Hello, Im after some info from fellow travellers regarding vehicles & towing capacitys. A long story short Im confined to a wheelchair with no mobility to stand or transfer into a high vehicle, I was wondering what vehicles are out there with a decent towing capacity but not too high off the ground like 4WD or SUVs?
A caravan to suit my needs (With shower/toilet) will I believe weight around the 2.8T mark, it needs to be big enough to accommodate my family of four plus all my extra needs! I havent yet found a car that can tow this mass legally.
I currently drive a Holden Adventra which is capped at 2.3T, basically I cant transfer onto a seat higher than approximately 630mm high (From ground to seat cushion)
Any help very much appreciated, i'd be keen to see what's available including modifications to assist easy transfers.
I need to get back out there travelling again!
ParamountCruiser said
01:36 PM Jun 3, 2014
A Jeep Cherokee maybe an option.
It has a 3.5 tonne towing capacity and I would think it is lower than most of the popular 4WDs.
chaslib said
02:12 PM Jun 3, 2014
We have a Ford Territory Titanium with heavy duty tow pack which gives 2.6 towing. we only tow a camper as it is all we need together with the back of the car for all the surplus stuff, but could easily tow average size van .. Provided you are only looking at short trips and dont intend long term freedom camping and the extra power and equipment you may need, it may be worth looking at. The car it low enough I believe For your access Needs.
Good luck with your search and welcome!
ozjohn said
02:50 PM Jun 3, 2014
Wow! I think you're in trouble. With a seat at only 630 (24") I think you can probably forget any SUV or econo style van that will tow anything around 2800Kg. You'll need a small vehicle with low seats and a smaller lighter van like a Jurgens that will suit the vehicle. Best of luck with your endeavour. Ozjohn.
Ontos45 said
02:52 PM Jun 3, 2014
chaslib wrote:
We have a Ford Territory Titanium with heavy duty tow pack which gives 2.6 towing. we only tow a camper as it is all we need together with the back of the car for all the surplus stuff, but could easily tow average size van .. Provided you are only looking at short trips and dont intend long term freedom camping and the extra power and equipment you may need, it may be worth looking at. The car it low enough I believe For your access Needs.
Good luck with your search and welcome!
Hi Matt and Mel...welcome.
I have been looking around for something similar but because of knees. Have looked at Fiat and Mercedes light trucks (same as some motor homes are built around) as their front step seems low to the ground, not much higher than a tall sedan and could be modified to tow 3tonne if they can't now.
Good luck
Dougwe said
03:43 PM Jun 3, 2014
Maybe check the Holden Colorado 7. Nit sure of specs but when I was recently looking around for a new tug I noticed them in the yard.
Welcome to the gang as well, enjoy here and out in the playground.
Friar Park said
04:35 PM Jun 3, 2014
Hi Mike, like some others on here i have spent almost all of my working life solving engineering problems. It sounds to me like you have exactly that, an engineering problem. If once you are positioned alongside the drivers seat of a vehicle (and there are a few out there that can meet your towing criteria i believe) is it a case of getting you high enough so that you can manouvre sideways into the drive position. If it is then then i would think there is some bright spark out there that can give you a solution. Your choices would the be much greater.
Just a thought
Friar
Matt and Mel said
05:07 PM Jun 3, 2014
Thanks for all the assistance & reply's, most of the Jeep/Territorys have a higher seating position than normal. My Adventra has more ground clearance than a Ford territory but a much lower seating position (Go figure) but also 300kg less capacity.
I have considered modifying a vehicle to suit either air bags or seat mods (Swivel out or lower) it would be nice to come across someone who has already been through this dilemma would save many of headaches!
Im located in the Pilbara region of WA, jumping in the car to visit car yards to compare isnt an option the closest one to me is 400km away (Toyota/Nissan) I have a real challenge ahead of me!
mr ed said
10:04 PM Jun 5, 2014
Hi Matt and Mel
I cant say much about the seat. Due to medical problems we found the Isuzu Ute Dmax auto diesel very good for my husband
it was just the right height for him to get in and we found the ute excellent for wheelchair, walker etc it was much easier for me
to put it into the back of a ute rather than a car boot. ( the Isuzu has a 3 ton tow capacity - we tow 20'6 van with no problem)
good luck Fran
Matt and Mel said
11:04 AM Jun 6, 2014
Thanks guys, still looking at my options. I've emailed T & L Engineering to see if they can make mod's to have a 4WD seat swivel out and down, i'm not a big fan of modifying away from the OEM spec's it usually introduces more problems... but anyway will wait & see what they come back with.
Regards,
Ontos45 said
11:53 AM Jun 6, 2014
Matt and Mel wrote:
Thanks guys, still looking at my options. I've emailed T & L Engineering to see if they can make mod's to have a 4WD seat swivel out and down, i'm not a big fan of modifying away from the OEM spec's it usually introduces more problems... but anyway will wait & see what they come back with.
Regards,
Hi again Matt and Mel. Have attached a couple of pictures of light truck/van we were looking at. I believe it can be obtained in 4x4 too, configured as a ute, van, small bus. The height of door was our main reason for looking at something like this as Sue has had 2 knee replacements.
Hello everyone, ok I have found a potential suitable pop up camper from Kakadu camper trailers it's the Chameleon model, it looks good via pictures I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with these campers good or negative feedback?
has a nice price tag but also has a lot of engineering gone into it, full hydraulic lift and van also extends, this alone would be very expensive.
My vehicle tow rate 2100kg
van is 1700kg empty
is 300kg enough to play with?
Hello, Im after some info from fellow travellers regarding vehicles & towing capacitys. A long story short Im confined to a wheelchair with no mobility to stand or transfer into a high vehicle, I was wondering what vehicles are out there with a decent towing capacity but not too high off the ground like 4WD or SUVs?
A caravan to suit my needs (With shower/toilet) will I believe weight around the 2.8T mark, it needs to be big enough to accommodate my family of four plus all my extra needs! I havent yet found a car that can tow this mass legally.
I currently drive a Holden Adventra which is capped at 2.3T, basically I cant transfer onto a seat higher than approximately 630mm high (From ground to seat cushion)
Any help very much appreciated, i'd be keen to see what's available including modifications to assist easy transfers.
I need to get back out there travelling again!
A Jeep Cherokee maybe an option.
It has a 3.5 tonne towing capacity and I would think it is lower than most of the popular 4WDs.
We have a Ford Territory Titanium with heavy duty tow pack which gives 2.6 towing. we only tow a camper as it is all we need together with the back of the car for all the surplus stuff, but could easily tow average size van .. Provided you are only looking at short trips and dont intend long term freedom camping and the extra power and equipment you may need, it may be worth looking at. The car it low enough I believe For your access Needs.
Good luck with your search and welcome!
Wow! I think you're in trouble.
With a seat at only 630 (24") I think you can probably forget any SUV or econo style van that will tow anything around 2800Kg.
You'll need a small vehicle with low seats and a smaller lighter van like a Jurgens that will suit the vehicle.
Best of luck with your endeavour.
Ozjohn.
Hi Matt and Mel...welcome.
I have been looking around for something similar but because of knees. Have looked at Fiat and Mercedes light trucks (same as some motor homes are built around) as their front step seems low to the ground, not much higher than a tall sedan and could be modified to tow 3tonne if they can't now.
Good luck
Welcome to the gang as well, enjoy here and out in the playground.
Hi Mike, like some others on here i have spent almost all of my working life solving engineering problems. It sounds to me like you have exactly that, an engineering problem. If once you are positioned alongside the drivers seat of a vehicle (and there are a few out there that can meet your towing criteria i believe) is it a case of getting you high enough so that you can manouvre sideways into the drive position. If it is then then i would think there is some bright spark out there that can give you a solution. Your choices would the be much greater.
Just a thought
Friar
I have considered modifying a vehicle to suit either air bags or seat mods (Swivel out or lower) it would be nice to come across someone who has already been through this dilemma would save many of headaches!
Im located in the Pilbara region of WA, jumping in the car to visit car yards to compare isnt an option the closest one to me is 400km away (Toyota/Nissan) I have a real challenge ahead of me!
Hi Matt and Mel
I cant say much about the seat. Due to medical problems we found the Isuzu Ute Dmax auto diesel very good for my husband
it was just the right height for him to get in and we found the ute excellent for wheelchair, walker etc it was much easier for me
to put it into the back of a ute rather than a car boot. ( the Isuzu has a 3 ton tow capacity - we tow 20'6 van with no problem)
good luck Fran
Regards,
Hi again Matt and Mel. Have attached a couple of pictures of light truck/van we were looking at. I believe it can be obtained in 4x4 too, configured as a ute, van, small bus. The height of door was our main reason for looking at something like this as Sue has had 2 knee replacements.
Just a thought mate.
has a nice price tag but also has a lot of engineering gone into it, full hydraulic lift and van also extends, this alone would be very expensive.
My vehicle tow rate 2100kg
van is 1700kg empty
is 300kg enough to play with?
anyone suggest what I should be looking out for?
www.campertraileraustralia.com.au/detail/kakadu-camper-trailers-16'-chameleon-366129
regards
Matt & Mel