best 4x4 for towing & everyday use?

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x-di-x

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Looking for suggestions/recommendations for towing 4x4's that will also require to double up as a good family motor.

My requirements:

Need a 4x4 that will happily tow Bo (13.3hh/14hh highland) on his own.

Must be fuel efficient & cheap to run/tax (for a 4x4)

it will also double up as a family car so must be able to fit a family of 4 & a black lab comfortably.

Also need recommendations on trailer types... as not got one yet. I only need to tow 1 so am I better looking at a single horse trailer (the 401?) or go for a lightweight double?

My oh who has his B+E entitlement is going to tow until I pass the trailer test (damned having a 17th birthday just after 01/01/1997 :mad:)

Budget £8k (for trailer & motor).

Alternatively, would I be better off buying an older 4x4 (like a fourtrak) and using it only for towing???

It's all a mine field for me and I can't actually do anything till September :( but i;m starting my research now (beleive me if i could i'd have it now, hire an indoor school and get riding this rain is ridiculous).

Thank you for reading, and responding your help is appreciated.

last question! Am I better just buying an Ark and getting some armbands for Ponio??? will this rain EVER stop?????
 
If you only need to tow one then something like a Nissan x trail may be good? We looked at them but as we need to tow two, it wasn't suitable. As far as a trailer goes I'd go for a two stall rice or ifor Williams as to me they seem more inviting and lighter, but then again I've never used a single staller.
I think your arm bands idea is a good one though. It has actually stopped raining here-must go ride! (although it will probably have started raining by the time I get there!)
 
With only one horse I would go for the nissan xtrail (with the right weight specifications) and a single horse trailer downplated so you can drive it on your B licence (no B+E test needed)

Many have that set up for B licence towing and so far I have not seen any bad reports

If you do get any set up which is under B+E licence rules then OH can supervise whilst you drive it under your current B+E provisional

Sorry to go a little off topic but I thought it was worth mentioning the above info

PS - apparently barges are becoming quite popular on the canals with all the water about ..... anyone got a barge type horsebox !!
 
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thankyou for your replies. i must admit i quite fancy the x-trail - i beleive it's cheaper for tax and insurance (:confused:) it;s just a shame i;m not going to be in a position to do anything till end of August :( (but it doesn't mean I can;t start looking)

Thanks again
 
Im looking at a Nissan X Trail as well, i passed my test in 1987, have a Robinsons Requisite Trailer, which weighs around 700-800kgs, and will be towing one 14'2 around 430kgs

I decided on one of these as my friend has bought one a couple of years ago, and like you say tax, insurance and tyres are cheaper than most 4 x 4 prices, i think theyre around insurance group 9 or 10, depending on spec.

Can you stay up your neck of the woods when you start looking to buy, as i wont be in a position until end of August early September to buy either :p, im in the Midlands :)
 
Joyous70 said:
Im looking at a Nissan X Trail as well, i passed my test in 1987, have a Robinsons Requisite Trailer, which weighs around 700-800kgs, and will be towing one 14'2 around 430kgs

I decided on one of these as my friend has bought one a couple of years ago, and like you say tax, insurance and tyres are cheaper than most 4 x 4 prices, i think theyre around insurance group 9 or 10, depending on spec.

Can you stay up your neck of the woods when you start looking to buy, as i wont be in a position until end of August early September to buy either :p, im in the Midlands :)
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I hereby promise not to come south of the border to look for an x-trail (unless it's asoloutely necessery) I'm hoping my nice garage man (yes there are one or two out there) will source one for me :) (that's the plan anyway).
 
x-di-x said:
I hereby promise not to come south of the border to look for an x-trail (unless it's asoloutely necessery) I'm hoping my nice garage man (yes there are one or two out there) will source one for me :) (that's the plan anyway).
Click to expand...

:D Lol you are so kind - thank you, and i hereby promise to not treat north of the border

I wish i had a nice garage man to help me look, i know nothing about cars, and neither does my OH, i will get far to carried away by how shiny & new it looks (bearing in mind my car is a 3 door 1ltr, 12 years old owned by me for 12 years and hardly ever gets hoovered!! :o) I will probably have to get it RAC checked or something.

Good luck with your searching
 
Or....look for something that has has the LPG conversion ....cheaper tax and as an eg, friend took her petrol grand Cherokee jeep from Surrey to Manchester return....cost.. £.80 LPG!! Can't take it on the channel tunnel though .

Not a fan of single trailers. Not as stable. Better to get a double.
 
Hi, I just wondered how you went on in your search for a towing vehicle. I'm in a similar position having a 14 hh Welsh D, I was also thinking about an XTrail or a Suzuki Grand Vitara 2litre diesel LWB to tow my pony alone in a lightweight trailer. Usually when you do a search on towing with an XTrail or Vitara, they are not recommended, but I wondered if they are ok for towing the above mentioned. Thanks.
 
we have a kia sorrento and an Ifor williams. Kia is great and good and comfy as a day to day car too and for long journeys. does one of th best MPG for a 4x4 too. towes beautifully.
 
Same as scribble.:) I'd check your pony will load into a single trailer before you invest in one,some really don't like them,but will happily load in a double.

My Sorento was £9k and I bought an IW double trailer for £840.
 
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