Most economical towing car.

L

littlen

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 August 2006
Messages
830
Visit site
Hi everyone,
It's proberbly been asked a million times before but can anyone reccomend a reasonably priced (max 9k) towing car to tow 2 ponies of 14.2hh in something like an ifor trailer.

Most importantly I'm looking for something economical as it will be my main car and I have a big commute. I am looking for something with a minimum of 40mpg on average, is this possible?!

Also, anyone who has done the towing test. How much did it cost you to do the test including fees etc?
How hard was it?

Thanks
 
Don't know what a normal one costs as I have a collection car version but when towing my ifor I used a Landy Defender. My defender is the 50th anniversary special edition one. :D
 
littlen said:
Hi everyone,
It's proberbly been asked a million times before but can anyone reccomend a reasonably priced (max 9k) towing car to tow 2 ponies of 14.2hh in something like an ifor trailer.

Most importantly I'm looking for something economical as it will be my main car and I have a big commute. I am looking for something with a minimum of 40mpg on average, is this possible?!

Also, anyone who has done the towing test. How much did it cost you to do the test including fees etc?
How hard was it?

Thanks
Click to expand...

What surfaces do you need to tow on?
How far do you need to tow on those surfaces?

What is the total weight you need to load into the trailer?
 
I have a 2004 Range Rover that is a superb towing car. You might pick up a similar aged one for less than £9k now - not sure. I use it for commuting to work but the secret weapon is that it is LPG converted to makes it more like 30-35mpg to run rather than 20mpg!

Top tip - if you buy LPG always get a specialist to check out the type of conversion you have. Cheap systems are false economy!
 
ROG said:
What surfaces do you need to tow on?
How far do you need to tow on those surfaces?

What is the total weight you need to load into the trailer?
Click to expand...

I have the same question ROG. In my case-

What surfaces do you need to tow on?
Road only, no off road towing

How far do you need to tow on those surfaces?
Most journeys would be less than 100 km each way

What is the total weight you need to load into the trailer
500kg horse only in IW505
 
Thanks everyone! I think the land rovers may be too expensive to run as I do a long motorway commute (40 miles/day!)

I was looking at the vw tiguan and ford kuga models?

In answer to the questions...

What is the total weight you need to load into the trailer?
Not sure, two 14.2hh ponies at proberbly 500k each? Plus trailer weight which would be something like a 505 ish.

What surfaces do you need to tow on?
Mainly road but some farm tracks which are quite steep (gravel type)

How far do you need to tow on those surfaces?
Not very far off road but all journeys will be most likley less than 10 miles.
 
For the steep gravel track then a 4x4 car needed IMO
With approx. 2000 weight of trailer and load then I suggest a vehicle with a towing capacity of at least 2100 although you might just get away with 2000
As the weight needing to be towed is so high then B+E will be needed and I will post about that in a post below



To the member with only 1 x 500 horse then you might get away with down plating the HB505 to 1500 but that means having a vehicle with a max GVW of 2000 for B only licence towing
A HB401/403 down plated to as little as 1300 (really on the limit) would give more options for a B towing vehicle
Road only means a 4x4 is not needed
 
Costs for B+E vary but the best training is often found with LGV training schools that do B+E

One near me does 3 x half days with test on day 3 for about £650 all inclusive


SUPERVISING A B+E LEARNER
In April 2010 new rules were introduced for those supervising certain learner drivers but they only affected those supervising VOCATIONAL categories such as C1 C1+E D1 & D1+E where the supervising driver had those categories given to them for free when they passed a pre 1997 car test.
They do not affect those with a pre 1997 B+E licence who wish to supervise a B+E learner.
All B licence holders have B+E provisional on the paper part of their licence and can tow an empty or loaded trailer on all roads including motorways.
The usual rules apply when a learner is driving -
The supervising driver must be aged over 21
The supervising driver must have held a B+E licence for at least 3 years
L plates must be fitted to the front of the vehicle and the rear of the trailer
Correct insurance for a B+E learner

The B+E test
No medical or theory test required
Read a number plate from a certain distance
VIDEO - Show Me Tell Me Questions VIDEO - Show Me Tell Me Questions - usually 5
The next three can be in any order:-
VIDEO - Reversing Exercise VIDEO - Reversing Exercise - done in test centre grounds if test conducted from practical test centre - some tests are now being done from training school grounds
DSA REVERSING TEST AREA DIAGRAM DSA REVERSING TEST AREA DIAGRAM
VIDEO - Uncouple/couple up VIDEO - Uncouple/couple up - done in test centre grounds if test conducted from practical test centre - some tests are now being done from training school grounds
One hour road drive - includes the independent drive and is done virtually the same as the basic car test

The trailer must now be loaded with 600 kgs of sand bags or a 1000 kgs water IBC for the test so most companies are now training with that weight in the trailer
https://www.gov.uk/new-laden-testing-rules-for-driving-test-vehicles

Well explained here Well explained here

DISCLAIMER - I have no connection to any companies which may be featured in those videos

This is interesting BUT NOT RECOMMENDED – a B licence towing set up can be presented for the B+E test but L plates must be used for the test. So you can train yourself, go to test by yourself, fit L plates, do the test, then, pass or fail, remove L plates and drive away by yourself.
DSA B+E TEST AND VEHICLE/TRAILER REQUIREMENTS DSA B+E TEST AND VEHICLE/TRAILER REQUIREMENTS
Remember that the required 600 kgs of sand bags or 1 x 1000 IBC filled with water will be required in the trailer and the load must be secure
 
Last edited:
My Land Rover Freelander is getting a tow bar in July to pull my horses and fella driving until I save up for my trailer test.

ROG - does braked weight mean you can tow xxxxkg if the trailer you're pulling has brakes??? So mine can pull 1800kg of weight if my trailer has it's own braking system??
 
Whoopit said:
My Land Rover Freelander is getting a tow bar in July to pull my horses and fella driving until I save up for my trailer test.

ROG - does braked weight mean you can tow xxxxkg if the trailer you're pulling has brakes??? So mine can pull 1800kg of weight if my trailer has it's own braking system??
Click to expand...


With a 1800 max braked weight for the vehicle the trailer and its load can be an actual weight of 1800 max

Any trailer over 750 kgs plated MAM must by law have over-run brakes as a minimum
 
littlen said:
Thanks everyone! I think the land rovers may be too expensive to run as I do a long motorway commute (40 miles/day!)

I was looking at the vw tiguan and ford kuga models?

In answer to the questions...

What is the total weight you need to load into the trailer?
Not sure, two 14.2hh ponies at proberbly 500k each? Plus trailer weight which would be something like a 505 ish.
Click to expand...

What build are the ponies? 500kg is quite a lot

I've had a kuga, it would do 40mpg on long runs if you were trying to be very economical, wouldn't do that on shorter runs though.

It was ok to tow, never once got stuck and I had it through the wet summer a couple of years back. It's not a proper 4x4 though and we did do a lot of towing with it that seemed to age it quicker than it should. I was put off getting another because said vehicle caught fire while we were towing, luckily we managed to get the trailer unhitched and pulled back in time but car and everything inside was lost. Probably just one of those things and not a reflection of the vehicle but it's still gives me the heebie jeebies when I drive past that point in the road.

200 miles is not a lot, work out your cost per mile before dismissing anything as you may be surprised on what little difference it makes a week
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top