Tow Vehicle, on the cheap..

[KevGoat]

Towed various sizes of caravans (and other stuff) over 25 odd years with Falcons up to the EF and couldn't fault them. My Dad towed all over Aus in Falcons and later in VT2 Commodore then a VE Commodore and couldn't fault them. Also known many people who'd followed the trend and changed to 4WD's to tow with. Most have gone back to Falcons and Commodores. One friend tows with his Toyota Aurion and reckons it's the best he's ever towed with. He'd also had a Turbo Diesel 4WD for a short while and hated towing with it. Great pulling power but shocking turning circle, lousy vision and much less comfort and horrible around town he reckoned. Traded it on the Aurion after only a few months.

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[Smokinscotty]

For reference, I bit the bullet and got myself a Calais V 6l simply because it's a nice daily with a lot of fruit and it doesn't pain me to have to use it for my daily which is 95% of its use.
Having traded in my Landcruiser for it, I'm not sure I'd go back to an agricultural tow beast. Sure it was a dream for towing, but that was such a small percentage of the Kms travelled it pained me to drive/look at it day in day out.
Only thing the calais could really use is perhaps some heavier duty rear springs. Apparently a air intake and exhaust will do wonders for economy and daily enjoyment.

[zero00]

I think most have missed the blatently obvious!!

LEYLAND P76 V8

Just remember, if it breaks down or runs out of fuel simply lift the bonnet & boot and sail along!!

In all seriousness, many down south bought these as tow vehicles for their ski boats!!

[davekmoore]

I think most have missed the blatently obvious!!
LEYLAND P76 V8
Just remember, if it breaks down or runs out of fuel simply lift the bonnet & boot and sail along!!
In all seriousness, many down south bought these as tow vehicles for their ski boats!!

Having originally hailed from Leylandland I feel I must apologise for this motoring disaster. The only less than bad thing about it might have been the Buick motor. Of course, this was also later used to replace many dreadful Triumph, Rover and Jaguar motors.

[zero00]

I think most have missed the blatently obvious!!
LEYLAND P76 V8
Just remember, if it breaks down or runs out of fuel simply lift the bonnet & boot and sail along!!
In all seriousness, many down south bought these as tow vehicles for their ski boats!!

Having originally hailed from Leylandland I feel I must apologise for this motoring disaster. The only less than bad thing about it might have been the Buick motor. Of course, this was also later used to replace many dreadful Triumph, Rover and Jaguar motors.

I have a soft spot for them Dave having spent the Bathurst weekend 1974 in Sydney helping get Evan Greens P76 ready for the Southern Cross Rally - NSW Rego HBI-085

A friend still has his Targa Florio after, well, 40+ years!!

[MattR]

The P38's were awesome cars so far ahead of their time. It was a pity they were built on a production line better suited to horrible little marinas and kimberleys and the Leyland Australia was on its last legs with no money to try to sort the quality issues.

A good friend had a V8 and it was a brilliant car to cruise, and tow in.

Another very good friend also raced one very successfully in NSW street sedans in the early 90's.

They were the best handling car of the equivalent offerings from the "big 3" and also had the best motor with that alloy 4.4 V8, that also formed the basis of some very successful formula 5000 engines and sports sedan engines.

[lizard]

The P38's were awesome cars so far ahead of their time. It was a pity they were built on a production line better suited to horrible little marinas and kimberleys and the Leyland Australia was on its last legs with no money to try to sort the quality issues.

A good friend had a V8 and it was a brilliant car to cruise, and tow in.

Another very good friend also raced one very successfully in NSW street sedans in the early 90's.

They were the best handling car of the equivalent offerings from the "big 3" and also had the best motor with that alloy 4.4 V8, that also formed the basis of some very successful formula 5000 engines and sports sedan engines.

They were also a good boat motor

[mx5002]

If your skill thinking 4wds I have a 2002 pathfinder for sale. In your budget. Great car for towing, camping, beaching whatever...

[zero00]

and also a good motor in a Datsun 120Y as seen late 70's in many major events!! [These could have been the 4.4 alloy from British brands so correct me if I'm wrong] The late Tony Maslin successfully rallied with this set up around the same time as George Fury had jis 120Y 'Grunter' with 2.1 litre engine! [that car I believe now lives in Brisbane having passed from George to a Wagga guy then to here - Paul at Option 1 knows the guy]

[MattR]

Roger, I am good mates with the owner of the ex Fury 120Y, and he also lurks here as his daughter bought an NB off the forum not long ago.

The motor is a FJ24 on twin webers and screams all the way to 9000rpm. It is going through a bit of a body refresh at the moment to clean up some old damage and the motor was rebuilt a couple of years ago to do the Targa High Country as the 00 car.

This 120Y would have to be the world's most expensive and most valuable one in existence, and for the right dollars could be for sale.

[zero00]

Roger, I am good mates with the owner of the ex Fury 120Y, and he also lurks here as his daughter bought an NB off the forum not long ago.

The motor is a FJ24 on twin webers and screams all the way to 9000rpm. It is going through a bit of a body refresh at the moment to clean up some old damage and the motor was rebuilt a couple of years ago to do the Targa High Country as the 00 car.

This 120Y would have to be the world's most expensive and most valuable one in existence, and for the right dollars could be for sale.

A guy in Wagga Wagga owned it for quite a few years and I used to see it in Rallysprints, I think my brother navigated in it a few times - I used to run into George Fury down Talmalmo way where id say he still has his farm, NSW side right on the Murray River

Love to see it when it's been thru its refresh!

[fixed]

Falcon Wagon actually hits all of your criteria mate. Had one, did the job well, wasn't a too terrible daily driver. Even when things go wrong with them they're cheap to fix (had no issues with my BF).

the guy who suggested a magna/380... srsly? neither are rated for 2T and they're FWD's...!!

[BLU-125]

Another vote for a BA or later Falcon wagon. They make a usable DD and an exceptional tow vehicle.

I use an Isuzu NPR300 Pan which I've fitted out as a motor home, but I am an old bloke and I tow whichever of my MX-5s that suits where I'm going.

[Dweezle]

Again thanks for all the advice.
I have turned a bit for the Falcon Wagon.
Still not excited but if it saves the $$ and works I'm all up for it

I am interested in a Factory Gas Falcon.
Gas currently being 60c/l and petrol being saying 105c/l.
Would I be right in saying that gas will get me 2/3rds the distance so petrol needs to be 33% more expensive otherwise there is no point ??

Also are there ongoing maintenence costs involved with a LPG vehicle ??

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[MattR]

If you are looking at gas get the BF and later, BFII and BFIII with the factory LPG. The system in injected LPG and is single fuel and works better than any dual fuel system.

It will be a bit thirstier than petrol, but will have more torque and pinch more power than the petrol version.

Petrol version will drink around 12l/100km around town, depending on heavy your right foot is. On the highway without towing expect to see around 8-9l/100km. Towing, with the six petrol you will get around 15l/100km depending on weight. My old AU ute got 15l/100km towing up near 2 tonne with the car, gear and a heavy hire trailer at the speed limit.

When towing use the "performance" mode of the gearbox to make life easier for your self.