
LandCruiser doesn’t pack quite enough grunt to tow your big off-road van? Patrol lacking in sufficient muscle to haul your larger-than-life fifth-wheeler?
Help is at hand from Sydney’s Salstrip Ultimate Vehicles, the first Australian importer to achieve low volume compliance for the latest 2011 Dodge Ram 3500 pick-ups.
The Dodge Ram 3500 4x4 diesel has a mammoth towing capacity of 7140kg (compared to the LandCruiser’s 3500kg), although if you’re going to tow a trailer over 4000kg in Australia it must by law be fitted with air trailer brakes and an ADR compliant fifth wheel hitch.
Available in Mega Cab, Quad Cab and Cab Chassis versions, power comes courtesy of a Cummins 6.7-litre, six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine generating 262kW and a stump-pulling 881Nm. This is matched to a six-speed automatic gearbox, with ABS, massive disc brakes, and an exhaust brake fitted standard for safer towing.
A 2011 Dodge Ram 3500 converted to right-hand-drive is on display at this week-end’s Newcastle Caravan, Camping &amp; Holiday Expo, targeting owners of big off-road vans and fifth-wheelers. &nbsp;"A couple (of buyers) have bought (Dodge Rams) to tow fifth-wheelers; another couple have bought them to tow Bushtracker caravans, and some of the guys bought them to tow 32ft Shark Cat (powerboats)," said Salstrip’s Conn Saloumidis.
"It’s the ultimate tow vehicle; it’s the biggest tow vehicle you can get without having to go to a truck."
According to Salstrip’s website, the Mega Cab which measures 6.34m long and 2.02m wide "has the largest longest cab of any pickup in the world… the most interior cargo volume, the most second row legroom and the largest rear opening door in the world for a pickup".
Salstrip mainly imports top-of-the-range Laramie-spec Rams, with their long list of standard features.
"With the conversion costs and the cost of the vehicle, we can’t compete with the no-frills trucks,” Saloumidis said. "They’re like a limousine inside. Electric heated leather seats, dual zone climate control, the whole lot."
On-the-road pricing starts from $145,000, with a long list of options available including side-steps, sports bars, and DVD players to further ramp up the price.
As well as being king of the tow vehicles Saloumidis reckons the giant American pick-ups aren’t too bad on the juice either.
"Towing a big van is about 20L/100km, which is not excessive for the size of tow vehicle and the size of what you’re towing," he said.
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Local compliance for king of the tow vehicles

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