There is NO decent info on vans out there! (1 Viewer)

[GourmandFarms]

So my good lady wife and I are going to setup our own mobile caterers. Top-end stuff, with a view to be travelling the country with it. As we will also be taking our family in tow, we're going to be commissioning our own MH to work with it.

And herein lies our problem! Such a dearth of information and then anyone "in the business" (i.e. commercial vehicle places) seems to give conflicting information.

So - as we need to have a live-in vehicle that will be towing a 2.7t trailer behind it, there are a few questions I've got:

1. We're actually going to be living in it for about 2 - 3 months a year, so size is important (we have two small children). We're going full extra high roof only and only the xlwb models (Iveco daily 65, Transit Jumbo, Sprinter whatever it is) - does anyone have any experience as to how difficult and manoeuvrable these really are? I jumped into the cab of an Iveco 65c18 this afternoon and as much as the dimensions are just what we need - it was bloomin' intimidating! I will be getting my C1 + E license.
2. So it seems barely any of the standard models are rated to pull that sort of weight. The Iveco is, one Transit model and I can't find the right Sprinter model that would do it. Am I missing something or is it just that not many people use them for towing?
3. Quite a few on the open market don't have towbars. - Is it easy/cheap to fit them?
4. Because of having a heavy vehicle pulling a heavy trailer on potentially soft/muddy ground - is a twin rear wheel necessary? The advice is that it will make your life a lot easier, but all these things add cost...

Really appreciate your opinions on this lot!!

Thanks.

 

[Mel]

Good afternoon & welcome to Motorhome Fun.

Mel

 

[Ranger]

Only Iveco up to that job. You need to check if the catering trailer is exempt from tacho rules as pulling a trailer commercially requires tacho and operating centre.

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[Southdowners]

Hello and welcome!

 

[Jim]

Look past the Iveco and check out American RV's, They have the space you need to live in. They will tow (with ease) anything you ask them to. You get a lot for your money with an American, though petrol models are expensive to run, think 8 to 9mpg the derv's are good at double that

 

[GourmandFarms]

Tacho rules do apply and yes, we'll need an operator's license. I was also leaning to only being the Iveco up to it... It's a shame as the cab's a bit "truck-like" and as I mentioned - it's a beast!!! Anyone seen a LWB Sprinter with twin wheels before?

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[GourmandFarms]

Long distances and much driving as a business cost means petrol is out of the question.

 

[DavidG58]

Our Hymer is based on a LWB twin rear wheeled Sprinter, but by the time it has been kitted out as a MH the towing limit is way below your needs, I think from memory it might be 1500kg without going to look at the plate

 

[Mel]

Why not buy an Iveco chassis with a very nice Cartago/Concorde/N&B
Best of both worlds

Mel

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[Jim]

Why not buy an Iveco chassis with a very nice Cartago/Concorde/N&B
Best of both worlds

Mel

Will that combination be able to tow 3 ton?

 

[Mel]

Yes the Large cartago S range with Iveco chassis I think has a tow capacity here of 3500 kg

But I will check

 

[Mel]

Yes it can

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[Mel]

Ideal all the comfort and pull anything you want.

But very expensive
Jim is correct maybe a good Yank like Jim's

 

[Vlad The Impaler]

I think you'd be better looking at a 7.5 t truck conversion ,better still buy the vehicle and get it built to suit your needs .



Vlad

 

[Vlad The Impaler]

Something like this ,loads of storage !


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Vlad

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[GourmandFarms]

God that Carthago's lovely! Great spot, but as we're trying to stick under £15,000 for van and conversion I'm probably way away from this?

 

[Vlad The Impaler]

Or this .
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-53-R...-Race-Truck-/131583661032?hash=item1ea2ff53e8


Older uglier but on prob on or under budget .

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Vlad

 

[superfozzy]

Not helpful I know but if you are intimidated by the iveco you need a rethink.
To pull that kind of trailer is always going to mean a large tow vehicle.

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[GourmandFarms]

Only intimidated because I haven't driven it. We used to have a T2 bay and even that intiidated me for about a week - it's just that I'm currently driving a Honda CR-Z so I just need to get used to the size! Not worried about towing as I'm currently a Caravanner. It'll be fine. I'm actually excited, I just wasn't prepared for the step up to the cab!

 

[GourmandFarms]

Yeah - love all those race vans, but I think it's one step too far for manoeuvring it around festival fields...

 

[GJH]

I wonder if you are looking in the wrong place. There is plenty of decent info out there but the vast majority of it is aimed at leisure and touring, not the specialised use as described in the OP.
Perhaps seeking advice from owners of similar businesses might be an idea. If they have gone through the exercise they should be able to give pointers.

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[Peter A Forbes]

Mercedes Vario 614D or 814D would do the job.

Plenty of ex-bus vehicles out there.

5990kg and 7500kg respectively, up to 13 tonnes towed weight with powered trailer brakes, otherwise 3500kg.

Remember that under C1+E reg's, the loaded trailer must not exceed the unloaded towing vehicle weight.

Peter

 

[davidbaldam]

Tacho rules do apply and yes, we'll need an operator's license. I was also leaning to only being the Iveco up to it... It's a shame as the cab's a bit "truck-like" and as I mentioned - it's a beast!!! Anyone seen a LWB Sprinter with twin wheels before?[/QUOTE

You don't need a O license is your only carrying your own goods. Oh and welcome to FUN.