LWB vs SWB for Towing?

[PercyMum]

Am eagerly awaiting to find out if I have got a Rice Trailer....

...So now need a new 4x4. I hope to be getting the big Rice Beaufort and have 2 big horses so I know its got to have a hefty tow capacity. I used to have a Discovery and towed the Equitrek and Bateson with it and it seemed ok. However, my ability to touch any vehicle and give it the kiss of death means I would quite like a Landrover Defender as there is less to go wrong!! Any thoughts on what would be best to tow with - SWB or LWB? Or are both a silly idea (will be a general use car also) and go for a newish Discovery (and I mean about 2005ish as thats about as new as we can afford-they cost a bomb ).

Any other ideas? I was looking at Sorento's but only the auto has a 3500kg tow capacity and it'll be quite thirsty. And secretly I think a Defender with a Rice would look quite old-skool cool. Until my manky nags step out....

 

[BigRed]

If you buy a SWB you will find it much easier to manouvre the trailer. It's like turning an artic. You need more space when you have LWB vehicle.

If you have a choice, go for the highest towing capability you can afford. There is nothing worse than finding you are running out of power or braking ability when towing horses.

 

[PaddyMonty]

LWB every time.
Stability of towing vehicle is much increased due to distance between front and rear wheels.

 

[ROG]

Am eagerly awaiting to find out if I have got a Rice Trailer....

...So now need a new 4x4. I hope to be getting the big Rice Beaufort and have 2 big horses so I know its got to have a hefty tow capacity. ....

I was looking at Sorento's but only the auto has a 3500kg tow capacity

2 big horses probably 1200 kgs max
Unladen weight of trailer probably 1000 max

That means looking for a towing capacity of 2500+

In case you were wondering .... the towing capacity does not have to be equal to or more than the trailer MAM .... towing capacity refers to actual weight being towed not maximum possible weight


B+E licence rules apply

 

[PercyMum]

If you buy a SWB you will find it much easier to manouvre the trailer. It's like turning an artic. You need more space when you have LWB vehicle.

If you have a choice, go for the highest towing capability you can afford. There is nothing worse than finding you are running out of power or braking ability when towing horses.

LWB every time.
Stability of towing vehicle is much increased due to distance between front and rear wheels.

Ooh confusion!! I am pretty good at manouvring trailers but have only done it with a Discovery or a Fourtrak, which are both quite short. The stability issue is very important to me as I have had a box snake on me and it was the most terrifying thing ever. Me = shaking mess, Horses = totally unconcerned and kept munching hay...

The new Discovery is longer than the old one (I think?) but shorter than a 110. Would this be a good compromise? I don't want to make an expensive mistake hence all the Q's...

 

[PercyMum]

2 big horses probably 1200 kgs max
Unladen weight of trailer probably 1000 max

That means looking for a towing capacity of 2500+

In case you were wondering .... the towing capacity does not have to be equal to or more than the trailer MAM .... towing capacity refers to actual weight being towed not maximum possible weight


B+E licence rules apply

Thanks ROG. I have my B+E so I'm safe on that front. I'd like max towing capacity as it gives me redundancy in the sytem and hopefully means that the vehicle won't be struggling at any stage.

 

[little_critter]

I have a Defender 110, it's my first ever towning vehicle but I seem to be getting along ok.
I've also been told that shorter vehicles are easier to manouvre, but with some practice I'm doing ok.
(Scored a point for feminism at the weekend when OH couldn't park the trailer and asked me to do it)
The plan when we bough ours was go for something with NO gadgets or electrical gizmo's because on Landrovers they are he first thing to break!

 

[sbloom]

I towed two big horses in a Pegasus (probably not quite as heavy as a Rice) and my SWB 1993 Pajero towed it perfectly, including up and down very steep hills on the north downs in Kent.

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

The 2005ish Landrovers (disco or defender) have a lot of electronics, you would need a much older one to avoid that side of things. However I do find the defenders excellent to tow with esp the LWB 110s as they dont even notice the trailer/horses, they pull it with such ease. But if you are used to SWB then you might want to stick with that and if you are looking for a bit more comfort go for a Disco

 

[g16]

my parents have a long wheel base 110. i manouver it around the drive, reverse in etc (no trailer license). as a car i much preferred the old discovery we had (1994) it was much more comfy to drive in and had more leg room in the back. the defender is a pain to turn but is doable. the lock is pretty rubbish so have to go back and forward a bit more! saying that my parents love it, brilliant in the snow, great to shove 4 sandy dogs in the back aswell as bales of hay etc. has had a few things go wrong but not massively (brother fixes it himself). Landrovers are great cars though and do o on forever. our disco had 300 on the clock and reckoned to be clocked twice (imported from uk to ireland) before we scrapped it.

 

[ROG]

I'd like max towing capacity as it gives me redundancy in the sytem and hopefully means that the vehicle won't be struggling at any stage.

http://www.cuddles.abelgratis.net/kerbweights.htm
It'll take a little time but you could go through all the makes in the link above and scroll down the right column (max towing weight)