When only a tough tow truck will do

Brian and Kathy Paxton are caravanning veterans having been at it for 20 years with camping and fishing adding especially to Brian’s life – it’s how he likes to wind down after a tough week at work.

“As the underground drill maintenance supervisor at work, I often do long 12-hour shifts, so caravanning and camping is my way to relax and unwind. I’ve had memorable experiences meeting some great people and seeing a lot of the country along the way,” Brian said.

Kicking their caravanning passion into full gear, the couple decided to go on the road for the next four years, travelling across Australia.

And helping bring their dreams to reality is a new Isuzu NPR commercial truck, effortlessly towing their big American caravan to the destinations of their choice.

Prior to their new purchase, Brian’s old four-wheel drive was struggling with the heavy task of towing their 26-foot caravan, so he made the choice to upgrade to Isuzu's NPR 45-155 Premium SWB Tradepack model.

Powered by a 114kW/419Nm turbo-diesel engine through a six-speed gearbox, the light truck has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 4500kg and 8000kg GCM (gross combination mass), giving it more carrying and towing capacity than more passenger-friendly tow vehicles.

Priced from around $60,000, it also compares favourably with many of the more popular but often expensive heavy-duty tow options.

Living in Kadina, South Australia, Brian and Kathy use their Isuzu Tradepack for more than their caravanning trips.

“It’s so easy to drive the truck that we take it to the supermarket too," Brian said. “The seats are very comfortable, and we’ve even got great covers for them.

“I’ve got great vision out the front when I’m on the road because I’m seated a bit higher, which is a welcome change from driving my four-wheel drive.

“The turning circle on this small wheelbase truck is just fantastic. It’s better than a four-wheel drive because I can actually turn the truck around sharper on a narrower road, which is a real bonus for us.

"And Kathy doesn’t even need a truck licence for it; she can still tow the caravan with her car licence, which adds to the convenience.

In preparation for their off-road adventures, Brian has kitted the truck out with various accessories. The back has also been equipped with four tool boxes, accommodating a fridge, tools, an extra fuel tank and batteries.

“We have even added a box for all our firewood and related supplies. All we have to do is drop the tailgate on the left-hand side, open up the boxes, and everything is easily accessible,” Brian said.

Isuzu’s nation-wide service centre network was another 'tick' for the truck.

“As we are going to be on the road for at least a few years, Isuzu’s large presence with depots all across the country is quite reassuring, not to mention their product support," Brian said.

He said another bonus is not having to pay "fines in the eastern states for an overweight vehicle".

“An overweight car can lead to a $1500–$2000 fine. But that’s something we don’t have to worry about anymore since we’ve gone for a 4.5-tonne truck that tows a 3500kg van.

Also see:
Do you need a tough tow truck?
The truth about overweight caravans