Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
 
Old 31 January 2011, 11:43   #1
RIBnet Supporter
 
willk's Avatar
 
Country: Ireland
Length: 4m +
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 14,666
4x4 Panel Van & RIB towing?

Has anyone on here any experience towing/launching with 4x4 panel vans?

There are a few around and I wonder would they be an alternative to a commercial spec 4x4 for rib related activities?

Ford do a 4x4 Transit but the Mercedes Spinter 4x4 was the van that got me wondering.

On the upside, they're spacious and comfortable (unlike a LR 110).
They're probably a little more frugal with fuel.
They can tow 3500kg braked (with the right spec)
They can be specced with a switched low gear range (4x4 with low range adds about 6k to the price overall)

Downside, they have a 13m+ turning circle, but so does the LR
I'd look more like a pikey

So, any thoughts or experiences?
__________________
willk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 January 2011, 11:55   #2
Member
 
Country: UK - Wales
Town: West Wales
Make: Vipermax 5.8, SR4.7
Length: 5m +
Engine: 150 Opti, F50EFi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,299
Get a white one.
__________________
Downhilldai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 January 2011, 12:42   #3
Member
 
Erin's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Channel Islands
Town: A large rock
Boat name: La Frette
Make: Osprey Vipermax
Length: 6m +
Engine: 200 Suzzy
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 2,893
It'll also need some really bling alloys and fat tyres. Don't forget tinted windows and make sure you fill the load area with a big sub.

Are we being helpful? Is this the kind of advice you were looking for
Erin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 January 2011, 12:46   #4
Member
 
Channel Ribs's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Channel Islands
Town: Alderney
Length: no boat
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,047
There was and probably still is a guy who tows boats for a living and he used a 4x4 van, he reckoned it was the only thing for long hauls for all the reasons you have given.

For me though, a LR109 every time!
__________________
Channel Ribs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 January 2011, 12:52   #5
RIBnet Supporter
 
willk's Avatar
 
Country: Ireland
Length: 4m +
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 14,666
Quote:
Originally Posted by Downhilldai View Post
Get a white one.
So is that because:

1. Better resale value
2. Cooler inside in summer
3. I'd look even more like a Pikey
4. Your van is white too...
__________________
willk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 January 2011, 12:53   #6
RIBnet Supporter
 
willk's Avatar
 
Country: Ireland
Length: 4m +
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 14,666
Quote:
Originally Posted by Erin View Post
Are we being helpful? Is this the kind of advice you were looking for
Your response has amply fulfilled my expections
__________________
willk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 January 2011, 12:57   #7
Member
 
Erin's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Channel Islands
Town: A large rock
Boat name: La Frette
Make: Osprey Vipermax
Length: 6m +
Engine: 200 Suzzy
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 2,893
I suppose one advantage compared to a car 4x4 is that the vans tend to have more of an overhang at the rear which might save your back tyres from getting too wet if slipway launching.
Erin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 January 2011, 13:00   #8
RIBnet Supporter
 
willk's Avatar
 
Country: Ireland
Length: 4m +
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 14,666
Quote:
Originally Posted by malthouse View Post
For me though, a LR109 every time!
Don't get me wrong, I love my 110 (and she loves me) but as the cruel grip of Time settles on us both, I fear that long distance towing will be beyond both our respective chassis.

I live about 40 miles from most of my regular launch sites, so the 110 is kept busy all season. This can't be a problem for you, in fact I'd imagine that you don't visit fourth gear too often
__________________
willk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 January 2011, 13:04   #9
Member
 
Channel Ribs's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Channel Islands
Town: Alderney
Length: no boat
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,047
Quote:
Originally Posted by willk View Post
This can't be a problem for you, in fact I'd imagine that you don't visit fourth gear too often
Fourth gets a regular outing, the speedo is very unreliable and sometimes on a long sweeping bend it still reads 35 and I find myself engaging the overdrive. But with the tilt flapping and wheels rumbling it probably feels faster than it is.
__________________
Channel Ribs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 January 2011, 13:05   #10
RIBnet Supporter
 
willk's Avatar
 
Country: Ireland
Length: 4m +
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 14,666
Quote:
Originally Posted by malthouse View Post
Fourth gets a regular outing, the speedo is very unreliable and sometimes on a long sweeping bend it still reads 35 and I find myself engaging the overdrive.
Sorry Martin, I meant fourth in the high range box
__________________
willk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 January 2011, 13:19   #11
RIBnet supporter
 
gotchiguy's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Dinard, Brittany
Boat name: Into the Red
Make: Osprey Vipermax
Length: 7m +
Engine: Evinrude E-tec 250HO
MMSI: 235 076 114
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,957
RIBase
Quote:
Originally Posted by malthouse View Post
Fourth gets a regular outing, the speedo is very unreliable and sometimes on the long sweeping bend it still reads 35 and I find myself engaging the overdrive. But with the tilt flapping and wheels rumbling it probably feels faster than it is.
Corrected for you
__________________
gotchiguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 January 2011, 13:21   #12
Member
 
Channel Ribs's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Channel Islands
Town: Alderney
Length: no boat
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,047
Quote:
Originally Posted by willk View Post
Sorry Martin, I meant fourth in the high range box
lol
__________________
Channel Ribs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 January 2011, 14:55   #13
Member
 
Jizm's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Southampton
Boat name: Hissing Sid
Make: Ross Smith Cobra
Length: 6m +
Engine: 200HP Optimax
MMSI: 235038046
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,804
I've nearly always used my van for towing and launching, currently a FWD MK6 transit but had mk5s etc. No problems thus far but only used on proper slips and on the plus side, storage for the boat cover, trailer board etc and a changing room!
Jizm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 January 2011, 15:43   #14
RIBnet Supporter
 
willk's Avatar
 
Country: Ireland
Length: 4m +
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 14,666
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jizm View Post
No problems thus far but only used on proper slips and on the plus side, storage for the boat cover, trailer board etc and a changing room!
Yes, I find that I have little trouble in filling the 6' loadbay of the 110 with "essential equipment"

My towed weight tends to be quite high (often loaded with 225L gas) and some of the slips aren't exactly clean or low angled, hence my interest in the 4x4 angle.
That and the fact that the approaches to the willk residence can require all wheel drive/4x4 when it snows.

Now, another question, what decides how much a van can carry internally if it is towing it's maximum permitted load? I expect that the regs will apply here in a similar way to the UK.
__________________
willk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 January 2011, 15:49   #15
Member
 
Jizm's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Southampton
Boat name: Hissing Sid
Make: Ross Smith Cobra
Length: 6m +
Engine: 200HP Optimax
MMSI: 235038046
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,804
Quote:
Originally Posted by willk View Post
Now, another question, what decides how much a van can carry internally if it is towing it's maximum permitted load? I expect that the regs will apply here in a similar way to the UK.
Mine has a maximum train weight of 3500kg, and a fully laden weight of 2800kg so when the van is full I can only tow 700kg but in it's usual state (about 2100kg) I can tow about 1400kg, does that make sense?
Jizm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 January 2011, 15:51   #16
Member
 
Channel Ribs's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Channel Islands
Town: Alderney
Length: no boat
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,047
Quote:
Originally Posted by gotchiguy View Post
Corrected for you
Paff!
__________________
Channel Ribs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 January 2011, 15:59   #17
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Mighty Penryn
Boat name: Little Joe.
Make: Avon Searider
Length: 4m +
Engine: Honda BF50
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 8,872
I've considered a VW T5 4motion. Not managed to get past the consideration phase though.
__________________
Mollers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 January 2011, 16:04   #18
RIBnet Supporter
 
willk's Avatar
 
Country: Ireland
Length: 4m +
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 14,666
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jizm View Post
does that make sense?
I'm thinking about it

I wonder what bit Merc play with to get the max towable weight up to 3500kg. I know they beef up the hitch connection to the chassis, and they refer to certain engine/drivetrain requirements, but remain vague as to the details. Does this mean that they increase both the Max Train Weight and the Max Fully Laden Weight to achieve the required margin. Normally the max towable weight is 2000kg.

I'm confused, one tends to take these things for granted with a 110
__________________
willk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 January 2011, 16:10   #19
Member
 
Jizm's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Southampton
Boat name: Hissing Sid
Make: Ross Smith Cobra
Length: 6m +
Engine: 200HP Optimax
MMSI: 235038046
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,804
Quote:
Originally Posted by willk View Post
I'm thinking about it

I wonder what bit Merc play with to get the max towable weight up to 3500kg. I know they beef up the hitch connection to the chassis, and they refer to certain engine/drivetrain requirements, but remain vague as to the details. Does this mean that they increase both the Max Train Weight and the Max Fully Laden Weight to achieve the required margin. Normally the max towable weight is 2000kg.

I'm confused, one tends to take these things for granted with a 110
A LWB transit 350 mk6 (3500kg laden) has a max train weight of 5500kg and an unladen weight of around 1900kg so technically can tow 3500kg legally if empty. Hence why you see so many towing diggers and plant around the country!
Jizm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 January 2011, 16:18   #20
RIBnet Supporter
 
willk's Avatar
 
Country: Ireland
Length: 4m +
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 14,666
I think the fog is lifting
__________________
willk is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT. The time now is 11:10.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.