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[wildwood]

More technical discussion than workshop but here goes......

I have fried my brain and google overloaded my one cell last night over this.......

Here's the deal.......I can tow my junk with the GC......all nice and legal...... Or I could step up to a Ram .....ML500........fill in ya favourite.......

Now...... I plan on trying to live or get to take cats dog Missus some toys to Spain to live .....from clocks back to clocks forward....next year cos I can't be doing with Blighty like it has been this year.......

So I'm trying to find a Motorhome ......van that I can convert....... Etc to do the job of Just Working as transport to get there.....not a prob.......

But to avoid having the GC sitting doing nothing,  that's going and I want to be able to tow with the van in the UK to events

Googled till My swede is mush and all I get is MAM weight shit .....even a feck off Motorhome can only tow a 750kgs trailer??

Nearest I got was a Mercedes sprinter 4.6 tonne 413. Re registered as a Motorhome so could be driven on C1 or BE licence.....that a guy was using to attend vintage tractor events with 3500 trailer.

but seems they have to be plated or whatever and tow bar affixed at manufacture to be kosher and stuff.........


and then I got onto VOSA websites and quite frankly lost the will to live

Anybody managed to fathom this quagmire in the Birty camp?

[Dave The Sparky]

Ask Cleggy he is having the same trouble but for a different reason.

Big Ram/Ford/Chevy with a camper body on may be one way of doing it perhaps?

[wildwood]

Yup was thinking this.....

But

King CJ bought a camper shell and I seem to remember the shell sticks out past the bed meaning a huge draw bar is needed........  Know it caused him towing misery from Kirton to CF a couple of years back....

However a demountable top with windows would maybe do....... Then not really a Motorhome ..
Might not go down tooooo well.

[PeteS]

There are motorhomes out there that will tow over 2 tonne.
You need to find one which is no more than around 5 metres long, that avoids any chassis extensions which limits what you can pull.
I have no idea how much you have to spend but you are talking a lot of dosh.
A motorhome on a fiat ducato chassis will only pull a max of 2.5 tonne.
I'm flat towing my TJ on an Aframe behind my motorhome which has a max tow of 2 Tonne because it uses an Alko chassis bolted to a Peugeot Boxer cab.
You need to look at GTW gross train weight and subtract the MAM from it to get what you can tow.

[isle of man]

I have a need and keep looking at the 4X4 Sprinter quite often seen on ebay, EX utility company vehicles, you can buy a kit to convert in to a camper!!!

Spain throws a whole new aspect not considered, I see now why your perplexed.

[isle of man]

And as if by magic    CLICKY

[Dave The Sparky]

Or another way but not sure how much room there is inside http://www.northstarcampers.co.uk/

[wildwood]

Thanks guys ....thats more like it...... google was doing my head in.......

Love the 4x4 merc Peter winch on front just a bit out of my fluff zone......

However thanks to Robsrotti for this peach.......
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221168473201?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Ex prison wagon with erbe whatsit night heater and can legally tow 3500.......I see a visit to see and a plan developing.......

[Dtimot8]

I've been looking at this sort of thing
does the prison wagon have full standing height? it looks a bit close
my 2 cents is Horse box living up front truck in the back
jobs a good'un - except where the hell does one store a 7.5 tonne lorry
Regards Tim

[wildwood]

Yes thought about that .....but I think even a horse box converted 7.5 toner will need plating once a year which can be a bit pricey.....

18-22 April at Peterborough showground Motorhome show..... Big ones tiny ones, 5 th wheel
And converted 7.5 ton trucks.... Going to see what is possible.......

[isle of man]

Ahhhhh 7.5 ton, look at this  PEACH

[cuffm]

Wildwood, try speaking to your local caravan storage site.  The place where I keep my trailer, stores caravans, trailers, boats, campers, several assorted 7-toners.

[Bulldog67]

Yes thought about that .....but I think even a horse box converted 7.5 toner will need plating once a year which can be a bit pricey.....

side issue really but what exactly does this plating involve & why would it be pricey?

is not the 'plating' just the maximum laden weight?

[wildwood]

Tis like a big eff off MOT for larger vehicles........ Vehicles have to be steam. Cleaned beforehand and shit.

Far more OCD and anally retentive than an MOT from yer mates......

That was how is was explained to me.... however I wait to be corrected........

[Bulldog67]

I see, well im on the look out for a petrol jet wash 

Or do you literally mean steam clean 

sorry for a double hijack but its sorta round the same theme - what sorta licence needed then to drive summink like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Horse-Box-with-Living-HGV-Mercedes-Wilcox-1991-Mot-Till-Jan-2014-/251256373733?pt=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment&hash=item3a800c01e5

[chrisjones]

Class 2 licence needed for that baby and you can forget taking it anywhere 'tight' with that rear overhang.

[wildwood]

Well then after a weekend of brain strain and discussion with management......looks like Motorhome would be underused........like most people I know except Moto X people who are out every weekend......

So we're back to a good tow truck for my junk in the UK....
And
Junk in. Trunk and animals inside for the great escape to Spain.........


Tis what I have coveted for the last 10 years.........

Dodge Ram xtra cab with Cummins Diesel....... 2wd will do cos I've got my wheeler.....

Leisurely hunt will now ensue.....

[Bulldog67]

Class 2 licence needed for that baby and you can forget taking it anywhere 'tight' with that rear overhang.

So its still a stripped down 7.5T then as my only option then

[isle of man]

I see, well im on the look out for a petrol jet wash 

Got one here kicking about, purchased under Porto Power as I recall, can take photos if you want?

[wildwood]

Yup 7.5 tons and you are OK......

A friend.....Lady of 5 ft  drives one that has been converted for a dressage....(dancing donkey)
Horse and has kitchen and bed space......Tis a nice Peice of kit........ In Ghay grey and silver....

there are companies that will take a euro cargo or Daf cummins and convert for your needs ....

her wagon .....secondhand running gear and chassis but converted to her spec was about £35k

Serious wedge but cheap when you look at motorhomes........

[Bulldog67]

I see, well im on the look out for a petrol jet wash 

Got one here kicking about, purchased under Porto Power as I recall, can take photos if you want?

yes please Mr H

[Bulldog67]

Yup 7.5 tons and you are OK......

A friend.....Lady of 5 ft  drives one that has been converted for a dressage....(dancing donkey)
Horse and has kitchen and bed space......Tis a nice Peice of kit........ In Ghay grey and silver....

there are companies that will take a euro cargo or Daf cummins and convert for your needs ....

her wagon .....secondhand running gear and chassis but converted to her spec was about £35k

Serious wedge but cheap when you look at motorhomes........

I will be in a lower price bracket 

I still need to find out what the Chief weighs tho, its gonna be close but I reckon strippin out the right stuff will be fine. Have seen some fitted with kitchen etc with unladen weight of 4250 which gives quite a lot of room to play with

[chrisjones]

Class 2 licence needed for that baby and you can forget taking it anywhere 'tight' with that rear overhang.

So its still a stripped down 7.5T then as my only option then

I'd stick to a 7.5 unless you fancy taking ya Class 2 test. Not sure how it works these days though, it's been over 20 years since I took my Class 1.    You'll definitely need to watch the width though if you want to fit the Chief in the box.  You could always look at shortening the box and look for a recovery bed to put behind it?  You can get some reasonably long 7.5 tonners. Or go the other way; buy a flat bed and then build/buy a box for the front section.  A Luton back off a tranny might work.

[chrisjones]

Oh, one more thing.

If you go the 7.5 tonne route, remember you have maximum vehicle weight AND maximum axle weights to contend with.  Take care you're not overloading the rear axle if you're thinking of parking the Chief in the back end, it may need to be centred between the axles more.

Just a thought.

[Bulldog67]

Yeah def need to sit down with someone and work it thru,

Think Chief will def hav to go nose first tho coz of weight I wouda thort

I cant b arsed doin flat bed etc, it needs to be simple and cheaps as poss (without buyin a rat pit)