D5, Defender 110 or LC300

Or be like Ronny Dahl and replace with aftermarket every internal and external component of your 79 to make the perfect 79

I’d love to know if YouTube $$$ pays for it all. Tag along tours must be a massive PITA. Historically he was not getting sponsorship or endorsement from suppliers so as to remain “unbiased”.

This might give some perspective on which vehicle is best for towing.

3500kg tow wagons - what can they really tow? - YouTube

cheers
David

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Originally Posted by PeterJ

Been mulling this one over for quite some time as well. The list in no particular order is
1) $ $$ into the D4 and just enjoy the best vehicle I have ever owned.
2) Y62 plus $$$ to make it fit for purpose.
3) Defender 110/130
4) RAM 1500 plus $ to make it fit for purpose.
5) LC200/300 - Not on the list simply because the Y62 was a better cost based solution if that was the type of vehicle chosen.

I have been touring and towing for quite a while and to get the usable space in the D4 out comes the 2nd and 3rd row seats and in goes purpose built storage and this is also the problem with 1, 2, & 3 above and something I am really over. I just want the cargo not in the passenger space.
Every solution is a balancing act for me not least of which is heart or head, but in the end I needed increased payload, comfortable margins on GVM, GCM, Fr & Rr Axle loads and TBW, this was the non-negotiable list. What ever vehicle you choose do your numbers very carefully, the manufacturers live to confuse (if not deceive), I suggest you take the vehicle(s) to the weigh bridge and get real numbers on which to start your number crunching, trust me it become a sobering experience.

Did not care particularly about diesel/petrol but a diet of 98 RON was a big problem for places we go, so if petrol it had to be able to eat 91 RON.

Have fun[bigsmile1]

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Have you looked at a Commercial 110? Basically a 110 without rear seats. Originally not available in OZ, but I read somewhere recently that it now is…

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Originally Posted by grey_ghost

Have you looked at a Commercial 110? Basically a 110 without rear seats. Originally not available in OZ, but I read somewhere recently that it now is…

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Not specifically, no. I did email JLR and asked if the 130 was likely to have a higher GVM and RR axle limit increase but of course all too secret at the moment.
Y62 with GVM upgrade and some other mods was high on the list but in the end I wanted to get the cargo out of the passenger area, so the RAM it is. Can do GVM up on those and don't need much else but very sadly a lot of 4WDing is not available.
But that's me, not sure if it's helping the OP, but with the towing you mentioned it falls very heavily influenced by the head.

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Originally Posted by trout1105

If you want "Civilised" then you are fresh out of luck for your GVM requirements and carrying capacity with the new breed of luxury 4WD's.
Not too many of those can carry 1000kg+, tow 3.5t and have masses of room to cart every thing you want as well and still be legal.
Good luck with your quest[thumbsupbig]

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Y62 has a gvm of 3500kg, you can get upgrade to 3680, 3999, 4085, 4200, 4495kg.
So not out of luck when it comes to gvm upgrades.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PeterJ

Did not care particularly about diesel/petrol but a diet of 98 RON was a big problem for places we go, so if petrol it had to be able to eat 91 RON.

Have fun[bigsmile1]

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I know it's off your list now, but y62 will run fine on 91, 95, e10, and 98. Amd there are also some hefty gvm upgrades available too.

I like civilised as well, and I know what you mean about cargo space, I'm actually toying with cutting my patrol into a dual cab in a couple of years time.

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Originally Posted by Vern

And our vehicle market is absolutely tiny compared to Europe. So I would be guessing manufacturers aren't going out of their way just for us.

I was chatting with an engineer from the fiat group last year when doing a job at his house, he had since returned to Australia after working o/s for 25 years, he said our car market here is far to small for manufacturers to care about.

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Same as the earthmoving market.
I remember when I first started with Komatsu in 1987, the entire Australian market for ALL brands (not just Komatsu) was approx 1500 hydraulic excavators sales per YEAR.
Japan alone market was around 1900 (of all brands) per MONTH!!

Australian market for most things is insignificant ..... well, except maybe for Aussie Rules footballs. [bigrolf][bigrolf]

Not on the list I know,

But if I was in the market... An Iveco Daily would be getting seriously looked at.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vern

Y62 has a gvm of 3500kg, you can get upgrade to 3680, 3999, 4085, 4200, 4495kg.
So not out of luck when it comes to gvm upgrades.

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I am talking straight out of the box, Anything with a ladder chassis can be GVM upgraded.

Let you know how i go with civilised.

Going from D5 to 79 series via a D2

Spent $20k on top of purchase price but still $30k short of diesel 110 Defender.

Cheers