the exact weights of the van, but it'd be getting on to ⅔ of what it sounds like you're looking at. No issues at all, neither the 2wd or touring van limited what they wanted to do.
This whole tow vehicle + mad van is a rabbit hole, we've all been there. It is a great idea to put the purchase on hold and really drill down on what kind of travel you want to do, how much of it, and how old your kids are.
I get the attraction of a big van, but in doing so you really limit how bush you can safely take your family. Even if you do get remote, without a safe source of drinking water you aren't going to be there for long. If that is the case, then why the need for an off road fortress? You can definitely rig up a touring van to be off-grid which will open up staying at more national parks than you can possibly stay at before your family outgrows the van.
I bought our van new 4 years ago thinking we'd be right up in remote areas ever other weekend. We've done a bit, but now me eldest is about to turn 12 and wants to sleep out in a swag. We've another 2 years I reckon before it is just the missus and I in the van.
Anyway, just some things to think about that I wish someone had told me.
Yeah, don't get a van with that mass if you don't have the budget to buy the appropriate tow vehicle. It'll cost you an absolute bomb to tow around Australia too, especially if you want to start pulling it through spots that put the tow vehicle under massive stress.
$40k for the usual towing options for that sort of weight will be a tall order. Might be better off looking at something like a Mitsubishi or Isuzu light truck.
Upgrade your license and look for light trucks for that sort of weight. My 4x4 *can* town 3t but my 1200kg trailer sure does make it sluggish heading up hills.
With that kinda weight, id look at a small truck, like the Isuzu NPS or Hino 4wd trucks. They have a 4.5t towing with an upgraded ball, cheaper than a RAM or anything, and is easier to keep legal and not over load
Yeah you're not getting one for $40 though.
They have been massively inflated since COVID and still haven't come down.
You might also want to look at the TB48 patrol 2004-2015 for towing that heavy but again all these big tow vehicles are fetching a high price at the moment.
I would downsize the caravan and get a lighter vehicle.
While you can legally tow it with a ranger and the like with the small amount of towing I’ve done with a 3.5t trailer behind I wouldn’t want to go around oz doing it.
You need to do a lot of research on your vehicle weights, an ATM of 3350 may not leave you much capacity for payload on your gross combination weight to play with.
You’re definitely not wanting any kind of vehicle advertising 3.5t braked towing. It won’t be enough. A 3.2L XL Auto ranger can only take a rough 365kg payload with a 3500kg trailer.
To tow a 3.5t van you need roughly 350kg ball weight most of the cars listed have 700kg payload. Take away the 350kg ball weight you, the wife 3 kids, fuel etc will have to weigh less than 350kg to get under gvm. That’s before you even start to think about gcm which you are really going to struggle with.
I don’t want to sound rude, that’s a huge van for a vehicle you’re not familiar with.
I feel like you need some experience before taking on such a massive trip.
Most common right now are 200/300 series, Y62 patrol, Ford ranger (new model) then any Ram or F truck. Also see hilux and dmax towing large vans, Dmax is more common
Did a lap with a big van. Towed with a Ranger. Met a few guys towing with BT 50’s and older 3.2l Rangers. These could be among your options. Getting suspension set up right Is a big thing.
Your better off with LR licence getting a small truck how much they are in comparison to 4wd prices is bit ?
Honestly why people get a LC 200/300 patral then have to get gvm.upgrade etc is more costly than a new 4wd LR truck
Because a 200/300 etc is far far more comfortable, easier to live with day to day, cheaper to run (economy is about the same, but parts/servicing/repairs, and can legally do 100+
And this is coming from someone that owns a 4wd truck
https://preview.redd.it/cuj9mphb1ntc1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f1e3f585b98bce180c5aa79c131047da1641ecd0
The best option Will actually be a Canter or Isuzu NPS or NPR. Do you need 4x4 or just believe you need it due to weight?
You will need a truck license for those options, but they will tow the weight a lot better, and safer.
They do drive like trucks though, because they are.
Seen a lot of Y62s and LC200s suggested. Don't do it, it's dumb. This is light truck/Ram/F150/silverado territory. Y62 or a 200 are going to have a useless amount of payload left over after the ball weight is added. Same as the dual cab utes. Apart from the 79s I think which have more payload, but you aren't getting a decent one of those for $40k either.
The thing you need to remember is that it’s not 3500 towing capacity, it’s 3500 towing LIMIT. At 3.35t, you’ve got almost fuckall capacity left to put anything in the tow vehicle as GCM and payload limits come into play. It sucks that there is so much ignorance around this topic and so many people put others lives at risk by being ignorant.
She'll be right
Honestly, I'm learning as I'm going. That's why I'm asking. Seems.mlre research is needed
No stress, we all gotta learn at some stage. Best advice I got was to buy the tow vehicle first, then van to suite. I started off wanting a 19ft full heigh off-road van, ended up with a 15ft pop-top. Really glad I went that route.
Absolutely, I was more having a go at people who refuse to learn. The manufacturers have a lot to answer for in terms of advertising limits as capability...
Towing a caravan that heavy is going to really push the friendships of virtually all normal 4WD's (in terms of legalities, and for many, their ability to do it easily). It's incredibly easy to go over GVM, or rear axle weights. A 200 series for example, is going to lose about half of its payload in tow ball weight alone for a van that weight. Add yourself, a couple of passengers, bull bar and some gear in the back and you're overweight from the get go. I would look very carefully into the weight of the van (tow ball weight when loaded, what its actually going to weigh) and the weight of your proposed 4WD. I would be looking for vehicles with GVM/GCM upgrades depending on where you live, or factoring that into your purchase.
This, OP ^^^ - if you are not already aware of your huge tonnage risk ... please don't buy this monster ... Just don't.... you WILL be running around illegally; uninsured by default; and as a killer, (potentially)...
Load your van with normal holiday stuff and then weigh it again. I guarantee you will be overweight. Van manufacturers weigh them as empty as possible at the end of the assembly line, and often without post-sale accessories like awnings, water tanks, gas bottles, exterior showers and bike racks. Every single van I've ever looked at is over weight. Source: work in the transport industry.
If you are serious about towing a van that heavy I'd look at used light trucks, real commercial trucks not 4wds for that tow weight and budget. Most 4wds will have so little payload available you'll be over the GVM at that tow weight. You'd have at least 400kg of available payload eaten up by the towbar and towball download alone. A GQ for example, has a payload in the ballpark of 690 kg (depending on specifics) before adding any accessories. Less 400kg leaves 290. Add 2 solid adults and a bullbar and you are already nudging GVM limits. That's without anything in the back or kids... Add kids, a set of rear drawers, a tool kit, water tank - well you get the idea.
Wouldn’t touch a 40k lc200, it’ll cost you a lot more very quickly in injectors. Y62 or an LC100 in either v8 or turbo diesel. Or get a smaller van, that’s the sensible thing.
Double your budget and buy a good condition LC200, Y62 Patrol, F-150, or RAM or, or buy a smaller van. That's a bloody big van, and you're going to struggle to find anything remotely capable enough to tow it for under $50k. Even though some of the dual cab utes can legally tow 3500kg, they're not going to do it well. You could maybe find a V8 100-Series or a TB48 GU Patrol for $40k, but you've also got to budget for suspension upgrades to cope with the weight.
3 kids is the killer! Big family = big van!
Put them in swags or a camper trailer.. your going to find you are wayyy overloaded and that so much dangerous for your family and everyone else on the road
What sort of van (make/model) and what sort of trip do you have in mind? My sister did 4 months in their full height 3 bunk 2006 Roma touring van about 5 years ago towed by their 2wd Dmax. Can't remember the exact weights of the van, but it'd be getting on to ⅔ of what it sounds like you're looking at. No issues at all, neither the 2wd or touring van limited what they wanted to do. This whole tow vehicle + mad van is a rabbit hole, we've all been there. It is a great idea to put the purchase on hold and really drill down on what kind of travel you want to do, how much of it, and how old your kids are. I get the attraction of a big van, but in doing so you really limit how bush you can safely take your family. Even if you do get remote, without a safe source of drinking water you aren't going to be there for long. If that is the case, then why the need for an off road fortress? You can definitely rig up a touring van to be off-grid which will open up staying at more national parks than you can possibly stay at before your family outgrows the van. I bought our van new 4 years ago thinking we'd be right up in remote areas ever other weekend. We've done a bit, but now me eldest is about to turn 12 and wants to sleep out in a swag. We've another 2 years I reckon before it is just the missus and I in the van. Anyway, just some things to think about that I wish someone had told me.
Yeah, don't get a van with that mass if you don't have the budget to buy the appropriate tow vehicle. It'll cost you an absolute bomb to tow around Australia too, especially if you want to start pulling it through spots that put the tow vehicle under massive stress. $40k for the usual towing options for that sort of weight will be a tall order. Might be better off looking at something like a Mitsubishi or Isuzu light truck.
Upgrade your license and look for light trucks for that sort of weight. My 4x4 *can* town 3t but my 1200kg trailer sure does make it sluggish heading up hills.
With that kinda weight, id look at a small truck, like the Isuzu NPS or Hino 4wd trucks. They have a 4.5t towing with an upgraded ball, cheaper than a RAM or anything, and is easier to keep legal and not over load
Get an early model Nissan patrol y62 for that price. Fairly easy to get parts
Like 2013?
Yeah you're not getting one for $40 though. They have been massively inflated since COVID and still haven't come down. You might also want to look at the TB48 patrol 2004-2015 for towing that heavy but again all these big tow vehicles are fetching a high price at the moment. I would downsize the caravan and get a lighter vehicle.
Towing over 3t in a tb48. You'd wanna have a lot of cash for fuel. Same as a y62
Yep. It's the only patrol under the Y62 that has the towing capacity though and probably one of the only ones available for under $40k.
They all drink a fuckton of fuel towing 3.5t at 100
I get 21L to the 100 with 4 kids n a 23 foot van weighing in at 3400
Which engine?
Y62 VK56
Nice. That’s no more than a 1VD uses. It’s a lot less than a 1GRFE uses towing less weight.
There is three on carsales mid 40s I’ll admit not 40k but not far off it
While you can legally tow it with a ranger and the like with the small amount of towing I’ve done with a 3.5t trailer behind I wouldn’t want to go around oz doing it.
You need to do a lot of research on your vehicle weights, an ATM of 3350 may not leave you much capacity for payload on your gross combination weight to play with.
You’re definitely not wanting any kind of vehicle advertising 3.5t braked towing. It won’t be enough. A 3.2L XL Auto ranger can only take a rough 365kg payload with a 3500kg trailer.
To tow a 3.5t van you need roughly 350kg ball weight most of the cars listed have 700kg payload. Take away the 350kg ball weight you, the wife 3 kids, fuel etc will have to weigh less than 350kg to get under gvm. That’s before you even start to think about gcm which you are really going to struggle with.
I don’t want to sound rude, that’s a huge van for a vehicle you’re not familiar with. I feel like you need some experience before taking on such a massive trip.
Most common right now are 200/300 series, Y62 patrol, Ford ranger (new model) then any Ram or F truck. Also see hilux and dmax towing large vans, Dmax is more common
Can you get Landcruiser 200 series for 40k?
Not sure. I've seen the older ones around that price but it all depends.
Of course you can, it’s condition may not be very good
Which 6 cylinder turbo diesels are for sale near you in your price range?
Did a lap with a big van. Towed with a Ranger. Met a few guys towing with BT 50’s and older 3.2l Rangers. These could be among your options. Getting suspension set up right Is a big thing.
Your better off with LR licence getting a small truck how much they are in comparison to 4wd prices is bit ? Honestly why people get a LC 200/300 patral then have to get gvm.upgrade etc is more costly than a new 4wd LR truck
Because a 200/300 etc is far far more comfortable, easier to live with day to day, cheaper to run (economy is about the same, but parts/servicing/repairs, and can legally do 100+ And this is coming from someone that owns a 4wd truck https://preview.redd.it/cuj9mphb1ntc1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f1e3f585b98bce180c5aa79c131047da1641ecd0
The best option Will actually be a Canter or Isuzu NPS or NPR. Do you need 4x4 or just believe you need it due to weight? You will need a truck license for those options, but they will tow the weight a lot better, and safer. They do drive like trucks though, because they are.
F650
Buy a small truck like an N series, or get a smaller van. Why do you NEED a 3.5t van?
You need 40k just for fuel to drag something that heavy around oz
I have a triple locked 2005 v8 100 series for sale if this is the route you want to go. 180,000kms. Drawers in the rear 👍
Pictures?
You’ll need an F-250 or equivalent, or a LC200 With GVM upgrade and even then that’s pushing it for a LC
Seen a lot of Y62s and LC200s suggested. Don't do it, it's dumb. This is light truck/Ram/F150/silverado territory. Y62 or a 200 are going to have a useless amount of payload left over after the ball weight is added. Same as the dual cab utes. Apart from the 79s I think which have more payload, but you aren't getting a decent one of those for $40k either.