Why are people towing vans over 2.5t?

Ego and status (in many cases).

Each to his own as you say. Some people are happy to live in a humpy made out of tarps and corrugated iron, but most of us are not. I guess they dont have (or need) access to the internet to to express their amazement or distaste for other peoples choice of abode.
DIO, I think maybe it is a bit unfair to label it "ego and status". Thats much like labelling anyone who passes comment on aboriginal affairs or immigration as a racist etc

At the end of the day though I guess if you can afford it and it doesnt hurt anyone, its their choice.

For "some" people , that IS their home.

In summary OldPlodder, because they choose. Providing they are set up right with tow vehicle, brakes etc, so what.
Hundreds of people spend years 'on the road' and they want a stron van that can handle rough roads. The fact that you (and I) are happy to go without TV, microwave, airconditioiner etc, and live in a confined space, doesn't mean everyone should.

All said by someone who in a couple of years will probably be upgrading to a 2.5 to 3 tonne van.
Norm C

I have just been on a 3000 km trip to Queensland to pick up a new CT and included travelling up the Newell Highway.

On that trip we passed lots of vans going both ways, and I was absolutely amazed at how many vans did not have extension mirrors on.

There was no way many of them would have any idea who is behind or if anyone was about to pass, as they could not see a passing car untill it was almost next to them.

Something should be done about this, it is a safety issue.

There is also no way these people could reverse their van unless they go by the 'park by feel' method.

Dave

John,
Maybe they are able to be self-sufficient, and able to escape for the big adventure. As said, for many it is their home, and they've nowhere else to go, but travel.

Always amused with some 'vanners, they go on holidays to escape suburbia, then spend all their leave packed into a 'van park, only centimetres from their neighbours.

Am envious of those with well set-up vans, but towed one for 6 years working, so am not too green, when think of fuel costs, not to mention insurance etc

Hooroo...

As they say in the classics.......one man's dream, another man's nightmare.

I guess it is all about choice.

They must like clogging up the roads doing 80kph in 100kph zones with 15 cars and 3 semi-trailers tailing behind them!

How about over 3 tonne??

I've tryed pushing it but can't get more than afew cm's.......

Seriously, I went from a 750kg camper trailer to 3 tonne of van and the difference isn't as big as many would think.

If you can work out how to get a shower/toilet/full kitchen/queen size bed/300 odd litres of water/storage for bikes and two peoples gear in an off road trailer (with no canvas or setup time), and fit it in a camper trailer that ways 750kgs, I'll take two.

I think everyone is different and as others have said, for many, travelling Aus isn't a 2-4 week mad dash, it's a way of life, 365 days a year!

Cheers

Matt

"Ego & Status" Moi????? Yep absoexpletivedetedultley.... I Tow 2.1 tonnes of Gin palace simply because I'm a raving egotistical cynic and youse strokers who love living as if youse are on some sort of boys own adventure need youse collective heads read Na I paid me taxes & served me country and what I choose to do with me pension and loomp soom is my busness & not youse. I have 4 x 3.6 metre sheets of colourbond if I wanted to make a humpy but I choose to at least have some comfort, some dignity & some sophistication on me travels. Strewth along with all the cumforts I have become acustomed to I even take a breadmaker and Cappacino machine with me!

Why?

When we were younger, an occasional camping holiday with a tent, or canvas canopy on the back of the Ute was fine, but looking to one day doing the whole lap, being older and not so able to pull things down off roof racks, put up tents, blow up air bed etc, we chose a caravan. At 18' our has a tare weight of 2.2 tonne. Add water, fittings, luggage and food for a few months, and we'd be towing over 2.5 tonne. We wanted the toughest off road van, so it is heavy - just look at the chassis.

At the end of a day's driving, we can pull into the bush and stop. Nothing more to do except relax, cook a meal and have a warm shower. I know people who are on the road full time have satellite TV and other entertainment stuff. We have less, but don't have to fear setting up a campsite under canvas in wet and windy weather.

Motherhen

There’s also a lot of people with campers and tents who have 5 brms, 3bthrms and 3 garages at home. I agree there are a lot of vans on the road that aren’t used much and weigh over 3t. It’s just the excess money around I suppose and people can afford the toys. The vans are getting heavier and so are the vehicles to tow them. A lot we speak to don’t know what their van or ball weight is. One guy we met in Quiplie towing an huge offroad 23ft Roadstar (with a 100s gxl!) stated it weighed 3.4t because that was legal to say, he suspected it was more like 3.6t. He used no weight distribution bars either. His usual speed was 100-110kms. When I said I hope I never meet him coming the other way he jokingly suggested I just get out of his way.

Anyway to live in a van fulltime you’re often forced to go the way of custom off-road builders to get it set up right for free/bush camping so you can avoid the CP’s. Also these vans are usually more dust proof which is important when your fulltime and doing the dirt tracks often.
This then means a heavy van to start with because of the chassis and heavier fitout – our van is 17.5ft and has a tare of 2350kgs and we tip the scales fully loaded at 3180kgs (includes 300lts water). I detest that it weighs that much but that’s what it is. Ok I’ve got all the gadgets but as others have said it’s our home.
It’s all perspective I suppose, I still see the big Boromas drive up with the auto sat on the roof and think that’s over the top or am I just jealous.

John