Towing vehicle, what to buy?

[matchan]

My much better half has decreed that the boring Forester has to go, and in fact has gone in favour of something much more fun for her to drive.

This leaves me with a dilemma for towing the trackbike, which lives in a fully enclosed trailer along with my road bike. For trackdays, along with stands tools, fuel, etc the whole lot probably weighs a touch over 900Kgs.

The problem is I don't really know what to get, budget is 10-15K, less is always better but it needs to be reliable.

The trailer is tallish and sat behind the Forester pretty well (it had auto adjusting suspension to deal with the weight) so I'm thinking of an older hilux, navara, triton, etc, probably a diesel for the torque and dual cab for convienience, examples of these from 2005 onwards seem to fall into or below our budget but vary pretty wildly in kms (anything from ~120k to well over 300k) and condition.

The car is mainly for local stuff, getting to Eastern Creek, shopping, etc, but will need to make the trip to PI occasionally as well 2 or 3 interstate trips a year.

So the main question is how many K's is too much, even with service history and log books, but also, what problems to look for, anything else I should be considering, etc.

Of course, if anyone has something which might be suitable give us a shout.

Cheers
Matt

[Jonnymac]

Tune the Forrester and spent 10k on a new trackbike. .....

[z900/zx9]

Get an xr8, few years old good ones around for 10-15,000.I had a great one but my brother has it now.

[h.b.bear]

Be lucky to find a dual cab hilux for under 15grand but all these 4 cylinder turbos go and pull great, I have had 2 hiluxes and 2 prados and couldn't fault the power for cruising or for pulling a trailer

[fireyrob]

Im about to put Disco's sv6 for sale.

2008 MY09 48K km
Rego Sometime in June.
Rear Beeping Sensors
Has the Holden heavyduty towbar.

Ive replaced two tyres and two originals still on but need replacing now.

I replaced the battery a year ago too.

Lots of service history.

Disco and I only towed the trackbikes.

I paid him $15K a year ago.

If your keen make me an offer!

[fireyrob]

Just checked. Towing is max 2100kg braked or 750kg unbraked. Just thought Id better clarify!

[Disco]

Bargain of the century for you firey!...I cant complain it bought me a house

[Glen]

Get a Jeep.....oh hang I thought you said you wanted something that gets towed.

I'd get an older Hilux (whatever you can afford for the age). They go forever and are as reliable as all buggery. Chris's old Petrol 2.4 or 2.7 (can't remember) goes really well, you can't kill it and it will tow all sorts of stuff (900kg's is bugger all). You can chuck a decent looking set of Ford wheels on them to jazz them up a bit too. Added bonus you've got a ute which is always really handy.

[Wattie]

Frank is selling his xr6 too I think. Good car and within budget

[Smitty]

Im about to put Disco's sv6 for sale.

2008 MY09 48K km
Rego Sometime in June.
Rear Beeping Sensors
Has the Holden heavyduty towbar.
............

I've had 3 VE Sportwagons since they were released and all used to tow my race car (1230kg) and trailer (470kg) all over the countryside (and yes, many times to PI)
The back will hold helmets racesuits and shoes spares tool boxes jacks etc etc and apart from extra fuel use while towing. the rest is sedan car comfy and easy to live with
during the week during the commute. I have had zero issues ....currently looking to buy another

[Phil]

They are doing deals on Navara utes at the moment, that always affects resale prices......

[matchan]

Hey all,

Thanks for the info so far, a Navara could be the go as the Hiluxs seem to hold their value which puts them out of the range of what we'd like to pay, but also keeping an eye on Tritons, etc, looks like we'll be paying at the high end of our price range if not a touch over so it may come down to insurance costs in the end.

A wagon could also be an option if nothing presents itself in the meantime, will probably need to be a Holden though as Di will kill me if I bring a ford home (I have no horse in that particular race but I know what side my bread is buttered on!)

Cheers,
Matt

[Strika]

If going into a High pressure, direct injection turbo diesel 2nd hand, just keep in mind that if something breaks/fails/wears, the cost of certain parts are a tad scary. A fair few models had injector issues at higher klms. I've had lots of mates have injectors crap themselves around the 100-150k mark. Some more, some less. One injector alone can be a grand in certain models. A high pressure fuel pump can be as high as $3500. So do some research on issues of whatever model you are considering.

If it were my 10-15 grand I was spending, I would look at a used Hilux in a petrol. If fuel is a worry, buy one on gas and stick in a big tank and tune it to gas only. They go like stink then. But even standard they have enough poke. Reliable as fuck and bugger all to keep it running apart from Gas, Tyres, Brakes, Oil and filters. Buy a dual cab with a good lockable canopy on the back and your gear is not only secure, but separate to the cabin. If you buy one in a 4WD, then it will work with the new dirt bike your going to get!

[dave#3]

< $5k for a 2.7 petrol hilux 2wd, cheap to buy, cheap to run, bullet proof. Both of ours have > 250k kms and still go strong. In fact there might be a green 2wd Hilux for sale shortly ...

[Six Addict]

< $5k for a 2.7 petrol hilux 2wd, cheap to buy, cheap to run, bullet proof. Both of ours have > 250k kms and still go strong. In fact there might be a green 2wd Hilux for sale shortly ...

do this... just ask dave why he's selling it before you hand over the pineapples