Tradie Advice

Towing capacity, as the name suggests is the maximum mass of a trailer and its load that can be legally towed on the road by a particular make and model.In Australia, there will usually be two towing limits listed for a car or ute, and those will be the braked and unbraked towing limit. The braked limit will usually be a lot higher than the unbraked limit, as a braked trailer contributes to the braking performance of the combination (the tow vehicle and the trailer).These days, many dual-cab utes are capable of legally towing 3500kg on a braked trailer, and that figure has become some kind of default setting for those buying tow-vehicles.This figure is much higher than in previous generations of cars and reflects the fact that cars are stronger and heavier than ever before (particularly the kinds of vehicles people choose to tow with) and that many vehicles have more powerful engines than ever before.Knowing your car’s towing limit is important because it means you can stay on the right side of the law when towing a load. Attempting to tow more than the manufacturer’s limit means you are technically unroadworthy.There are also insurance ramifications here should the worst happen and you’re involved in a crash. Even going beyond the towing limit off-road (say, on a farm) can mean that your car’s warranty will be affected.And beyond all those things is the fact that attempting to tow too heavy a load can easily damage your vehicle and will also make it unsafe in terms of its braking and handling.Unfortunately, the towing limit is a bit misleading as it’s not the only number you need to consider to stay legal and safe. The other important number is the vehicle’s GCM or Gross Combination Mass.This is the total weight of the car and its towed load, including all passengers, fuel and luggage on board.The catch is that some dual-cab utes (for example) might have a GCM of 5800kg and a towing limit of 3500kg, but once you hook that full amount to the tow-bar of the 2000kg ute, you discover that you have only 300kg of weight left for you, your passengers and your luggage. Exceeding the GCM is just as dangerous and illegal as exceeding the towing limit.The other trap for the unwary is exceeding the towball downweight limit. This is set by the manufacturer and is usually a maximum of 10 per cent of the total mass being trailered. Exceed this figure and you’ll be illegal and unroadworthy.The first consideration in choosing a tow vehicle is that it has the legal capacity to tow what you need to move. And that’s where the 3500kg thing has become a baseline number as it allows most people plenty of headroom.Beyond that, you need to choose a vehicle that will do everything else you’ll ask of it, as well as making the towing tasks as relaxed and safe as possible.While it’s true that many dual-cab utes have this theoretical 3.5-tonne towing ability, some definitely do it better than others. A turbo-diesel engine is a big plus (and petrol powerplants are almost history in this market segment, but they do crop up).Such an engine will give you the torque and flexibility you need, and it’s worth mentioning that some turbo-diesels are beefier than others.Some are okay up to about half that 3.5-tonne limit, but beyond they some of them can struggle, particularly on hills and in terms of their fuel consumption (not that fuel use is anywhere near the top of mind for most towing-rig owners).We’d also plump for an automatic transmission for towing. That is, a conventional automatic, not a dual-clutch or a CVT unit, as a traditional auto is simply stronger for longer when you use them hard.An auto makes manoeuvring easier and the auto gives a smoother take-up of the load and less wear and tear.The third consideration is the actual construction of the vehicle. While more modern, monocoque body designs can be lighter and handle better, for towing, the traditional body-on-frame construction is still hard to beat.The vast majority of dual-cab utes feature this, as do the big-hitters of the off-road wagon world such as the Nissan Patrol and Toyota's LandCruiser and Prado.Having established that it’s utes and four-wheel drives that are your best bet of a realistic 3500kg towing performance, what cars can tow 3500kg that we would recommend?It’s not a simple question, because there are plenty that theoretically can, including unlikely candidates such as the Bentley Bentayga and the Porsche Cayenne GTS and Turbo in wagon form. Clearly, we’re not talking tow-vehicles for the masses at that point.So let’s stick with the attainable tow-trucks.By far the best bet for the serious tower will be a dual-cab ute or off-road SUV. Those vehicles all tend to have the turbo-diesel engines, conventional automatic transmissions and ladder-chassis construction we were talking about.Beyond that, they also have all-wheel drive which can be a real holiday-saver in the case of a muddy campground or greasy boat-ramp.And why aren’t there any vans on this list? Because, when it comes to towing 3.5 tonne, vans of that capacity are not really available with most closer to 2000kg towing, or even less.Same goes for the SUV wagon versions of the dual-cab utes (Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and others). The switch form leaf to coil rear springs and an independent rear suspension system (for passenger comfort) means most of these lose a few hundred kilos of outright towing limit.That said, the Isuzu MU-X has a full 3.5kg limit as do V6 turbo-diesel versions of the newest Ford Everest.Neither have we listed the real big hitters, the US-market utes that have arrived here to cheers lately. Some of these have amazing towing capacities, but they’re too big and too expensive to be on the radar of most people.There are also plenty of other cars with 3.5-tonne towing capacity, but these ones below are the 3500kg towing capacity vehicles available for sensible money.A bit long in the tooth, the rugged old Toyota 70 Series is available as a ute or a wagon and also features the much-loved 4.5-litre V8 turbo-diesel. Impressive off-road, too. Priced from $69,000 (if you can find one).The Y62 Patrol bucks the trend by being a petrol-engined vehicle. But the V8 is smooth and powerful and tows beautifully. Another great off-roader into the bargain. Priced from $95,115.Known for their toughness and reliability, the Isuzu twins aren’t the last word in refinement or dynamics, but they are good tow-trucks. Full towing capacity restricted to 3.0-litre versions. Priced from: $36,200.The first choice in dual-cab utes for refinement and dynamics. Lots of options including cab-chassis, two and four-wheel-drive and all able to cope with 3.5 tonnes. V6 turbo-diesel dual-cab is the plum buy, but the Everest SUV is compelling, too. Priced from $35,930.Great reputation even if DPF woes have hurt that a little lately. Classic dual-cab, four-wheel drive ute layout is proof of concept. Four-wheel drive models carry the big 3.5-tonne towing limit. Priced from $40,155.All Defender models can tow 3500kg, including the 2.0-litre version. The bigger engined versions are best for the job, however. Not a cheap car any more, either. Priced from $82,960.The new off-roader everybody’s talking about, the Grenadier uses old-school packaging with BMW drivelines. Petrol or diesel will tow 3500kg. Priced from $85,500.The much anticipated new Cruiser gets a powerful driveline and superb off-roading ability. But it’s also a tow-master thanks to its sheer size and heft. Priced from $89,181.More upmarket variants of the Navara have a coil-spring rear-end which has been questioned by some who tow big loads. A process of continual improvement at Nissan has improved things. Huge spread of spec and prices. Priced from $32,300.By comparison with some of the Japanese makes, the South Korean Musso is a wallet-friendly way into 3500kg towing. Be aware, though, that engine performance in the Musso will be stretched at this limit. Priced from $34,990.

If your payload and towing requirements are moving beyond the abilities of a conventional ute, maybe it's time to think about a light truck. We've been steering the Isuzu N-Series to get a feel for how it stacks up in terms of value, comfort, ease-of-use, and more.

Chinese brand LDV has given the ute market a real shake up over the last handful of years with its T60 offering a heck of a lot of ute for the money compared with the established players. 

While some utes are bought on reputation, some for their styling and others on their basis of their performance, Isuzu’s D-Max range of utes has been a strong seller on the basis of value-for-money and ruggedness. 

Ford set out to make the 2022 Ranger look larger, wider and stronger than before, with a visible family resemblance to the larger F-150 truck of North America, but without losing the established T6 styling theme that has served the series so well since launching over a decade ago.

Knowing how to tow a trailer confidently and safely is a vital skill for any driver, from a single-axle box-trailer or camper-trailer to motorcycle and jet-ski trailers to heavy duty multi-axle caravans, horse floats and car/boat trailers.

There’s absolutely no doubt about it: Regardless of who Mazda forms strategical technology alliances with, the BT-50 badge carries a strong enough reputation that the model is a strong seller. The original BT-50 arrived in Australia in 2006 and was a shared model between Mazda and long-time collaborator Ford. 

Holden’s Colorado ute in space cab and dual cab forms has been a popular choice among tradies and private owners since the badge was introduced in 2008 to replace the old Holden Rodeo badge.As a result, the Colorado has ben put to just about every use imaginable, and in many cases, that has meant the fitment of a canopy. In fact, the Colorado in all its forms, including the sporty Z71 variant, has been fitted with just about every type of canopy ever dreamed up, from home-made steel and canvas jobs to service bodies, alloy canopies and, of course, the ever-popular fibreglass or thermoplastic variety.So what are your options? Without a doubt, the simplest canopy is the still-common canvas cover which is slung over a skeleton frame made from either steel or alloy bars. These are common on Colorados fitted with either a flat tray or a drop-side alloy tray and make a great no-frills space cab canopy. Many are purchased off-the-shelf, but the construction technique lends itself very well to custom made canopies to suit specific requirements. This type of canvas canopy offers one-person fitting and removal and the ability to be removed or slid forward quickly to allow for bulky loads on a regular basis. The downside is that they aren’t always very dust-proof and they don’t offer the security of a hard canopy with locking access points.More specialised is the service body style of canopy which is usually constructed and clad in metal and allows for secure storage for tools and work supplies. The permutations of these are more or less limitless and they can be custom made to achieve a very specific end result with a very specific use in mind. Usually attached to a flat-bed tray, a service body or steel canopy can also incorporate storage space below the tray, either side of the vehicle’s rear wheel to maximise efficiency. Many have the option of roof or ladder racks on top of the basic structure.Far and away the most common canopy for a Holden Colorado is the fibreglass or high-tech plastic units which are most commonly attached to vehicles with the standard tub arrangement., Forming a secure roof over that tub, these canopies are also great for providing a dry, secure storage environment. But with windows to each side and to the rear, they’re also great for carrying pets safely. The windows and lift-up tailgate also make for decent access for working out of and, like a service body, the roof is usually strong enough to allow for roof racks and tie-down points. The construction method of these canopies (ie: a moulded main body) means they are less likely to be custom-made, but buyers can certainly option them up in many ways to achieve the result they want.A lot of ute owners are of the opinion that the best fitting canopy for their vehicle is the one that was offered as a genuine part when the vehicle was new. That’s not necessarily the case any more, and plenty of car-makers outsource their canopy supply to specialist companies anyway. That said, a genuine part-number canopy is a great way to ensure that the thing will fit properly, will be compatible with all the vehicle’s other systems and the colour match (where you’ve paid to have the canopy match the car’s colour) will be as spot-on as possible.The problem for Colorado owners, of course, is that Holden as a brand doesn’t exist any longer and, in fact, the last brand-new Colorados were sold around the same time the brand disappeared; about the middle of 2020. So if you want a genuine Holden Colorado canopy, you’ll need to track down a former Holden dealership (and many were multi-franchise, so the business may still operate with its other makes) that has some NOS (New Old Stock) stored in its warehouse. To be honest, it’s a bit of a long shot and you could spend a lot of time searching and not finding anything.The saving grace here is that the aftermarket has always recognised that the Colorado was a popular model and has continued to support the range with a good selection of canopies including the types we’ve mentioned here. And like the OEM stuff when it was around, the better aftermarket brands also offer colour-matching as well as the usual options that owners seem to be looking for.The aftermarket (or second-hand) is also the place to look for a canopy for a previous-gen Colorado. Many canopy manufacturers will keep a popular canopy in production long after the vehicle itself has disappeared from new car showrooms. Brands such as ARB, TJM, Flexiglass and Carryboy (to name just a handful) all have a wide range of choices for the Colorado and continue to service the Holden brand generally. So even if your Colorado is the old RC model rather than the later RG version, you might still be surprised at the choices you have.You can contact the above canopy manufacturers and deal with them directly, and in most cases, the bigger brands will have a network of showrooms and accredited installers who can take the job from start to finish in one place, including colour-matching.The other alternative is to visit one of the many huge four-wheel drive accessory stores that have opened up in recent years and look at a wide range of makes and models in one place. Be warned, though; these places are like a magnet to four-wheel drivers and leaving with not just a canopy but a car-full of other gear you didn’t know you needed and an empty wallet is a very real possibility.Don’t ignore a second-hand canopy either. Since there are few moving parts, these things are a safe bet and if there’s no visible damage to the structure, you’re off to a good start. Check the for sale classifieds on your favourite website.You can cobble together your own canvas canopy at home for a few hundred dollars, but even a professionally made canvas unit can be had for as little as $1500, or so. An alloy or metal canopy will be more expensive and a service body custom-built to a specific brief can be literally thousands of dollars. The upper end of the off-the-shelf Holden Colorado canopy price range is around the $5000 mark and that gets you a really high-end canopy with plenty of options and a factory warranty.Adding options is a great way to make sure the canopy will suit your needs in the long term. Take notice of details such as whether the tailgate operates on a single lever or a pair of handles. The former is much better for those who often have their hands full of gear as they approach the vehicle. LED lighting is a nice touch and you can also specify central locking for the canopy then can even be made to work with the vehicle’s own central locking.Do you want window tint? A roof rack? Ladder racks? A roof vent? Extra tool boxes? It can all be arranged and most of the bigger brands offer all this stuff. It costs extra, of course, but if it makes the vehicle a better, more convenient piece of equipment, it’s definitely worth considering when you specify your canopy. Don’t forget about handy additions such as internal drawer systems and whether you like sliding or hinged side windows.Don’t forget to let your insurance company know you’ve had a canopy fitted. Both the replacement value of the vehicle and the cost of the premium could be affected. But basically, if your insurer doesn’t know about the canopy and the vehicle is a total loss, the cost of the canopy may not be included in the pay-out. Meantime, a vehicle with a secure canopy fitted might represent a reduction in the insurance cover for your work tools and camping gear.

Your average 4x4 dual cab ute has a one tonne payload rating and can tow up to 3.5 tonnes of braked trailer. Many mid-sized commercial vans can also carry at least one tonne and large vans and their cab-chassis variants can carry even more. 

To say Aussies love their utes is a gross understatement. The fact is, dual-cab utes are the hottest selling vehicles in the marketplace right now, and they have been for some time. The reason? Well, a lot of it has to do with the sheer practicality of a ute.