best estate car/car for towing?

laura7981 said:
Rog, would a peugeot 406 pull a single trailer with a 500kg horse in on a B license?
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Bit difficult because there are many 406 models and all have different KERB and GVW weights BUT .... I can make a very rough guess....

KERB 1500 as that seems to be the AVERAGE
GVW 2000 as that seems to be the AVERAGE
Towing capacity 1500 - that seems to be the same for all

Using those guesstimated (new word) figures.... you would need a single horse trailer plated at no more than 1500 MAM and as most weigh around 800 max unladen then fitting a 500 kg horse will not be a problem

There is one trailer which, as far as I can see, will be good to go as it is for all 406 models without downplating and that is the Cheval liberte 1003xl with a MAM of 1400 and an unladen weight of 655 allowing a load of 745
 
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Farma said:
I have just started towing with a car (with thanks to the advice of ROG :))

The car is a merc c180 saloon, has towing weight of 1800 and I tow an ifor 403 so lightweight around 750kg with 1x500kg horse in it, it tows like a dream and certainly no better or worse than a 4x4.

Obviously as others mentioned you need to consider what type of shows you are going to so you dont get stuck in any mud :rolleyes:
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I believe yours was on a B+E licence - the OP was looking to tow on a B licence
 
I'm about to start considering what to do about what vehicle to use when towing. At the moment I have 15hh 2yr old so he doesn't weigh as much as he will do in another 2yrs.

I don't have my own trailer, I'll be hiring it due to only needing it a few times a year to go to shows.

Currently have a volvo c70 convertible - towing capacity is 1600kg. Probably alright for the time being but won't feel comfortable when my baby is all grown up. My only concern is obviously towing in fields at shows, plus the car is quite low.

I have been thinking of a pickup, but reading the earlier posts they aren't so great due to the long ends.

It's difficult to decide which car is the best, OH hates 4x4s so I'm a little stuck :rolleyes:

I'll keep an eye on this thread as I'm interested, hopefully your able to make a decision Sarah :)
 
SarahRicoh said:
Thanks all.. Mercs outa my budget i should think :(
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Depends on the age - ours is a 1994, and we have had it 5 years. Paid about £1800 for it from Ebay, and it has worked hard, every day. Either towing horses, or shooting trailers or generally carting stuff.
 
Thanks for that Rog, so much help as usual :-). Do you know if there's a double horse trailer that I could down plate that would be suitable to tow with a pug 406 on a B licence. It would still only ever be for the one horse.... Doubles just seem more stable than singles... And there's more of them for sale.
 
laura7981 said:
Thanks for that Rog, so much help as usual :-). Do you know if there's a double horse trailer that I could down plate that would be suitable to tow with a pug 406 on a B licence. It would still only ever be for the one horse.... Doubles just seem more stable than singles... And there's more of them for sale.
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If the figures are as I posted earlier - you really need to check - then any horse trailer with an unladen weight of 1000 or under could be downplated to 1500 which would then allow for a 500 horse - just

I would google for - horse trailers unladen weight kgs - and see what comes up

the lighter the unladen weight the heavier load it could carry after downplating

If you find the exact figures for your vehicle and then find a trailer you think could work, please post in the HHO towing clinic so as to keep this thread on track (or bridleway - LOL)

sorry Sarah, back to finding you a suitable car and trailer.......
 
Rog ....Can i ask you another towing numpty question please :rolleyes:. Regarding the pugeot 406, the one im thinking of buying is a 2l HDI but its the hatchback type, not the estate. Would this make any difference to towing :confused:
 
laura7981 said:
Rog ....Can i ask you another towing numpty question please :rolleyes:. Regarding the pugeot 406, the one im thinking of buying is a 2l HDI but its the hatchback type, not the estate. Would this make any difference to towing :confused:
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http://www.cuddles.abelgratis.net/peugeot.htm#406400
According to that link the kerb weights and towing weights are virtually the same so I reckon they will tow the same

If towing on a B licence the GVW weights will be needed to accertain if you can tow a specific trailer legally
 
Have read all the posts but still dont know what car I should get!! I found a downplated trailer with 1465kg mam. was looking at subaru forresters but their kerb weight is lower than the Mam of the trailer. I am needing something in the £3500 rage second hand... any ideas anyone PLEASE???
 
strike18 said:
Have read all the posts but still dont know what car I should get!! I found a downplated trailer with 1465kg mam. was looking at subaru forresters but their kerb weight is lower than the Mam of the trailer. I am needing something in the £3500 rage second hand... any ideas anyone PLEASE???
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I have these specs for that vehicle but you may be looking at a different model
SUBARU FORRESTER (4X4)
Unladen/kerb = 1465 minimum
GVW = 2050 maximum
Towing = 2000
Max trailer plated MAM for B licence towing = 1450 kgs

You can downplate the 1465 kg MAM trailer further by contacting the manufacturer
 
Thanks! There are so many subaru's and all the ones for sale in my price range seem to have low kerb weights :( can u recommend any other cars from 2003-2005 that would be good but also legal?
 
I'm wondering if I can safely (and legaly) tow my Bahill pony box (braked trailer, unladen weight 550kg) with a Skoda Octavia hatchback?

Would be carrying one pony, 14hh, approximately 475kg I think. I would also remove the central partition in trailer which would bring the weight down further.

I don't have a towing license yet. Would aim to get one but would prefer the chance to practice lots first so being able tow legally with this combo would be great for me.

thanks
 
SouthWestWhippet said:
I'm wondering if I can safely (and legaly) tow my Bahill pony box (braked trailer, unladen weight 550kg) with a Skoda Octavia hatchback?

Would be carrying one pony, 14hh, approximately 475kg I think. I would also remove the central partition in trailer which would bring the weight down further.

I don't have a towing license yet. Would aim to get one but would prefer the chance to practice lots first so being able tow legally with this combo would be great for me.

thanks
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ANSWERED HERE in post number 756
 
thanks, well I haven't bought the Skoda yet, am still working out if I can afford it. But I will get the MAM for the trailer if I can (hope it is on the plate - box is older than me I think!). Do you mind if I ask again when I have all the information and am ready to go car shopping?

J
 
I had the same issues. B license and couldn't afford to run a thirsty 4x4 everyday.

After some cracking advise from the ever patient ROG I ended up with a Cheval Liberte mare and foal (slightly wider than a single) which only weighs 550kg and I tow it with a 2ltr TD Mondeo. The car pulls like a dream and is very economical to run. I'd highly recommend it. We paid £6500 for the car but you'd get an older model much much cheaper.
 
strike18 said:
How about a kia sportage 2.0 xse 2003 ? Looks like kerb is 1494 gvw 1928 and my trailer will be 1465 ?
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THIS ONE?
Legal for B licence towing :D

1928+1465=3393 which is not more than 3500
1465 is not more than 1494 so that is ok

Have done this answer on here to show what rules need to be followed for the OP
 
SarahRicoh said:
Thanks all.. Mercs outa my budget i should think :(
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Large cars with large engines depreciate much faster than hatchbacks etc - we just picked up a top end 10 year old Audi A6 estate with a 3l V6 petrol engine for £2k. If you're JUST using it for towing then it may make sense as you'll still spend less overall, even though it has a low mpg. Obviously insurance is an issue but if you're only using for towing it will be very few miles per year so that may go in your favour. Worth looking into.
 
Blythwind said:
We tow our Ifor 401 single trailer with a Vauxhall Vectra 1.9cdti on a B licence. Car copes fine!
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I also have a vauxhall vectra estate, but a 2 ltr deisel one. I tow an older trailer, about 850kg, with a 15hh in it (~400kg) or a 15.3hh (~500kg). Usually only one horse, but have taken both on very short (5-6 mile) trips.
Car has been brilliant, despite age and clocking up over 180,000 miles. Although does now sound (and look sometimes) a bit like a tractor!
 
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