need a jeep to tow 2x700kg 16hhs horses love toyota rav, but heard no goo for towing

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always wnted toyota rav, but was told they are no good for carrying this weight. but is best do you think, i would be using it for short journeys and once a month long distance to shows and sales. wanted a 5 door as hate 3 doors, but think 5 doors look so big, so think i will have to bite my lip and get a 3 door, only for me anyway. need someting reasonable on disiel, how much would it cost to fill a tank and how many miles do you get to a tank. 1st time buyer only have a toyota yaris so know nothing bout owning anything else. i can drive tralier no problem but have been using my dads car when need, now want a jeep or rav. what do you drive and what do you think i need. want something round 2003.
all information needed thanks
 
there is no way a Toyota Rav will be capable of towing 2 horses.
Your horses alone come to 1.4t, so depending on the trailer you have, you need something capable of towing at least 2.3t
If you want a jeep, Grand Cherokee will do it.
 
If you're towing that kind of weights you're going to just have to accept you're going to need to get a 'proper' 4x4. None of the smaller 'soft roader' types like the Rav will be able to put it. Nothing big enough to pull a fully ladened trailer (which 2x 700kg horses most defineitly is!) is going to have 3 doors, nor are they going to be very fuel efficiant.
 
I agree that a Rav won't be able to tow that weight (or even close!), Jeeps 2nd hand may be quite cheap as they a very fuel inefficent and expensive to tax, also Jeeps tend to be huge. Not a fan of them to be honest- Land rover all the way!
 
I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee and I love it! It tows brilliantly you don't even know you have a trailer on there it doesn't feel any different. They're not that big either and much more luxurious than a Discovery which IMO is like driving a tractor!!
I have a 4l petrol which does 18mpg towing and about 20 mpg normally depending on how you drive lol!!
I have a small car that I drive every day but I much prefer Jeepy and use that whenever I can.
I got mine from ebay it was £900 and has gone through the last 2 MOT's straight away without any work needing to be done at all. It's never let me down and we have only had to change the brake pads in the 2 years we've had it, (they cost £40 for all 4)
 
I second the Shogun - you can also get Japanese imports of these - called Pajero's - exactly the same just usually a higher spec, lower mileage and cheaper price !
 
i have a jeep cherokee (the little one not the grand cherokee) which tows 3. tonnes (ifor + two horses).

It only does 30mpg but then my OH's Disco was no better. It has an enormous fuel tank which costs about £90 to fill from completely empty but will then give me about 350-400miles. It's cheaper to buy and to service than a Mitsubishi or Landrover :)
 
My friend used to tow a lightweight trailer with a 15.3hh Anglo Arab in it - she was apparently told it was legal by the Toyota garage in town, but as far as I have been able to find out they were very wrong. It never felt safe, anyway. I have one and I would never tow more than a small pony in it, and only if I really had to (ie. taking it to the vet in an emergency!) It's just not man enough.

I know plenty of people with Grand Cherokees and trailers, even big ones like EquiTreks. No problem.
 
I have a 5 door rav4 (2L) and wouldn't don't dream of towing a trailer with horses - its not capable. Just talk to a trailer supplier. My Rav has been great in the snow though - its been brill.
 
omg thank you all so much, i have learned loads reading all the replys. going have a look at some of the names you mention, maybe a shogun i think. thanks and keep replying if you can think of anything else.
 
If you like the Rav4, have a look at the Hilux Surf or 4-Runner. The 4-Runner was the UK version, the Surf is the Japanese import (cheaper, easier to find!). It's basically a 5 door estate version of the Hilux pick up truck (known for being virtually indestructible).

I LOVE mine. It's huge but doesn't feel like it - you really feel like you're driving a large car. It does 20-25mpg depending on type of journey, costs approx £60 for a tank of diesel which does about 400km (I've got an imported one so speedo is in miles but trip counter and mileage clock are in kilometres). I've got a 3.0 Turbo Diesel Auto - the 2.4 would probably be a bit gutless if towing uphill.
 
Just in case, because I don't think anyone else has said it, if you are a new driver (given that you say your current car is your first) you will need to take your trailer test before you can legally tow a trailer. That's the case for anyone who passed their test after 1 January 1997.
 
Check out the legal issues as well. im sure there is something about the weight and engine power being related to how much weight you can tow.

You cant beat a land rover imo
 
Like others have said the Rav4 will never tow the weight you are requiring.

I had a Discovery (manual) & would pull more or less everything.

I now had a Range Rover which is the same as the Disco for pulling but a much better ride, plus this one is an auto which i feel makes it more easier on the gears.

XxX
 
I borrowed a 5 door rav 4 to take my 12hh pony to vets it only just managed would not have put anything heavier in, since then have bought a nissan terrano its fantastic for towing.
 
hi, thanks for answering. i have been driving for 11 years. 1st time jeep driver well hopefully. my 1st car was a ford fiesta, 2nd car toyota yaris. amazing car love it, but need a jeep for towing, as have to use da's car when i move my horses. keep answering. i am learning alot. thanks
 
OK - so driving for 11 years means you passed your test in 1999?

You will need to take a towing test before you can tow anything.......

Sorry!
 
charm said:
hi, thanks for answering. i have been driving for 11 years. 1st time jeep driver well hopefully. my 1st car was a ford fiesta, 2nd car toyota yaris. amazing car love it, but need a jeep for towing, as have to use da's car when i move my horses. keep answering. i am learning alot. thanks
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So that probably means you are driving your dads car illegally as you won't have the right categories on your licence. You do realise any insurance is then invalid.
 
If you want a small 4x4 that will pull that amount of weight then i'd go for a Daihatsu Fourtrak. Not as fancy as a shogun but it's a bloody good workhorse. I've had two and it pulled fantastic. I live up a very big hill (well my horse does) and it never struggled. My current little horsebox does struggle as I sold my truck and went halves on a box with a friend. I do regret it sometimes as my truck was so powerful. It also did about 28mpg which is better than most 4x4's.

Have a look at them, they are really good and parts are easy to get too.
 
omg are you serious i didnt know that. i was stopped once by police, they where just dipping for disiel mine was fine they looked at my licence but never mentioned anything. maybe they didnt check that. cant believe i didnt know that and was never told. i know loads of people like this.
where do i do this in northern ireland co.down.
 
Well, you COULD tow with it, but if you go down a hill and brake, you migh find you keep going....!

AND you face a fine of about £5,000 or something crazy.....!

You need something decent, VOSA are REALLY stepping up on this one, and you might be suprised to know that it's not the police who would be checking this, it's VOSA....often with police in attendance!

Good luck in your search!

:D
 
ok just told my da, even didnt even know that as he is driving years. do i have to do a load of lessons and written and driving tests?
 
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