Towing with a van
Discussion
I'm looking at picking up a large lwb van later this year for about £10k with a view to doing a DIY camper conversion. At the moment, the sevel vans (relay, boxer, ducato) are favourite, mainly because of their rust resistance in the longer term.
While it'll mostly be used for daily running around (2nd car) and as a camper I do need to tow a relatively heavy trailer from time to time. At the moment this is done with a pretty old Land Cruiser 80 which is obviously happy to tow anything anywhere. The "heavy" versions of the vans I'm looking are rated to tow 3000kg but are they actually up to the job in practice?
I guess after being used to a 180hp straight six, the engines typically fitted to these vans seem pretty weedy to be pulling 6 tonnes about. I'm also wary of how hopeless a fwd drive van is going to be if I venture into a forest track to collect firewood or it snows.
Anyone have any experience/advice?
While it'll mostly be used for daily running around (2nd car) and as a camper I do need to tow a relatively heavy trailer from time to time. At the moment this is done with a pretty old Land Cruiser 80 which is obviously happy to tow anything anywhere. The "heavy" versions of the vans I'm looking are rated to tow 3000kg but are they actually up to the job in practice?
I guess after being used to a 180hp straight six, the engines typically fitted to these vans seem pretty weedy to be pulling 6 tonnes about. I'm also wary of how hopeless a fwd drive van is going to be if I venture into a forest track to collect firewood or it snows.
Anyone have any experience/advice?
Vincecj said:
I tow a 16' Ifor with an Iveco XLWB. Not a problem.
What engine do you have in the Iveco - they seem to be more commonly fitted with bigger units. 3.0 ducatos seem almost none existent secondhand sadly. Gross train weights seem surprisingly difficult to Google, will obviously check the plates when I finally travel south to see a van.
Edited by snowandrocks on Saturday 5th January 22:07
Just on the note of venturing off the beaten track. Make sure you get something with a dual rear axle. The FWD vans are really not up to scratch full laden anywhere, they are a literal box ticking exersize speced by accountants who only look at that extra ~100kg payload capacity. The single wheel RWD 3.5tonners are a liability in snow & ice.
Dual rears are by and far the best option for what you are looking for. Personally my money would be on a Transit, Crafter or Sprinter, although the latter is known to rust somewhat. Dailys are a bit marmite, my only advice would be don't touch an auto one with a bargepole.
Dual rears are by and far the best option for what you are looking for. Personally my money would be on a Transit, Crafter or Sprinter, although the latter is known to rust somewhat. Dailys are a bit marmite, my only advice would be don't touch an auto one with a bargepole.
snowandrocks said:
What engine do you have in the Iveco - they seem to be more commonly fitted with bigger units. 3.0 ducatos seem almost none existent secondhand sadly.
Gross train weights seem surprisingly difficult to Google, will obviously check the plates when I finally travel south to see a van.
Mine's a 2.3
Gross train weights seem surprisingly difficult to Google, will obviously check the plates when I finally travel south to see a van.
Mine's a 2.3
Edited by snowandrocks on Saturday 5th January 22:07
I have a Fiat Ducato with the 2.3 JTD engine. I use it to pull trailers up to 2.8 tonnes (the rated maximum). I also have a Toyota Hilux and LR Discovery, both rated to 3.5 tonnes. I prefer towing with the Fiat and always take it unless I'm heading somewhere offroad.
Trailers are Ifor Williams car trailer - track car plus recovery vehicle, plus 2 others - 3.5t flatbed and tippers.
Trailers are Ifor Williams car trailer - track car plus recovery vehicle, plus 2 others - 3.5t flatbed and tippers.
IMHO the rwds are better for towing, an unladen fwd is pretty scrabbling on wet hill starts & even dry nasty steep hill start t junctions can be wheel spinning affairs. Obviously laden far better, but I've done a good few hundred thousand miles towing with fwd so not totally awful, but rwd def preferred.
I've run all sorts & disagree ref twin wheelers better in snow etc, single rear wheeler laden & winters on fantastic, more weight on that tyre thus usually better.
Other than that yes of course twin rear wheel more stable, but a laden normal van is pretty decent.
The iveco 3.0 is a great one, bit juicy, well ok its a tuneless 4 pot & rivals 5pots & v6s better, but its grunty & I've got it on a heavy 6.5t at 3.9t unladen, had it at 11t train OK was a bit breathless but that's a lot, it's fine at 8t.
Other end of the scale also have a renault 2.5 the 120 one, as a van alone its fine great on fuel & quick enough, towing it's just not got enough torque, it copes but is slow at max train weight, which is 6t or 6.5t I can't remember without looking.
Mate runs the 2.3 & rates it, I've never driven it, have the older 2.8s tho, are OK are a few specs but it's an OK lump.
My old sprinter 311 was OK, the older 312 better but prehistoric now, lt35 with the 5 pot is a great lump, but again getting a bit old.
I've no Ducato or the newer sprinter experience, but if budget allowed I would like a newer big engined sprinter.
I've run all sorts & disagree ref twin wheelers better in snow etc, single rear wheeler laden & winters on fantastic, more weight on that tyre thus usually better.
Other than that yes of course twin rear wheel more stable, but a laden normal van is pretty decent.
The iveco 3.0 is a great one, bit juicy, well ok its a tuneless 4 pot & rivals 5pots & v6s better, but its grunty & I've got it on a heavy 6.5t at 3.9t unladen, had it at 11t train OK was a bit breathless but that's a lot, it's fine at 8t.
Other end of the scale also have a renault 2.5 the 120 one, as a van alone its fine great on fuel & quick enough, towing it's just not got enough torque, it copes but is slow at max train weight, which is 6t or 6.5t I can't remember without looking.
Mate runs the 2.3 & rates it, I've never driven it, have the older 2.8s tho, are OK are a few specs but it's an OK lump.
My old sprinter 311 was OK, the older 312 better but prehistoric now, lt35 with the 5 pot is a great lump, but again getting a bit old.
I've no Ducato or the newer sprinter experience, but if budget allowed I would like a newer big engined sprinter.
Edited by iguana on Sunday 6th January 23:13
Speaking of Iveco Duallies.
Those Jumbo's as a camper, would probably be bigger than my flat.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2015-Iveco-Daily-35C15-...
oQAAOSwA3xcMGRR:rk:3
f:1
Those Jumbo's as a camper, would probably be bigger than my flat.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2015-Iveco-Daily-35C15-...
oQAAOSwA3xcMGRR:rk:3f:1Gassing Station | Commercial Break | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff