Collecting data for perfect towing vehicle

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goldypops

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I am on the stressful hunt for a new towing vehicle and have looked at all the previous posts re this and am getting myself indecisive state over it!
What I thought would be useful would be if I could produce a spreadsheet with various info relating to different cars and then have a better idea as to what would be best to plump for. So it would be great if anyone can tell me what car they have, mpg when towing and when not, tax bracket, rough insurance quote, towing capacity, pluses/minuses for the vehicle and any other useful info that would be great.
If I manage to complete it then I'll forward it to anyone interested! Cheers
 
OK to get you started!

Kia Sorento 2.5 diesel (2005)
mpg is around 28-30 when towing maybe 32-35 when not towing (roughly - don't work it out too often!)
Tax £245
Insurance this year £520 was cheaper last year but insurance seems to have gone up in general
Tow capacity 2800kg
Pluses - tows very well, smooth ride, good off road and on snow/ice etc, comfortable on long journeys, lots of space, cheap in comparison to vehicles with similar spec
Minuses - as usual for a 4x4 expensive to fill up (£80 ish for a tank of diesel at the moment!)
 
Great idea - then you could ask admin to sticky it.

I have a 2004 Kia Sorento XS. 2.5 diesel. get approximately 30-32 mpg on a long run, reduced in the town & towing - maybe to 26-28? at a guess., Tax Bracket is about £230ish? Plated to tow 2600kg. Group 17 for insurance.


Pros - Stick some AT tyres on it and it's also great in the mud/snow and offroad.
Lovely smooth refined to drive compared to a lot of the 'workhorse 4x4s', shogun, 4track defender etc.
with the xs you get cruise control, leather seats etc as standard.
HUGE boot and loads of storage
leather seats, so easy enough to clean etc.
Quite cheap to buy used compared to landys etc.
very capable towing vehicle, good turning circle and manouverability (sp?)

Cons - non - we love it and would recommend it to anyone.
If anything, quite hard to find used - we looked for quite a while.
oh and the digital clock inside not working is apparently a common problem. Grrrr :p
 
Currently doing some similar research myself. The trailer I want has a maximum weight when loaded of 2.3tonnes so I have only included vehicles which tow at least 2.5ton.

NB: where models have recently changed the data is for the older one (except for the Tiguan which is the newer) as we don't have 20k to spend! I haven;t included pickups as I need a proper boot.

List is sorted by the combined MPG.

HTML: 
<table>
<tr>Make	  Model	        Towing Capacity	Urban	Ex Urban	   Comb</tr>
<tr>VW	  Tiguan (Escape)	2500	              35.3	52.3	44.1</tr>
<tr>Kia   	  Sorento	             2800	              28.2	42.2	35.8</tr>
<tr>Toyota	  Landcruiser (3L)	2800	              25.4	37.7	31.4</tr>
<tr>Landrover  Discovery	3500	              24.4	34.4	30.1</tr>
<tr>BMW	  X5 (3L D)	2700	              23.5	35.3	30.1</tr>
<tr>Mercedes	  M class      	3500	              22.8	35.3	29.7</tr>
<tr>VW	  Toureg 2.5 TDI	3500	              21.4	36.2	28.8</tr>
<tr>Jeep	  Grand cherokee	3500	              21.6	32.8	27.7</tr>
<tr>Izuzu	  Trooper	             3500	              20.9	32.1	26.9</tr>
<tr>Mitsubish   Shogun    	3300	              22.1	32.1	26.9</tr>
<tr>Landrover  Range Rover	3500	              21.1	31.6	26.7</tr>
<tr>Nissan	  Patrol	             3500	             19.8	32.1</tr>	26.2
<tr>Nissan	  Patrol (3L) Man	3500	             19.8	32.1	26.2</tr>
<tr>Nissan	Patrol (3L) Auto	2500        	20.3	31.4	26.2</tr>
<tr>Porche	Cayenne	             3500	             15.3	26.4	20.9</tr>
<\table>
 
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sorry to ask a question in your thread!! but i am also searching for towing vehicles.

Does the max towing weight include the weight of the car or just the actual weight of trailer and cargo in trailer. I have read a few threads and appear to be confused!!
 
Dizzydancer - ummmmm is the the answer I am just as confused!!! I suppose what I want to know is what is the max weight I can tow with the particular car - ie.trailer, horses, passengers, equipment.
 
The towing capacity is the weight of what the car can tow so 2800kg for the kia sorento means it can tow braked trailer plus load etc weighing up to 2800kg. The weight of the car is not included in this.

2800kg would easily cover most 2 horse trailers plus 2 horses plus equipment etc.

hope that helps
 
Another one who is looking for a new 4x4... But I have a Nissan Terrano II 2.7 diesal and it has been fantastic. Tows very well, not a great loss of mpg when towing, SWB, which makes reversing easier than a longer vehicle, cost very little to maintain bar normal wear n tear. Has been a great 4x4 when needed in mud or snow. Insurance is £300 fully comp (I am wrong side of 40yrs which helps) £265 road tax. Has more than adequate room, even though I usually have a couple of dogs with me. It is comfortable, even though I have the base model.
It only has to go as its just time to trade on for a new version...if I could find one!! To get 2500kg towing capacity all the vehicles between £4 £8000 seem huge in comparison...I like the idea of a Sorrento, or Discovery but they dwarf my Terrano. Any physically small 4x4 with big towing capacities?
 
I've got a Nissan Terrono II 2.7 TDi SWB. It's a fab truck and I love it, tows like a dream :) Insurance is £340 for teh year (thereabouts, cant remember exact figure). Tax is £205 for 12 months as its a P reg so doesn't come under the new tax laws (thank goodness :p )

Tbh the only downfall is I wish Id taken out shares in BP before I bought it... but then it is a P reg so won't be as economical as newer ones :)
 
Any physically small 4x4 with big towing capacities?

daihatsu fourtrak- 3.5 tonnes and small. 'agricultural' appearance; does the job and about 34mpg.
 
I'd be a big vote for a Toyota Landcruiser.

I have a 3l diesel 2003 LC3. Previous to that I had a 1998 version which I had for 6 years and did 130k in- lots of which towing. Super reliable car, had battery and clutch and thats about it. Tows like a train- I have 2 600-650kg horses and sails up towing my Equitrek up even steepest of hills as if nothing attached. They are also not as sluggish to drive without the trailer as a lot of 4x4s.

Newer one is better on fuel than my old one as different engine nowadays. think 20 odd towing and 30 odd not towing. Tax £200 something a year (sorry- hubby had to tax it while I was in hospital the other week so cant remember exactly). Insurance is £650 ish but I am only 28, was 27 when got it.

Previous to the LCs I had a TDI Disco- awful. Slow, unreliable (broke down weekly for months!) and although much cheaper to buy and for parts it cost me a fortune at the garage and also missed so many competitions as broken down on route!!

Depends on budget but personally I would have an older Land Cruiser over some of the cheaper newer cars such as a Disco. Just need to look at the autotrader to see they hold there money as everyone wants them.

(NB: Also the UN and people in remote African and Australian areas use Toyotas so must mean they are reliable!!) :D
 
I have towed with a few different vehicles over the years but the best i have ever towed with is Toyota Landcruiser. I am going to be looking again soon for another one and wouldnt tow with anything else
 
Diahatsu Fourtrak
mpg 28-35 normally, dropping to 20-25 when towing
tax is about £190 a year
insurance group 8
towing capacity varies according to where you look, but copes well with our old wooden 3 horse trailer and two big horses (600kg each).

Pros - lovely ride and very stable when towing, option of two or four wheel drive means you don't chew fuel when not towing, good in all weathers (only had it in 4wd for about 3 miles total in all that snow!), in a year I've not had to do anything to mine but parts are reasonably cheap and available.

Cons - they aren't making them any more so those around are getting on now (but mine is P reg and has done 120k and still going strong!), a lot have been used as farm vehicles so you have to look carefully for one that's been looked after. Often very basic, but basic = less to go wrong!

anything else? I've always had landrovers (defenders and discoveries) up until my last one died a very rusty death, and never thought they could be bettered. BUT I got sick of them dying of rust before the engine got worn in! The truck is great, its nice to drive and even though its older than my last disco its bodywork is in much better nick!

ETA - go for a TDL SE version if you can, they have a bit more "luxury" and a better engine block than the older ones.
 
I have a nissan navara pick up truck, it is a 2.5ltr, tax is £205 i think and insurance is about £500 as you have to have van insurance. It has been brilliant for towing with always feels very stable. It can tow up to 3500 and is actually nicer to drive when it is towing as it is designed to have some weight in it. I think it uses average fuel for a big car. The only downside I can think of is that it is very long and can be difficult to park in supermarket etc. That said some people find it difficult to park nissan micras so just depends on your parking abilities :-) I have towed with a couple of other cars, land rover and jeep and neither can match it.

Forgot to mention it has been amazing in the snow too, it is part time 4x4 so i just stick it in 4x4 and have not had any days where i couldn't get up to yard even when on track up to yard snow was as deep as the tyres.
 
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Just like to add that towing vehicle choice is very subjective, what one person likes- you may hate!!

I used a friends Shogun 2.8TD SWB T reg-love it, fantastic towing vehicle, powerful with good handling, have to keep checking trailer is attached! Reliable and 4x4 ability great too. Expensive to buy and run though- high insurance, 50miles for £10 and parts are dear. I couldn't afford to buy one.

I too did the huge comparison search before buying a 4x4.

First bought a FSH diesel Diahatsu Fourtrak, T reg, from recomendations online and on paper should have been excellent. Loved its boxy looks, cheap insurance and tax, but found it a dreadful bloody thing! Great to tow heavy trailer, very powerful at low speeds, but awful for daily commute- tractor-like noise and handling, very slow and thirsty, 42 miles for a £10. Parts were impossible to get and sills had rusted out requiring serious welding to pass MOT. Sent it to auction after 6 weeks.

Then I bought Nissan Terrano 2.7TDI SWB 2003 model. Again on paper ticks all the boxes and was recommended online and word of mouth for towing and reliability. Everything is just OK- it handles fine for commuting, looks ok and towed OK but not great. Struggled to get to 50mph with 2 horses on. 4x4 ability is excellent though managed 3ft snowdrifts no bother. MPG also not great -51 miles for £10. Insurance is high, tax is dear (£280). Wasn't that reliable, mine ate tyres (only lasted about 8000 miles at £80 each), broke prop shaft, needed both rear brake cylinders replaced twice, plus brake pads and front disks lasted less than a year, needed new glowplugs, 3 sets of drop links... the list is long, parts were also hard to get although not as bad as diahatsu aand very expensive(£280 for brakes + pads). This was a low mileage well maintained car with FSH!

Friend has Landrover discovery 2.5 TD, J reg, breaks down every week, but great for towing heavy trailer, cheap tax+insurance+parts easy to get. Noisy and tank like handling, greedy brute too unless well tuned (45miles £10). I couldn't cope with the unreliable factor. Her hubby is mechanic so not bothered about fixing it.

Borrowed work Nissan Navara double cab, 2002 2.5td. Looks nice but bloody awful to drive. Hard suspension gives a sore bum, low on power, struggled with 1 horse, never mind 2. Slid everywhere in the snow unless weighed down with oil drums in the back. Reliable but again, dear to buy and insure.

Moral of the story-- try to try loads before you buy!!! Dont believe what folk tell you!!
 
We have a new discovery and a defender. Both are really easy to tow with and you dont even feel the trailer. The defender is more 'rustic' but has never broken down and never gets stuck in the mud. Also plenty of space for tack etc. Only problem is the large turning circle needed for turning around!
The discovery 4 is very easy to tow with, especially as its an automatic. But the electrics have broken once and i was a little stuck on the motorway. Other than the one issue its the easiest thing to tow with.
I did my trailer test in a Kia sorento and it was very easy to drive and tow with, but i would question the towing weights etc.
hope that helps!
 
Mits Shogun Sport 04 plate 2.5 manual ............2800KG basically a L200 with a body, tons of space both in seating area and boot space ( I have 3 dogs )
Fuel consumption 28-35 not towing / 20-25 towing
Tax is £260ish / Insurance costs me £16 a month ( but I am old!! )

Fabulous car................I had a Mits Pajero 2.8 TD Auto SWB ( M reg ) previous, swapped due to lack of space with luggage if staying away and 3 doggies - same towing capacity as above but better on fuel consumption not much difference towing / non towing 30 MPG
Insurance / tax as above too.

Have fun shopping but I would definitly recommend reading some of the vehicle forums on common faults - and some very expensive ones

I narrowed my search to either Jeep Grand Cherokee 3500KG towing capacity / Nissan Nevara 3500kg / Mits shogun Sport 2800kg - TBH it was comments on the non horsey owners club forums that made my mind up!!!
 
NISSAN X TRAIL - needed something to tow daughters new pony and my old hunter about plus lots of normal miles for work. Hated the thought of a 4wd as like cars really but have been totally converted.
Pulls the trailer like a dream ( i am inexperienced towing but you do not feel it is pulling anything) yet on a long run it is as economical as a standard car.
The insurance is the same as for for the vauxhall astra i has before (about £340), tax is low as a pre 55 registration(about £245) and only time it drinks fuel is pottering around steep devon lanes sight seeing.....towing and normal driving it does about 500 miles to a tank which was £50 but rising rapidly.

Couldnt be happier as also easy to keep clean out and keep tidy
 
goldypops said:
I am on the stressful hunt for a new towing vehicle and have looked at all the previous posts re this and am getting myself indecisive state over it!
What I thought would be useful would be if I could produce a spreadsheet with various info relating to different cars and then have a better idea as to what would be best to plump for. So it would be great if anyone can tell me what car they have, mpg when towing and when not, tax bracket, rough insurance quote, towing capacity, pluses/minuses for the vehicle and any other useful info that would be great.
If I manage to complete it then I'll forward it to anyone interested! Cheers
Click to expand...

Hi there, I have a 2006 2.9TDI Hyundai Terracan Diesel... It does about 32mpg on a what they call a super urban run or average mileage (haven't worked out what is does towing) it can two 2800kgs.. It tows well and so far I have only towed with one horse in my Rice Richardson trailer which is probably ok for two 16.2 hands horses.... (the horses I have towed are fairly chunky welsh cobs of between 450 kilos and about 600 kilos...

I am very pleased with it and it is an easy car to drive around town as well and also handled the icy conditions really well..... I am planning on taking 2 horse out soon.... so keeping all fingers crossed.....


Hard to choose isn't it....??? Good luck with your choice....

Dizz4
 
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