Cheap 4x4 for towing?

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out-riding

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Sorry for another towing thread! We are looking for a second car just to tow the trailer with. Driver has B+E license and we will be towing a 15.1 connie in a ifor Williams 505.
Don't mind an older car just needs to do the job, we're not looking to spend a lot as they depreciate so quickly. We have been looking at the HyundaiSanta Fe older reg (03) how do I find out the braked towing capacity?
Has anyone got any other suggestions, we have been looking at the Mitsubishi Pajero, Isuzu trooper as well.

Thanks :)
 
Pajeros very often grey imports and a pig to insure (for no very good reason) Isuzus super-tough until they suddenly fall apart :)

If you do tiny miles, what about a big petrol beast, such as Land-Cruiser or Jeep or even P38 Range-Rover? Dead cheap because of vast thirst, but if you're only doing a small mileage...
 
turnbuckle said:
Pajeros very often grey imports and a pig to insure (for no very good reason) Isuzus super-tough until they suddenly fall apart :)

If you do tiny miles, what about a big petrol beast, such as Land-Cruiser or Jeep or even P38 Range-Rover? Dead cheap because of vast thirst, but if you're only doing a small mileage...
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I'll have a look at the Pajero insurance. Yes will defiantly be very low mileage as will only be used to tow the trailer, my OH and I both have economical cars as we both have a 25 mile commute to work each way, so these would be used every day and the 4x4 just for taking the horse out. I will have a look at those you've suggested :) thank you.
 
Worth checking Vauxhall Frontera? My parents had one for many years with a caravan and it never missed a beat. Noticed the other day you can pick them up dirt cheap these days. Would need to check towing capacity though.

I have a T plate discovery which was purchased for £1200. It is battered and bruised but it has passed an MOT and it runs and everything just about works. It still tows two horses in an ifor regularly and occasionally steps up when my much newer and posher car breaks down!! They don't come up at that price very often but they do appear.
 
I bought a 20 year old Terrano last spring for the princely sum of £1000 - cosmetically OK, but with mega mileage on it. It's done over 20,000m for us so far, and has cost just one water pump including towing on and off road, and turning into a bus (7 seats) every time we need one. Quite merciful on the diesel too. Can't recommend them enough.
Towing capacity 2.8 tonnes, which is more than enough for your connie.
 
EBHouse said:
Worth checking Vauxhall Frontera? My parents had one for many years with a caravan and it never missed a beat. Noticed the other day you can pick them up dirt cheap these days. Would need to check towing capacity though.

I have a T plate discovery which was purchased for £1200. It is battered and bruised but it has passed an MOT and it runs and everything just about works. It still tows two horses in an ifor regularly and occasionally steps up when my much newer and posher car breaks down!! They don't come up at that price very often but they do appear.
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Will have a look into Frontera, thanks for the suggestion.

That's the sort of thing we're after, haven't looked at discovery's yet so will have a search on them too. Thanks!
 
pennyturner said:
I bought a 20 year old Terrano last spring for the princely sum of £1000 - cosmetically OK, but with mega mileage on it. It's done over 20,000m for us so far, and has cost just one water pump including towing on and off road, and turning into a bus (7 seats) every time we need one. Quite merciful on the diesel too. Can't recommend them enough.
Towing capacity 2.8 tonnes, which is more than enough for your connie.
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I've had a quick look at the Terrano's and they are in the running too now. Yes we don't want to spend much as we won't get the money back and we don't mind older, mileage etc. with it only being a car we'll be towing with. Yes that will be plenty for us, would be nice to take a friend occasionally but the main thing is I can get myself about. Thank you :)
 
Our pajero was no more to insure than our other 4x4's. Happily pulled a 510 and two horses and still sits on the drive way as I've not got round to putting an ad up yet. If you can find one that's been well looked after they are a steal.
 
Be aware of the tax and check chassis, some many rust buckets, especially where the tow bar joins. Seen 2 recently that should have spectaculary failed mot!
 
pennyturner said:
I bought a 20 year old Terrano last spring for the princely sum of £1000 - cosmetically OK, but with mega mileage on it. It's done over 20,000m for us so far, and has cost just one water pump including towing on and off road, and turning into a bus (7 seats) every time we need one. Quite merciful on the diesel too. Can't recommend them enough.
Towing capacity 2.8 tonnes, which is more than enough for your connie.
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I have one, cost me similar. It is fab at towing and I even commute in it :)
 
We have had three Ford Mavericks which are re-badged Terranos and they're terrific. They pull like steam trains, drive like an ordinary car unlike most 4WD which are tank-like, have selectable 4WD with high and low ratio gearbox and they are safe as houses. My OH had an accident in which the car rolled and she walked away without a scratch. I'd love another.
 
Hepsibah said:
We have had three Ford Mavericks which are re-badged Terranos and they're terrific. They pull like steam trains, drive like an ordinary car unlike most 4WD which are tank-like, have selectable 4WD with high and low ratio gearbox and they are safe as houses. My OH had an accident in which the car rolled and she walked away without a scratch. I'd love another.
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Yes had the Maverick as well, great cars never got stuck in mud, snow or water, pull like a train.
Not only are Mavericks and Terranos the same car but the MISTRAL is the same car too, but rarer
 
out-riding said:
Will have a look into Frontera, thanks for the suggestion.

That's the sort of thing we're after, haven't looked at discovery's yet so will have a search on them too. Thanks!
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No, don't get a Frontera! Don't get me wrong, I loved mine for towing but they're cheap because many of the parts aren't available now unless you get lucky at a breaker's yard. I've just had to scrap mine because Vauxhall have discontinued the parts as well as the vehicle and there are some fairly important bits that don't substitute well. In their older years, they're quite prone to breaking down, sadly.
 
wyrdsister said:
No, don't get a Frontera! Don't get me wrong, I loved mine for towing but they're cheap because many of the parts aren't available now unless you get lucky at a breaker's yard. I've just had to scrap mine because Vauxhall have discontinued the parts as well as the vehicle and there are some fairly important bits that don't substitute well. In their older years, they're quite prone to breaking down, sadly.
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Ah that's a shame! My parents loved theirs :( That would have been my go-to if the disco fluffed it. Shame.
 
OldNag said:
I have one, cost me similar. It is fab at towing and I even commute in it :)
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Yep. That's why ours is clocking up so much mileage - it's pleasant and easy to drive, so even though there are 3 vehicles parked outside, somehow it always seems to be the one we jump into, whether we're dragging a log across a field or heading onto the motorway for an hour.

Ours is the 'Mistral' import version. The electric windows have given up (I have removed the motor on the driver side, and use a luggage strap to open and close it), but other than that, she's A1. Not sure what differences there are between that, the UK spec and the Mavarick - they're all essentially the same car.
 
I had a maverick, fabulous tank. It cost me £500, I was broke so had no maintaince at all. It never let me down in 3years. It towed lovely, many of my yard used it when there lorry broke or car was out action. I used and abused it massively. I sold it for £325 after 3 years and 3 years after that it's still on the road and still towing. I see it about all the time and it's current owner says it's the best car he's ever had, I know it was mine, like I said I was broke when I had it and it never let me down once- I owe that car a lot-lol

Also mine ran on air, the official figures say it does 28mpg but I was getting more like 40ish, possibly even more. It had 200k on the clock so I think it was just well run in
 
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I have a LWB Frontera for towing and love it. Granted I haven't needed parts but it's a great vehicle to drive and tows very well indeed with my 14.1hh in the 505.
 
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