Alternative tow advice

[betty boop]

Im looking for words of wisdom please if any of you have experience of towing with a van.

We've had an idea to get rid of the large 4x4 (pathfinder) and move into the camper van arena. Initially the thought is, having seen pictures, of a LWB high top Fiat Ducato converted to a motorhome. Obviously heavier than an empty van and longer than a 4x4, one concern is the length parking up i.e. for lunch or entering a marina and manoeuvring onto a ramp.

Other than driving a rental van every few years I have no little of such things or how it would behave with a 1.5T towing rig on the back, that is assuming of course the weights rules allow towing such a weight.

Very early days on a plan to buy or self convert a camper van but if theres anyone out there can offer advise it is appreciated.

[ColinR]

Don't know about towing but I did take an old Transit years ago and fitted it out with seats, cupboards etc.

Would have been better to have bought one ready converted in the long run.

I only had it for 3 months after completing the conversion before it was totalled by a White Arrow delivery van while I was at work.

They denied that their driver had been anywhere near the area despite delivering a parcel to my neighbour. I did eventually get them to cough up.

[Dave]

A lot of the raceboats were / are towed by large vans, obviously with a lot of tools and spares on board, not to mention the odd pit scooter. Some converted them to part camper van to save on accomodation at races, and some used proper motorhomes to tow with. The towing (within legal limits of weight / length etc), was not really a problem because at the event there was either a crane to lift the boats in or someone with a 4x4 to sliplaunch the boats for them.
So the problem is really, not actually the towing but if not an organised event, the slip launching and recovery of your boat on what is sometimes not a great slipway, with a van or motorhome that may not work great on a slipway that could be covered in slime and/or shingle. Some places will launch you with a tractor but not that many I dont think, so it would all depend on how and where you plan to launch. .

Just my opinion of course...

[_Ed_]

Was going to say what Dave has already said. Towing is not the problem. The slipway is!

[betty boop]

ahh yes the slip way - thats one thing I hadn't thought of, thinking of Shoreham Id never get in the marina let alone launch and the sea slips up here are all mostly shingle based. I noted yesterday that the Fiat's are front wheel drive so I'm assuming that will make things much worse. that would leave me in a situation where the Passat wouldn't cope with step slipways or heavy loads and being unable to use whatever other rig I had.

Colin
good idea, what did the insurance pay out? Having seen the many many VW Transporters that have excessive price tags for having a bit of carpet thrown inside and a few cupboards Im 'told' if its totalled all I'll get is the van value. even if i re-register it as a camper van with DVLA and spend £10k converting a £10k van - all i'll get back is £10k - depreciation.

[ColinR]

I got a reasonable payout for the van plus a bit for the contents. Probably covered the bits but no way the labour put in to the conversion.

You must bear in mind that I'd only paid about £500 for the van and build the internals from some old bits from next door's old kitchen that they were dumping

It was a long time ago.

[Ianfs]

I can't remember fully what the rules are about converting vans, but things to consider would be adding seats and windows. I don't mean seats like dinette type seats, more forward facing passenger seats with seatbelts, big problem with fixings and product liability. Then there are windows, stops being a commercial vehicle, not a real problem with a £500 van but when it comes to many thousands like say £15k then resale to a potential business might be a problem.

Oh and then there's the weight, the more you add the less it will tow, I think, is that right?

Or you could buy something like this.......4wd camper...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAZDA-BONGO-CAMPER-VAN-4-BERTH-2-5-DIESEL-FREE-TOP-8-SEATS-4-4-AUTOMATIC-/321969256500?hash=item4af6dcf834:g:9KgAAOSwHaBWjmLv

[Gazjen]

You could always buy a four motion vw transporter and convert that, it should cope ok with slipways. If you need any info on conversions or even a converter let me know. A good friend of mine converts and sells transporters.

Traveling seats have to be bolted though the floor and come with a safety test certificate to be classed as legal travelling seats, not a problem but they are more expensive than the norm the adverts usually state "fully tested bed"

Insurance isn't a problem as there are specialist insurers who recognise the value of a converted van it usually involves sending lots of photos and receipts, they tend to prefer proffesional conversions rarther than DIY though.

[betty boop]

cheers all, some good points, this is not going to be an easy one to decide me thinks.

thanks Gaz, I may well come back to you on this one, -The T5 conversion is my first option having researched in detail in 2014/15 and thinking about it ever since, the trouble is I have a big issue with paying stupid prices for a 'fashion item', compare 3 vans the same age & condition and the VW's all seem to be advertised at inflated prices for the conversion market. I understand the supply & demand but £8k for a 05 plate battered builders van is steep when the same on EG. Renault would be £4 to £5K. The new prices difference isn't reflected in the used price, even if it is better quality as people all expect to selling a sort after 'conversion project' and £36k for a new van I can't stand up in is bonkers. That said I DO like the dub van styling and lifestyle

Race vans are in the mix atm, good prices / layout and decent vans but when you go up to that size we get in to storage problems and what kind of conversion it is. DIY or trade is the only option anything factory built is way to costly for us right now unless a real good bargain presents itself with a budget of about £10k. Given we spent the summer hols touring in a 4x4 it may well be a small van with remnants of the kitchen Im about to rip out next week thrown in the back with some carpet. I don't want to waste money on something old but it may come to that but we keep looking. why can't decisions be easy

[Dave]

You could always keep the 4x4 and get a good tent and all the gear...throw it all in the boat...and off you go......we did that before...works a treat.

Turn up to a campsite...put the tent up - 4x4 and boat alongside ready to launch somewhere near when youre ready....fab weekends away..