Towing a 26ft van with a BT50

Submitted: Saturday, Jun 03, 2017 at 20:14
ThreadID: 135010 Views:4790 Replies:8 FollowUps:12
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Would appreciate feedback from anyone with this setup.
Please no off topic stuff or advice on choices.
Ken & Chris Darvell
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Reply By: Shaker - Saturday, Jun 03, 2017 at 20:22

Saturday, Jun 03, 2017 at 20:22
A bit more info would probably help, such as year model, manual or auto & the weight of the caravan.

AnswerID: 611648

Follow Up By: Gronk - Saturday, Jun 03, 2017 at 21:12

Saturday, Jun 03, 2017 at 21:12
Agree, you can't expect an answer anywhere near accurate if you don't supply details !!
I would only tow a van weighing 2.5T with a BT50, but what you may or want to tow could be way out of those weights !!
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Reply By: Batt's - Saturday, Jun 03, 2017 at 23:46

Saturday, Jun 03, 2017 at 23:46
My neighbour has a BT50 and a Landcruiser and he will only tow his 22" van with the cruiser it's safer because the weight of the cruiser is a better match especially if something should go wrong, he doesn't need stability aids to compensate for the short comings of the lighter vehicle.
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Follow Up By: Michael H9 - Sunday, Jun 04, 2017 at 06:46

Sunday, Jun 04, 2017 at 06:46
Mate, a 22 inch van is way off topic....the OP is only interested in 26 ft vans being towed by BT 50's.
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Follow Up By: AlanTH - Sunday, Jun 04, 2017 at 09:33

Sunday, Jun 04, 2017 at 09:33
Maybe they're only little people......
AlanTH.
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Follow Up By: Batt's - Sunday, Jun 04, 2017 at 21:51

Sunday, Jun 04, 2017 at 21:51
Technically I probably should have used this symbol 22' to satisfy those who can't figure it out. Also vans can vary a lot in weight and advertised length it could be including draw bar and rear bar if fitted or excluding it and only taking in the length of the body. In my neighbours case it's probably closer to 30' overall so yes more info is definitely required.
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Reply By: 9900Eagle - Sunday, Jun 04, 2017 at 15:28

Sunday, Jun 04, 2017 at 15:28
Ken, I don't know your loaded weight but I came across plenty towing 3 tonne loaded vans with Rangers and BT 50's.
AnswerID: 611679

Reply By: Nomadic Navara - Sunday, Jun 04, 2017 at 16:44

Sunday, Jun 04, 2017 at 16:44
Before you commit yourself to any van I suggest you read this - Why A 3500kg Tow Rating May Not Really Be A 3500kg Tow Rating. If you understand this you will not purchase a van that is too large.
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Reply By: Member - Andrew - Sunday, Jun 04, 2017 at 19:33

Sunday, Jun 04, 2017 at 19:33
A mate sold his BT50 when he found that the tow rating on his model was insufficient for his 24ft van. It appears yoy have to check specific models and transmissions to get the correct numbers. He had found it struggling in hilly terrain and when he found the correct information he found his loaded van was about 500kg over the ute's legal towable weight.
As others have said, you need to know your weights and vehicle tow specs.
Regards
A
AnswerID: 611688

Follow Up By: Gronk - Sunday, Jun 04, 2017 at 19:54

Sunday, Jun 04, 2017 at 19:54
And I don't see the need to try and tow at or near the legal limit ?

If you have a large van already, buy a 4wd that will easily handle the weight.
If you have a 4wd already, buy a van that is well within the limits of the 4wd.

I know that not everyone can afford a 200 series, but that being the case, buy a smaller van if the tow vehicle is limited in towing capacity.

I personally ( and I'll duck for cover ) like the 4wd to be heavier than the van.
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Follow Up By: Batt's - Tuesday, Jun 06, 2017 at 21:12

Tuesday, Jun 06, 2017 at 21:12
That's the smartest, safest way to go about it Gronk but it's quite often the usual story I know some one who has been towing near their max for yrs so it must be safe also the manufacturer can't be wrong. Tow within your limits and start with a smaller van if your a first timer.
I had been driving trucks for around 15yrs yrs when we bought our first van and could competently manage most any size van but we went down the path of being practical. We chose a 16' 6" pop top which was around half the weight of the tow vehicle and large enough for 2 adults, our daughter to travel oz in comfort and do it safely without the need to overload it with every unnecessary item one could carry but that's not the case with lots of van owners tow near or right on the max weight and bigger is better apparently must keep up with the Joneses. Then when they get out there it's I didn't realise towing a 3t brick would cause me to use so much fuel I don't understand. Hey mate how's your econ with your 5t set up mine really burns through the juice it funny how naive some travellers are good for a laugh though.
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Reply By: Shaker - Wednesday, Jun 07, 2017 at 15:39

Wednesday, Jun 07, 2017 at 15:39
OP told us all the things he didn't want to hear, but didn't really tell us what he wanted to know!

AnswerID: 611741

Follow Up By: Member - Ken D (QLD) - Wednesday, Jun 07, 2017 at 17:39

Wednesday, Jun 07, 2017 at 17:39
I find it hard to follow your (and others) statements.....
I have asked for feedback on a very specific subject and nowhere have I indicated good news only please.
I see no point in specifying weights etc when I was looking for that info from the community.
I know the towing specs for the BT50 but I would like to know how others have manage the combo.
Again....I am looking for feedback from those with the setup I have described?
ANY FEEDBACK.......good or bad.
Ken & Chris Darvell
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Reply By: Supersi - Wednesday, Jun 07, 2017 at 18:42

Wednesday, Jun 07, 2017 at 18:42
Ken, I think it just maths, not the length/size of the van.

BT 50 tare will be about 2200kg
GVM 3170 (unless you have done a gvm upgrade which would take it to 3300kg)
Therefore payload 970kg
GCM is 6000kg

Now as you have not indicated weight of the 26ft van (ATM) I'll guess that it's about 3200kg and therefore 320kg ball load.

So the payload is
say 2 persons, 180kg
Bullbar, winch, tow bar, say 140kg
Other items in the cabin and tub of the ute, 80kg
Tow ball load 320kg
Total of the above 720kg
So this would allow for another 250kg of load - without factoring the trailer.

BUT, add the tare of 2200kg, plus the load at 720 plus the ATM of the van at 3200 and it adds up to 6120kg.

Overweight! Has exceeded the GCM for this vehicle.

In my opinion, as an owner of a BT50 (and tow a van), a van of more than 2500kg ATM is NOT suitable. This probably limits you to about a 17 or 18ft van.

I hope this helps with your decision making.

Cheers, Simon.
AnswerID: 611745

Follow Up By: Frank P (NSW) - Wednesday, Jun 07, 2017 at 20:55

Wednesday, Jun 07, 2017 at 20:55
OP didn't want to hear about all that. He's already msde up his mind, or has purchased his rig.

He wants feed back from people who have a similar rig, not opinions, valid or not, about whether or not he should consider the rig he has described.

Everyone should RTFQ.
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Follow Up By: Shaker - Wednesday, Jun 07, 2017 at 21:53

Wednesday, Jun 07, 2017 at 21:53
Actually, there is no question!
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Follow Up By: Member - Ken D (QLD) - Thursday, Jun 08, 2017 at 09:28

Thursday, Jun 08, 2017 at 09:28
Thx Simon,
Your maths is correct however the assumptions are a little off.
I am happy that I can tow the weight safely given that the tug is heavier than the van (Gronk, we went to the same school). I intend to have the tug at 3000k and the van at 2800k and I am comfortable with that.
BUT.....
In my case I am more interested in the physical size of the van and how it handles on the road (black top only for us) and in parks and confined spaces etc.
Do they use a WDH, have they modified the suspension etc etc.
I did not include this in the OP because I just wanted to keep it simple and if I needed further clarification I would PM the responder.
Ken & Chris Darvell
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Follow Up By: garrycol - Thursday, Jun 08, 2017 at 09:36

Thursday, Jun 08, 2017 at 09:36
Now we are getting somewhere.
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Follow Up By: Off the road - Saturday, Jul 15, 2017 at 21:11

Saturday, Jul 15, 2017 at 21:11
I'll start by saying that I'm another one that agrees with tugs weight being on par with the van.
More importantly really learn what your Tare Weight is, what your vehicles weight is loaded before you hook up your van, what your van weighs loaded because most people are just going straight off their plates but a weigh bridge might be a real eye opener.
It cost and is still costing me a lot of money to match everything up once I realised that I'd been over weight with pretty everything I'd owned until now.

But in response to what you're asking, I have a good friend who traded his 100 series on a BT50 towing a 24ft van that would be every bit of 3.5t
He loves the ute and it tows his van okay. The thing he doesn't like is that it lacks the power to maintain speed up hills or accelerate if he wants to pass. He said also talked about it not feeling as sturdy towing down hill either but couldn't really work what. He preferred the 100 for towing is quite happy with the BT50.

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Reply By: Member - Fairly - Friday, Jun 09, 2017 at 16:27

Friday, Jun 09, 2017 at 16:27
I have a 20 foot van (about 27 foot overall) and tow with BT 50. The ute has an upgraded suspension. I don't use a WDH and find the van travels well. However I am very mindful of the gross combined weight and need to be careful to keep under the specified limit. The lesson is not to buy too heavy a van in the first place!
AnswerID: 611787

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