CURIOUS QUESTION TOWING LIMITS

[ELZE]

What are the max/safe towing weights with Bongo 2.5 V6? Could I tow a twin wheel caravan for instance?

[Bob]

Pretty sure 1600kg is close to the 85% guideline (max trailer weight) so it would depend on the MTPM of the twin axle caravan.

Most are over 1700kg.

Also be aware the 'Nose Weight' for a Bongo is 85kg, this is very important.

I posted this a while back, too:

http://caravanchronicles.com/guides/und ... of-towing/

[ELZE]

Hmm thanks for the input Bob. I am a contractor travelling around Highlands and Island of Scotland. My client pays all expenses including fuel and accommodation. Often the work coincides with certain events such as Highland games, Beladrum, Ed, festival etc etc. This week it is oil week and there is not a hotel room available under £400 per night for around 100 mile radius of Aberdeen. On the islands I compete with tourism which is all year round:roll:
I am buggered if I know but the last year it has been getting harder to find reasonable accomodation and have been chasing rented cottages at around £500 pw Mental isn'it


My thought was buy a caravan and charge a modest fee to the client and put the cash in my pocket but I would want something a decent size. Not wanting to rip the guts out of the van tho'

I manage wind farm construction sites which are often remote

[Bob]

Sounds like a good plan, there will be vans which will fit your purpose for certain, twin axle vans are seriously big and heavy, though.

[Northern Bongolow]

a lot of the figures are only guides for safety like the 85% guide so get the real laws. its all about the max allowable mass and the gross train weight. your either legal or illegal. this may help.

http://www.towbarexpress.co.uk/maximum-towing-weight.

this gives you a little more detail.

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/ge ... -know.html

[ELZE]

Thanks again i did feel it would get techno at some point.

[Simon Jones]

You may find that the V6 will not be quite as good at towing something of that size as the diesel. I've lugged 1800kg of boat and trailer around a field in mine with no problems but doesn't have the low down torque of the diesel. A good person to ask is Dave (Janner Vanner) as he tows a caravan with his V6 tintop and has previously had a diesel AFT.

[Bongoplod]

Ive had several caravans,but non have been twin axle.

In my experience,you can get a seriously comfy and roomy single axle caravan,well within the Bongo towing limits,which would suit your requirements.All depends on the caravan layout.

Brian

[Bob]

The tow ball height is also critical with a twin axle as all four wheels need to be evenly loaded and level.

[ELZE]

Ive had several caravans,but non have been twin axle.

In my experience,you can get a seriously comfy and roomy single axle caravan,well within the Bongo towing limits,which would suit your requirements.All depends on the caravan layout.

Brian

yeh, I am starting to come round to that cheers

[Gasy]

I've a single axle
1.3 t
7.1m long
2 double beds and 1 bunk , back double can be left up as fixed bed has a part ion to pull across
Wc, basin and full shower cubicle ( side )
Full oven better than the one at home
Full size 3 way fridge
Extract fan
Gas / electric blown air heating,
solar panel

Elze if it's just you for work you really don't need a twin axle
They can be a pig to manoeuvre with a motor mover

[ELZE]

Thanks Gasy

I do not need all those beds either but a double would be nice with a single in case a mate is struggling to get accommodation also. I would not use an oven but definitely a grill with sink H&C water and shower. With TV on a tablet yeehaa! made up!

The blow heating sounds good as I can hook up on to the site genny free

[Gasy]

If you got a gene try and get one that has the dual hot water , 240v and gas
You probaly want a fixed bed one ( front seats still can be used as 2 singles or made up to a double ) is partitioned off
Those ones usually have a far sized bathroom with a shower cubicle
They all have blown air heating from about 1991 onwards
Those are about 5-7m and about 950-1200kg
There's a bloke in eye green village next to the horse place has a few fair priced ones
Second hand, pioneer in eye village for new and second hand ones from about £6000
Do get new tyres with a bloody good weight capability
I've just had one go bang and right off my £5000 one I bought last year

240v is handy for a week long stay, kettle ,hot water , tv , charging things as well as the on board batt
Lights in the dark evenings, mine has 3 gas rings and 1 electric ring , elec hot water great for when on hook up sites
Saves the gas

[Gasy]

I don't know if you've had one before elze
But they are worse to buy than bongos
There is some real pigs out there for £2/3000
I find above 5 from a small ish dealer is safe
But there are good ones aswell hard to find you will view loads unless you hit lucky early
If it's a good one DONT hesitate next viewer will have it

Buying private is better for a new caravan starter as you usually get all the extras , awning , step , waster water and fresh water roller containers, water hose pump , leisure battery etc

Damp is the problem they ALL leak at one time or another
Go for one with no seals in the roof panel some have joins ( get up on a step ladder and go for the 1 peace roof )
Sealing strips can be removed new silicon on a roll seal
But the damage will be done
I will never buy anything other

Check all 8 internal corners high and low
You can peal the window surrounds make inside most of them and see the wood check it for mold
I pull them to bits viewing now days and take a trolley jack to spin the wheel for any brake drag , bearing probs

They really arnt much more than a shed on wheels

They all leak have you got a damp meter
Any querys just ask I've been caravaning all my life had about 6 or 7 of me own from £50 to the new one now at £6250

[ELZE]

If you got a gene try and get one that has the dual hot water , 240v and gas
You probaly want a fixed bed one ( front seats still can be used as 2 singles or made up to a double ) is partitioned off
Those ones usually have a far sized bathroom with a shower cubicle
They all have blown air heating from about 1991 onwards
Those are about 5-7m and about 950-1200kg
There's a bloke in eye green village next to the horse place has a few fair priced ones
Second hand, pioneer in eye village for new and second hand ones from about £6000
Do get new tyres with a bloody good weight capability
I've just had one go bang and right off my £5000 one I bought last year

240v is handy for a week long stay, kettle ,hot water , tv , charging things as well as the on board batt
Lights in the dark evenings, mine has 3 gas rings and 1 electric ring , elec hot water great for when on hook up sites
Saves the gas

Yes I heard about the disaster, has it been sorted?