Haul away: the Great Wall Steed can now pull an additional 500kg officially
THE Great Wall Steed’s maximum braked towing weight has been given a boost, after tests carried out at Millbrook Proving Ground. The Chinese-built pick-up is now officially certified to tug a braked trailer weight of 2.5 tonnes – an increase of 500kg.
The new 2.5-tonne certification applies to models registered from 1 January 2013. In practical terms, the upload equates to hauling an additional 185 house bricks, enhancing the Steed’s abilities as a working vehicle.
The Steed was originally given a 2-tonne braked towing weight, but the technical team at Great Wall (UK) believed that the vehicle had better towing capabilities than the Chinese rating. In China, pick-ups are less likely to be used for towing than in other markets. As a result, towing weights are less important when testing maximum capabilities.
The new tests were commissioned by Great Wall (UK) and conducted by an independent team of engineers and consultants at the Millbrook Proving Ground. The results have been fully validated by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA).
The exacting tests measured the Steed’s capabilities when towing increasingly heavy loads over different terrains and inclines at varying speeds.
Haydn Davies of Great Wall (UK) told Business Vans: “We were sure that the Great Wall Steed was able to tow more than its original homologation dictated, so we decided to conduct our own tests and make it official. We’re very impressed with how the Steed performed during the tests, its newly certified towing capacity of 2,500kg coupled with an already impressive payload making it a stand-out model in a highly competitive segment.”
The Great Wall Steed has a maximum payload of 1,050kg with a loadbed measuring 1,380mm long x 1,460mm wide x 480mm deep. On-the-road prices start from £13,998. The pick-up available from a network of more than 50 business van retailers.
Keep up to date with developments in our Business Van News section.
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