REVIEW
5th Wheel toWing
tow-vehicle options for fifth wheelers WORDS Jacqui Madelin
N
ot sure whether to buy a motorhome or caravan? Don’t forget fifth-wheelers, especially if you already have a Ute or one would fit well with your lifestyle. For those unfamiliar with fifth-wheelers, they are essentially a semi-trailer, where the front of the trailer sits directly on the rear of the towing vehicle and is attached by a turntable arrangement - used extensively in the heavytransport industry and commonly referred to as the fifth-wheel. While motorhomes are of limited use once you’re home, both caravans and fifth-wheelers utilise your daily transport to get about. Fifth-wheelers offer other advantages, too. Because some of the fifth-wheeler’s length sits over the Ute bed, it’s easier to manoeuvre and more stable on the road. It also delivers more
useable space for a given overall length than a car and caravan would. Meanwhile, just as your tow bar doesn’t prevent you using the car without the caravan in tow, a good hitch arrangement can be disengaged to leave your Ute bed free for everyday use. As Utes are now built and sold as daily-drivers as much as workhorses, there are plenty to choose from but you must match your Ute to the fifth-wheeler. The equation can get complicated, but essentially the mounting point on the tray introduces a load that equates to about 20 per cent of the fifth-wheeler’s weight. You have to ensure that the weight is within the tray’s carrying capacity, and the remaining 80 per cent is within the Ute’s towing rating. Don’t forget to factor in the weight of the hitch, passengers, luggage, and fluids when making your calculations. Don’t forget
either that manual or automatic transmissions, and single, double or cab/chassis variants of the same Ute model may have varying ratings and capacities! It’s generally safe to assume that as long as your combined Ute and fifth-wheeler combination weighs under the Ute’s gross combined mass (GCM) you’re okay, but there are exceptions; fortunately, any fifth-wheeler retailer worth their salt can make these calculations for you, which only leaves what Ute to choose. For the sake of simplicity, we’ve included only 4WD Utes currently sold new in NZ, with information biased toward the double-cab variants, as these are most likely to be bought for family duties as well as workhorses. Our brief specification list emphasises the up-spec’ variants, and we’ve added a brief drive impression when we’ve sampled it recently. double-wishbone front and leaf-spring rear suspension set-up, while the disc front, drum rear brake combo that’s all but standard for the breed delivers spongy feel but adequate response. Families will approve of the child-proof rear locks and child seat tether anchors, while off-roaders will appreciate the 214mm ground clearance and limited-slip rear diff’. The twin airbag Ranger 4x4 variants have a three-star crash test rating.
Ford ranger Ford sells plenty of Ranger variants, from a bare-bones single-cab/chassis, through to super-cabs and up to the top-spec’ double-cab wellside. All are powered by a 3.0 litre turbo-diesel mated to a five-speed heavy-duty manual or five-speed automatic transmission. Ranger recently got a rugged redesign and a greater focus on
car-like road handling. It still feels like a truck, but a refined one with comfy seats and a well thought-out cabin. This is a flexible engine, with most of the torque on tap from 1400rpm – although it’ll pull from 800rpm off road – and you can shift from two to four-wheel-drive on the move. This Ute is a smooth performer at open-road speeds, assisted by the effective
Engine: 3.0-litre turbo-diesel, 115kW at 3200rpm, 380Nm at 1800rpm Price: $45,274-$60,812 Basic spec: ABS brakes, four airbags, air conditioning, stereo auxiliary port, 16-inch alloy wheels Payload: 1305-1114kg GCM: 4875-5500kg Tows: 3000kg (manual), 2500kg (auto), both braked
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great Wall V240 4x4 double cab Great Wall sells five Ute variants, from its 2.2-litre petrol cheapie to the V240 2.4 2x2 and 4x4 single–cab/ chassis and double-cabs. They’re unlikely to be your first choice given the petrol motor’s lack of torque – but they are the most affordable new Utes around. No, Great Wall doesn’t deliver the stereotypical Chinese bodgejob built out of sweet wrappers and ambition. From the A-pillar back this one’s an RA-shape Isuzu Rodeo, and its engine is built as a joint venture with Mitsubishi. Ride comfort without a load isn’t that flash from the rigid rear axle / leaf
Holden colorado There are seven 4WD Colorado variants, including one top-spec auto, all powered by the same 3.0-litre diesel engine and with the same rugged look. This engine’s a grunter, and a tad smoother than its predecessor. You can shift from 2WD to 4WD-high on the move, with low range also available at the touch of a button and a limited-slip diff’ as standard. On-road handling is truck-
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like, thanks to the leaf spring rear suspension, that’s par for the 4x4 Ute course. The cabin is spacious, if simply laid out, with plenty of cabin space a trade-off for a slightly smaller tray. The top-spec LT includes car-like goodies such as a six-disc CD stacker, cruise control, and keyless entry, plus the child seat tether anchors now fitted to most Utes. The Holden Colorado 4x4 has a three-star ANCAP crash test rating.
spring set-up and the turning circle is ludicrously wide, but the Borg-Warner low range transmission accessed by dash-mounted buttons will do the business. Your money buys you leather seats and alloy wheels but not side airbags; the 4x2 has only a two-star ANCAP crash test rating while the 4x4 has not been tested. Engine: 2.4-litre petrol, 100kW at 5250rpm, 200Nm at 2500-3000rpm Price: $28,990 Basic spec: Two airbags, ABS, air conditioning, leather seats Payload: 1000kg GCM: 3780kg Tows: 2250kg braked
Engine: 3.0-litre common rail intercooled turbo-diesel, 120kW at 3600rpm, 360Nm at 1800rpm (manual) 333Nm at 1600rpm (auto) Price: $43,000-$54,600 Basic spec: ABS and EBD, Dual airbags, air conditioning, cruise control and alloy wheels for top-spec’ vehicles. Payload: 1000kg GCM: 5900kg Tows: 3000kg braked
nIssan naVara d40 Nissan sells two levels of Navara; the older D22 - aimed squarely at cost-conscious work applications and the bigger, more modern and pricier D40 that we’re considering, with its better spec. It also has a new face with improved dynamics to cut cabin noise and fuel use, a car-like cabin and distinctly car-like features for the top-spec ST-X, such as Bluetooth hands-free, six airbags, stability control and dual zone climate-air. The 4x4 ST gets a 126kW/403Nm 2.5-litre diesel, while the top-spec ST-X has a 4.0-litre V6 petrol or 2.5-litre 140kW/450Nm turbo-diesel, which is shared with
the SUV-style Pathfinder. With more torque than any other Ute listed here, it’s a grunter with plenty of low-down pull and fairly refined 100kph cruising and would be our pick. Again, ride is very much truck-focused, thanks to the rigid rear axle and leaf spring suspension. There’s a low range transmission accessed by an in-cabin dial, child seat tether points and a three-star ANCAP crash test rating.
Spec: ST-X spec’ includes six airbags, ABS, Bluetooth and much more Payload: 749-973kg GCM: 5805-5860kg Tows: 3000kg
Engine: 2.5-litre turbo-diesel with 140kW at 4000rpm and 450Nm at 2000rpm is our pick Price: From $52,550 to $62,800 (ST-X double-cab)
fitted as standard to even the entry level single-cab/chassis. As with the others, specification becomes progressively more generous as you top the range. A new variant is due late next year; meanwhile the BT-50 4x4 dual-cab has a three-star crash test rating.
Mazda bt-50 Mazda’s BT-50 range includes six 4WD variants, all powered by a 3.0-litre common rail direct-injection diesel with a five-speed manual transmission - or a five-speed auto’
option for double-cabs and either way a limited-slip diff’ is standard. The independent front and rigid-axle leaf-spring rear are par for the Ute course, and nowadays so are such fitments as the two airbags and ABS
Isuzu d-Max 4x4 Isuzu’s D-Max is all but identical to the current Colorado, as the two brands were linked until recently, with GM now building the D-Max under licence and re-badging it. So engine, power and underpinnings are all the same, although
NZ gets just three Isuzu 4x4 variants, all double-cab wellsides. Add to the Colorado equation electric retractable wing mirrors, a vented sump guard, brighter projector headlamps, a different colour for the cabin and a different audio system, plus changes to the lights, tailgate, bonnet and grille – with cruise control standard in every variant. A recent drive revealed a motor that sounds a tad agricultural at idle but refined enough for long distance cruising, while ride and handling are predictably truck-like. The practical cabin is well laid out; with rear seatbacks that
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Engine: 3.0-litre common rail turbodiesel, 115kW at 3200rpm and 380Nm at 1800rpm Price: $42,895- $54,695 Basic spec: Dual front airbags, ABS with EBD Payload: 1866kg GCM: 5500kg (manual) Tows: 3000kg (manual) 2500kg (auto) both braked
fold so filthy gear can be loaded without dirtying the seat fabrics. Like the Colorado, the Isuzu D-Max 4x4 has a three-star ANCAP crash test rating. Engine: 3.0-litre turbo-diesel, 120kW at 3600rpm, 360Nm at 1800rpm (manual) 333Nm at 1600rpm (auto) Price: $48,990-$56,990 Basic spec: Dual front airbags, ABS and EBD, air conditioning, cruise control, alloy wheels Payload: 1000kg GCM: 5900kg Tows: 3000kg
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toyota HIlux Hilux is not only NZ’s best-selling Ute, it vies with the Toyota Corolla and Suzuki Swift for NZ’s best-selling model. There are five 4WD Hilux models, all powered by a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel with a five speed manual, or a four-speed auto for top spec’ variants. Like all the Utes here, they use a rigid axle and leaf spring rear suspension set-up. Brakes get ABS standard except for entry-level models, with stability control and EBD for the top-spec SR5 and a supergenerous ground clearance. The Toyota Hilux 4x4 has a four-star crash test rating when fitted with twin airbags. Engine: 3.0-litre turbo diesel with 126kW at 3600rpm and 343Nm at 1400-3400rpm Price: $50,090- $62,890 Basic spec: Air conditioning, dual front airbags, cruise control, up to six airbags and much more Payload: 1005-1200kg GCM: 5210-5280kg Tows: 2500kg
low range off-road going yet refined during open-road cruising and though Triton feels like the truck it is, handling is pleasantly predictable and ride comfort on-road is among the best. So is the cabin; it feels more car-like than most, with specification to match – and a four-star crash test rating.
MItsubIsHI trIton If you’re buying one of the nine Triton 4x4 variants for family use, opt for the higher-spec’ double-cabs and get four airbags as standard. Lower-spec variants have a limited-slip diff’, while top-spec’ Tritons use active stability and traction control to make finding grip child’s play.
This most recent version has toned down the formerly over-swoopy look, introducing a longer tray and generous 10-year engine warranty, on top of the five- year car warranty. The 2.5-litre turbo-diesel may have a smaller capacity than some but power and torque are right up there. It feels grunty enough in
Engine: 2.5-litre turbo-diesel, 133kW at 4000rpm, 407Nm at 2000rpm Price: $42,990-$56,190 Spec: 4 airbags, ABS and EBD, stability and traction control, cruise control, air conditioning Payload: 1330-1010kg GCM: 5920-5930kg Tows: 3000kg (braked)
toyota landcruIser 70 There are two LandCruiser 70 Ute variants, both powered by a 4.5-litre turbo-diesel mated to a five-speed manual transmission. This is bare-basics workday motoring, with manual freewheeling hubs so you must alight and get dirty when you want to switch to four-wheel-drive, and both front and rear suspension use rigid axle set-ups. Spec’ is fairly basic, though even LandCruiser now includes three child seat tether strap attachments. Chances are, however, that this Ute’s rugged construction won’t suit most drivers for everyday tasks, but it will tow the most of this line-up. Engine: 4.5-litre turbo-diesel, 151kW at 3400rpm, 430Nm from 1200 to 3200rpm Price: $67,190-$73,290 Basic spec: Air conditioning, Dual airbags Payload: 1040-1310kg GCM: 6800kg
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NOTE: GCM figures are indicative only, as features, payload and GCM figures will vary according to model and spec.