COTY 2024 TOW VEHICLES FEATURE
SNOWY RIVER SRT-19 AND FORD RANGER XLT PX MKII (TICKFORD)
Thanks to a raised chassis and independent trailing arm suspension, the latest Snowy sits higher off the road than its more blacktop focussed counterparts, but that's not to say it towed badly at all. All four of us judges found it nearly faultless. But what about the Ranger up front?
We towed with a Ford Ranger XLT PX MkII fettled by Tickford Engineering. The MkII was built between 2015 and 2018 and in the XLT trim came only with the 3.2L inline fivecylinder turbo diesel engine with the choice of either a manual or six-speed automatic gearbox.
The PX MkII is a handsome ride and with a set of Clearview mirrors, a small lift in its suspension, some more aggressive wheels and tyres, and the Tickford touch in some black wheel arches and some stickers, it really stood out and it went well too.
The 3.2L has enough torque to haul a van of the Snowy's size with ease and it should be reasonably economical, especially when you take on what you could save buying one used over a new ute. A really clean, unmodified example with around 100,000km still fetches around $40,000. A higher kilometre (over 200,000km) example could be had for $30,000 or less but we'd avoid them, especially if they lack service documents.
Tim gives it an 8.5/10 based on parts availability and the future low cost of ownership.
BASIC TOW SPECS Ford Ranger XLT PX Mkll (Tickford enhanced)
• 3.2L inline five-cylinder turbo diesel
• 80L fuel capacity
• 3200kg GVM (gross vehicle mass)
• 6550kg GCM (gross combined mass)
• Up to 1041kg payload
• 3500kg max. tow capacity
• Rough price now $30,000–40,000
WONDERLAND RV XTR 1906 AND RAM 2022 1500 LARAMIE
This is a truck I know well. It came with us on a big trip through the centre of Australia in search of a good pie (and pub). That was its maiden voyage, towing another Wonderland RV, a 2100 XTR Bunk van for issue #622 (also online, search for Caravan World Wonderland RV XTR 2100F-C 2 Bunk). It was a baptism of fire with the RAM 1500 Laramie blowing three factory tyres, almost leaving us stranded and chewing a concerning 30L/100km into a headwind.
Now the same RAM sitsdifference! We didn't blow any tyres on our testing loops around Victoria's Bellarine Peninsula, and it rode better with taller profile tyres although they were a bit noisy.
