Bravo/ courier 98-03 2.5td gearbox issues and general reliability

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to do research on Mazda bravo/ Ford courier 2.5td Utes from 98-03 (fitting my price range of 12k) I know they had trouble with the gearboxes but i haven't heard why or how (if possible) to drive to avoid the problems. I plan on towing the camper for 12 months next year doing 30,000km max. camper will weigh roughly 1 tonne fully loaded. How will a bravo go towing the camper. A dealer told me not to use 5th to save the Gearbox, which to me seems useless as staying in 4th to tow would have to use more fuel.

Uses will be 90% blacktop with the occasional dirt track to a free camping ground and of course the Gibb River Road and hopefully the Bungle Bungles.
will be driving for fuel economy 90km/h with a good set of standard size tires no roof rack and only a bull bar and 240 blitz lights. hope to have a tub with a steel create to the shape of the cab or a fiberglass canopy.

Have you owned one, did you like it? Can you share any issues you had? What was your set-up (tire size, roof rack etc) and the general heaviness of your right foot and your general fuel economy.

Also any help of the gearbox and towing would be great. Can you get the gearboxes rebuilt stronger?

Cheers Sean