Discussion
Hi new here so be gentle. please,
We cuurently run a Jeep GC CRD had it for 5 years. Great motor, and in my opinion far far better than the expensive land rover offerings in terms of price servicing and running costs. Now we have jacked in the daily grind and intend travelling, the Jeep is a very good tug but, we are becoming less enthused with diesels and want a 4x4 V8 capable of towing a 2.2 tonne trailer. thought about a Yank pick up, Another Jeep (V8) Ford explorer, Suberban Or a day van.
Anyone got any views? Anyone currently towing a large caravan with a V8?
Cheers N thanks
Caz
P.S Should have said we had two Jeeps the other was an 03 4.0 ltr Lmited wish we had kept theat one not the derv
We cuurently run a Jeep GC CRD had it for 5 years. Great motor, and in my opinion far far better than the expensive land rover offerings in terms of price servicing and running costs. Now we have jacked in the daily grind and intend travelling, the Jeep is a very good tug but, we are becoming less enthused with diesels and want a 4x4 V8 capable of towing a 2.2 tonne trailer. thought about a Yank pick up, Another Jeep (V8) Ford explorer, Suberban Or a day van.
Anyone got any views? Anyone currently towing a large caravan with a V8?
Cheers N thanks
Caz
P.S Should have said we had two Jeeps the other was an 03 4.0 ltr Lmited wish we had kept theat one not the derv
Edited by oscar 1010 on Thursday 21st July 10:19
Lots of options really. Do you have a budget in mind?
I too have a 4.0 Cherokee (XJ) that I think is great. Although I'm quite a Landy man too.
Obvious answer is look for a V8 Grand Cherokee. A fair bit of choice out there and available in RHD.
Other RHD offerings include the 4.0 S6 Ford Explorer and the Chevy Blazer.
If you don't mind LHD then there is a host of trucks to chose from. Ram's are popular and easy to find. And recently I've seen 2 Dakota's too, these are slightly smaller than the Ram, but still offered with the V8 engines.
Not sure on the tow rating, but if you only need 2 seats a 5.4 SUPERCHARGED Ford Lighting is one hell of a truck.
A personal favourite of mine is the Ford Bronco. Fairly rare, but they do turn up on ebay from time to time.
Dayvans are available from all of the big 3 in many shapes and guises, including V6's, V8's and even AWD ones. Certainly more practical in terms of living space and if you want to sleep in it or make a cup of tea. That said, I'd personally swing more to a truck than a van.
I too have a 4.0 Cherokee (XJ) that I think is great. Although I'm quite a Landy man too.
Obvious answer is look for a V8 Grand Cherokee. A fair bit of choice out there and available in RHD.
Other RHD offerings include the 4.0 S6 Ford Explorer and the Chevy Blazer.
If you don't mind LHD then there is a host of trucks to chose from. Ram's are popular and easy to find. And recently I've seen 2 Dakota's too, these are slightly smaller than the Ram, but still offered with the V8 engines.
Not sure on the tow rating, but if you only need 2 seats a 5.4 SUPERCHARGED Ford Lighting is one hell of a truck.
A personal favourite of mine is the Ford Bronco. Fairly rare, but they do turn up on ebay from time to time.
Dayvans are available from all of the big 3 in many shapes and guises, including V6's, V8's and even AWD ones. Certainly more practical in terms of living space and if you want to sleep in it or make a cup of tea. That said, I'd personally swing more to a truck than a van.
Just out of curiosity, why the change from diesel?. I don't have exact specs, but I would imagine the torque figures would be comparable for your diesel and a big V8 petrol, so I doubt you would be gaining much with regards to towing ability.
If yo just want the V8 petrol for the exhaust noise then I totally understand.
If yo just want the V8 petrol for the exhaust noise then I totally understand.
I've got a 55 plate 3.0 CRD and although I do like it, the areas I like least are the engine and transmission, which both happen to be Mercedes sourced units. I particularly HATE the turbo lag and the tranny is the only auto one I've had where I keep thinking when is this thing going to shift up or shift down...the shift points sometimes just don't 'feel' right.
Consequently, I also wish I'd gone with the V8 version...probably the 5.7. I doubt the MPG could be much worse either...I only get around 16 mpg on average in the CRD - now that is mainly around town in London traffic, but I rarely put the pedal to the metal either. Pretty sure my LS1 Camaro did much better mileage and my big, heavy 66 Dodge Polara ain't much worse then the CRD either. But, in all other respects I do really like the Jeep.
Consequently, I also wish I'd gone with the V8 version...probably the 5.7. I doubt the MPG could be much worse either...I only get around 16 mpg on average in the CRD - now that is mainly around town in London traffic, but I rarely put the pedal to the metal either. Pretty sure my LS1 Camaro did much better mileage and my big, heavy 66 Dodge Polara ain't much worse then the CRD either. But, in all other respects I do really like the Jeep.
Yabababab,
Yeah our 03 is the same, we have done 60k miles since buying it(99000 NOW) and its always been ever so slightly reluctant to change up especially when cold. Haveing said that we also had a 3.9 manual disco and a 3.9 auto disco both were as much use as chocolate fireguards at towing, The manual would simply NOT pull in 5th even on motorways and the auto used to hunt up and down between 4th and 5 th. We swopped both for a new Jeep grand cherokee in 03, Bliss, cant understand why anyone would pay between 40% and double for unrelible land rover stuff. the Jeeps are not perfect by any means, and they suffer from a degree of trade and generally ill advised press snobbery. We have had 4 now, 3 dervs and one 4.0 ltr petrol. all have been reliable inexpensive to service, and economical on fuel. The 4.0 ltr Jeep, used to give the same MPG as the 2.5 Disco 2 did. But the Disco was hugely expensive to service and unreliblale. We used to call it the UN car you know, uncomfortable unreliable uneconomical you get the picture. Well, thanks to all for your opinions good stuff, If we change it will most likey be a V8 05/06/07 jeep with LPG
Yeah our 03 is the same, we have done 60k miles since buying it(99000 NOW) and its always been ever so slightly reluctant to change up especially when cold. Haveing said that we also had a 3.9 manual disco and a 3.9 auto disco both were as much use as chocolate fireguards at towing, The manual would simply NOT pull in 5th even on motorways and the auto used to hunt up and down between 4th and 5 th. We swopped both for a new Jeep grand cherokee in 03, Bliss, cant understand why anyone would pay between 40% and double for unrelible land rover stuff. the Jeeps are not perfect by any means, and they suffer from a degree of trade and generally ill advised press snobbery. We have had 4 now, 3 dervs and one 4.0 ltr petrol. all have been reliable inexpensive to service, and economical on fuel. The 4.0 ltr Jeep, used to give the same MPG as the 2.5 Disco 2 did. But the Disco was hugely expensive to service and unreliblale. We used to call it the UN car you know, uncomfortable unreliable uneconomical you get the picture. Well, thanks to all for your opinions good stuff, If we change it will most likey be a V8 05/06/07 jeep with LPG
I've got a 5.9 Cummings ram 2500. I tow a 3.2 ton Trailer (mobile stage) that is 9 meters long, with it for my business. It has a ton of Power and sits at 55 on the motorway no probs. I changed to this after a Ford Ranger, which although was only a 2.4 Diesel it still had enough power. But I will never go back to anything other than the Big Yank Diesel pick-ups. Never towed with a Petrol, although I have a good mate of Mine that has a Hemi Ram 1500. He tow's a big American 5th Wheel caravan and has never had a problem. As a day to day runner If your looking for a american pickup, they are not the most practical motors for the daily drive.
But If you want to tow, I would recommend Yank Pick-up. There all good (diesels) in My opinion, I have worked in the USA for two years harvesting, we had F350's over there that we used all over. towing the 30FT long heads from the Combines. They the the Powerstroke Diesel in them, and we done countless miles, and never missed a beat. As long as you service them regulary, especially when using them to tow, the'll go forever. I do a oil and filter change my ram ever 3000-4000 miles (works out to once about every 10 months as I don't use it that often unless I'm towing my stage). It says in the owners manual if your using the vehicles for towing/heavy loads then the oil should be changed more often than normal.
As for MPG I can't remember off the top of my head. Bad thing about yank vehicles, is MGP trip comp is wrong as a gallon in the USA is a lot smaller than here. And makes your motor seam more expensive if you read the trip computer! :-)
But If you want to tow, I would recommend Yank Pick-up. There all good (diesels) in My opinion, I have worked in the USA for two years harvesting, we had F350's over there that we used all over. towing the 30FT long heads from the Combines. They the the Powerstroke Diesel in them, and we done countless miles, and never missed a beat. As long as you service them regulary, especially when using them to tow, the'll go forever. I do a oil and filter change my ram ever 3000-4000 miles (works out to once about every 10 months as I don't use it that often unless I'm towing my stage). It says in the owners manual if your using the vehicles for towing/heavy loads then the oil should be changed more often than normal.
As for MPG I can't remember off the top of my head. Bad thing about yank vehicles, is MGP trip comp is wrong as a gallon in the USA is a lot smaller than here. And makes your motor seam more expensive if you read the trip computer! :-)
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