Advice on new towcar - 4x4 or people carrier

[Tim2]

Hi Folks

I am looking to change my tow car.

I currently tow my 2006 Bailey Senator Arizona (1500Kg) with a 1998 Vauxhall Monterey (Isuzu Trooper) 3.2 Petrol (+LPG conversion) automatic. I have had the car since April 2001. Quite pleased with car but now thinking of changing it for a number of reasons.

(1) Reliability and repairs are becoming a problem:

(a) Summer 2006 auto gearbox failed in Belgium on the way home and car and caravan had to be repatriated by Britannia Rescue - lots of extra problems including carriers doing £1K+ damage to the caravan in transit. Still not sure why gearbox failed, gearbox had just been serviced, but had to be replaced at £3K+. I had already had had fitted an additional gearbox oil cooler to the gearbox after it failed and had to be rebuilt in 2001!!

(b) Parts are getting hard to find have had to go to Isuzu dealer as Vauxhall can no longer get parts. Few available second hand spares.

(c) This summer car broke down AGAIN in early August in Italy with, as yet, undiagnosed but probably electrical fault. As all Opel dealers in Italy closed for month of August car is being repatriated to UK Vauxhall dealers this week for diagnosis and repair. As with CC Red Pennant this year much better breakdown service and especially provision of hire tow cars so that we could continue with holiday

(2) The Monterey will soon be 10 years old and I'll no longer be able to get Red Pennant "Plus" or similar breakdown cover when caravanning abroad

We are looking for a replacement tow car in the price range £10-12K (possibly plus part -ex for Monterey). We want plenty of power as in addition to the 1500Kg of the van we go away for 4-5 weeks continental touring with a mileage of 2K+ miles plus up to 10 UK caravan breaks over the year. We carry a lot of luggage including 3.1 metre zodiac boat, outboard motor, awning and a lots of bottles of cidre and wine on the way home. We would, also, prefer a high noseweight limit as we currently carry 2-3 bikes on Witter tow-bar mounted carrier.

I am wondering if a people or carrier or large estate may be up to the job as cheaper to run than 4x4. Rarely used 4x4 option in the last 6 years. Would consider petrol and convert it to LPG or possibly diesel although a little concerned about pollution issues with diesel.

All suggestions and comments welcome. Thanks in anticipation.

Tim

 

[DavidW1]

Hi Tim,

Sorry to here about the problems with the Montery - I, until recently had a 94 Bighorn, which is the japanese built equivalent model. It was super reliable and an excellent towcar but I have heard numerous stories about the Vauhall version and I gues the quality must have slipped a bit under the Luton assembly and "stewardship"

Anyway I have gone back to Mitsubishi Shoguns, not because the Bighorn was a bad car I hasten to add but because they are just so much nicer to drive.

You could probably get a mint low mile 3 or 4 year old LWB for your budget, reliability would be the least of your worries and towing would be dream. Late Model Shoguns have to be in 4wd for towing by the way.

On LPG, I ran a Shogun Mk11 SWB on LPG several years ago and it performed OK and was of course very easy on the pocket. one problem though is that space underneath the SWB is very restricted which means having a reduced size petrol tank. I don't think the LWB is much better iether and they don't have the advantage of an inboard spare wheel well for a doughnut tank.

On another tack - your budget would get you a near new Korean truck such as the Terracan or Sorento. It would probably have to be diesel though although the Sorento does come with a V6, I have also seen them running with LPG, Try the website for the LPG dealer in Humberside as they sometimes have them for sale or conversion.

 

[DavidW1]

PS. Tim the site is AMS and they have a couple of very nice LPG Toyota Landys on there at circa your budget and they are awesome towcars, with LPG I would say econoawsome!

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Tim,

As ever its down to your own choice based on your perceived needs and the ability of the vehicles you look at.

However , based on your preferred equipment list, I seriously doubt that you will find any car or estate even people carriers with the tow ball limit great enough to cope with the bike rack and the caravan combined.

I am concerned that you may even be exceeding the limit of your current vehicle, please check.

This rather limits you to the larger 4x4's or possibly a commercial van based people carrier.

You might possible consider looking at an American import vehicle such as a GMC/chevey Astro van. Some of these have AWD, and a serious towing limit. Sadly these will all be second hand now, but quite well specified.

The choice of Diesel or Petrol? Most experienced towers with cars and PC's will point to a diesel, for its torque and relatively good fuel economy. But with the larger 4x4s, the bigger petrol engines can give a more satisfying drive, and in most cases conversion to LPG is a possibility.

Over to you

 

[Paul_374295069]

Hi Tim I would personally go for a people carrier. Are you the same Tim I have seen on another site

 

[Tim2]

Thanks for the advice John, Paul and David. I will follow up your suggestions. Thanks for your concern John regarding towbar limit, or at least the car's. The Vxhall Monty has a towbar weight limit of 135Kg. I have the caravan noseweight at 85Kg allowing 50 for the bikes and carrier. The bikes are lightweight ones and come within this limit.

Paul - Yes you have probably seen me on other caravan websites I post on 5 different ones - my wife says I'm addict. She could be right but I have received, and given, a lot of helpful advice by this method.

Thanks again.

I'm still open to further suggestions.

Regards

Tim