lsdweb
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 12:25 PM |
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Race Car Transporter - Box Van?
Hi All
I have an enclosed trailer for carrying my single seater and, when I eventually get the car finished, it will be great for events.
However, we're about to buy a caravan (no jokes please!) so I have a dilemma. Taking the wife and junior to events would be a nice way to pass a
weekend and not feel too selfish about it! We could stay in the caravan and have all the comforts of home. But... I can't tow both the trailer
and the caravan. So, I'm considering my options.
First thought would be to sell the trailer and buy a van / small lorry, big enough to carry the single seater and powerful enough to tow the caravan
as well. I've got an LGV Class 3 licence but would rather avoid going to something that large that would require plating etc.
Would a transit style box van with tail lift (extended) be suitable? The race car is 6' wide and around 400kg?
Regards
Wyn
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graememk
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 12:30 PM |
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buy a camper van and tow the trailer
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mike smith1
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 12:35 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by graememk
buy a camper van and tow the trailer
Thats exactly my suggestion
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Catpuss
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 12:36 PM |
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Yep same idea too. Although (after recently helping my mate sell his one). It can cost you around 9 grand for a nice VW camper + cost of tuning and
upgrade of engine to pull a car.
One of those generic camper vans would do the job fine. I saw one on Wed towing a Nissan Micra down the motorway at a great rate of knots.
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NS Dev
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 01:47 PM |
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yea, same again, camper plus your existing trailer.
Failing that (if campers are too pricey, and that does seem to be the way) then a non-taillift transit box van (ex BT ideal) with rear roller shutter,
chop out the rear floor behind the axle line and make it beavertail, and lower the top part of the rollershutter to suit so it still reaches the
floor.
Retro RWD is the way forward...........automotive fabrication, car restoration, sheetmetal work, engine conversion
retro car restoration and tuning
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irvined
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 01:52 PM |
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Should be no problem - there is plenty of space left in the back of an LDV luton with a seven in it.
You'll want to weld in some bits to strap your car to, they don't move when your driving around, but I was a bit nervous about going up
some of the hills to its new home 
Tail lift was no problem, i used an engine crane to support the rear, and have used a trolly jack when i didnt have the crane, the front end went on
the taillift without any problem, it was rated to 500kg, but it was too short, so welding something on the back will solve that and you should be good
to go.
LDV's are a bit wobbly, I've used a merc sprinter to the same effect, and it was much more stable, and got about twice the mpg too.
http://irvined.blogspot.com
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Coose
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 01:58 PM |
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A Transit Luton might not be a bad idea - massively cheaper than a camper and the tail lift SWL appears to be 500kg, which should be ok for your car:
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http://www.rgr-garages.co.uk/vans.htm
I know this is a hire van, and a new one at that but it gives you some idea.
Also, for inspiriation, have a look here.
As you can see, it's a Cargo with a tail lift with removable extended ramps....
Spin 'er off Well...
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iank
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 02:20 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Coose
...
Also, for inspiriation, have a look here.
As you can see, it's a Cargo with a tail lift with removable extended ramps....
That looks horribly unsafe - I certainly wouldn't stand where the guy in the white tee shirt is. Extending ramps seriously decreases their safe
working load.
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Coose
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 03:06 PM |
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That was I, welding up my trailing arm bracket! It's very stable actually - I thought the same as you until I used it. We've had people
stood on it also and it isn't a problem!
The truck used to belong to Westfield and was used as their race support vehicle. We can get two se7ens in the back (even Daxes!) without any problem
whatsoever...
Spin 'er off Well...
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Rebuilda
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 06:39 PM |
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try one of these
Ex sunlight laundry van, based on twin wheel transit. custom ally bodywork and easy to maintain. getting rare now but absolutely perfect for what you
want. used mine to carry numerous duttons which are bigger and heavier than your single seater. loaded will still pull a caravan at 50-60 mph without
any trouble. mine was scrapped about three months ago but they do come up on autotrader and ebay from time to time. they were converted from transit
chassis cabs by dormobile so try searching on that.
 
Rescued attachment DSC00088.JPG
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Rebuilda
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 06:41 PM |
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oops
Really sorry, forgot to resize the picture, but you can see just how long it is. the back is only a foot off the floor and ramps can be about 6 ft
long. had phaetons and legerras in that no problems.
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lsdweb
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 06:56 PM |
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Thanks Guys
I did consider a camper / motor home but to get the level of comfort we're aiming for with a caravan, I'd be looking at £20k plus Then
you've got the problem of how do you get about when you're on holiday - trailer and small car - more ££££! Also, because I've got a
works car and a fuel card, towing a caravan is pretty cheap so long trips abroad are not oo much of a worry!
A decent sized (the car is a lot bigger than a 7!) Luton would be ideal provided it had a decent enough engine to pull its load and a caravan.
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marcjagman
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 07:28 PM |
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I have a VW LT35 transporter with tow bar coming up for sale soon. That any good?
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lsdweb
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 07:29 PM |
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Can you get a 6' wide, 12' long car inside it??
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marcjagman
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 07:29 PM |
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I have a VW LT35 transporter with tow bar coming up for sale soon. That any good?
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Andy North
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| posted on 3/10/06 at 05:13 AM |
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Try these guys
linky
http://www.sbmcc.co.uk/
I have been thinking of something along the lines of a 7.5 ton truck to get me around Europe. SWMBO is not keen though
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Kelvin
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| posted on 4/10/06 at 11:03 AM |
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Old horse box.
Can be picked up for silly money and normally come with nicely appointed living quarters. will fit your car in no problems at all and also has the
benefit of a good duty ramp. Plus you can drive them on a normal licence as they are normally 7.5 tonners.
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lsdweb
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| posted on 4/10/06 at 07:45 PM |
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Thanks Guys
The horse box option sounds pretty good - I'd just struggle to hand my cash to someone who insists on putting the word 'Horses' on
their horse box - do they think we're all stupid??!
Wyn
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Andy North
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| posted on 5/10/06 at 05:13 AM |
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I checked around on insurance and if I was transporting a car I was told I would need a traders policy. However, I could get cheap insurance if it
was a 'horse' box
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gazza285
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| posted on 5/10/06 at 05:35 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Kelvin
Old horse box.
Can be picked up for silly money and normally come with nicely appointed living quarters. will fit your car in no problems at all and also has the
benefit of a good duty ramp. Plus you can drive them on a normal licence as they are normally 7.5 tonners.
Only if you passed your test before 1st Jan 1997, then the law changed and you need a seperate test to drive anything over 3500kg.
DO NOT PUT ON KNOB OR BOLLOCKS!
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JoelP
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| posted on 5/10/06 at 06:11 PM |
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as gaz says, you need c1 entitlement to drive between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes. With your standard cat B license obtained after 1997 you only have
provisional c1 (in fact you have to apply for it), and need to take an extra test, possibly in a rigid lorry but im not sure of the details.
[Edited on 5/10/06 by JoelP]
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lsdweb
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| posted on 5/10/06 at 06:20 PM |
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Being old has its advantages! Passed my test in 1982. I have a Class 3 LGV As well so this would be no proble although my good lady would be a bit
pissed off to see a big lorry outside!!
Wyn
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lsdweb
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| posted on 12/10/06 at 12:28 PM |
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I've been looking at box vans like
this
but most don't appear to have enough weight / torque / power to carry a 400kg race car, 100kg of bits / tools etc and to tow a 1200kg
caravan.
Wyn
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