vito 120 towing capacity

[sherco450]

hi lm in the market for a new excavator weighing in at 3.2 tonne and wanting to know why mb allows a maximum towing capacity of 2000 kg . A jeep Chrysler with the same om642 engine with a few more hp has a towing capacity of 3500kg and the jeep weighs 100kg + more than my compact. l comfortably tow a 2.6 tonne machine and hope to keep the vito ,any one towed this sought weight ?

 

[BTB 500]

There is a factory option (QA4) to increase the towing limit to 2500 kg.

The limit is probably to do with traction - it's based on the ability to do a hill start on a specified gradient with that weight hitched to the towbar. A 4WD like the Jeep you mention will obviously have more traction in that scenario. Gearing comes into it as well - if you have low ratio available (or just a low 1st gear) it will be able to start off with a bigger load.

In the UK you are breaking the law if you exceed the manufacturer's braked trailer limit.

 

[sherco450]

hi yeah right about the gearing ,the stats l read was off a 5 speed auto l think it may be the same but diff ratio and an extra tonne is good going for the 3 litre diesel.