GORV - Digital Magazine Issue #2 | Page 22

CAN'T AFFORD THIS? DON'T LET THAT STOP YOU! BUDGET TOW RIG SEARCH Buying a caravan brings with it the temptation to also buy a new tow vehicle. That 22-footer isn’t going to tow itself, and the hatchback in the garage wouldn’t pull the skin off a rice pudding. A new dual-cab ute or 4WD wagon will lighten the wallet by tens of thousands of dollars. Or at least $100,000 if you really want to go to town. But for us mere mortals, saddled with mortgages and raising children, such an outlay is unrealistic. 22 gorv.com.au IF A NEW 4WD TOW VEHICLE IS FINANCIALLY OUT OF REACH, DON’T DESPAIR: THE SECOND-HAND MARKET HAS LOTS OF VIABLE OPTIONS. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be a barrier to enjoying the RV lifestyle. If you really want to do it, you’ll find a way. BUDGET, BUDGET, BUDGET The most important decision when searching for a used vehicle: your budget. Get past the idea of badge loyalty. Toyotas, some would argue, fetch a high price because they’re, well, Toyotas. When it comes to Land Cruisers, there’s probably some truth to that. But why not consider a vehicle such as the Land Rover Discovery? If you need a vehicle with a high towing capacity, an early model Disco might be a reasonable option. A 2.5L turbodiesel Discovery that’s done between 200,000km and 250,000km will cost you $5000 or less. Undoubtedly, you’ll need to factor in mechanical repairs and upgrades, especially since the vehicle will be used for towing, but the starting price, compared to that of the Cruiser, has to tempt. And the Disco example is