Recommend me a towing combination!

[HufflyPuffly]

I've just passed my towing test, and the plan was to just use my Mitsubishi Outlander (09 plate, 2t tow capacity, and I love the car) with a lightweight trailer (thinking the Cheval liberty touring, unladen weight 850kg).

However, I'm pondering changing my car to increase tow capacity and therefore broaden my trailer options, as I will be on occasion towing two medium sized horses (15.2hh and 15.3hh, approx. combined weight of 1t).

The SsangYong Rexton I'm toying with, it is a bit ugly (sorry I'm shallow ) but cheaper to buy and run, though reviews are either really great or really bad! I like the Shoguns and the VW Touareg but both are so expensive to buy and run... It seems if I go for a more mainstream tow car I either need to up my car funds (so less trailer funds) or go for an older car than I currently have and potentially risk more maintenance bills...

So seasoned shoppers what would be you car + trailer combo pick, for value for money, tow capacity and economical running costs, with around 10k to buy both?

 

[Michen]

I’d look for one of the Tiguans with a higher capacity. Some are 2.2-2.5

 

[HufflyPuffly]

I think I was thinking if I'm going to the effort of changing car, then to go for something closer to a 3t limit to make it worth it if you see what I mean?

I did test drive a Tiguan before buying the Outlander and did like it...

 

[ihatework]

What are you thinking trailer wise then, one of those bigger ones with living (because that would eat a good chunk into your budget without changing the car).

If the outlander is solid and reliable then I’d make do with that + normal trailer for a while (granted you can only tow one), then upgrade just the car when you need to.

Buying older secondhand cars is such a minefield, hang onto the good ones!

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Trailer, I quite fancy something with a good tack-locker after my 3.5t with hay everywhere lol! Don't need living as I don't have it now, I'd just have far more choice trailer wise if I have more tow capacity, even the tack locker isn't a deal breaker if the car has a good boot!

If I stick with the Outlander I'd need a very lightweight trailer as I do need to take the both of them sometimes (so the Cheval or a Batesman really).

 

[Michen]

Trailer, I quite fancy something with a good tack-locker after my 3.5t with hay everywhere lol! Don't need living as I don't have it now, I'd just have far more choice trailer wise if I have more tow capacity, even the tack locker isn't a deal breaker if the car has a good boot!

If I stick with the Outlander I'd need a very lightweight trailer as I do need to take the both of them sometimes (so the Cheval or a Batesman really).

Yep I tow two with my tiguan but my guys plus trailer are 1800kg with a towing limit of 2000kg. It's always felt great (albiet I only do it very occasioanlly) but I really mucked up the other week towing in the pitch black with two horses and a car full of stuff. I'd put a load of tack and wood pellets in the boot and think I altered the hitch height, resulting in the trailer feeling like it was being tugged back. It's the only time I've ever had a "bad" experience and I really wished I was in a meaty 4x4...

When I'm taking two more regularly I will switch to a toureg. But I hate the equitrek trailers, wouldn't pay any amount of money for them, so will be sticking with my ifor 505.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I used to tow my two with a Lexus which only had a 2t towing limit and I found it power limiting so swapped to a SWB Shogun with a 3t capacity and the difference is amazing. Absolutely no effort getting up hills and for a diesel it cruises very smoothly. Being a SWB it is cheap to tax as it’s classed as a van and the space behind the front seats is massive. I have an IW 506 which is about 900kg unladen.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Being underpowered is my concern as we do have some good hills in Wales...

I'd need to change car for an ifor as I think 900kg unladen is too close to the limit for me, but it would mean I could potentially spend far less on the trailer...

 

[FestiveG]

I have had my Rexton for a year and absolutely love it! It replaced a very elderly, unreliable disco and it is doing great. It had 40 miles on the clock, but had been registered the year before, so I got a great deal and they have a 5 or 7 year warranty.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I’ve been pondering with this for ages. I’d probably need a 510 or 511 which are around a tonne. I have two 16.2hh. It will have to be my main vehicle and I want something as economical as possible and not too long as I’ve not got a big parking area. Touareg is top of my list but they really hold their value. Also Volvo XC90. Ssangyong Rexton are cheaper but I wondered about ageing bodywork. One I looked at the MOT had lots of welding advisories. I know VW last well. I’ve currently got a 15yr old Golf.

 

[Sealine]

I tow my 511 with my 2017 Rexton which I've had for approx 18 months (it was an ex demo vehicle so I got it for a good price) and it's great. Previously I had a 2008 Kia Sorento (diesel auto) which was a great towing car and still going strong with 120k miles on the clock when I traded it in. A friend has a 2005 Kia Sorento (manual petrol) which is still running well too.

ETA: Both my Rexton and my old Kia have 3.5t towing capacity but I think the manual petrol Kia towing capacity is a bit lower but I don't know exact figures.

 

[Michen]

Thanks for the nudge HP with this thread as it’s reminded me I need to work our what went wrong before I move horses again!!

 

[HeyMich]

I have a Ford Ranger with a 3.5t towing capacity, and tow an Equitrek Space Treka, which is lovely to tow, has plenty of space for 2 and has a brilliant tack room too. I love my towing set up, and really wouldn't want to change any part of it!

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Oh I'm so indecisive!

There's a good price Rexton for sale (2012 reg, but MOT history there's nothing alarming) and I've just found a cheap lightweight trailer (Indespension monarque, not made any more) that could tide me over with current car....

Is the Ford Ranger not massively long? Feels daft to end up with a hugely big car for just me lol.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Next conundrum, I've just discovered you can only have a detachable tow bar with the Outlanders due to the boot... Detachable makes me nervous, am I being daft?

 

[Michen]

Next conundrum, I've just discovered you can only have a detachable tow bar with the Outlanders due to the boot... Detachable makes me nervous, am I being daft?

I’ve had a detachable before and no issues.

 

[Annagain]

Oh I'm so indecisive!

There's a good price Rexton for sale (2012 reg, but MOT history there's nothing alarming) and I've just found a cheap lightweight trailer (Indespension monarque, not made any more) that could tide me over with current car....

Is the Ford Ranger not massively long? Feels daft to end up with a hugely big car for just me lol.

Yes they are long. I know of a few people with pick up style 4x4s (not necessarily Rangers but similar styles) who have had issues towing with them too as they are very light on the back axle and can jackknife too easily as a result.

If you've found a decent Monarque trailer, I'd buy that and hang on with the Outlander for now. That's 800kg so with the horses weighing around 1000kg you'll be fine - especially if it's not that often. I'd then save and buy something with a bigger capacity in a couple of years.

If towing is your main concern, I don't think you can beat a Land Rover of some description - the only issue is reliability and cost but if you go for an older one with a really decent service history that should cover both bases. I've had lots of Land Rovers and only one (a Defender 110) has been a problem and that turned out to be a fault with the computer rather than the parts it kept saying had failed. All the others (I've towed with - 2 90s, a 110, a Freelander, 2 Discoveries - a 2 and a 3 - and a Range Rover) have been great. I've had the current one 7 years and it's only been in the garage twice other than routine servicing. One was fairly minor, the other less so but they were both when the car was still under warranty.

I've towed with a few other cars as well and like for like, the Land Rovers are definitely the best for towing in my opinion. People complain about Freelanders (or Discovery Sports as they are now) not towing much but I think people compare them to the RR or the Discovery rather than others in the small 4x4 class. They are much better in my opinion than the others (CRV, Tiguan and X-Trail) I've driven.

 

[Annagain]

Next conundrum, I've just discovered you can only have a detachable tow bar with the Outlanders due to the boot... Detachable makes me nervous, am I being daft?

Hmm, that changes things I think. I'm sure 99% of detachables are fine but I've read a couple of horror stories where they've become detached. I'm not sure I'd want to risk it.
https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/horse-trailer-detachable-towbars-452406
https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/new...s-horror-as-towbar-fails-on-roundabout-707762
https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/horse-cut-free-runaway-trailer-towbar-snaps-666248
https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/new...ake-riders-horror-towbar-separates-car-702879

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Thanks for the replies, lots to think about!

Currently the box is only being used lightly as with lockdowns a plenty we've not been out much, when we do go out I only take one unless were going somewhere mum wants to come. So this year I've probably taken two a handful of times, if the next 12 months is like this then I think the Outlander should be fine.

Anything to look out for on the Monarque trailer?

The rational, logical part of me says detachable tow bars must be safe but yes I've read the horror stories too...

 

[TheHairyOne]

My friend has the big Kia as a lower budget option. Tows an ifor with our 2 horses (16.3 and 16.1 warmblood types) in it fine. She loves it as a day to day car as well.

 

[Littlewills]

Thanks for the replies, lots to think about!

Currently the box is only being used lightly as with lockdowns a plenty we've not been out much, when we do go out I only take one unless were going somewhere mum wants to come. So this year I've probably taken two a handful of times, if the next 12 months is like this then I think the Outlander should be fine.

Anything to look out for on the Monarque trailer?

The rational, logical part of me says detachable tow bars must be safe but yes I've read the horror stories too...

Dont do it. They arent designed for towing trailers with horses in. There is no benefit to having one and while they may not go wrong often, its not something I would want to risk

 

[ROG]

I've just passed my towing test,

 

[EventingMum]

A pick-up is fairly long but also great for storage space for hay and tack etc whilst keeping the front clean. I don't really notice the extra length at all and our Ford Ranger tows really well plus it has lots of nice extras so is very comfortable. We had a HiLux before and it was also very good to tow with. Both feel really steady on the road and cope with hills, mud etc without any issues.