Towing 2.9 tonnes

[extravert]

I would like to know what vehicles can be used to tow a bot on a trailer with a gross weight of 2.9 tonnes. It seems that maximum recommended towing weight is not always easy to find for vehicles. I know Landrovers can tow this much, but what else can? Can medium sized vans like Transits and Sherpas tow this?

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[pvb]

Very tricky business...

Towing big heavy trailers is a tricky business, and weight isn't the only consideration. If you're thinking of towing a Dragonfly 920, for instance, you'd have to consider the length and width as well. I think that, to be legal when towing a 9 metre boat, you must have a towing vehicle with a GVW in excess of 3500kg. Whilst some Transits might meet this requirement, I think their GTW (Gross Train Weight) is too small to allow you to tow 2.9 tonnes. Something like a big Toyota Landcruiser might do. Suggest you take advice from professionals.

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[snowleopard]

1. ask the manufacturer

2. there's a mag available in whsmith etc which gives data on all current cars and recent models which includes towing weight. can't remember the title but think it comes from the same people as parker's guide and is in a4 format.

3. normal cars can't tow more than their own weight but 4wd can take more provided the trailer has overrun brakes (land rovers can tow up to 3.5 tonnes, increasing to 4 tonnes if the trailer has brakes linked into the vehicle's hydraulics).

4. there are limits on overall rig length and width also. i know the width limit equates to 8'6" but not sure about length. a call tou you local cop shop, traffic division, will tell you.

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[AJW]

The weight alone I think restricts you to the meatier 4x4's:

Landrovers/Rangerovers & Discos (not Freelanders)
Landcruiser
Isuzu Trooper
Jeep Grand Cherokee (but not the cherokee they are 2.5 tonnes)
Not sure about Shoguns think they might be 2.8 tonnes limit

Transits etc I think it will depend on how heavy duty they are. Your boggo transit has a surprising low towing limit IIRC. Other issue with a "commercial" vehicle I think is that they have a plated gross train weight (or somesuch thing) which it is illegal to exceed whereas for a car its a recommendation only. (although doing something obviously silly like towing 3 tonnes with your Ford Focus is going to get you pulled by plod and disowned by your insurance co!)

I tow 2.5 tonnes with a Diesel Trooper. Excellent piece of kit. Also used Disco's which are similarly capable but do damn expensive!

HTH,
Alan

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[hlb]

Dont know what the rules are forgot long ago. But to pull three tons you need a proper air braked trailer. 4x4's are not heavy enough and unless specialy adapted, do not have an air supply. Overrun brakes are no good cos the idea is that the trailer slows the truck down. Not the other way about. Dont try putting it on a ball coupling it's just not man enough. IMHO. You would get away with it for short distances of course. I've towed two tons for miles behind a Trooper. But also driven trucks to Saudi Arabia and back many times. It's not pulling it thats the problem. Its stopping!!

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue> Haydn

 

[stevebirch2002]

I have towed my Albin Vega with trailer weighs in at over 3 tonnes. Contacted a friendly policeman friend who said it was OK. Check trailer brakes, wheels etc.... A bit scary towing up Birdlip Hill but so long as you take it slowly then all ok. I certainly needed all of the 3.1 Turbodiesel of the Isuzu and even had to use really low ratio when towing a Vega out of Brixham - steep hill and windy roads.


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[Jacket]

Birdlip hill? Nice to know there's some locals on this forum. If you can tow up there, you can tow up anywhere!
While we're on this thread, does anyone know the sorts of amounts it costs to hire a decent 4x4, as I'm looking to tow a GK24 back from germany?

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[extravert]

When I enquired it was about 100 pounds a day for UK rates, add 30% to go abroad. And they weren't overly helpful either. Conversation went something like this...

Do you hire landrovers?
Yes.
What can they tow?
3 tonnes.
Can I hire one to tow my boat of 2.9 tonnes?
No.
Why not?
We don't allow renters to tow more than 1 ton.
But you said they can tow 3 tonnes!
That's what they can tow, which is what you asked, not what we allow you to tow, which is 1 ton.

Someone needs to go on a customer service course, methinks.

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[extravert]

I'm getting replies to questions I didn't ask, and wrong ones too.

I wanted to know about vehicles for towing, not the law on towing. Snowlepoard has now given me a clue as to where to look for my required information, thanks.

As for the towing law, there is some information in this thread that is wrong. If anyone else is reading this thread and considering towing a boat of this weight, go and have a look at this site for the latest law...

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[Guest]

For years I have towed behind Landrovers, Nissan open back 'trucks' ... basically the van with open back ... and vans up to 3 tons on 50mm ball hitches.

AIR braked trailers ??????? You are allowed a braked outfit - which is OVERRUN brakes on the trailer up to 3 ton .... so whats problem ?? I agree the stopping is the area of concern - but law says you can do it ....

I would have no hesitation to stick my 3 tons behind a Landrover on 50mm ball hitch again .... or any decent sized 4x4 actually .....

<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[hlb]

I did not refer to the law. I have in the passed had 90 tons on the back of a truck. Not exactly legal!! I am simply saying that stopping 3 tons with micky mouse land rovers or other 4X4 is not the safest thing to attemped. To do it knowing the risks is one thing. But to do it just cos the law is fool enough to say you can. Is another!

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue> Haydn

 

[duncan]

My Landcruiser 5 door Colorado weighs in at max 2680kg and has a manufactures recommended towing limit of 2800kg.
It will pull more easily, the limits are also a waranty issue for manufactures of course, but stopping it is another question as already highlighted (and most towing limits are designed around that issue). Outside Landrover you won't find many that are above this limit - Jeep Grand Cherokee and Amazon have 6500lbs listed (2950kg?), and then they have their own Gross Combined Weight Rating's which I haven' found published.
Exceeding this may not be directly illegal in towing laws themselves, and I agree Barlow's have one of the best outlines of those, but there are design and use regs associated with your vehicle and you move into dangerous ground as your insurer would be able to repudiate a claim under most policy wordings.
Having said all that I know a number of people who run around towing 3 tons plus on US trailers with disc brakes behind Range Rovers and have never been stopper or had a problem.

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