Can you tow with a van ?

Pedantic

Pedantic

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Going to have to economise and get rid of one of my vehicles, so one plan looks like 4x 4 gonna go, so still going to need a van for work, but can anyone recommend a van that will tow my double trailer for the odd pleasure ride without it's nuts falling off.
 
Friend of mine used to pull with a transit type van, a Ford I think.

He didnt seem to have any problem with a HB505 but he did only pull ponies in it .
 
I think the Vauxhall Combo would tow a trailer - you'd have to check the plated weights, depends if you're looking for a small or large van
 
I have a LWB 3.5 tonne Vauxhall Movano which is a converted horsebox which would also pull a trailer (though not of course with horses in both the van and trailer. We use the towbar for a boat). You need a good strong diesel engine. Or just get the van converted to be both work van and horsebox, and sell the trailer... my box cost £8k.
 
I see this combination often in my part of the world, indeed, many of the vans are converted into campers, cooker, a bed,table,that sort of thing,seems a good idea to me as many of the shows are two or three day ones, or for a riding holiday would be ideal. Trailers are mostly double horse.Go for it!
JC
 
i used to tow happily and more imprtantly, legally, with a 1.9 diesel renault traffic, swb. BUT trailer had to be derated to 2 tonnes and i could only carry 1 horse.
 
JCWHITE said:
I see this combination often in my part of the world, indeed, many of the vans are converted into campers, cooker, a bed,table,that sort of thing,seems a good idea to me as many of the shows are two or three day ones, or for a riding holiday would be ideal. Trailers are mostly double horse.Go for it!
JC
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I think that's the best idea all round - get a few home comforts in the back of the van and you don't have to pay the additional costs of running a horse box! :)

OP - you need something pref with AWD (all wheel drive) which will make towing easier, along with a big meaty engine :)
Kate x
 
Hi we tow occasionally with my husbands Ford Transit van, it tows really well, we towed a big ifor cattle truck converted to take 2 large horses with 2 large cobs on board with no problem. It tows my Richardson Rosette no problem at all.
Hope that helps
 
NeverSayNever said:
i used to tow happily and more imprtantly, legally, with a 1.9 diesel renault traffic, swb. BUT trailer had to be derated to 2 tonnes and i could only carry 1 horse.
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Lol, I hope you didnt have to pay to "derate "your trailer,because there was absolutely no need. What counts is the actual weight.
 
Mike A lot of folk think the plated weight thing is uk law but when you look on the dpft website it says no and like you say its the actual load not what its plated weight is is this a euro law that has slipped in ??? and on the subject of vans that can tow I looked into it and it needs to be a big gross weight one like a 350 transit!! and you also need to be carfull about how much is in the van as its easy to exceed the train weight..
I would say the best bet is a double cab pick up with a canopy to use as a van ..
 
Thanks everyone, it will have to be a van to have all my plumbing gear in, the 350 tranny sounds best idea.
It's early days yet so may end up keeping 4x4 and getting rid of OH's car, and doing it that way, few things to mull over.
 
Hi perfect 11,s. No its not some euro law. Its just good old "chineese whispers". No policeman or VOSA inspector would think twice about a Small Artic unit towing an empty or partialy loaded tri axle trailer,though the maximum gross train weight would easily be exceeded. Ministry plated weights only realy have a significance(other than overloading and testing) with regard to the drivers license catagories ,where what is on the ministry plate is important not the actual load.Down rating Ministry plates is a piece of ancient history dating back to when most horseboxes didnt have a living area, and by putting smaller tyres on an HGV(as they were known as,ie over 7.5 tonnes)and a ministry inspection,it could become a 7.5 tonner. I doubt if any modern LGV with living area could be down rated to below 7.5 tonnes and still carry even a shetland.
 
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