Best van to tow with.

[onesiedale]

Looking for a tidy 2nd hand van (transit type) that can be used for our dairy business, but also needs to be reliable for towing our 1800 litre milk tanker. So really comfortable to tow 2½ tonnes.
What am I best looking at?

 

[Exfarmer]

A lot of the builders like the Mercedes vans and the do a lot of towing with them

 

[Dave W]

Appreciate it's not a "van". But currently running a 3L iveco.
Hands down best thing I've towed with by some distance

 

[michael N123]

I sat in a friends Mercedes while he was towing a digger and you couldn’t tell it was on towed better than any 4x4 pickup I’ve been in

 

[ollandroverman]

It's not just Mercedes sprinters, most heavier weight vans will shrug off towing 2.5 tons. Even the larger end of mid size vans will be fine... The Transit customs will legaly tow between 2.5 and 2.8 tons.

 

[ollandroverman]

Appreciate it's not a "van". But currently running a 3L iveco.
Hands down best thing I've towed with by some distanceView attachment 951303

Although I couldn't legaly match the iveco's 3.5 ton towing weight, my last Transit double cab dropside simply didn't notice the trailer behind other than the slowing of pace when on hills.

 

[Mark C]

If you can find one, a 3.0 l Iveco. Will tow 3.5tonne with one. We bought a new C35 180 in last year. Absolute rocketship

 

[Sebastian77]

It's not just Mercedes sprinters, most heavier weight vans will shrug off towing 2.5 tons. Even the larger end of mid size vans will be fine... The Transit customs will legaly tow between 2.5 and 2.8 tons.

I have a transit custom and wouldn't go near towing 2t with it! They have absolutely no front end grip when back is loaded up as it is! Put winter tyres on last change (Michelin crossclimate) and has made a massive difference but still slide side ways on round-a-bouts if road is remotely damp.

Though maybe it's one of those weird scenarios where the trailer would improve traction

 

[2wheels]

I have a transit custom and wouldn't go near towing 2t with it! They have absolutely no front end grip when back is loaded up as it is! Put winter tyres on last change (Michelin crossclimate) and has made a massive difference but still slide side ways on round-a-bouts if road is remotely damp.

Though maybe it's one of those weird scenarios where the trailer would improve traction

son's work transit is the same. it is loaded up with tools, spares, jack etc. and wallows like a container ship in the suez canal.

 

[Mur Huwcun]

son's work transit is the same. it is loaded up with tools, spares, jack etc. and wallows like a container ship in the suez canal.

Maybe he should have it over a weight bridge if not already done. They’re stopping a lot of vans now and it’s frightfully easy to over load a mechanics van. Remember taking one years ago with all tools, racking and bench in and it was nearly on the mark before chucking oil drums and extra parts in the centre isle!!!

 

[TripleSix]

Something with twin rear wheels.

I'd avoid Transit with the euro5 engine...

Not that many vans are plated to tow more than 2000kgs.
Beware that loading some vans to the maximum affects their gross train weight too.

 

[S80RTE]

New Transit Connects are Maximum 2000 kg depending on power and gearing, most are less.

 

[Flyingscotsman]

Something with twin rear wheels.

I'd avoid Transit with the euro5 engine...

Not that many vans are plated to tow more than 2000kgs.
Beware that loading some vans to the maximum affects their gross train weight too.

less about the engine and all about which wheels are driven . Transits can be front or rear wheel drive, for towing the rwd models will be far superior.

 

[Flyingscotsman]

Looking for a tidy 2nd hand van (transit type) that can be used for our dairy business, but also needs to be reliable for towing our 1800 litre milk tanker. So really comfortable to tow 2½ tonnes.
What am I best looking at?

anything rear wheel drive and ideally with twin wheel set up

 

[FIL46]

I had a Iveco 3.0 35c140hp mwb 6speed twin rear wheel very stable when towing good on fuel and very fleet on its feet, I would go and get a test drive of one and then try a transit , iveco will be the better van

 

[2wheels]

Maybe he should have it over a weight bridge if not already done. They’re stopping a lot of vans now and it’s frightfully easy to over load a mechanics van. Remember taking one years ago with all tools, racking and bench in and it was nearly on the mark before chucking oil drums and extra parts in the centre isle!!!

Aye, son says it runs on the bump stops it is also front wheel drive which doesn't help but has a lower cargo floor which makes the job easier.