towing vehicles, what are you using

gdayjr · Senior Member

towing vehicles, what are you using

Possum3 · Guru

Consider also an Isuzu, for reliability and availability of spares.

gdayjr · Senior Member

Not sure Isuzu make a cargo van like the others.

Greg 1 · Guru

I am assuming that the van is a 24' unit. You will need to be very careful with your selection of a vehicle with that size van, particularly given what you wish to carry. Just because the manufacturer claims a 3500kgs tow capacity doesn't mean it can in any practical sense particularly when loaded close to the vehicles GVM, keeping in mind that the towball weight is part of that GVM. You will need to do your sums very carefully, and you might well find that the suggestion of an Isuzu light truck or similar is not such a silly idea.

yobarr · Guru

gdayjr wrote:
Not sure Isuzu make a cargo van like the others.

Graham,perhaps you could build a body on the Isuzu tray,similar to this? Much easier to move around inside this than inside a smaller van,and plenty of room for whatever.Without doing too much research,the first thing I noticed about the Iveco was the massive TBO of 1795mm.(TBO is towball overhang,or distance from rear axle of car to hitchpoint.) This creates instability through the van wanting to move the truck from side to side,a bit like the "Tail wagging tge Dog".Probably not a good analogy,given that the truck is likely to be heavier than the van,but something that you need to be aware of.And,using a ramp,you could load your motorcycle through the side door while still hooked up to the van.Good luck with your research,but,as Possum has suggested,Isuzu has a good reliability record,and there would be no problem getting spare parts Australia wide.Cheers

-- Edited by yobarr on Saturday 27th of February 2021 04:35:12 PM

gdayjr · Senior Member

These reasons could well be why you do not see many commercial cargo vans used as a prime mover.

This is why we do the research with a big lead time hey?

I do hold a H.C license so the size of the vehicle is not the issue.

I was also looking at the VW Crafter because it has a 4motion 4 wheel drive system.

The distance from the axle to the tow bar would be around 1400 mm, is that considered too much?

-- Edited by gdayjr on Sunday 28th of February 2021 06:18:33 AM

yobarr · Guru

gdayjr wrote:
These reasons could well be why you do not see many commercial cargo vans used as a prime mover.
This is why we do the research with a big lead time hey?
I do hold a H.C license so the size of the vehicle is not the issue.
I was also looking at the VW Crafter because it has a 4motion 4 wheel drive system.
The distance from the axle to the tow bar would be around 1400 mm, is that considered too much?
-- Edited by gdayjr on Sunday 28th of February 2021 06:18:33 AM

Hi Graham....With the wheelbase of the VW being 3640mm? that 1400mm TBO is fine.Go for it! Cheers

Gundog · Guru

Have a look at the Isuzu NPR range, I have a friend who tows a 30' Cell Caravan with one, even put a Suzuki Jimmy in back as a runabout for long stays. His is a tray back with a canvas canopy.

gdayjr · Senior Member

I have used those small furniture vans on a few jobs, and my god they chew through some fuel.

Most of the Commercial vans i am looking at, certainly fit the purpose.

Iveco Dailey E6. IVECO-Daily-E6-Van-Spec-Sheet (1).pdf

Mercedes Sprinter. MBA_Sprinter_Technical_Brochure_Apr2020.pdf

VW Crafter. Volkswagen_Crafter_brochure_Jan21.pdf

Jayco Silverline Caravan. 2021JaycoSilverlineBrochure-sm-1612394357.pdf

Looking at a medium wheel base vehicle. Although they all have a small turbo charged diesel engine, they all seem to be ideal for the job.

If anyone can see an issue with any of these specs, i would love your input. I may be completely wrong on this, but thats why its called research.

At around $80k and upwards, the prime movers are a big investment.

Plus the Caravan at around $95k, depending on the extras.

I figure, as i am paying $280 a week to rent a granny flat in Sydney right now as a single guy, the money makes sence.

Thats over $145k in rent alone over the next 10 years, thats just dead money. The difference is that after 10 years, at least the van and caravan will still have a $ value as an asset.

I know that there are still on road costs every year, but what price do you put on 10 years of memmories and experiences?

-- Edited by gdayjr on Sunday 28th of February 2021 09:56:11 AM

-- Edited by gdayjr on Sunday 28th of February 2021 09:57:21 AM

-- Edited by gdayjr on Sunday 28th of February 2021 10:00:01 AM

Whenarewethere · Guru

If you are retiring any vehicle will be part of you assets & will affect a pension.

gdayjr · Senior Member

I understand that, but my questions are about the vehicle, the pension is not affected. The van is my home and well under the threshhold.

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Hi Graham I tried to open your specs sheets to have a look and comment but they wouldnt open for me. Might be me but went and checked on a post of mine with the specs for the Isuzu NLS AWD and NPS 4x4 in my thread regarding slide ons and towing and they worked fine. Is it me or the links? I looked at the vans in question but for Motorhome conversion and then towing my 3.3ton Trailable yacht and none were up for that challenge I found. A little different however than your proposed use. I went for the NLS AWD Isuzu and will see if that was the right choice as my new partner and I commence our extended travels later this year. Despite your prior renting moving van experiences I think something like I purchased with a van body might be worth considering. You would likely have a lot more streamlined body the mine with a huge over cab slide on on board and I have also even seen some slide on shells going really cheap which would just go straight on my tray back bringing further flexibility. Just a thought! Happy travels.

Radar · Guru

gdayjr wrote:
I have used those small furniture vans on a few jobs, and my god they chew through some fuel.
Most of the Commercial vans i am looking at, certainly fit the purpose.
Iveco Dailey E6. IVECO-Daily-E6-Van-Spec-Sheet (1).pdf
Mercedes Sprinter. MBA_Sprinter_Technical_Brochure_Apr2020.pdf
VW Crafter. Volkswagen_Crafter_brochure_Jan21.pdf
Jayco Silverline Caravan. 2021JaycoSilverlineBrochure-sm-1612394357.pdf
Looking at a medium wheel base vehicle. Although they all have a small turbo charged diesel engine, they all seem to be ideal for the job.

If anyone can see an issue with any of these specs, i would love your input. I may be completely wrong on this, but thats why its called research.
===========

Hi Graham.
The VW and MB you have listed have lots of variants, be real careful about the one you select as towing capabilities are not there.
The chassis is very light contruction which would handicap the towball figures.
The other year I was doing a bit of dreaming and the availability of the heavier towing capacity were not available in Australia mid 2018.
A $97 000 caravan is going to be seriously big and heavy, maybe a mid range $60 000 caravan would be a lot more hip pocket comfortable and lighter weight for 1 person.
Be seriously very cautious about sales technical talk.
Best of luck with your research.

gdayjr · Senior Member

Thanks for the info.

The caravan is locked in. Its not about the money, its about 10 years or more of comfort.

If i have to use a small moving type of box van, then so be it, thats why i am looking now, and not in 12 months time.

gdayjr · Senior Member

24.75-2 Tandem Axle TOURING OUTBACK

Tare Weight (approx) 2680 kg 2810 kg

Towball Weight (approx) 185 kg 190 kg

Body Length 7520 mm 7520 mm

Interior Height 1975 mm 1975 mm

Travel Height 2950 mm 3080 mm

Travel Length 8795 mm 8820 mm

Travel Width 2470 mm 2470 mm

gdayjr · Senior Member

Price is ok, but maybe a tad big?

https://www.trucksales.com.au/items/dealer-new-silotype/isuzu/nnr-45-150-amt-mwb-vanpack/new-south-wales-state/sydney-region/

-- Edited by gdayjr on Sunday 28th of February 2021 11:18:32 AM

-- Edited by gdayjr on Sunday 28th of February 2021 11:18:54 AM

Radar · Guru

gdayjr wrote:
24.75-2 Tandem Axle TOURING OUTBACK
Tare Weight (approx) 2680 kg 2810 kg
Towball Weight (approx) 185 kg 190 kg
Body Length 7520 mm 7520 mm
Interior Height 1975 mm 1975 mm
Travel Height 2950 mm 3080 mm
Travel Length 8795 mm 8820 mm
Travel Width 2470 mm 2470 mm

Best you buy a small truck, then you can throw on 2 bikes?

That size caravan going to gain serious weight, when you have space, nature says fill it = weight.

Best of luck with your endeavours.

iana · Guru

We have that model van. Too much storage space, you will need a light truck to haul it, a Ram or similar. Look at a combined mass of 7 tonne to be on the laws side.

-- Edited by iana on Sunday 28th of February 2021 01:44:59 PM

gdayjr · Senior Member

Lets not assume that the storage will be full, that's why i am buying a commercial van, that will have all excess stuff, if any in the back.

The van size is important to me purely to feel comfortable.

Van will weigh 3200 kg or so, loaded. all of the vans i am looking at are rated to tow 3500kg

The prime mover i like.

While Daily E6 Van is refined to drive and brimming with the latest driver aids and appointments, its underpinnings are extremely strong ensuring its capable of handling the most demanding jobs.

Part of the Daily E6s robustness comes from a heavy-duty, full length C-Section chassis. This feature is unique to the Daily and sets it apart from other vans which are typically developed from car-derived constructions.

The result is a tough, load-bearing chassis that allows for greater load capacities making the vehicle suitable for a greater range of applications.

The latest range adds Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Crosswind Assist and an enhanced ESP9 (suite of stability control technologies) as standard. ESP9 includes Anti-Lock Brakes, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Electronic Stability Program, Anti-Slip Regulator, Drag Torque Control, Hill Hold Control, Enhanced Under-Steering Control, Adaptive Load Control, Trailer Sway Mitigation, Hydraulic Rear-wheel Boost, Hydraulic Fading Compensation, Roll Movement Intervention and Roll Over Mitigation.

I still think this the way to go for me.

-- Edited by gdayjr on Sunday 28th of February 2021 04:59:19 PM

iana · Guru

Fair enough, I did say combined mass, and I guess motor bikes and workshop tools don't weigh much. Our van tows really well, the weight placed over the wheels, the recliners are cheap Sh-t though.