Getting confused looking for a new van . We like the rear door entry with the ensuite on the right as you enter , fridge in front of you , cafe and kitchen then bed at the back. As we understand this alters the underneath of the van where wheels and axle are and ball weights with either design . Does one tow better than the other , one company told us rear doors are not the best design as the van may tend to sway more , they don't make rear door vans!!! They do do a good van though so were wondering if there is any truth in this . We are looking at 19-20'. Our current van , a single axle is a bit heavy on the ball, has rear door but tows beautifully with a hayman reece setup but presume tandams are different Any advice or help much appreciated. We tow with a Pajero so weight around 2500 is what we are looking at.
-- Edited by jbrinks on Sunday 1st of June 2014 11:22:11 AM
-- Edited by jbrinks on Sunday 1st of June 2014 12:38:34 PM
Hi jbrinks, our van is 'rear door'. Meaning the door is still on the side but at the rear as opposed to rear door as in the back panel. Our van is as you described. The jury on this forum is in agreement that the heavier the tow ball weight the better the van will tow, obviously within reason. We initially towed with a Mitsubishi Pajero and found the going a bit tough at times. The van would really get sucked in as large trucks would overtake. We subsequently swapped the Pajero or a 200 series Landcruiser and never looked back. The van does not get sucked in as much, only during very strong winds will it sway and we halfed the fuel consumption.
You failed to mention what sort/brand of van you are looking at. Do not be afraid to name this as this forum and others are opinions only. I am sure someone will have something nice to say about the van you are looking at as well as something not so nice about the same van. These comments are generated from experience in most cases.
Depending on where the water tanks are, this could have the potential of altering the ball weight. If the tanks are above the axles, the ball weight weight will be altered less then if they are forward or rear of the axle.
Also don't loose sight of the fact that van manufacturers quote their ball weight on an empty van. Add your gear and water and all of a sudden you have a different ball weight.
Good luck,
Larry
At this stage we have in mind a Traveller /middle door, a Billabong a JB caravan and a Concept which are all back door.
it gets confusing but not rushing in will try and catch some on the road and see if we can narrow the list down , our two favourites are probably Billabong and Traveller which both have different entrances
Many rear side doors have the kitchen area just inside and beds at the front and the wheels are set further back on the van to compensate for the rear weight (to minimise sway), which also makes the tow ball weight more.
These are just my observations I am no expert. Ozjohn may like to comment on that or others that are more familiar with rear side door vans. Personally, I have always gone for front side door vans with front kitchens or kitchen over the axles in the past.
We have a NT Pajero also, to some degree it's a matter of choice where you prefer to have the door opening, one you generally enter into the bedroom area and the other kitchen area. When we were looking having the door to the front side of the van it lessened our choices of semi off road vans. We purchased a Newlands Zodiac 20 ft (Concept) with the options, which is at the rear side of the van, one of our first requirements that it must the towing requirements of the Pajero which they said it wasn't a problem and the van has been ordered to meet those requirements.
Friends of ours bought a back door entry caravan there fridge is as soon as you walk in the van on the right And they have had problems ,hubby did say to me we are not buying a van with door at the back!! There Fridge is always full of dust when they get to there destiny and also the floor as well they have now Taken to covering the vent with gkad wrap while travelling
Each to there own i say but yep we werent looking at a back door entry
-- Edited by glassies on Sunday 1st of June 2014 06:54:54 PM
I have an old Compass van with the entry door on the side well to the rear and rear kitchen. The axle is well to the rear. The van tows terrific and is easy to manouvre. I have put some photos on "Show us your Rig". I tow it mostly with a '94 Falcon wagon and sometimes with a Mazda Tribute V6. Rear kitchen limits off road capabilities, but we don't seem to get the dust ingress that some complain about. Certainly we don't have enough problems to cause us to think of getting rid of it. Personal choice i guess.
