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Subject Topic: Mercedes 206D Towing Capacity? Post Reply Post New Topic
13/5/2023 at 2:05pm
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mercedes 206D Camper
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Hi All, I'm trying to establish the permitted towing capacity of my 1974 Mercedes Hanomag 206D camper. My data plate doesn't give an MTW. The space is blank.
If your 206D (or similar model) data plate gives an MTW could you let me have a photo of it please... private message if you prefer.
TIA.


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There's no substitute for experience.


13/5/2023 at 6:55pm
 Location: London
 Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524
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No direct info I'm afraid, but two suggestions.

1) Look on the V5 registration document, it's one of the places that it's usually stated.

2) The vehicle may never have been approved for towing when new (it's more common than you might expect!), and therefore no towing weights to be found on any plates or official documents!

TBH if still sporting the original engine, at 44kW (59hp) when taking into account it's own weight it couldn't drag the skin off a rice pudding let alone a trailer! Unless it's had a recent complete engine rebuild including all ancillaries, it's likely to be at least 20% down on that paltry figure as well! The industry recommendation for towing is a minimum of 40hp per tonne GTW (Gross Train Weight), it's only about half that figure dragging it's own sorry ar*e around, let alone a trailer! I'd be quite surprised if it had any towing capacity, and if it did, in practical terms it'd be the tiniest 'camping' trailer, unless you are happy being a liability on the road trundling along at a snails pace and struggling up hills.

I've driven plenty of old cars from 50's and 60's with that sort of power, but only about half the weight so much more lively, and they were painfully slow by today's standards, when towing they could manage 40MPH or so max, but then the max towing speed was only 40mph back then anyway (you could voluntarily display a 50MPH sticker and raise your towing speed IF you could manage it!).

Everyone to their own and all that, but I wouldn't want to be towing with so little power! - in fact not sure I'd want to drive any distance in a solo vehicle that lowly powered, and I really like classic vehicles!


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13/5/2023 at 7:14pm
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mercedes 206D Camper
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Thanks Monty. That's a new perspective for me and I realise it's probably correct for the reason you state. Looks like I'll have to re-think my whole strategy!
Thanks again.

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via mobile 13/5/2023 at 7:45pm
 Location: Worcestershire
 Outfit: Roller Team 746
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Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 13/5/2023
The industry recommendation for towing is a minimum of 40hp per tonne GTW (Gross Train Weight)





I'd be interested to see where you get this from. We tow everyday at 7 tonnes gtw using 140hp ivecos with no problems at all. In fact I've just ordered another 2. According to you we'd need 280hp engines 🤔


13/5/2023 at 7:59pm
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Where does the 40 hp/tonne come from? My Land Rover has 230 hp and a max train weight of 7500 kg. That tows 4000 kg perfectly fine. By your calculations I would need at least 300 hp. What about torque? That is much more important than horsepower as your engine is almost never making its peak horsepower when driving either solo or towing.


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13/5/2023 at 9:11pm
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40bhp per tonne?   Now do trucks manage to drag 44 tonnes with 500bhp?


14/5/2023 at 1:05pm
 Location: London
 Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524
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Not my figure or imagination by any means, one of the most authoritative organisations in the industry recommendation: https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/advice-and-training/guide-to-buying-hiring-vehicles/........

From memory when I was looking to acquire a caravan, it was a figure that the CCC, NCC and others also used.

Can't really be making comparisons with HGVs, they are speed limited and specifically geared for heavy haulage, how many trucks can do 120-130MPH which most cars can! Even a Land Rover is geared for load lugging rather than high speed cruising (I had one, and a mate has just sold his, so well familiar with them!).

Like the 85% 'rule' is to towed weight, this is probably becoming a redundant figure (it's been around a very long time now) as modern vehicles produce far more torque than older ones did, and as stated torque is preferable to just sheer HP, but going back to OP, this IS an old 1974 vehicle with little HP, and no doubt low torque compared to modern vehicles. My current 2017 petrol car has a 1200cc 3 cylinder engine producing nearly as much HP and the same torque as my vintage 1973 3000cc V8 Triumph Stag engine does, and the Stag was considered a sporty car in it's day, yet my current car would leave it for dust in every respect!



14/5/2023 at 1:32pm
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mercedes 206D Camper
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Your current car isn't a Peugeot 208, like mine, is it...?
Thank you for your contributions to this debate, and you're right about my camper. She's up to 3rd gear by the time we hit 20 mph, she cruises at 40 mph and her top speed is 50 mph (55 downhill). I'm wondering if I can fit an aftermarket turbo to her...!!! Then I could pull a trailer!

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14/5/2023 at 2:11pm
 Location: London
 Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524
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No my car is a cousin of your Peugeot, a Citroen C4 Grand Picasso, but pretty much identical running gear in most respects.

Ohhh dear, your camper performance figures take me back (that would have been early 70's) to an old Austin/Morris minibus of late 60's vintage that was owned by local scout group and I was asked to 'tinker with' to keep going, it was a diesel with automatic gearbox, and it's performance (now that's a word used in the VERY loosest terms!) was 'Glacial' to be kind to it! As to top speed, don't think anyone was reckless enough to even try over 40mph!!!!! - between the racket from the engine and the ponderous handling that was enough for even the bravest driver!

Good on you for keeping the old Mercedes going and in use, but think it's value (it's got to be a very rare beast!) probably lies in it's originality, so no bolt on turbos please, not sure the engine would take kindly to a power boost anyway! Just while away your holidays on the road to and returning from your destination, and make the most of the day or two 'recovery time' before heading for home wherever you get to on your two week travels!


14/5/2023 at 3:01pm
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mercedes 206D Camper
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You make some very good points, Monty, except for the reference to two weeks. I'm going full-time in my camper from June when my pension kicks in. I'm planning to visit every country in Europe that I haven't already been to. I'm adopting a street dog from Ukraine, where I am now, to take with me as a pet.

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There's no substitute for experience.


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via mobile 14/5/2023 at 4:03pm
 Location: Staithes
 Outfit: Vantage Neo
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There might be something useful here although it is in German
https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harburger_Transporter


14/5/2023 at 4:12pm
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mercedes 206D Camper
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Thank you Wendy. I hadn't thought of looking on the German Wikipedia. I assumed it would be the same as the English one (One should never assume!).
Even if it doesn't have the towing details, it's good to collect sources of such information.
Many thanks.

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15/5/2023 at 6:47pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
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Quote: Originally posted by Martin-123 on 14/5/2023

Thank you for your contributions to this debate, and you're right about my camper. She's up to 3rd gear by the time we hit 20 mph, she cruises at 40 mph and her top speed is 50 mph (55 downhill).



That sounds just like the Routemaster buses I used to drive, they were very low geared too. The one big advantage with them was that you could hear how fast you were going in built-up areas, particularly in London where many streets now have a 20mph speed limit. You didn't need a speedo!

Quite unlike my current car, a 15 year old X Trail. At 20mph it probably won't have got out of 1st gear. To keep below 20mph you hardly dare take your eyes off the speedo, as within a couple of seconds you are doing 30.


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Best Regards,
Colin


via mobile 16/5/2023 at 7:07pm
 Location: Stourbridge
 Outfit: Swift Fairway 390
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The first time I saw one of these, I fell in love with it and wanted one badly. One day I was walking down the main road in Forest Gate, London and saw one coming towards me which had a pop top roof. It stopped at the traffic lights, enabling me to run up to it and ask the driver if he would like to sell it. He would. After having bought it, I found it to be the worst vehicle I have ever had. I still shudder when I see one of these on my travels.


16/5/2023 at 7:27pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
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Quote: Originally posted by CharlieMac on 16/5/2023
The first time I saw one of these, I fell in love with it and wanted one badly. One day I was walking down the main road in Forest Gate, London and saw one coming towards me which had a pop top roof. It stopped at the traffic lights, enabling me to run up to it and ask the driver if he would like to sell it. He would. After having bought it, I found it to be the worst vehicle I have ever had. I still shudder when I see one of these on my travels.



Sounds like my experience years ago with a 1970 VW camper. I had heard stories of people driving these things all round Australia and they really do have a cult following. When I saw one for sale I couldn't resist, and I paid much more for it than I would normally pay for a vehicle. It seemed exactly what I needed. I actually liked driving it but what a disaster!! Virtually every time I took it out it broke down somewhere, and on several occasions it came back on the end of a tow-rope. By far the worst vehicle I have ever owned.


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Best Regards,
Colin



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