Thread: Switch to Dodge RAM 2500...please talk me out of it!

Hi Guys,

A member of our Bolwell Car Club went with a group on a Victorian High Country Trip. One of the cars was a ford F150, fully equipped, high lift, larger tyres etc.
Never got much further than the first Bog Hole. Car was too wide for a lot of the tracks with massive 'pin striping' down both sides but the bog hole got him.
Deflated all 4 tyres at once on the sides of the bog hole and had to be skull dragged out by a 200 series Land Cruiser. Totally unable to go anywhere under its own power. All the other cars in the group drove the bog hole easily.

By all accounts a massive recovery job and a very deflated ego. The track width of the ford was too wide for the trails in that location.

The Ford was probably great for bitumen, gravel, dirt and possibly sand but questionable in narrower terrain. I would include the Dodge Ram in the same category.
It all depends where you want to go?

I would stay with the current vehicle and look elsewhere for a solution. I have heard of some nissan and Toyota vehicles being re-engineered for a GVM Upgrade. Could be a cheaper alternative to a car swap.

Cheers, Techron
PS. I am also a member of the Range Rover Discovery Club in SA.

Following with great interest , as we also have a 25' van that weighs in at close to the magic 3.5t limit. That is without putting anything in the back of the car or even ourselves. So very very close to GCM before we start. With the police starting to crack down on this it's fraught with danger.

Options : Iveco 4x4 . Can still only tow 3.5t . Underpowered.
Dodge Ram . Not a fan . Overpriced new.
Ford F250/350. Aussie delivery . S/H . O'k if you can find a good one . But not for me. Brazilian built
Ford F150. Imported. Don't mind these but petrol ONLY
Toyota Tundra. Imported. Don't mind these but petrol ONLY
Chev Avalanche. Imported. LOVE these but petrol ONLY . Have considered having one converted to a Duramax. Smaller in length to Rams & F250/350
Chev Surburban. Imported. Petrol ONLY . Can have one converted to a Duramax.
Nissan Titan . Not yet confirmed for Australia

Toyota Landcruiser & Nissan Patrol limited by 3.5t towing . GVM & GCM. Much the same as most LR products. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Suppose it all depends if you really want to go properly Off-road or just cruise along bush tracks. And how much use said vehicle will get & can you justify the cost. Remembering that the bigger vehicles, Ram/F250 etc, will have a larger turning circle and will be more difficult to park in our small parking bays.

Now down to my, Specify my , choices. A or B

A: S/h Chev Silverado / GMC Denali. My price limit - up to $100,000 . Plenty to look at around the 100- 150 km mark. 1000+ Nm torque. Far better fit than F250. But rather big to park etc.

B: Dual cab ute converted to 6x4 . Lazy axle. Towing 4.5t + , Load ~ 2t. Six Wheeler Conversions - Six Wheeler Toowoomba

Now as I already have a BT50 ( yes I can hear you say now ....... ) it would be about $30,000 to convert including a full length tub , not tray. Smaller size , more practical. Only 470Nm but can be tuned up to 690Nm with new turbo & remap.

Now A or B . Would LOVE A but impractical for every day use . So for me it's probably B. What do you all think ???

What have I missed or forgotten

Originally Posted by 33chinacars

Toyota Landcruiser & Nissan Patrol limited by 3.5t towing . GVM & GCM. Much the same as most LR products. Please correct me if I'm wrong.


B: Dual cab ute converted to 6x4 . Lazy axle. Towing 4.5t + , Load ~ 2t. Six Wheeler Conversions - Six Wheeler Toowoomba

These guys are a little closer. Multidrive Manufacturer Geelong , Victoria, Custom Built 4X4 4WD 6X4 6X6 6WD, Toyota Landcruisers Victoria, Heavy Duty Four Wheel Drives, 4 Wheel Drive Sales VIC, All Terrain Vehicles, Emergency Vehicles - Multidrive Technology

These vids shows you how their suspension works, and are entertaining as well.

Hi Johntins.

Well aware of Multidrive Technology, just down the road really. Have spoken with them before. Mainly do 70 series Toyota. I was after something with a bit more comfortable.

They would do an 80 series but not a 100 series. 100 series chassis not up to the job for them. Don’t know about 200 series.

Gary

Originally Posted by 33chinacars

Hi Johntins.

Well aware of Multidrive Technology, just down the road really. Have spoken with them before. Mainly do 70 series Toyota. I was after something with a bit more comfortable.

They would do an 80 series but not a 100 series. 100 series chassis not up to the job for them. Don’t know about 200 series.

Gary

Fair enough. Tipping if the 100 isn't up to the job then the 200 won't be. I'm hearing you about the comfort thing.

Originally Posted by johntins

Fair enough. Tipping if the 100 isn't up to the job then the 200 won't be. I'm hearing you about the comfort thing.

Agreed . Would love a Dual cab Multidrive Technology 6x6 . With portals and auto . Just not practical for every day use.

I can can remember when Frank Parsons started Multidrive Technology. Loved his work. At the time he also owned Geelong Diff Services. He was also an industrial Chemist , so a very good man to have around if you were in 0.05 trouble. No not me , but a lot got off because of Frank .

Originally Posted by Bigbjorn

I know Iveco is a conglomerate of International Harvester, Fiat, and some others. Is the Iveco Daily a Fiat product?

If so, avoid them. Fiat make good diesel engines, good farm tractors, used to make good earthmoving equipment, but make crap cars and trucks.

When I was a car dealer we used to say that the only good thing about a Fiat was that they were slightly better than a Renault.

Ha Ha , I Have a Renault Captur AND an Iveco 4x4 . The Renault is the blest car Ive ever driven /owned . The Iveco is the worst . Im thinking of importing a Renault TRM2000 & giving Iveco the flick , Its broken again and I'm over fixing it.

French Military is / were disposing of their fleet of 12,000 TRM's, Being Euro1 they are not allowed to be registered in EU , and are over 25 years old so will be perfect personal import to AU . 4x4 or 6x6 Some have Cummins Motor & all have Portal Axles - nice . only issue is LHD , can live with that.

before anyone considers Iveco heres a Facebook group I started.

Iveco Daily 4x4 Fails and Lemons

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