My YO has one - an old 'L' reg. It has been going for ages and he has used it for towing with no problems but I have never owned or driven one so can't speak from experience!
we had one, i think in was 1990 or 1991, it was pretty dier when it came to towing and just couldnt cope, ok for normal driving though. however grandparents have an old G reg that is absolutly amazing, tows anything and everything, even coped with me learning to drive round the field in it!
really cant recommend the old ones enough when it comes to towing!
They are amazing, like tanks! Mine was a J reg 3.2 V8 petrol model, got for £1500 and went like a dream. All mod cons, you know heated seats etc! Could get 8 bales of hay/straw in it too. I tow a loaded equitrek so it definately had guts. Got a fantastic turning circle too. I loved my She-Beast!
Our old J reg would pull a house down, never needs much for MOT's and not bad on fuel on the 2.8 diesel engine. goes through every kind of foul weather thrown at it, floods, snow, mud... you name it. Can't fault ours.
I have had 3 over the years, the big diesels are great for towing, but I did have an old smaller engined petrol one that struggled - and yes, you can get a week's supply of hay or straw in the back
I have an l reg lwb diesel and I love it. It is quite thirsty either driving around or towing but it is nice to drive. Tows brilliantly. The only prob is that the chassis is rotting and I have been told that is common with troopers-whether that is true or not I don't know!
hth
never had a problem with rot in mine - except the last which, in a previous life, must have been kept by the seaside - it was rusting all over the place, so I scrapped it last autumn.
Ours is a R reg, long wheelbase and it tows brilliantly. Two big heavyweight hunter in the trailer up the steepest of hills no problem! My mum off roads alot picking up with the shoot and she loves trundling around in it!
Its a 3.1 diesel engine, but i have heard that the newer 3.0 diesel engines have no end of problems.
We started off with a 2.8 SWB 1988 model, loved it so much we upgraded to a 3.1 LWD 1996 model (about 7 years ago). DH does a regular oil change and we have no trouble and tow for miles! We love our Trooper!
I have a N reg 3.1 TD SWB auto. Friend who has a disco was impressed with it's towing. I've never towed with anything else but seems fine so far. OH who takes it shooting says it's the best off-road.
Later ones are very pokey the 3.0 litre 16 valve not the 3.1 but do have a tendency to blow up around 70000 miles or so so be careful if buying one with that sort of milage. I use to to a 16 foot ifor williams flatbed with 100 bales of hay on no problem at all
Do'nt have a trooper but have vauxhall frontera sport which has isuzu 2.5 diesel engine in it brillant I tow a horsebox most days with no problems. most people say the frontera is --it, but I can only speak of what I have found, and I have had 2 now both have been cheap and cheerful and have done the job.