pulling trailer with an automatic

[catbasket]

I am thinking of changing my Landrover Discovery for a Freelander and have been advised that an automatic will be fine for pulling my trailer. Does anyone have experience of automatics and trailers please?

 

[Luci07]

My jeep is automatic and pulls very well. Are you pulling a very light trailer and load as have never heard good things about how much a freelancer can actually pull?

 

[wildflower]

All my towers have been automatic, landrover disco, and renault espace.........no probs very easy and smooth .Would rather tow with an automatic than manual

 

[be positive]

One of my liveries has an automatic and tows a 510 with it, it pulls really well and gives a smoother ride than I expected, if anything better than a manual as the driver can never really be in the wrong gear.

 

[ROG]

WELCOME

check out some of the links in my signature below

Many find towing with autos is better than towing with manuals

 

[Suelin]

Yes I do and I really like the auto. Makes driving much smoother for the horses at the back. Easier on hills as well because the engine knows where it needs to be so you don't have to think about it.

Don't like the auto in icy weather though. No clutch is a problem, you need to slow a car on the engine rather than the brake and you can't in the auto. At least I can't work out how to do it.

 

[Skippys Mum]

I tow with an automatic Pajero and its fab. I have the lower ratio gears available if I need them and I have successfully pulled a fully laden LWB transit out a bog with no bother .

Like Luci07 though I would be wary of towing with a Freelander. In fact, I wouldnt tow a horse with one. Stick with the Disco!

 

[Goldenstar]

I tow my IF 510 with an automatic rangerover very nice to drive for long distanced its very powerful car (4.2 supercharged ) so I never have the issue say pulling away from a junction on a hill that you can have with automatics who are underpowered for the job they are doing.
I however use a defender for going hunting so the RR does longer summer type trips so I never use for pulling out of deep mud I am sure it probally would but then I would have to clean it before OH saw!!!

 

[catbasket]

No! My horse is 17 hh and my trailer is quite big. However, I don't go very far and not very often. I have seen lots of Freelanders pulling trailers at events though so am interested in what people think

 

[brucethegypsycob]

a freelander will struggle - i was well warned off them - you`d be better off with a shogun or jeep cherokee if you want a similar size. I love towing with an automatic - so much smoother. At the moment i drive a cherokee and tow horsebox with heavyweight gypsy cob and section D - no problem - and we got some really steep hills to go up and down.

 

[catbasket]

Thanks everyone. Sounds like autos are ok but may be I need to stick with the Discovery? However if an Espace can pull one surely . . .

 

[miss_wilson]

I have an automatic jeep grande Cherokee it tows great, so much easier than a manual

 

[PorkChop]

Hiya, I tow with an automatic, it does depend on the vehicle and the smoothness of the gear changes, its great for long journeys.

 

[mynutmeg]

I have an automatic Trooper and it tows beautifully

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Just be aware that automatics can tow less than manuals, although with a Freelander/Disco/Grand Cherokee type, that shouldn't be an issue.

 

[MegaBeast]

Just be aware that automatics can tow less than manuals, although with a Freelander/Disco/Grand Cherokee type, that shouldn't be an issue.

Right on the disco/grand cherokee but very wrong on the freelander as it would be near it's limit! The FL2 is fine to tow one horse with but wouldn't touch the original FL with a barge pole.

I used to tow with a discovery 300tdi manual and now have the td5 automatic. Both more than adequate for the job but the auto is definitely more restful to drive as you haven't got to be rowing the gears.