Before Shaun and I bought our first caravan back in 2021, we headed to Toyota to scope out our towing options. I was five months pregnant and my little Suzuki Swift was not going to cut it as a family car or touring vehicle—it was definitely time for an upgrade!
Why the Toyota Fortuner?
We kept seeing the odd Toyota Fortuner around town and I loved the look of them and how they weren’t super common at the time. Shaun did the towing research and found the 2021 GX model (base model) being sold as an ex-test drive vehicle.
It’s important to note the 2021 Toyota Fortuner is a 2.8 litre 4 cylinder diesel.
We already knew that Toyota is one of the most popular car brands in Australia due to its reputation for reliability, durability and quality so we took it for a test drive to see for ourselves.
We painfully haggled the price with the greesey car salesman down to $52K which we thought was a steal for a brand new car and signed the contract to take it home. I originally paid $13K for my swift from the dealership back in 2013 and traded it in for $11K- not bad for a 6 year old car!
Doing the math, we were out of pocket $41K but still not bad in comparison to what we could have spent on a new touring / family vehicle.
What We Upgraded & Modified:
- Suspension – 2” Old Man Emu- $2000
- Airbag Man airbags – $1000
- Bull bar TJM steel bar- $2990
- Safari snorkel- $597
- Dual battery system inc third lithium 100Ah Enerdrive battery, Fixed 180W solar panel, Redarc tow controller – $3000
- GME UHF radio – $550
- Tinted windows – $300ish (I can’t remember exactly now)
- Drawers and a 60L Bushman fridge in the boot – $1500
- Custom stainless steel 60L water tank – $500
- Rhino roof racks – $1500
- Rhino side awning – $400
- Kickass shower tent – $130
- MSA towing mirrors – $977
- Previously BF Goodrich all-terrain tyres and CSA D hole steel rims (now we have Nitto Ridge Grapplers tyres—heaps better!) – $900
- Bushman’s air compressor – $425
- Maxx tracks – $240
- Rhino Rack shovel holder $66
- Tune (more on that below!) – $1290
Total Cost:
Accessories Total – $18, 365 + $52K for the car
= $70, 365
I have to admit, when I was writing this I asked Shaun how much he thought we spent on modifying the car to tour and he guessed between $8-$10K… he was wayyyyy off and I was shocked how much we actually spent!
How It Towed Our Caravan
The 2021 Toyota Fortuner is a 2.8 litre 4 cylinder diesel.
We started off towing a 1500kg 1980s Millard caravan—super light—and the Fortuner handled it beautifully, getting 380–420 km per 80l tank (around 18L/100km).
But when we recently upgraded to our current beast of a caravan—a much heavier (3000kg) New Age Manta Ray—the car really struggled….you could feel the heavy caravan behind as the car lagged and had no power.
Before upgrading the car (which would seem like the easiest option, it’s also the most expensive) we thought we’d give the Fortuner a tune to see if that made much of a difference..
Tuning the Fortuner
The tune was done Advantage Diesel at Warners Bay, NSW and for $1290 it has DEFINITELY helped. It’s now noticeably more responsive and can handle hills and towing much better.
I’ve attached the performance card if you are interested in looking at the exact changes the tune made to our car.
The Downside?
Fuel efficiency.
With the bigger van, we’re lucky to get 320km from a full tank. That’s 21/22L per 100km. This is pretty average for a the litres per hundred but because its a small fuel tank, it means we need to stop to fuel up at nearly every petrol station so we feel like we are forever paying for fuel and the kids want to get out of the car every time we stop.
What We Think of the Fortuner Now
If we weren’t towing, this car would be PERFECT. It’s super easy to drive and park, not too big, and in my opinion it looks pretty badass.
Would We Buy a Fortuner Again?
The short answer: no.
Not for towing long-term.
It’s just not powerful or fuel-efficient enough to tow a heavier caravan over time.
We have run into a few issues along the way including:
– the timing chain started rattling at 30,000kms. After doing research, it’s a common issue in that motor as well as the Hilux and Parado. We took it to Toyota in Adelaide to get fixed under warranty and the whole experience was a story for another day but let me just say it did NOT go smoothly…
– No one can figure out why our blinker is flickering, It blinks as though the light has blown but it hasn’t. Now it’s just something we need to deal with and it adds character, right?
– We struggled with Toyota fitting us in for a service whilst travelling Australia, even calling weeks in advance, they were always booked out. At home, this wouldn’t be a problem but waiting around for a car service was not on our itinerary.
– After telling Toyota about our squealing brakes for the last 3 services, they said there was nothing wrong with them and put some brake spray on (which only made the noise worse). When we took it for a service at a different mechanic, he said there was lucky to be 1mm of brake left and the rotors could barely be clamped to the machines because they were so rusty. Not what you want to hear when your driving two children around…
What’s Next?
We’re now tossing up future touring options. Got a suggestion? Let us know!
Personally, I’m eyeing off the Nissan Patrols (even though their popularity puts me off), and Shaun likes the 1500 RAM. Both cars have bigger engines, more towing power and interior luxuries.
Can’t wait to hear your thoughts.
❤ Britt
Roam N Round 
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