Towing a 26ft van with a BT50

Agree, you can't expect an answer anywhere near accurate if you don't supply details !!
I would only tow a van weighing 2.5T with a BT50, but what you may or want to tow could be way out of those weights !!

Mate, a 22 inch van is way off topic....the OP is only interested in 26 ft vans being towed by BT 50's.

Maybe they're only little people......
AlanTH.

Technically I probably should have used this symbol 22' to satisfy those who can't figure it out. Also vans can vary a lot in weight and advertised length it could be including draw bar and rear bar if fitted or excluding it and only taking in the length of the body. In my neighbours case it's probably closer to 30' overall so yes more info is definitely required.

And I don't see the need to try and tow at or near the legal limit ?

If you have a large van already, buy a 4wd that will easily handle the weight.
If you have a 4wd already, buy a van that is well within the limits of the 4wd.

I know that not everyone can afford a 200 series, but that being the case, buy a smaller van if the tow vehicle is limited in towing capacity.

I personally ( and I'll duck for cover ) like the 4wd to be heavier than the van.

That's the smartest, safest way to go about it Gronk but it's quite often the usual story I know some one who has been towing near their max for yrs so it must be safe also the manufacturer can't be wrong. Tow within your limits and start with a smaller van if your a first timer.
I had been driving trucks for around 15yrs yrs when we bought our first van and could competently manage most any size van but we went down the path of being practical. We chose a 16' 6" pop top which was around half the weight of the tow vehicle and large enough for 2 adults, our daughter to travel oz in comfort and do it safely without the need to overload it with every unnecessary item one could carry but that's not the case with lots of van owners tow near or right on the max weight and bigger is better apparently must keep up with the Joneses. Then when they get out there it's I didn't realise towing a 3t brick would cause me to use so much fuel I don't understand. Hey mate how's your econ with your 5t set up mine really burns through the juice it funny how naive some travellers are good for a laugh though.

I find it hard to follow your (and others) statements.....
I have asked for feedback on a very specific subject and nowhere have I indicated good news only please.
I see no point in specifying weights etc when I was looking for that info from the community.
I know the towing specs for the BT50 but I would like to know how others have manage the combo.
Again....I am looking for feedback from those with the setup I have described?
ANY FEEDBACK.......good or bad.

OP didn't want to hear about all that. He's already msde up his mind, or has purchased his rig.

He wants feed back from people who have a similar rig, not opinions, valid or not, about whether or not he should consider the rig he has described.

Everyone should RTFQ.

Actually, there is no question!

Thx Simon,
Your maths is correct however the assumptions are a little off.
I am happy that I can tow the weight safely given that the tug is heavier than the van (Gronk, we went to the same school). I intend to have the tug at 3000k and the van at 2800k and I am comfortable with that.
BUT.....
In my case I am more interested in the physical size of the van and how it handles on the road (black top only for us) and in parks and confined spaces etc.
Do they use a WDH, have they modified the suspension etc etc.
I did not include this in the OP because I just wanted to keep it simple and if I needed further clarification I would PM the responder.

Now we are getting somewhere.

I'll start by saying that I'm another one that agrees with tugs weight being on par with the van.
More importantly really learn what your Tare Weight is, what your vehicles weight is loaded before you hook up your van, what your van weighs loaded because most people are just going straight off their plates but a weigh bridge might be a real eye opener.
It cost and is still costing me a lot of money to match everything up once I realised that I'd been over weight with pretty everything I'd owned until now.

But in response to what you're asking, I have a good friend who traded his 100 series on a BT50 towing a 24ft van that would be every bit of 3.5t
He loves the ute and it tows his van okay. The thing he doesn't like is that it lacks the power to maintain speed up hills or accelerate if he wants to pass. He said also talked about it not feeling as sturdy towing down hill either but couldn't really work what. He preferred the 100 for towing is quite happy with the BT50.