4 x 4 and Trailer combinations...recommendations please?!

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KatB

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As above. Unfortunately my attempts to justify a lorry are failing, so a trailer and 4 x 4 it is...

So, what recommendations do people have for towing vehicles and trailers? It would mainly be for 1 15.3hh 570kg mare. We are looking at Discovery's (probably around the 51 plate age) which are the OH's fav, but I'm not convinced!! I would like a vehicle with 3tonne towing capability, just so I feel safe more than anything, and the most stable trailer possible :)

Our budget for a trailer is about 3k, and 4 x 4 about the same, though can stretch to 4k if necessary...
 
Have used a Shogun: absolute tank, tows anything, but does GPM rather than MPG.

A BMW X5: tows one very very happily but only 2.3 tonne capacity so wldn't take 2. Love towing with it and is better on fuel. Has advantage of being a Chelsea tractor/East London drug dealer car and people expect you to drive like a wally so they move out of your way; v helpful for when not towing.

A BMW 5 series estate: better still on fuel, goes like the clappers when not towing (good for OH) but not great on hills and wldn't recommend entirely if you are not a confident tower. It was completely fine, but does not give you the same feeling of stability that the other two did and I needed to be a little more tactful with it.
 
We've towed with quite a few different cars.

Discovery- great to tow but the stupid boot/back door won't open properly when you are hitched up as it hits the trailer- really irritating when you are eventing and constantly trying to get stuff out/put stuff away and the door will only open halfway!

Jeep- I think we would have made better progress if I had got out and pushed as it was very wimpy up hills, even with 1 x 15.3hh on board.

Mitsubishi Shogun Warrior- good to tow with, we must have done 50k miles + towing with it. Turning circle quite huge which can make it hard to manoeuver with the trailer attached.

Kia Sorento- best of the bunch so far. Tows as well as the Disco did (much better than the others), speedy when you aren't towing, easy to park, reverse etc.

Trailerwise- we have an Ifor 510 and can't fault it. Biggest horse dimensions I could find without going down the weird and wonderful £8k+ trailers. Ours is now 9 years old, still going very strong, everything has travelled really well in it- imo, there is a reason that most people tow with an Ifor Williams.
I did look at Equitrek and was put off by so many reports of bits falling off!
 
Shogun
3 tonnes towing capacity nice car I have SWB and love it really roomy inside but compact shiver seats down when loading tack
Only does 29 mpg though
Think for three tonnes your best choices are shogun/ disco/ defender
Stay away from rav4 / freelander / sportage

I did see a seat Ibiza towing the other weekend… :/
 
I have a Hyundai Terracan 2.9 diesel. Pulls 2.8 tonnes and does 35mpg if you drive carefully on a day to day basis.

Parts are insanely cheap and so are they. Mine is on a 05 plate. It has huge amounts of grunt compared to the Sorrento I used to tow with (although Sorento is still a good tow car :) ) and the mitsi shogun sport of my friend.

I have an indespension trailer which I love but they don't make them anymore so they're like rocking horse poo

ETS: in my humble opinion you'd be better off spending less on the trailer and more on the car. A decent second hand 510 shouldn't cost any more than 2.5K to get something in good nick and you won't get much 4x4 for £3k
 
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I tow with a Disco (56 plate though) and cannot fault it.

My trailer is a Bateson Ascot, and again I cannot fault it :) v handy as it has a tack locker at the front which is one less thing to have to put in the boot of the car! I got mine second hand for £3k.
 
I tow a Ifor 512 with a Discovery 4 TDI. Plenty of pull even with 1 large 16.2hh and a 15hh cob on the trailer. This is my first trailer car combo to as always had a lorry and it feels quite stable.
 
millitiger said:
We've towed with quite a few different cars.


Jeep- I think we would have made better progress if I had got out and pushed as it was very wimpy up hills, even with 1 x 15.3hh on board.

QUOTE]

Surprised about this comment as my Jeep is very powerful. Pulls easily 2 horses in a 510 up very steep Devon hills. My model is a Jeep Grand Cherokee Auto 3.1TD 2001 bought off ebay for £2500 and with heated seats - can't fault it.

Would also recommend Nissan Terranos, although they don't make them anymore:( Always pulled very well and better on the fuel than the Jeep.
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Sorento was the only 4x4 my oh would entertain cost wise. I reckon we get max 37mpg but he drives it like a grandad. Insurance less than 300 quid for both of us and tax IIRC is a lot cheaper than a friends SWB shogun (can't remember how much, sorry!) I tow same size horse as you in a 505, it's like the trailer isn't there :)
 
Another vote for the Sorento, amazing to tow with, cheap parts, a little bit thirsty, but not too bad in comparison to a mitsu pick for example. Driving w'out trailer is great, comfortable, fast if needed and turning circle is amazing, better than most cars.

I have a Bateson Ascot with barn doors and love it - should get one for 3kish. Bateson customer service is very good should you need help with servicing etc.
 
Had a Merc E300 which was great, big heavy old diesel. Just replaced it with a Nissan Terrano 2.7tdi S+ which seems good. Only done one trip so far, 140 mile round trip and it was good.

Trailer is a Bateson Ascot.

I have under 14.2s but OH has a 16.2 TB, is nice having the extra room!!
 
I have a kia sorento - it it is 2.5 CDi version and automatic so can legally pull 3.5T. I have used it to tow 2 horses (fat 15hh and fner 15.2hh TB) in everything including 506, 511 and equitrek day trekka. It was fine to tow with. It is fairly economical if I switch to manual and never take it above 55 m/h. Mine is a 2008 model but it was top of the range at the time so is all leather etc. Some of the lower models have cloth seats etc so they dont feel very "special".

I had a Disco for about 2 weeks whilst my car was being repaired (idiot ran a red light and smashed into the side of me). The disco was beautiful, I wanted to live in it. I didnt tow with it (didnt have a tow bar fitted - was definitely a bit of a chelsea tractor) but it was lovely to drive and I had no problems at all with it in Central London, except most people seemed to hate me and swerved in and cut me up etc (more than usual - have been driving in central London for 16 yrs so could definitely see the difference).

I would say that the kia drives more like a car and therefore seems easier to park etc where the disco feels so much bigger, although it is not much bigger. Given the choice though, I would go for the disco, although think I was spoilt by the hire company as they gave me the top of the range version with tvs etc.

I was also given a volvo xc90 (?) which I think can pull 2.8T - it was horrible, drive like a pig.
 
Landrover Defender and I would not recommend it! Its bloody uncomfortable, limited space and noisy. I would love a decent 4x4 but I get the Landy free so I guess I should be more grateful! It tows well though!
 
jesstickle said:
I have a Hyundai Terracan 2.9 diesel. Pulls 2.8 tonnes and does 35mpg if you drive carefully on a day to day basis.

Parts are insanely cheap and so are they. Mine is on a 05 plate. It has huge amounts of grunt compared to the Sorrento I used to tow with (although Sorento is still a good tow car :) ) and the mitsi shogun sport of my friend.
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This ^^^ I love my Terracan! Tows a dream, drives a dream, happily ploughs through deep mud/puddles etc, good mpg (it had to be with 350 miles of commuting a week!), inexpensive and having had Hyundai's for the last 10 yrs think they are fab, reliable cars.
 
Love my disco - 2000 td5 that has done 160k, previously had a 1996 300tdi that did 210k before I sold it. Fantastic cars that go on for ever. Wouldn't personally buy an old sorrento, although the new one out is seriously nice.

Can't go wrong with an Ifor Williams trailer.
 
LEC said:
Landrover Defender and I would not recommend it! Its bloody uncomfortable, limited space and noisy. I would love a decent 4x4 but I get the Landy free so I guess I should be more grateful! It tows well though!
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Don't let my hubby hear you say that! He ADORES defenders but I'm with you, definitely not a ladies car ;)

I had a jeep Cherokee 2.8TD and it was brilliant towing, I never needed to worry about grunt. I towed a 510 and we once had my MILs chunky 16.3 ( weights about 650k) and my TB and it sailed up a v v steep hill. It is pretty thirsty though, I averaged 28-32mpg when towing.
 
We have a 53 sorrento and a 60 sorrento the older one is heavier and a bit more thirsty , the 60 is lighter and super economical fuel-wise. Have used both to tow Bateson Ascot and can`t fault them, very handy to drive. Trailer excellent and such a useful tack locker! The only fault we`ve had is that the rubber at bottom of partition has perished but it`s not really needed anyway.
 
We have the new shaped L200 - only towed a few times but cant fault it ...
Trailer wise ... we have a Cheval Liberte ... really fab double trailer but rear unload that my TB doesnt really appreciate ... may sell and swap for a front unloader :(
 
MegaBeast said:
That's thirsty?! I'm happy to get around 24mpg out of my disco towing! Without the trailer it varies from 23.5 to 28 mpg depending on split between round town and motorways.
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I meant in comparison to some 'modern' 4x4s that can get up to 47mpg :) OH's defender averages that without anything on the back :o
 
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