Which towing vehicle for Geist Caravan

make and model will not matter, simply as long as the towing capability is more than van weight, it is deisel, and has a towball, and a big enough tank for you driving range needs.
A 4wd will be better only because of the long range tanks, extra power, and space, but any 4wd on the market will be able to tow that van, it wheter you want long range tanks, ie prado has 180l capacity, more power, ie landcruiser or patrol turbo diesel, and space interior wise for cargo and comfort.

Hyundai Terracan CRDi, just specify the Towing Pack prior to delivery.

Will tow a van that weight easily has plenty of power from the Diesel motor , and is substantially less in purchase price then most of its competitors.

Will still handle the majority of offroad stuff you would probably ever throw at it.

If more cash in the Budget , the other options would probably be , Nissan Pathfinder, Pajero , or new Prado.

If buying a Geist I would be more worried about the van falling apart on our good Australian Roads, went to the Australian launch, theres no way I would buy one after seeing how they are put together.

Tha is a very open question so reply is very general. More a way of looking at it as opposed to recommendations. Only you know what you will get up too. As Wayne said, selection will depend more on personal preference. Check the numbers to make sure you are well (not just) inside the limits then pick the one you want/like to drive the most. You will use a fair amount of fuel towing, how much really depends on the application of the right foot. Though I must admit the newer common rail diesels are usually very economical. On a trip like that you are more likely to be driving without the van anyway as you are likely to stay places for several days (I know we do when we have the time). If it is a bugga to drive you will be regretting it every km and there are lots of them. Good example of the problems, we have a LC Troopy tray and the seatbelt position for the driver is a pain in the rear if you are short ie ~5 foot. Not an obvious problem and the only way to find out is for all who are to drive it to get in and have a go. Don't assume it will be you driving. If you fall somewhere and break a limb you won't be doing the driving. The best advice is to get in a few and take them for a drive. Don't assume you will get used to any niggly problems. The whole point it to pick the one that suits you and your partner.

Lots of people on long trips set up a base and do day or overnighters from there base. In that case the vehicle needs to be able to carry any gear you want water etc. Don't underestimate what you will get up to as your confidence increases. Get your vehicle and do one of the 4wd courses. Any number of great places are at the end of 5 km of narrow track, not really 4wd most of the time, but you will not know that until you reach the end of it. You may want to go for a drive along any number of beaches that can be driven on. They are often easy to drive on but have 20 m of soft sand at the exit or entrance. Even the road to Cape Leveque (?sp) can be soft and sandy at the northeren end and it is a proper formed dirt road most of the way! The other point is that any dirt (or sealed for that matter) road up north can have creek crossings, it just needs to rain. The wet just means it rains more.

Keep in mind spare parts. Nissan, Toyota, Holdern and Ford have extensive spare part networks. I got a clutch master cylinder for the old Jack in Bamaga in less than 48 hours and it was shipped from Brisbane. If I had the Troopy then they had the things in Bamaga.

Hmm. That was a long winded way of saying get a vehicle that has the correct specs, that suits your needs (plus a bit) and you and your partner are comfortable driving. All the larger 4wd's are capable vehicles in the hands of a skilled driver. Do a 4wd driving course with you and your partner. They don't only teach 4wd skills but usually go into vehicle loading, situation avoidence etc.

Steve

Without a shadow of a doubt GU PATROL 4.2TD (defenitly NOT 3TD) I'm on 5th Fourby in 8 years everything else doesn't even deserve a mention.

That's only my opinion.

Good luck on your new ventures

What is your budget Gerard? Buying new or 2nd hand? Carrying a boat/Bikes? Ute or station wagon? Recomending brands & types of vehicles is fairly pointless if you can't afford them. An F250 V8 diesel twin cab would be ideal for towing a van around Oz, you'd barely even know it was there & without doubt has the greatest towing capability with heaps of power in reserve but without $80K no point even looking at them.
Cheers Carig.......

Lets just keep in mind Gerard didn't ask our advice on his caravan choice, only on some ideas about vehicle choice from experienced people!

How do you think the Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 Ltr CRDi diesel would go with towing this van.

It's towing capacity is 2000Kg.
Cheers

Only 2 vehicles need a mention Landcruser or Patrol 4.2 you cant go wrong if you want a reliable vehicle

The whole idea of geist is that they are light and can be towed with a commodore or falcon if you want . Any large 4wd will do .

Don't overlook the Pajero 3.2 Diesel

Also consider the utes - All the utes are now available with good diesels - Rodeo has just been updated with a new diesel engine, now has 3000kg towing, and theres the Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota, and Mazda, all with new engines recently.

Perhaps have a look at the outgoing Nissan 3.0 dual cab - you could snap up one of the last ones for $32000 approx if you are quick and haggle a bit. No left footrest, but that's about all that's wrong with them!

GEIST - very light constructed

Are NOT fitted with electrc brakes (over-ride only)

Check ou the tandem unit on the Caravan & Motorhome DVD. The wheels are set centrally and the thing bucks and pitches like a Mini on the 'old Hume Highway' - probably not very stable and comfortable to tow.

GEIST insist that there is no need for a WDH as the vehicle is not designed for one (???)

Cheap to purchase compared with other makes probably because the manufacturers have compromised on what - build quality and strength?

Despite winning Caravan of the Year (Caravan & Motorhome 2006) there are better choices out there.

Your money - your choice.