Towing advice please.. Vito Van

[ScratchyMooMoo]

Hi there, can someone please tell me if I can tow an Ifor Williams 505 and a 550Kg horse legally with a Mercedes Vito van? I know it's not suitable for two horses but think I might be ok with one. I have an option of using this vehicle, so I can get rid of my 4x4 which I hardly use.

 

[Suenomel]

Hi there, it depends on the weight of your car and its towing capacity. You shouldn't tow more than 85% of the weight of your car and you should be able to find its weight online by looking at its specs

 

[ROG]

Hi there, can someone please tell me if I can tow an Ifor Williams 505 and a 550Kg horse legally with a Mercedes Vito van? I know it's not suitable for two horses but think I might be ok with one. I have an option of using this vehicle, so I can get rid of my 4x4 which I hardly use.

http://vanleasingmadesimple.com/van-leasing/mercedes-benz/vito/ which model?

 

[calmgirl]

Sorry to butt in but could I ask a similar question? What weight can I tow with a Vito 111 CDI Long ?
I could only see the fully laden weight and the GTW on the plate. But van would be empty bar spare wheel, passenger, fuel, saddle...
Can post the plate info tonight if needed.
Thank you ROG and OP.

Eta HB510 with 1 x 500kg horse and pre97 licence

 

[Proud Wexford Hero]

Just watching thread with interest as I'm going to be in same position....

 

[ROG]

Sorry to butt in but could I ask a similar question? What weight can I tow with a Vito 111 CDI Long ?
I could only see the fully laden weight and the GTW on the plate. But van would be empty bar spare wheel, passenger, fuel, saddle...
Can post the plate info tonight if needed.
Thank you ROG and OP.

Eta HB510 with 1 x 500kg horse and pre97 licence

http://www.imperialcommercials.co.u...cardescused/mercedes-benz-vito-111cdi-van-429
I think that is your model
Max towing capacity 2000 kgs
That means the empty trailer plus whats in the trailer cannot exceed a total actual weight of 2000 but the trailer must be plated at least 2000 MAM or more to be 2000 actual weight

Passengers do not go in the trailer (very unsafe to do so!!!) so their weight is in the vehicle GVW

 

[ROG]

Every VITO I checked out no matter what type seems to have the same max towing capacity of 2000 kgs

 

[ROG]

Hi there, can someone please tell me if I can tow an Ifor Williams 505 and a 550Kg horse legally with a Mercedes Vito van? I know it's not suitable for two horses but think I might be ok with one. I have an option of using this vehicle, so I can get rid of my 4x4 which I hardly use.

the HB505 is about 900 kgs + horse 550 kgs = 1450 kgs leaving a max of 550 spare so if second horse is about 500 kgs then I see no reason for it not to be legal
IF MY LAST POST ABOVE IS CORRECT ABOUT THE 2000 TOWING CAPACITY FOR ALL VITO VANS

 

[calmgirl]

Thank you. Yes passenger in the van ) Does the weight of gear you have in the van effect the weight you can tow? I guessed if the van was fully loaded plus towing 2000kg might put you over the gross train weight? So if the van was practically empty can you tow more than 2000kg by any chance?

 

[ROG]

Thank you. Yes passenger in the van ) Does the weight of gear you have in the van effect the weight you can tow? I guessed if the van was fully loaded plus towing 2000kg might put you over the gross train weight? So if the van was practically empty can you tow more than 2000kg by any chance?

The GVW(MAM) of the vehicle is the max that the vehicle can weigh on its own with passengers gear etc in it
The MAM of the trailer is the max it can weigh on its own with the horses etc in it
Separate max weights for each

Now we get onto the GTW listed on the vehicle plate - that refers to the max actual weight that both can weigh when added together

In the majority of cases the GTW minus the GVW will give the max towing capacity but that is not always the case

The handbook or internet is a great place for finding out if a max towing capacity (actual weight of the empty trailer and its load) has been listed
If no max towing capacity has been listed then the GTW (max actual weight of both vehicle and trailer) can be utilised by the driver as they see fit providing neither the vehicle GVW or the trailer MAM is exceeded

Exceeding the max towing capacity can bring about prosecution under the C&U reg 100

 

[montanna]

Aside from legality etc.. I don't think I would like to tow with an empty van.. surely the trailer would push it about and snake?
Also as they are not 4WD you would be a bit stuffed at muddy events?

 

[ScratchyMooMoo]

Thanks for the replies... It's a compact van 2.1CDI 6Spd SWB. I'm aware it wouldn't be that great in muddy fields but the cost of running a 4x4 just to tow my horse around in ridiculous. I have a separate car for work so I am just having to tax, insure and run an extra car just for my horse! If I have to then so be it, but my partner has this van which he hardly uses which I could pinch at weekends. I'm just looking at options really. Thanks again in advance.

 

[ROG]

Aside from legality etc.. I don't think I would like to tow with an empty van.. surely the trailer would push it about and snake?
Also as they are not 4WD you would be a bit stuffed at muddy events?

The kerb/empty weight of a VITO is about 1850 kgs so with one driver and fuel that is going to be nearer to 1950/2000 kgs which is the max towing capacity - with a fully loaded trailer at 2000 that is going to be a balance of the two

When manufacturers state a max towing weight they take the worse case scenario into account for safety purposes - if they did not then they leave themselves open to a corporate charge if something goes awry

The 4x4 bit is a good warning if intending to tow on anything but solid ground

 

[ROG]

It's a compact van 2.1CDI 6Spd SWB.

2000 kgs max towing capacity

 

[ROG]

I should point out that towing a horse trailer with a VITO is going to be under B+E licence rules

 

[ROG]

General VITO specs ... interesting ....

Gross Train Weight 4770
Gross vehicle weight 2800 kg
Max towing weight - braked 2000 kg

If both the van 2800 and the trailer 2000 were loaded to their maximum then it would be illegal by 30 kgs on the GTW

Unlikely to ever happen in reality but goes to show that all the weights must be considered

 

[ScratchyMooMoo]

Thanks for the advice. I think I will give it a trial run to see how it feels, but it seems like it might be a good option for me.