Considering a Courier or Falcon for towing a large trailer, what would be the best 2.5 Diesel turbo ute paying road users or a Falcon 4lt petrol! Im wondering about running costs and reliablity of driveline etc. Opinions!
3tomany,
Aug 3, 4:34pm
try and stretch to a ranger if you can but otherwise try and get a falcon with a live rear axle. The irs doesnt cope as well if you tow a lot but if only towing occassionally irs is fine. With the courier be very carefull not to get it hot the head will crack, make sure the radiator is less that 100,000ks old
clark20,
Aug 3, 4:37pm
If you do get a Falcon 4.0 with auto get an aftermarket trans cooler fitted
jasoo,
Aug 3, 4:41pm
The earlier rangers ok! Do they have the same 2.5 Diesel! What model/age falcons are live rear axle! Base models!
3tomany,
Aug 3, 4:46pm
au falcon most are live rear and only falcon station wagon or ute had live rear ends after that, ba-bf falcon station wagons are good buying at the mo as they arnt everyones cup of tea. ranger has a 3.0 ltre engine and is far superier to courier
bellky,
Aug 3, 4:47pm
IRS started in the Falcons as standard and option (depending on model) in the AU so that's 1998 onwards.
malp,
Aug 3, 4:58pm
We just sold a ba ute that we used to tow a tandem trailer with.Was awesome, handled well and was not that expensive to run.We have got a really good trailer that helps when towing.Before the ute we had a Ford Explorer that did overheat when towing a hilux on the trailer. Never had any problems with the BA. Towed allsorts of vehicles and loads with it for about 6 years.
mugenb20b,
Aug 3, 5:02pm
I would pick a turbo diesel Courier (or as suggested, the Ranger) over a Falcon for three reasons. The ute has a chassis, will retain its value and is more versatile than a Falcon. However, its cost of ownership and servicing will be more expensive than the Falcon. The Courier also needs to have a well maintained cooling system, otherwise a new head will be required and its cambelt only takes 15 minutes to replace. Get the radiator rodded out and cooling system flushed every 2 to 3 years if you are buying one.
3tomany,
Aug 3, 5:04pm
good advise
splinter67,
Aug 3, 5:06pm
How big is the trailer ! How much weight is going to be on the trailer ! Is the trailer braked ! Where are you going to tow the trailer!
jasoo,
Aug 3, 5:19pm
Unsure of trailer size at the moment, Has to be a decent size, Transporting firewood over 4 hour round trip to sell in local market. Need to be able to bring back a decent quantity. Several cubic metres at a time.
supernova2,
Aug 3, 5:23pm
Might have to watch that you don't exceed the vehicle manufactures towing rating.Not a problem unless something goes wrong but Murphy's law etc.Just something to be aware of.
splinter67,
Aug 3, 5:27pm
I would go for the ute as you can load the back of it but wouldnt you be better off with a small truck because you wont be able to tow several cubic meters with either of these vehicles thats a lot of weight to cart
bigfatmat1,
Aug 3, 5:27pm
Couriers should not tow in 5th gear (as with many vehicles) but couriers g/box rebuild is about $5g . Two at work devoloped this probem from towing in 5th so the experts say.
jasoo,
Aug 3, 5:38pm
Was thinking Falcon ute, BF with ZF box, probably 3 metres or so of Tea Tree wood bagged up, between ute and trailer.
splinter67,
Aug 3, 5:52pm
If you where going to tow it on the flat I would say go hard but if you are going to tow over the brenduins (sorry about the spelling) that amount of weight will mean lots of work for your brakes and engine maybe a bigger diesel ute with more power good luck a guy in Napier sells a small truck and trailer load every day
jasoo,
Aug 3, 6:05pm
Heading north of Whangarei, Already done it a couple times, Using a Older Petrol 2.2 courier at the moment, Getting on in age and doesnt have a tonne of power. Also kinda wanting to upgrade to more modern car as also used as daily.
splinter67,
Aug 3, 7:13pm
Go for the courier not sure if the clutch in the falcon would handle it for too long
edangus,
Aug 3, 7:23pm
Buy a Dodge Nitro or a Ram! Tow that puppy all year!
chris_051,
Aug 3, 8:01pm
Lol the unstressed falcon 4.0 will shit on any jappa diesel for towing especially with the ZF6 behind it. Go and drive both and compare your only problem with the Falcon is to expect 15-20l/100km for towing going by my experience with the 4.0 at around 2 tonne, might be a bit better with the ZF6.
splinter67,
Aug 3, 8:24pm
Never driven a diesel courier have you chris go and try a modern one you will get a fright
serf407,
Aug 3, 8:33pm
Sounds a fairly masochistic endeavour. Are you going to get the Falcon or Courier and trailer loaded and then it might sit in the mud and spin the wheels going nowhere. What do commercial firewood operators do ! Skidder, bulldozer or traxcavator, 20 tonne + digger etc pull logs to suitable site, load truck to take logs to yard etc. Logs and Road Ranger. Courier (no trailer)and hourly rate as saw/machine operator might be more profitable.
chris_051,
Aug 3, 9:08pm
Haven't driven the latest 5 cylinder, the old 2.5 and 3.0 td wouldn'ttouch a Bf or FG falcon 6spd as far as pulling power/torque goes.
splinter67,
Aug 3, 9:14pm
Dont want to argue with you go try one you will be surprised
jason18,
Aug 3, 9:15pm
We sold our 06 2.5lt turbo diesel courier and bought an AU wagon. We tow a nearly 2t cherry picker. Reasons why we did this. 1.Courier was getting banged up with the places we had to squeeze into, 2. Power Falcon is so much better for towing it compared to the courier. 3. Falcon more comfy 4. Falcon was auto. 5. Wagon towed it alot better around corners arse didnt swing out as much as an unloaded ute. 6. Price, Ute was worth 20k odd AU wagon 4k
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