Van for towing
Discussion
Hiya - it's probably been covered but how do I find out what van is best for towing my Jaguar race car? The weight of trailer and car will be roughly 2 tonnes. I don't want a van that will die on me at the sight of an incline, something pretty robust and also fairly comfortable. I will be sleeping in the van as well, but it's only my first season so I don't mind a lined van and just taking my camp bed and stove.
Thank you in advance
Thank you in advance
With a fair amount of weight, plus tools and so on, I would suggest something with twin rear axles as the total towing is often considerably higher than a normal transit type van.
I got stopped once by a DVLA spot check on the way back from Anglesey and was pulled into a weighbridge. The normal race truck was out of action at the last minute so a normal LWD panel van was used. Coupled with tools, spare wheels, awning and so on we were about 60kg over the limit but thankfully we were let off with a slap on the wrist and didn't have to leave something or someone behind.
I started looking for a van with a higher towing payload the following day, and ended up with the Iveco Daily 50/C14. It tows very well but is limited to 56mph and requires a private-HGV MoT test and the necessary C1 endorsement on your driving licence - was automatically granted but from about 1997 requires an additional test.
I got stopped once by a DVLA spot check on the way back from Anglesey and was pulled into a weighbridge. The normal race truck was out of action at the last minute so a normal LWD panel van was used. Coupled with tools, spare wheels, awning and so on we were about 60kg over the limit but thankfully we were let off with a slap on the wrist and didn't have to leave something or someone behind.
I started looking for a van with a higher towing payload the following day, and ended up with the Iveco Daily 50/C14. It tows very well but is limited to 56mph and requires a private-HGV MoT test and the necessary C1 endorsement on your driving licence - was automatically granted but from about 1997 requires an additional test.
I bought an ex RAC van because it's rated to 2 tonnes, was cheap as chips but had a great service history. Tows my droopsnoot firenza on a 4 wheel Brian James trailer really well. Not the coolest rig in the Paddock I suppose 
I sleep in it on an airbed but be warned it can be very cold!
I sleep in it on an airbed but be warned it can be very cold!We use a RWD 11 plate Transit 330 (works van!). Rated at 3.3T for the general day-day and can tow 2T also. It's fully loaded, approx 5-5.2T when towing and can still maintain speed up hills etc without too much issue (change down from 6th to 5th...). Generally, RWD is better for towing (especially in the wet!) and is usable in the Paddock too.
HTH
Dave
HTH
Dave
Watch out for your GVW and GTW ratings. Gross train weight and gross vehicle weight,
Some smaller transits have very low GTWs so although you may have a GVW of 3.5 tonnes you may only be able to drag say 1.5 tonnes if the GTW is 5.0 tonnes for instance.
I have also heard that if you have a trailer with a 2.5 tonne capacity, it is deemed to be carrying 2.5 tonnes whether it is full or empty. Not sure where that comes from but worth researching.
If you get weighed, they also check individual axles as well so you may be educated about shifting the weights around, even if the GTW is legal.
The aforementioned lightweight transit will tow up to it's GTW but the weight of the empty van plus a car on a trailer means that you can carry nothing more than a bag of spanners.
Vehicle weights are usually on a sticker inside the driver's or passenger door (on a plate in the footwell on a transit) or you can download them on tinterweb.
Be careful though. They are getting very keen nowadays.
Also point out here that a van is a commercial so can only do 50 on an a road and 60 on a dual carriageway; less with the trailer on. (I got caught out with that before christmas. 70 bang up on a dual carriageway. I've always done 70 on a dual carriageway, never knew any different!)
Some smaller transits have very low GTWs so although you may have a GVW of 3.5 tonnes you may only be able to drag say 1.5 tonnes if the GTW is 5.0 tonnes for instance.
I have also heard that if you have a trailer with a 2.5 tonne capacity, it is deemed to be carrying 2.5 tonnes whether it is full or empty. Not sure where that comes from but worth researching.
If you get weighed, they also check individual axles as well so you may be educated about shifting the weights around, even if the GTW is legal.
The aforementioned lightweight transit will tow up to it's GTW but the weight of the empty van plus a car on a trailer means that you can carry nothing more than a bag of spanners.
Vehicle weights are usually on a sticker inside the driver's or passenger door (on a plate in the footwell on a transit) or you can download them on tinterweb.
Be careful though. They are getting very keen nowadays.
Also point out here that a van is a commercial so can only do 50 on an a road and 60 on a dual carriageway; less with the trailer on. (I got caught out with that before christmas. 70 bang up on a dual carriageway. I've always done 70 on a dual carriageway, never knew any different!)
We run more than 30 Iveco Daily 35S11/12/13 vans, some of which do around 2000 miles each week. On occasions we have used them for towing trailer and race car and have proved well up to the job. The vans are genrally pretty reliable as long as they are regularly serviced and the axle oil changed every year. The Italian electrics can throw up odd lights but it's usually not a major issue.
Normally come off fleet after six years or 500,000 miles so pretty well built. Average mpg when not towing is 26-30.
Normally come off fleet after six years or 500,000 miles so pretty well built. Average mpg when not towing is 26-30.
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Also point out here that a van is a commercial so can only do 50 on an a road and 60 on a dual carriageway; less with the trailer on. (I got caught out with that before christmas. 70 bang up on a dual carriageway. I've always done 70 on a dual carriageway, never knew any different!)
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Only if 3.5t+. Mine is a 330 (so 3.3t) and can carry max of 5.3t so two max is 2t. Without trailer I can still do 70 on dual/motorways. Thats according to local plod too...
ctsdave said:
said:
Also point out here that a van is a commercial so can only do 50 on an a road and 60 on a dual carriageway; less with the trailer on. (I got caught out with that before christmas. 70 bang up on a dual carriageway. I've always done 70 on a dual carriageway, never knew any different!)
Only if 3.5t+. Mine is a 330 (so 3.3t) and can carry max of 5.3t so two max is 2t. Without trailer I can still do 70 on dual/motorways. Thats according to local plod too...This site lists legal towing limits for vehicles
http://www.uktow.com/towing%20capacity.asp
It's weird that vans, even small empty ones are restricted, yet buses and coaches seem to do whatever damn speed they want !!
Or worse, idiots in 3 ton range rovers have no speed restrictions compared to say a 1.4 ton empty small van !!
The motoring laws are mental.
Some of the rules about towing weights did change again in 2013
https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car
http://www.uktow.com/towing%20capacity.asp
It's weird that vans, even small empty ones are restricted, yet buses and coaches seem to do whatever damn speed they want !!
Or worse, idiots in 3 ton range rovers have no speed restrictions compared to say a 1.4 ton empty small van !!
The motoring laws are mental.
Some of the rules about towing weights did change again in 2013
https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car
The speed limit for vans depends on how the vehicle is registered. ie. If it is LGV then the lower speed limit applies, however if you bought the vehicle new for private use it could have been registered as PLG in which case it is the same limits as a car. Not sure but I think motorhomes are registered PLG as well.
Car derived vans and dual purpose vehicles can do 70 on a motorway and dual carriageway. It's quoted on the Governments own website.
Anything under 7.5 tonnes can, in theory do 70 on a motorway and 60 on a dual carriageway, but most vehicles over 3.5 tonnes have to be fitted with a 56mph speed limiter now, so it's really only 3.5 tonners and below that can do this.
Anything under 7.5 tonnes can, in theory do 70 on a motorway and 60 on a dual carriageway, but most vehicles over 3.5 tonnes have to be fitted with a 56mph speed limiter now, so it's really only 3.5 tonners and below that can do this.
Edited by Super Slo Mo on Sunday 5th January 09:52
And don't be fooled by towing with a motorhome either... some of them have a towing capacity as low as 1600Kg - or less, I've seen 800Kg towing capacities on some of the Peugeot/Fiat based jobs.
I use an American Class A type motorhome, weighs 5.8T, pulling a 3.5T trailer.
Though I have a C+E (or Class 1 in old money).
I have towed with my Merc Vito, it's GVW is 2.8T, and has a max towing capacity of 2T so I can just get away with it with hefty trailer and Thundersaloon.
I would recommend a proper 3.5T Sprinter, or similar, as that will (should) have a 3.5T towing capacity.
Check the plate/spec before you buy.
I use an American Class A type motorhome, weighs 5.8T, pulling a 3.5T trailer.
Though I have a C+E (or Class 1 in old money).
I have towed with my Merc Vito, it's GVW is 2.8T, and has a max towing capacity of 2T so I can just get away with it with hefty trailer and Thundersaloon.
I would recommend a proper 3.5T Sprinter, or similar, as that will (should) have a 3.5T towing capacity.
Check the plate/spec before you buy.
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