Towing with a van - advise needed!

[cobbie]

Does anyone here tow there trailers with a van as apose to a 4x4? If so what are the pro's and con's? What are they like to tow with? Are there any real pitfalls?

We currently have a Landrover "Disco" but are considering changing to a van, as the idea of more space (and living when at shows) and the practicallity of a van is appealing (plus our landrover is very juicy and rising fuel costs are a consideration)
However i am conserned about there towing ability.

We have been pointed in the direction of the VW T4 vans, and having spoken to lots of people (many non horsey) they have assured me they are more than capaible of towing - some of them also made me feel very stupid for asking (typical men folk!)

I have seen many people towing with alsorts of vans at shows, but i want to be reassured by opinions from the horse community, as my horses safety is of the upmost importance.

(To add my trailer is a old style Rice and it will mostly carry two cobbies- one heavyweight cob and one middleweight cob types both around 15.2hh)

 

[hadfos]

My friend towed with a mercedes vito,loved it,only downside obviously is there was no 4 wheel drive,so in a muddy field as likely to get stuck as a normal car(this did happen and i towed her out with the disco ...that was with no trailer on the back)
Cant really tell you anymore than that tbh,just check kerb weights etc and you should be fine

 

[Mike007]

I wrote you a seriously worded intelectual reply but the system chewed it up . So, cos a van has little weight on the ar+se end a trailer can shove it about . not good. Must have a significant weight in the van .

 

[Orangehorse]

Builder friend has just changed his van for a Discovery so he can tow his trailer! Work trailer that is, not a horsebox. Something to do with front/rear wheel drive, don't know which way round.

Still, I have sometimes seen a motorhome pulling a trailer, so some models might be OK.

 

[suzysparkle]

I have a Mercedes Sprinter high roof medium wheel base and tow an Ifor 510 with it. I have also towed at some point with most of the big 4X4's, including a Disco and a Shogun. With only one exception, and that being if you encounter wet grass or mud, the van is a better towing vehicle. Bear in mind though that mine is a pretty big van and is the version with extra power - is bigger than the trailer. It is also a dearer MOT due to its weight. I have to tow on some pretty steep hills, both up and down, and recently found out all the brakes on my trailer were basically dead (great) and I had never even noticed (replaced now though). Vans are good with weight!!

We recently got a Defender (got sick of having to use snow chains on the car) but I will still use the van to tow unless I know the parking area will be slippy.

The only other thing I have ever had an issue with is if there is little space to turn as it's a pretty long combination. But I've never been stuck yet. We have a van for the dogs you see

 

[cobbie]

I wrote you a seriously worded intelectual reply but the system chewed it up . So, cos a van has little weight on the ar+se end a trailer can shove it about . not good. Must have a significant weight in the van .

It's a pain when that happens, i've written many an essay of a reply and lost it!!

Umm thats a good point, though i think OH is considering having a VW that can be kitted out with a living area (bit like the old style VW camper vans, but we certainly cannot afford on of those!) So the weight ratio would be different compared to an empty commerical van...

 

[suzysparkle]

PS Not once have I felt the trailer influence the van. Mine is rear wheel drive. In fact, when driving it I barely even notice it and my van weighs a lot more than the trailer + Horse does. I've towed a lot, all sorts of trailers.

 

[suzysparkle]

Forgot to add, my dog cages in the van weigh a LOT. Two layers and takes three people to lift each layer.

 

[stroppymare153]

I had the same thought after doing a long trip towing with a long wheelbase transit - but it was 95% motorways so easy driving anyway. wrt Mike's comment it seemed ok empty and was brilliant with full trailer and very full van! But at that level it was not a whole lot less thirsty than my V8 Disco!

It was interesting to manoevre (sp?) though!! especially turning round in stable yards

 

[clairencappelli]

Ill let you know tomorrow! My partner just bought a 280 swb transit van and we investigated the weights and it can tow 1800kg so only one horse by the time i have tack etc on board.

Wish me luck we are going to vie a trialer tomo and hoping to be towing it home with us thats if he will let me drive his precious new van yet which i doubt las i have never towed before lol.

I will let you know how we go!

 

[Mike007]

It's a pain when that happens, i've written many an essay of a reply and lost it!!

Umm thats a good point, though i think OH is considering having a VW that can be kitted out with a living area (bit like the old style VW camper vans, but we certainly cannot afford on of those!) So the weight ratio would be different compared to an empty commerical van...

sounds nice.

 

[clairencappelli]

Well i towed ( my first time ever !! ) my new trailer home today with Fanny the tranny lol.

I hadnt even driven his van before but the fella got brave and off we went. I didnt want to drive it with the trailer on at first then i got brave and did it all the way home after the first few miles.

It felt really stable so i think it will be even better with my baby girl on the back.

Reversing was "interesting" tho, i was rather crap at it.

 

[perfect11s]

Does anyone here tow there trailers with a van as apose to a 4x4? If so what are the pro's and con's? What are they like to tow with? Are there any real pitfalls?

We currently have a Landrover "Disco" but are considering changing to a van, as the idea of more space (and living when at shows) and the practicallity of a van is appealing (plus our landrover is very juicy and rising fuel costs are a consideration)
However i am conserned about there towing ability.

We have been pointed in the direction of the VW T4 vans, and having spoken to lots of people (many non horsey) they have assured me they are more than capaible of towing - some of them also made me feel very stupid for asking (typical men folk!)

I have seen many people towing with alsorts of vans at shows, but i want to be reassured by opinions from the horse community, as my horses safety is of the upmost importance.

(To add my trailer is a old style Rice and it will mostly carry two cobbies- one heavyweight cob and one middleweight cob types both around 15.2hh)

The main thing to considder is the max train weight sometimes called GTM!! this is what the van, it's load and the trailer is allowed to be , you will most likely need a 3.5 ton van such as a.. transit 350, VW LT, Sprinter or iveco daily and best if it is rearwheel drive I dont think a T4 going to be up to towing what you need?? guess it needs to be able to tow 2tons + I think the van towing a horse trailer is a good move apart from if you end up on a wet field then you will need towing off hope this helps...

 

[Theresa_F]

I towed for 18 months with a Mercades Vito. Van is capable of 2.1 tonnes towing and for Stinky my cob and my little Bateson Derby, it was perfect. Very stable and the great thing about a van is loads of space for stuff and you can also easily get changed in the back.

I am about to get a Defender, but this is because I want to take Farra and Stinky out this year so need something that can tow 3.5 tonnes.

The only disadvantage with the van is that it was rear wheel drive so I had to avoid very muddy venues, though that said, it got me off a very muddy field last April by driving carefully.

If I was just keeping to Stinky and the Derby, I would have stayed with the Vito as it was so useful for having all the space - I could put an airbed in the back and sleep in it for shows where I was away for one night and it was not worth (or very wet) to put up a tent.