Best tow vehicle for under 8k?

V

VioletFlower

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 July 2015
Messages
60
Visit site
Looking to buy my first trailer and tow vehicle - Could I have some recommendations please?Ideally not too bad on fuel!
Trailer will be Ifor Williams 510/511.
Thanks
 
Not a Freelander 1, I tow a single and my 14:3hh cob with mine and while it's perfectly legal, I do find it a bit weedy. You'd also be struggling to get the weights right with it, mine only tows 2t and you'd be easily over that with a 510/511 and two horses.
 
Well, a while ago we bought a Terrano for £1k. It was 100% reliable right until we sheared the flywheel over the summer. It probably didn't help that it was terribly over-loaded, and it did have 210k on the clock. We liked it so much that I replaced like for like - for less than the cost of repairing the first one (which is now parked behind the barn for spares!). Towing capacity is 2.8tonnes, which is enough for most things, and it is nimble enough to use as a car for daily stuff.
 
I have an Vauxhall Antara 2.2L and I tow a cheval with it and normally 1 highland pony but sometimes him and a cobby type. I certainly feel it more with the two on the hills but other than that I couldn't recommend it more :D
You can get a decent mileage and age one for around 8k. I got Mine last year with 12k on the clock 2 years old and for 11.5k. :)

That being said.... I've got a maximum of 38mpg. Probably get about 30mpg towing depedent on where I'm going.
 
My 08 plate Kia Sorento tows a 511 and two horses easily. For 8k you should be able to get an 08 or 09 plate with reasonable mileage.
 
I got my Range Rover for that budget - it is a bit of a gas guzzler as is the V8, but tows my 510 effortlessly. Had a Disco before that which was good but the chassis rotted and it wasn't cost effective to replace it. The extra power of the V8 really makes a difference towing on the motorway and up steep hills. I also looked at Landcruisers, but only the Amazons had the weight I was looking for, and they hold their money so well I just couldn't justify spending the same on an ancient scruffy looking Toyota as I could on a newer higher spec Range Rover. I appreciate my Range Rover is bound to cost me more in maintenance, however.
 
We've got a Mitsubishi Shogun which was about £4k I think. We have the petrol which is very VERY thirsty, but the diesel should be more economical! Tows our two (total weight of horses and trailer about 2.1 tons) with ease. We have an old Ifor Williams 505R.
 
We had a Shogan. Fab car, quite luxurious and towed with ease.
Now have a defender (as hubby wanted) better on diesel, but feel it when towing and very basic inside.
 
How many miles do you do, horsey/non-horsey?

It may be better to keep your day car and buy a cheap old tow-tug......vehicles which will tow easily are going to be hideous thirsty until you get to pretty modern fuel efficient territory....
 
Another Kia Sorento vote. I have an old 03 model, it's been great as an every day vehicle and tows our two big (16.3) warmbloods no problem at all in a Bateson Ascot. In fact I prefer towing the two big ones with it than if I just take my sister's 15hh'er. It's a real work horse and too many people don't think they are up to the job when they are.
 
OP doesn't seem to have been been back since his/her initial post.

It's essential to know what weight of horse(s) he/she intends to put in his/her 510/511, what terrain they will tow on, and whether they do indeed have their B+E licence, as to know how best to advise them as to which vehicles may suit...
 
I'm here, been looking on autotrader at all your suggestions. I was planning to do my trailer test.

Towing will be every few weeks locally and the odd longer one but who knows eventually, I'd like it to be future proof and be able to take up to 2x 16.2 ish horses.

I have another normal car for day to day. The tow vehicle will also be used for day to day in snowy weather if required.
I'm a little wary of getting a VERY cheap old vehicle as won't know if things are about to need replacing...

I'd also like the car to have ISO fixings and top tether for my kids car seat - sadly older models don't seem to have these.
 
Last edited:
Bangernomics 101:

1) Any car out of manufacturer warranty will potentially cost you £000s at any point. Look for cars where the parts are cheap and plentiful second hand or after-market - Land Rover are good, and Terrano's break the usual 'Jap's are expensive' rule, because they share parts with Ford.

2) Buy on condition and length of MOT. Everything else is a gamble (although check the internet for frequent problems with that engine / model). A car that costs you £1k will not necessarily be less reliable than one which costs £5k or £10k, but it will make you feel a lot more comfortable about cutting your losses and scrapping it if it develops a costly fault. You'll probably get half your money back selling it spares or repair.

Worst case is an expensively made (therefore expensive to fix), out of warranty lemon, which you've got so much money sunk into that you need to keep fixing it, because you can't afford to replace it.
 
We got a Shogun (auto/diesel) for around that but we part exchanged our Grand Vitara XL7.

It was formerly owned by the MET so we had fill a few holes where radio aerials and the like had been! Fab car though and tows like a dream. The extra seats come in handy for the 4 kids too!
 
I've got a Terrano. It's the second one I've had.

Excellent for towing, not so great for Tesco. My mother will barely drive it down the street, let alone consider a car park in it. I love it. It's certainly not luxury travel but does its job brilliantly.

Mine cost £2.5k, 2004 registered. Bought in August this year. Failed it's MOT this month on standard wear and tear bits (track rod end, cv boot cover and a light out). Parts cost under £100 to repair it.

I find it very difficult to spend more than £2.5k on a car, and I find it very difficult to get rid until they are dying a total utter death on me.

Terranos seem to meet all my expectations! Oh and mine has lovely heated seats!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top