Large van to transport 4" scale road loco

[bjwlancashire]

Anyone know of a decent van that can seat 4, still have over a ton payload and enough umph to tow a caravan too?? It needs to take a 4" DCC road loco, a couple of traction wagons and a mobility scooter - in terms of weight and space.

After some deliberation on load space size, payload and power I was looking at a vehicle like a 17 seat minibus, remove the seats except for second row and work with that. Either that or a jumbo van but that would need to be crew cab.version and they are quite rare in any decent condition.

Thanks Brian

[lynnr]

Hi Brian

You will need a 8ft load space and a min load space width of 5' 6" to allow the engine and a trailer beside it. This measurement is with zero clearance between items.
The wheel arches will be the sticking point in most vans.

[buzzy bee]

What about a crew cab pickup, then think about a body for the back, like a louton body? Depends how much mucking about you wanted to do, you may even get a tail lift...

[Julia]

It is not an easy ask

If I recall correctly the weight of your engine is more than the 6" I am building plus you need to accommodate passengers and several carts. That will add up to more than you think. Your are inevitably pushing into the 3.5Ton plus bracket. Look at the empty weight of any vehicle you are considering. This will probably be more that half the plated weight. People are relatively light and you will find that they are built on a heavy 3.5T chassis so not much chance of getting your payload there.

I had a similar load requirement but only had a limited passenger requirement. Just before they went under I found a LDT Maxius with payload of 1.4 tones. 1.4tones as among the best I could find! After delivery I put it on the weigh bridge to minus off the weight of wood lining and tow bar - down to 1.3 ton. Allowing for the weight of necessary extras (Me passengers,tools & coal) I am left with less than a ton for the engine. At the time I looked at the market and observed that as the van gets bigger so does its empty weight. For many makes, as the van get bigger, the empty weight goes up a but the payload goes downs!
In a nutshell the white van is aimed at carrying volume not weight.

It is becoming a more frequent sight at rallies to see a 2 ton miniature unloading from a large white panel van. So plus 3.5 ton vans must exist but are unlikely to be ex minibus. One owner explained to me that they changed the springs so that it was OK but I believe there are genuine manufactured +3.5T panel vans but have I never seen them advertised.

I have recently been looking at horse transporters. Horses are heavy so many ex horse boxes are up to our sort of task. If you have the dosh some have luxury living accommodation.

[The Pirate]

Iveco do a van which is capable of weight's exceeding 3.5 ton.
Look at the 6" mac that Bill Kiddell is transporting - 2.8 tons of engine, in the back of one of these.
They are twin wheel jobbies.
There's also a 6" Allchin I have seen being carried by one of these vans as well, owned by a Mr Page from Oxfordshire.

[Thecoalman]

Try looking for a Transit Jumbo but you will need to go for the bigger engine if you want to tow a caravan.

We use one for the 6" Foden, internal is 13' pay load is 1150kg

Andy

[bjwlancashire]

Thanks to all so far for the recomendations and advice.

I can see that the loadspace will be affected by wheel arches but that does not stop me putting a frame work on either side of the van so that traction wagos can be placed upsida down accross the top of the engine. There may need to be wheel removal or something but I think it will work.

With regard to Andy's comments about the Jumbo Transit this is what lead me to the 17 seat minibus. Beolw are the important weights and are based on a twin rear wheel vehicle hance the narrow width between the wheel arches. there is a single wheel Jumbo van too.

Gross Train Weight 6150
Gross Vehicle Weight 4250
Minimum Kerbweight 2712
Payload 1538
Load Space Width Between Wheel Arches 1153


this is the Iveco 3300 WB Van data, 1.9 tonne payload so I would be concerned if this is the same kind of van carryng a 2.2 ton miniature!!!!!

Gross Train Weight 7200
Gross Vehicle Weight 4350
Max. Towing Weight - Braked 3600
Minimum Kerbweight 2410
Payload 1940


You will note that both of these vehicles are heavier than the 3.4t range but accoding to my driving licence I am OK with one this heave and a caravan - my particular licence credentials allow me an 8250 gross train weight with a trailer.

Time to carry on looking

Brian