is it true that by law you have to tow a horse trailer with a jeep/4x4?

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i found out here last year that i wasnt legal to drive and have to take test to drive a trailer over 1300kg, so will have to do that this summer. but also always wanted a toyota rav as i think they are class. but was also told they are useless at towing horses, which i dont understand as its a 4x4 and 2l engine ect. i am not a car or jeep expert as just use mine to get from A to B, but have learned alot on here. now i have been told that no one is legal to drive a horse trailer unless you use a jeep/4x4. is this true.
 
No you can legally tow a trailer with a 2 wheel drive vehicle, but the weight being towed must be within the vehicles manufacturers recommended maximum towing capacity, which you can find out on line and in the vehicles log/service book etc. The only problem with towing with anything other than a capable 4x4 is that whilst you maybe legal, driving onto a wet show field you may not be able to get off! But then I've seen a fair few boxes (not trailer set ups!) having to be towed off fields!!!
 
we have a toyota avensis car 2l and it is amazing at towing, never thought it would be but it is. insurance says we are covered but i know more that 7 people that have had to change to 4x4 as they werent covered. sounded abit funny to me. thanks
 
The laws around this are complex.
A 4x4 is not a legal requirement, it just so happens that most vehicles that fulfill the legal requirements are 4x4's.
You need to look at the specifications of your particular car - it will give you a value (in kg) of your maximum towing capacity - your own particular set up will need to fall inside this to be legal.

As a general rule of thumb the estate cars and small SUV's (eg RAV 4) will have a capacity somewhere in the region of 1400kg-2000kg. This is sufficient for a single trailer + 1 horse, and at a push sometimes a double trailer + 1 horse.

For legality and safety, if you are looking to tow a double trailer + 2 horses you really should only consider a proper 4x4 (and a RAV 4 doesn't count!)
 
Another point to consider, which most people don't seem to - is that - whatever the maximum towing capacity of your vehicle - the laden weight of your trailer must not be more than 85% of the laden weight of your vehicle. I believe this is a legal requirement, however am prepared to be corrected on this.
 
JennBags said:
Another point to consider, which most people don't seem to - is that - whatever the maximum towing capacity of your vehicle - the laden weight of your trailer must not be more than 85% of the laden weight of your vehicle. I believe this is a legal requirement, however am prepared to be corrected on this.
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I thought the 85% was just a Caravan Club guideline?

I had to take my trailer test and this was definitely never mentioned by BSM (who I took lessons with) or the DVLA examiner.
 
JennBags said:
Another point to consider, which most people don't seem to - is that - whatever the maximum towing capacity of your vehicle - the laden weight of your trailer must not be more than 85% of the laden weight of your vehicle. I believe this is a legal requirement, however am prepared to be corrected on this.
Click to expand...

That isn't a legal requirement - it is a caravan club guide intended more for the idiots who think they can tow a caravan at 70mph down the M4 using their fiesta!
 
when I had an accident when towing all the police were intereste dinn was the plated weight of the trailer and the plated weight /towing weight of the car. these on the engine somewhere and the trailer somewhere. I knew ours by heart and they were fine as had invtesigated extensively before purchase. But I think this is what counts in the event of an accident - the insurance companies are pretty vague on this, the police were not !
 
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