recommendations for 4X4s

Nothing wrong with Freelanders. The kerbweight is only 80KG less than a Terrano. Mine pulls 1 in an Ifor no bother, and I go up and down a (long) steep hill. Plenty power and (more importantly) brakes. However, if you are maybe going to have 2 then don't get one.

We got a Freely because of where we live. We often get heavy snow in winter so need a 4X4 but also have a long commute to work. This was a happy medium, and I can tow with it. I have a company car but we both work in same sort of area. My main towing vehicle is our dog van - a med wheel base Mercedes sprinter 313CDI. Mountains of power, big&heavy plus designed for carrying heavy weights. It tows brilliantly and not bad on fuel!! The freely is a back up if van otherwise engaged!!!

Anyway, I would go for a Disco if was buying a purely for towing vehicle!
 
I agree that on paper Discoveries are good towing vehicles and an obvious choice. Having driven one (that would be in the price bracket the OP has in mind) I can safely say I wouldn't want one to be my regular vehicle. It's like driving a tank. I can't speak for anyone else, but I found it very underpowered and sluggish.
 
We've had this debate many, many times over.

The 85% kerbweight recommendation was brought in by The Caravan Club. It's not something that anyone towing horses tends to adhere to.

If you look at the kerbweights of even the big Land Rovers, most of them wouldn't be able to tow two horses on the 85% "rule". If the 85% thing was set in stone, there would be no such thing as a two horse trailer because no one would be able to pull one.
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Drivers towing horses tend to pootle along at slower speeds, treating what they are towing as the precious cargo of which all us horse owners believe our horses to be. We don't corner at speed or bomb up the motorway at 80mph with a horse trailer on the back. We can more safely tow at the higher end of our vehicle's towing capacity because of this.
 
I am not sure about that. Horses are an unstable load, unlike a caravan, and with equipment etc. it is hard to stay within the weights in a smaller tow car. Plus you are supposed to drive at a reasonable speed, so need a car with enough weight to withstand braking and not be pushed by the trailer. You do really need weight in a towcar with horses.
 
I don't disagree that you need weight but surely if you couldn't tow above the weight of your vehicle, why do manufacturers state that you can?

No one would say a Discovery isn't up to towing two horses but their kerbweight on the 85% rule would be lower than an Ifor Williams and two 16.2hh horses.

I always thought the 85% recommendation was brought in before the advent of braked trailers anyway. Someone really should explain to me why 2 horse trailers were invented then, because I don't know of any standard 4x4 that could tow an Ifor Williams 510 and two 17.2hh hunters and stick within th 85% recommendation.


For instance, Land Rover Discovery Td5. Kerbweight is 2185kgs but maximum towing capacity is 3500kgs. 85% recommendation means you wouldn't exceed more than 1857kgs. If the trailer is roughly 1000kgs, how is it possible to tow two large hunters? No one on here would ever suggest a Land Rover Discovery isn't up to towing two horses, would they?
 
Yes I agree, and it's why I get so wound up about people slating Feelanders for towing one horse. One Horse and a Freelander is, in the vast majority of cases, less of a percentage of kerbweight than a 'big' 4X4 towing 2 Horses. I'll say this, I've towed with a Disco, Defender, Landcruiser and Shogun...my van is a far better tower than any. That's because its designed for hauling weight....you don't even feel the trailer. It's bigger than the trailer as well so no way is the trailer taking command. HOWEVER.....it's not ideal on wet, muddy grass, often the offered 'car park' BUT has LOADS of storage space!!! 4X4's tow well....but it's not its primariy designed for role. They are just very good at it. Ideally, we'd all have lorries but we don't all have the luxury.

I personally use the 100% rule...as in I'd never tow anything that weighs more than what I'm driving no matter what a manufacturer says. That's just common sense. I've done a lot of towing though, including gliders in trailers which are not the most pleasant (very long and thin but heavy!).
 
Actually wrong, VW Touaregs, Range Rovers and Discos can all tow 2-horse trailers comfortably I believe!

I did see a Defender 90 towing a massive Equitrek at the weekend, which worried me slightly!!!
 
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Actually wrong, VW Touaregs, Range Rovers and Discos can all tow 2-horse trailers comfortably I believe!

I did see a Defender 90 towing a massive Equitrek at the weekend, which worried me slightly!!!

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If you read my post, I'm not actually saying that they can't tow two horses comfortably. (Although I confess I have no idea of the Toureag's limits). I stated that no one would suggest that a TD5 Discovery wasn't up to the task. However, those that still insist on following the 85% Caravan Club recommendation when towing horses will struggle to find a standard 4x4 (ie affordable to the masses) "on paper" that can tow two large horses within those guidelines.
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I tow with a 55 plate Nissan Terrano now, but I have only had the car for a week! Our old Maverick ( M reg) was more than capable of towing two horses in my Ifor Williams 505. We weren't over the maximum towing capacity and the car performed well.


Edited: Having just looked at the kerbweight of a Toureag, it's 2214kgs. Under the so called 85% rule (which again I reiterate I don't believe you have to follow for a braked horse trailer) it can only tow 1881.9kgs. If the trailer is 1000kgs, then again it wouldn't be up to the task of towing two horses as you're only leaving under 450kgs per horse.

You see my point? Even the largest of 4x4's struggle if the driver is intent on following the old Caravan Club rule. In my mind, it's no coincidence that that braked and ubraked trailer limits are so different. For the Toureag there is a 3500kgs braked trailer capacity but just 700kgs for an unbraked. I am convinced the Caravan Club recommendation was first introduced before caravans became "braked trailers".

 
I've actually spoken to Caravan Club about their 85% guide at the end of 2007 when I was asking them about this very point. It's got nothing to do with unbraked trailers. Vehicles have gotten better at towing and trailers are safer now than they used to be, so the 85% limit has risen over the years. However, they do not think it will ever rise about the 85% as in their tests that's when the accidents start to happen. They can't envisage any possible improvement that would raise the 85%. They also felt that 85% was over-generous for horse trailers as their centre of gravity is so much higher than caravans, and the load can also move of its own accord. However, if you took that last bit of advice, you'd never find anything heavy enough to tow! Except towing with a 7.5t lorry which would rather defeat the purpose!!!!

I must admit I thought Touaregs were heavier than that, that's barely heavier than mine! Hey ho.

I know a heck of a lot of people are over the 85% or even over 100%, but I'm afraid it won't be me. Welfare of my horse and other road users is my priority and I will follow expert advice that helps me maximise my chances of towing safely.
 
Funnily enough it was the X-Trail and the Sorento that I was deciding between. In the end I went for the Kia Sorento just as it's a bit heavier and it's better-rated for towing (for the same/similar price). The X-Trail seemed ok though, from eveything I had looked into. Quite lightweight though so not much better than a car for towing.
 
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I did see a Defender 90 towing a massive Equitrek at the weekend, which worried me slightly!!!

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Actually a defender is one of the few vehicles that can tow an equitrek!

Defenders SWB can tow 3.5tons as they are so heavy. Its one reason why I am getting a lorry, as my Kia can only tow 2.8t so a 1.765t 5 Star trailer would only leave capacity for one horse!
 
Bad news I'm afraid - Defender 90's weigh maximum 1,889kg (kerbweight) - which is quite a bit less than the Sorento's 2,148kg, and DEFINITELY not enough to weigh more than a laden Equitrek!! The mind boggles
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Admittedly, the lady I saw was towing very s-l-o-w-l-y so that's good.

And, I'd not want to tow anything too heavy with a SWB anyway due to the noseweight issues! Just because something says it can tow "X" in its specifications doesn't mean it really can in real life!

You're wise getting a lorry - those trailers are seriously heavy! You'd need a lorry just to tow it
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