Fuel costs for towing?

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HaffiesRock

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I know it is a bit how long is a piece of string, but how much roughly per mile does it cost to tow?

Not sure the details, but a big Land Rover pulling an Ifor 510 with appox 1000kg of horse (2)

I ask as I am going to a show and my very kind friend has offered to take me and another lady on the yard for fuel money. Excellent, the transport people wanted £190 for the transport or £99 self drive hire plus fuel so it will certainly save money. I will happily pay any fuel plus extra for her time as she is doing me a massive favour. However, the other lady coming with me seems to think that a tenner each is enough to cover the trip! It really isn't as its about 15 miles for the lady to come to pick us up, then 25 miles to the show, 25 miles back, then 15 for her to get back home plus her time while she waits for us. I told the other yard lady it would be more like £40 each and she laughed!

So roughly how much fuel would you use towing an unladen trailer 30 miles then a further 50 miles with 2 horses on board? Just want to let the lady know so she appreciates the cost and how wonderful this lady is!

Thanks
 
You are 'legally' allowed to claim something like 45p (or is it 49p) a mile laden for it to be considered expenses. Some people will drop off for mileage if they have the right paperwork for about £1 a mile.

I think £40 is about right :)
 
Easy way - get owner to fill vehicle with fuel at the start then you fill it up at the end

If any profit is made by the driver then this becomes commercial and many laws kick in

You can treat the driver to meals etc as well as reasonable vehicle wear and tear for the trip
 
ROG said:
Easy way - get owner to fill vehicle with fuel at the start then you fill it up at the end

If any profit is made by the driver then this becomes commercial and many laws kick in

You can treat the driver to meals etc as well as reasonable vehicle wear and tear for the trip
Click to expand...

Thanks Rog, that is exactly what we will be doing, I just want to show the livery how much it costs and how lucky we are to be getting a lift.
 
HaffiesRock said:
I know it is a bit how long is a piece of string, but how much roughly per mile does it cost to tow?

Not sure the details, but a big Land Rover pulling an Ifor 510 with appox 1000kg of horse (2)

I ask as I am going to a show and my very kind friend has offered to take me and another lady on the yard for fuel money. Excellent, the transport people wanted £190 for the transport or £99 self drive hire plus fuel so it will certainly save money. I will happily pay any fuel plus extra for her time as she is doing me a massive favour. However, the other lady coming with me seems to think that a tenner each is enough to cover the trip! It really isn't as its about 15 miles for the lady to come to pick us up, then 25 miles to the show, 25 miles back, then 15 for her to get back home plus her time while she waits for us. I told the other yard lady it would be more like £40 each and she laughed!

So roughly how much fuel would you use towing an unladen trailer 30 miles then a further 50 miles with 2 horses on board? Just want to let the lady know so she appreciates the cost and how wonderful this lady is!

Thanks
Click to expand...

Definitely NOT a tenner each will cover it!!! I speak from experience of towing similar weight with a petrol 4x4 Kia so probably less economical than your friends Land Rover which I assume is diesel? I would do as ROG suggests, and see if the lady would fill tank up and you replace what's been used.
 
I worked out that it costs me about 50p per mile in diesel alone to tow my Ifor 510 with horses in, with my 2.8L LWB Shogun. Maybe a bit less if unloaded, but even an empty trailer is a significant drag.

So about £40 in diesel for your 80 mile round trip.

Make sure that you, your towing friend and the other lady getting a lift are all agreed in advance on who pays what if the trailer or tow vehicle is damaged on this trip. Especially if you or your horses cause the damage.

Let's just say that I no longer give lifts to anyone, whether my costs are reimbursed or not. Too much bl00dy hassle :( by free loaders. (HR, I don't put you in this category, but your expecting-it-for-a-tenner friend sounds like she could be).
 
What about the wear and tear on her vehicle?! I have a land rover, and I can tell you, repairs on them are extremely expensive. Nobody ever takes this into account when offering to pay for fuel. Sorry to be such a misery guts, but this is why I don't do these types of favours! £10 each is laughable IMHO!
 
My petrol 3lt V6 shogun would drink around £50 quids worth of fuel for that unladen and laden journey.

I'd do as ROG advises and feed and water your chauffeur throughout the day too. What a very kind friend you have to offer this.

As for the livery who reckons it's a tenner!!!!...Pah... well you can certainly tell she doesn't own a 4 x 4 and tow!..Ha.. £10 is a laughable sum of money to even contemplate! Unbelievable what some folk THINK it would cost.

We don't do lifts either as my horse has the whole of the trailer and is cross tied when travelling. He's very happy travelling like this....and...it's stops folk asking for a lift too!! LOL
 
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80 miles @ 20mpg with diesel at £6.13 per gallon = £24.52

But 20mpg towing is optimistic

I would be expect the fuel bill (as per ROG's method of fill to fill) to be £40 / £45 and, of course, your friend shouldn't be buying her own lunch that day!

For those so inclined, it would be interesting if you were to post up the actual costs afterwards....
 
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