ANOTHER 4 x 4 thread :)

[muff747]

Has anyone gone from a Defender to another 4 x 4 car for towing an Ifor Williams 505 and liked it better?
I have a Landy and love it for it's manouverability, the confidence and ease I get when towing and reversing with trailer - and I know exactly where the front and back end is when parking
I need some more mpg and more seats would be great now we have more child seats to fit in (for grandchildren) and I suppose the heater in winter would be nice
Some posts here and on other forums have put some doubts in my mind about the actual allowed weights other 4 x 4s can tow.

 

[*hic*]

Manouverability!! Mine has the turning circle of an oil tanker. It took me three goes to get it down the drive the first time I brought it home.

Love it to pieces though, probably because I have a comfortable, economical car with a heater that I usually drive.

 

[Tinsel Trouble]

You're going to struggle to find something that you can comfortably move to. A Defender is a work horse, it is designed to farm all day. The Nissan X-trail is very good to tow with and has a huge payload and as a Nissan it's very reliable and will hold it's value, you could try the new discovery- Not very reliable, but you know what you're getting with a LR...

 

[OWLIE185]

Get a Long Wheel Base Landrover with morwe seats. Fit an electric fan and free wheeling hubs to the front for better fuel consumption. Fit an electric heater for better heating. Get advice from members of the Land Rover Club's online forum.
A long wheel base Land Rover is the safest vehicle to tow with and will outlive any other vehicle.

 

[PaddyMonty]

A long wheel base Land Rover is the safest vehicle to tow with and will outlive any other vehicle.

Having towed with a LWB landy for many miles I'll stick to my jeep cherokee now thanks. Handles better, more reliable and you dont have to install other gizmos just to have basic levels of comfort.

 

[jaquelin]

Ditto Juno

Cherokee has an excellent turning circle too, and good value for money ( meaning you get a towing vehicle for way less than LR)

 

[tallyho!]

I had a LWB Defender... I loved it to pieces and enjoyed the "club". It wasn't the most powerful for going uphill and where I live hills are everywhere.

Soooo I swapped with my Dad for his luxurious Nissan Patrol... it's amaaaazinnngggg. I forgot I was towing last weekend... good turning circle, smooth and solid. My back won't hurt so much and where I usually stepped out the Landy in gloves & hat, I'll arrive somewhere in winter actually still WARM

 

[muff747]

Thanks to all for your advice. The Landy has to go, I will be sad but needs must and the mpg is crippling me and no time to modify at the mo.
Thanks again

 

[jhoward]

Manouverability!! Mine has the turning circle of an oil tanker. It took me three goes to get it down the drive the first time I brought it home.

Love it to pieces though, probably because I have a comfortable, economical car with a heater that I usually drive.

LOL like my fourtrak! ive got a mini round about at the end of my road (live in the city) that i cant get all the way round on, and when some plonker parks to close i really struggle to get it out!

but but.. jack the trak has leather seats and a heater, and im getting 150 miles out of 30 quid in it which isnt much different than my car!

 

[PennyJ]

Well I far prefer towing my trailer with a Volvo estate to with my Landy, and we won't even go to the other "issues" that are standard with a Land Rover...

What about a Volvo XC 90, they can tow up to 2250kg, will that be enough depending on the size of the horse(s) you need to tow? Never tried one, but I bet the turning circle is better than a Landrover's ...

 

[juliag]

I changed my landrover for a mitsubishi shogun 3litre v6 petrol. Yes still thirsty about the same but I now have heated leather seats, cruise control, airconditioning, 7 seats (all confortable!!!) and a totally different driving experience. My car does not know it has a 3 horse trailer behind it and even when it has 3 horses in it it is no struggle . I can come to the steepest of hills and it will sail up them. yes the landrover went up but it would be noisy and not do it nearly as easily or as comfortable as the shogun. And on the plus side we can drive to the south of france in total comfort going away on holiday and that is a trip I certainly wouldnt do in a landrover!!!