Which Vans Tow and Carry the Most in 2025? 11 UK Workhorses Ranked by Real Payload and Towing Power

What Do Towing Capacity and Payload Actually Mean?

Payload is how much weight your van can carry inside — tools, materials, passengers, fuel. If your van has a payload of 1,000kg and you load 1,100kg, you're breaking the law.

Towing capacity is how much weight your van can pull behind it on a trailer. Most large vans can tow up to 3,500kg with a braked trailer.

Your van has a Gross Train Weight (GTW), which is the maximum combined weight of your loaded van plus whatever you're towing.

How to Calculate Your Van's Real Carrying Capacity

1. Find your van's Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) in the handbook.
2. Find the kerb weight — how much your van weighs empty, with a full tank of fuel.
3. Subtract the kerb weight from the GVW. What's left is your payload.

Braked vs Unbraked Towing

Braked towing means your trailer has its own braking system. Most trailers over 750kg require this by law. Unbraked means the trailer relies entirely on your van's brakes, usually capped at 750kg maximum.

The Top 11 UK Vans Ranked by Towing and Payload

1. Iveco Daily: The Heavyweight Champion

Towing capacity: 3,500kg | Payload: Up to 1,500kg | GTW: 7,000kg

The Iveco Daily sits on a proper truck chassis. You can load this van to maximum payload and still tow 3,500kg behind it. Builders favour this van for hauling plant equipment. Prices start around £33,000 for a new model.

2. Ford Transit: Britain's Bestseller for Good Reason

Towing capacity: Up to 3,600kg (RWD models) | Payload: Up to 1,646kg | GTW: Up to 7,000kg

The Ford Transit dominates UK roads. Rear-wheel drive versions offer the highest towing capacity at 3,600kg. At 1,646kg payload in the right configuration, you can carry three-quarters of a tonne more than some rivals. Prices start around £28,000.

3. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter: Premium Power with Uprated Pack

Towing capacity: 3,500kg (with towing pack) | Payload: Up to 1,200kg | GTW: 7,000kg

Base models only tow 2,000kg. You need the uprated towing pack to hit 3,500kg. If examining used Sprinters, always check whether the towing pack was fitted. Expect to pay from £32,000 new.

4. MAN TGE: The Truck Builder's Van

Towing capacity: 3,500kg | GTW: 8,000kg

The MAN TGE is essentially a Volkswagen Crafter with a truck manufacturer's badge. One advantage over the Crafter: MAN service centres operate 24 hours.

5. Volkswagen Crafter

Towing capacity: 3,500kg (RWD), 2,500–3,000kg (FWD) | Payload: Up to 1,400kg | GTW: 8,000kg

The 8,000kg GTW means you can carry 1,400kg of payload and still tow 3,500kg legally. Prices start around £30,000.

6. Renault Master: The 2025 European Van of the Year

Towing capacity: 3,500kg (twin rear wheel models) | Payload: Up to 1,625kg

The all-new Renault Master won European Van of the Year. At 1,625kg, it's second only to the Transit for carrying capacity. Towing capacity hits 3,500kg on twin rear wheel versions with the heavy-duty axle.

7. Vauxhall Movano

Towing capacity: 3,500kg (upgraded models) | Payload: Up to 1,495kg

Shares its platform with the Citroën Relay, Peugeot Boxer, and Fiat Ducato. Standard versions tow 2,500–3,000kg, with twin rear wheel models hitting 3,500kg.

8. Ford Transit Custom: The Medium Van That Punches Above Its Weight

Towing capacity: 2,800kg | Payload: Up to 1,350kg | GTW: Around 5,800kg

At 2,800kg, it out-tows every rival in the medium van class. The electric E-Transit Custom manages 2,300kg towing. Prices start around £25,000 for diesel.

9. Fiat Doblo

Towing capacity: 1,300kg | Payload: 1,000kg

Proves you don't need a large van for decent towing. Handles small trailers, tool carts, and camping equipment comfortably. Prices start around £20,000 new.

10. Citroën Berlingo

Towing capacity: 1,300kg | Payload: 984kg

Shares its platform with the Peugeot Partner, Vauxhall Combo, and Toyota Proace City.

11. Toyota Hilux: The Pickup That Tows Anything

Towing capacity: 3,500kg (across all models) | Payload: Up to 1,025kg

The Hilux tows 3,500kg regardless of which model you choose. The open load bed makes loading awkward items much easier than a panel van.

How Do Electric Vans Compare for Towing in 2025?

Electric vans still lag behind diesel for towing, but the gap is closing. The best electric van for towing in 2025 is the Renault Master E-Tech at 2,500kg. The Ford E-Transit Custom tows 2,300kg. Towing absolutely hammers electric range — expect to lose 30–50% of your normal range when towing heavy loads.

Best Electric Vans for Towing

1. Renault Master E-Tech: 2,500kg towing, best in class for electric large vans
2. Ford E-Transit Custom: 2,300kg towing
3. Nissan Interstar-e: 2,500kg towing
4. Vauxhall Movano Electric: 2,400kg towing

Top 10 Mistakes Van Owners Make with Towing

1. Overloading without weighing — get your loaded van weighed at a weighbridge.
2. Ignoring Gross Train Weight — you cannot just add maximum payload and maximum towing.
3. Not accounting for passengers and fuel — three passengers at 75kg each use 225kg of payload.
4. Assuming electric equals the same towing as diesel — typically 1,000–1,500kg less.
5. Forgetting to upgrade towing mirrors — legally required if trailer is wider than the van.
6. Skipping trailer brake checks — trailers over 750kg need working brakes.
7. Not distributing weight properly — too much weight at front or back affects handling.
8. Exceeding axle weight limits — even if under GVW, individual axles have limits.
9. Towing without proper insurance — many policies don't automatically cover towing.
10. Buying a van too small for actual needs — constantly maxed out means replacing it sooner.

FAQs

Which van can tow the most in the UK in 2025?

The Ford Transit RWD can tow up to 3,600kg in heavy-duty configurations, making it the outright winner. The Iveco Daily, Mercedes Sprinter, MAN TGE, and VW Crafter all hit 3,500kg.

Do I need a special licence to tow 3,500kg with a van?

Since December 2021, UK drivers with a standard Category B car licence can tow trailers up to 3,500kg, provided the combined weight of van plus trailer doesn't exceed the van's Gross Train Weight.

What happens if I exceed my van's towing capacity?

Exceeding towing capacity is illegal and dangerous. You risk fines starting at £100 for being 5–10% over, up to £300+ for 15–30% over, and court summons beyond that.

Conclusion

The Ford Transit and Iveco Daily dominate for maximum capability, both towing 3,500kg and carrying well over 1,000kg payload. For medium van buyers, the Transit Custom's 2,800kg towing capacity is unbeatable. Electric vans are improving fast but still lag behind diesel for heavy towing. The most important thing? Buy the right van for your actual needs, not your occasional ones.