Ford BF XR8 Tow Car?

Hey guys,

Looking at grabbing a tow car that can double as my daily driver.

Personally I'd like to grab an Ford BF XR8 (auto for towing  ) but there's a bit of speculation about there actual rated capacity.

Anyone here using one that could shed some better light? The 240+ Trailer comes in at about 1500kg which is cutting it close to the 1600kg rating without the 2300kg package.

-James

No matter what you get as a tow vehicle, you should opt for the heavier duty tow pack.

In the long run, it'll be a lot better for the car.

They handle the loads, and especially the downwards load on the ball, a lot better.

The other thing that may be worth considering is long term planning.

Eg, fuel is only gettong more and more expensive. Sure you want a v8 as a daily?

You can offset any rising fuel costs by going to gas, but the injection kit for LPG injection is around $3-4k

Having said that, the late model V8's are still pretty good on fuel.

perhaps a deisel vehicle?

If you still want luxury, the territory comes in a deisel.

James,

You've seen my tow car when i dropped the bits off for you, the XR ute makes a perfect daily/tow car, only problem for some is no rear seats.

Get the 2300kg tow pack from Hayman reece, about a 1/3rd the price from Fraud and away you go. In the BF's you will need the auto to tow anything over 1600kg, and the FPV cars are only rated to 1600kg.

The holdens aren't much chop in regards to tow capacity, 1600kg max for any Dunnydore IIRC. The rated towing capacity, and overall GVM ratings are two of the big factors as to why I have had Fords as tow cars for over 20 years of racing, from an XB sedan, XD ute, AU ute and BF ute, don't forget you need to take spares, tools and so on to race meetings. I generally fill the back of the ute with a couple hundred kilo of shit.

Matt

Thanks for the info so far guys, its appreciated.

Matt, I wasn't sure if yours was the XR8 or not but definitely good to know you've been doing it.

I specifically looking at a 2006 BF XR8 mk2 auto (zf box) but there were so many conflicting storys and supposedly Ford advised about heat when towing..

Is yours a manual or auto? If auto are you running an aftermarket trans cooler? Also hows the squat? I was thinking of getting some air bags for the rear.

I probably should of just called you

James

I have a AU S3 V8 ute (only the old Wheezer though) & it makes a great daily/Tow pig.

If your looking at a BF XR8 (like Matt has) they are an even better thing - the ZF Auto is magic.

Just get the 2300kg tow kit, seperate trans cooler. Re: the fuel consumption, meh, it's a V8 - they like a drink.

James,

Mines a ute, so leaf spring bum, better for loads anyway. Mine sits low with a load, but only what you'd drop it with aftermarket springs.

The sedans are a better towing proposition than the commode, the blade rear end doesn't suffer the same camber changes as the holden rear end can do, though there are plenty of fixes around from the specialists, like fulcrum.

The ZF auto is a magic box, mine isn't running a cooler, but it is something I will be looking at. Towing the ZED from sydney with all my spares, tools and whatever when I bough it home for the last time after its quick tidy up, it was at about the load limit for the utes GVM. The only issue I saw with the auto getting hot was it changed out of performance to adaptive mode after the climb at Bulledelah and then after about 50km changed back to performance mode once it was happy again. If you don't abuse the auto you shouldn't have any dramas. I would recommend regular fluid changes, about every 12 months if you are going to be doing a lot of towing with it.

The only other fix I would recommend is that when the front bushes go, they are liquid filled, replace them with solid bushes, about $500 was what I have been quoted for mine. You can pick when they go on the utes as the rear tyres will wear on the inside edge.

Other than the heavy usage around town, 15-17l/100km, and I don't spare the horses they are a good thing.

Matt

great, cheers fellas.

Only towing it will do is once a month from Coomera to Lakeside (an hour highway run).

I'm happy with the fuel consumption, works 10mins away.

Thanks again for the Info.

P.S Matt did you get your S15?

Not quite, got an S14

have you considered a 4wd? my mates got a new turbo diesel defender, it is chipped up and pumping 600+nm atw (all of them, coz its awd). towed my zed like it wasnt even there, we were still dragging cars out the lights lol.

i am a fan of the mazda bt-50s as well, after having rented one from bunnings (which is only the little 2.5L, the 4wds have 3L).

This is what you need, a 4x4 Zed.........

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsun-Z-Series-240Z-1972-Datsun-240Z-Monster-Car-Good-Condition-STREET-LEGAL-/290656667217?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item43ac7cc651

Cool Matt, I'll have to come have a look see!

To be honest I'm not a fan of either of those utes and price range comes into play.

LOL Rob, I'd terrorise the crap out of the Gold Coast in that thing

that overlander zed is awesome! i had a HZ ute overlander for a few years, so much fun driving around in something that shouldnt be lol

Oh, i dunno!

I have my Landcruiser for sale, its a Sahara, with all the fruit, and then some!

Its been chipped and has a full turbo back 3" exhaust, diesel, five speed auto, 100 series, plenty room in back, tows up to 3500 kg. Done 114 k kms only.

Best of all, loaded, with five and gear, to snow, gets 7.8 l per 100

Loaded with gear, tandem trailer and race car, gets 11.2 L per 100 k

Long range tanks, uhf for monitoring usual 40 plus "emergency services!!" extra channels.

As a daily around town, gets 12 per 100, wheelspins all four on take off ( damp road only)

Nice grunty note from the exhaust too!

Does The Gap to Nebo, toGloriuos/ Samford to The Gap in 42 minutes, the abs and traction control getting a workout!

Bit more pricey than a Coon though, but far more user friendly, at $60 k

I actually drive utes all the time for my job (mining) so i thought i might weigh in on this.

On site we have every type of ute and 4WD. Personally my vehicle is a 2011 Mitsi Triton 2WD (not by choice). The tritons are much cheaper than the others, but that's because they're not nearly as good as the others.

Hilux's and cruisers are good vehicles, but at the end of the day you are paying for the toyota badge more than anything else.

The nissan patrols are a good solid ute, but they only come in povety pack, so if you want power windows or cruise control forget it.

Personally if i had the money for a ute i wanted to tow with i would go either

BT-50 in the old shape (pre 2012),

one of the new (2012) ford rangers (hear F-150) with the 5 cyclinder turbo diesel,

Nissan navara, drove one recently and they are AMAZING and they have a 6-speed manual so really good on fuel when highway driving

or one of the new VW amorak's - hearing good things about them.

I used to have a commodore ute and a falcon ute before it, and i can tell you that the new generation work utes are just as comfortable if not more comfortable, and are far superior for towing. Also diesel's tend to drink less in my real world experience.

You just won't get that V8 rumble (unless you go for a cruiser). But personally i like function over fashion.

I've got a BA XR6T as a daily/tow mule and it's brilliant for both.  It tows the race car and a tray full of spares up hills at 110 where the 7.3 litre turbo diesel F250 from my dad's work is back to 90 with the same load.  Having said that, you could put another couple of ton behind the F250 and it'd still do it at 90!  I went for the XR6T cause it's a bit cheaper to run than the XR8 and I drive about 50km each way to work.  If fuel economy isn't an issue than I reckon the XR8 will be great.

Cheers for the input fellas, I've got the answers I needed.

Essentially, I'm towing the car once a month so for the rest of the time I want something comfy and quickish..

Fuel consumption isn't too concerning when it's a couple of litre's difference per 100ks

-James