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A Guide To Van Towing Capacity

Vanaways
Vanaways
27th Oct 2021
A Guide To Van Towing Capacity

A valid question we are commonly asked is, “Which vans have the best towing capacities?”. We’re going to answer this question for you. However, there are several elements to consider when you are looking for your next van for towing a trailer.

Towing can put a lot of pressure on your van’s gearbox, engine, clutch, and chassis, all of which can end with large repair bills. So it makes sense to go for a model that can tow more than is necessary for you. Also, when looking at one model of van, different power outputs and front wheel drive or rear wheel drive versions can have different towing capacities.

Generally speaking, most vans will be able to tow a regular 750kg to the maximum 3,500kg braked trailer. Keep in mind that this is dictated by a couple of ratings for your van. Your vehicle will have a gross train weight (GTW), which is the combined maximum weight of the vehicle plus the van’s payload – also known as the gross vehicle weight (GVW) – plus the trailer with its load, can be.

The more obvious point is that your van will need a tow bar and a wiring harness. Depending on your van and the type of trailer you want to tow, there will be different tow bar options.

Here are our picks of the best vans for towing in each size class.

Small Van – Fiat Doblo Cargo with 1.5-tonnes

Fiat Doblo Cargo For Sale

The majority of vans in this size range do a good enough job of towing up to 1,250kg. But, if you’re looking for the best small van for towing, the Fiat Doblo Cargo rules the pack. Another benefit of the Fiat is that it can carry up to a 1-tonne payload!

Medium Van – Ford Transit Custom with 2.8-tonnes

Ford Transit Custom For Sale

Not only is the Transit Custom the best-selling van on the market in the medium-size segment, but it can also tow the most! As a rule of thumb, the average towing capacity for the medium van class is 2-tonnes, which the Ford Transit Custom exceeds. If you need to tow more than 2.8-tonnes, keep on reading.

Large Van – Iveco Daily with 3.5-tonnes

Iveco Daily For Sale

The longest-running model from the Iveco line-up, the Iveco Daily towing capacity is unmatched. Based on the average towing capacity for this size class, most large vans can only manage 3-tonnes. With the Iveco Daily towing 3.5-tonnes and its ability to handle up to 1.5-tonnes of payload, this is the heavy-duty big van for big jobs.

Another worthy contender is the MAN TGE, which if the rear wheel drive version is opted for, can also reach the 3.5-tonne towing capacity.

Pick-up Truck – Toyota Hilux with 3.5-tonnes

Toyota Hilux For Sale

The Toyota Hilux range can tow 3.5-tonnes across the board. There is no need to opt for different engine powers or wheel-drive options to achieve the full 3.5-tonnes. Whilst the Hilux isn’t alone in the pick-up class, with the Ford Ranger and Nissan Navara also having the 3.5-tonne ability, it is in our eyes the king of the pick-ups. And it’s been named “Pick-Up Of The Year” with several awards!

Established in 2015, Vanaways are a Bristol based van sales and leasing company. We have the ability to offer the very best deals on brand new vans and thanks to our partnerships with manufacturers, we’ve got the buying power to offer the very best deals and finance rates. Give us a call today on 0117 428 7721 to discuss your requirements with one of our experts or visit our New Vans page to see what deals we have on.

Vanaways Reviews

   
Zoe Batchelor

Zoe Batchelor

17 January 2025

"Love the van, Perfect as the spec I ordered, Saving up for the next one, thank you Adrian and Team, Boyd Batchelor, Tillage Nurseries"

Lisa Russell

Lisa Russell

05 August 2024

"Found these guys online and was a little bit wary to buy a new van from someone I hadn't heard of. From the off, the first phone call was professional and gave me all the information that I needed, Theo was great, helpful and I proceeded to order my new van, Paige sorted the paperwork quickly and efficiently and within 10 days I had my new van delivered! The price was very competitive and all parts of the transaction were easy and hassle free, wouldn't hesitate to recommend these guys, Thank you so much for a really good experience."

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Yusuf U. Gadzama

20 August 2024

"I was looking for a good deal on a van online and then came across Van away, at first I was a bit sceptical but later went ahead and bought a Peugeot boxer on an unbeatable price online. The sell team were fantastic all the way and very helpful to say the least. I will highly recommend Van away to anybody that's looking for a van of any kind. Thanks Van Away for your first class service and I will be looking forward to a future deal."

Clare Wood

Clare Wood

19 November 2024

"Just purchased a 2nd van through Vanaways to add to our company fleet. Steve Catley was helpful, communicative and informative all the way through the process. We would definitely use Vanaways again, and would not hesitate to recommend them."

Jay Pee Ay

Jay Pee Ay

05 December 2024

"Paige was outstanding in her responsiveness to what presented as a serious problem for our company. The finance company used by her company caused unnecessary and significant delays in the delivery of our van - the pain of which was mitigated somewhat by Paige's proactive communication, informative and realistic communication and very professional demeanour. I'd recommend her and she meant our view of Vanaways was overall positive."

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