WHAT TOP LOOK FOR
1. Opt for one of the more popular brands.
There is absolutely no question that some
brands of vehicles have a longstanding
reputation for building good tow vehicles.
Brands like Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi and
Isuzu have been producing good quality,
well-made 4WDs for many years. They
each have extensive dealer service
networks around the country and spare
parts are readily available.
2. A complete service history. It doesn’t
matter what brand it is, if the owner of the
vehicle you intend to purchase has not
kept up with the scheduled servicing,
there’s a good chance you’ll be buying a
world of hurt. Check the vehicle’s service
log book and make sure that each
scheduled service has been carried out
and stamped by the service agent.
3. Obviously, the vehicle should be well
looked after. We all have friends who
seemingly have little regard for their cars
and others who look after them better
than they look after themselves. Usually,
this shows in the general condition of the
cars themselves. Look for vehicles that are
clean on the inside and outside, upholstery
that is in good condition and with minimal
modifications overall. You want someone’s
pride and joy, not their weekend hack.
4. Low or mostly highway mileage. A vehicle
with 300,000km on the clock, regardless of
how well it’s been maintained, will
probably be showing signs of age. That
said, a vehicle with 150,000km that has
spent most of its time on the open road
could be little more than just run in. When
you take the vehicle for a test drive, take
note of how it feels. If the steering is vague
or pulls to one side, or if there’s a lot of
squeaks and rattles around the cabin,
these are signs the vehicle has had a hard
life and may be in need of expensive care
and attention.
5. Numbers speak volumes. Here’s a tip: on
the first day of a long weekend, drive to
the outskirts of town and park where you
can observe the outgoing traffic and take
note of the vehicles towing caravans. You’ll
soon see which particular models are more
popular. Shopping for those models is a
good place to start.
RECOMMENDATIONS
When it comes to recommendations of any
particular vehicle, it boils down to personal
experiences and, to some degree, brand bias.
I’ve been travelling around the country towing
various camper trailers and caravans for over
20 years. I’ve had five different tow vehicles in
that time.
Some have been good and some have been
average. I’ve observed countless rigs and taken
notice of the popular vehicles out there. If I was
in the market for a secondhand 4WD for
towing, these would be my top three choices: