Small tow car advice?

Once you have towed you will realise just how important it is that your tow vehicle has enough gravitas to control the trailer in all situations. If you ever found yourself in the terrifying situation in which the trailer takes over and becomes the tail wagging the dog you (and your horse) would bitterly regret opting for a lightweight tow car.

That can happen even with a solid tow vehicle. This happened recently not too far away. Astonishingly the driver of the tow vehicle and all the cattle in the trailer survived and were not too badly hurt, and were ferried home by other farmers.

NB Those photos are another shout out for the sturdiness of Ifor Williams trailers! The three beef cattle occupants were contained in the overturned trailer.

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teapot said:
The other thing(s) to seriously consider if do you want a pony while you're at unviersity? What are you studying? What are your plans for uni hols (which are long, the terms are short), do you even know if you'll get parking for said car on campus - a lot of universities don't offer it to first years!
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This has been THOROUGHLY planned! The trailer and car are just the finishing touch!
 
I am not a student but I am looking at smaller, low insurance towing cars atm and a mk2 Tiguan is my current choice. 2.0lt, 4WD, 2.2t tow capacity, 19~ish insurance group depending on model. You can get a high milage one (NI) for 7-8k ish.

Have also looked at Nissan X-Trails that have a 2t towing capacity on the 1.6lt diesel (because it's massive) and insurance group 17. I can't find one in good condition with 4WD locally but that was my second choice. Cheaper than the Tiguans if you can get one. Test drove one today and felt like driving a bus, so it was a no from me, but you might be braver!

Hyundai Tuscon aren't expensive, Ford Kuga will do the job but both also felt too big for me.
 
dottylottie said:
also, if you put the reg into the parker’s website for specs, when you scroll down it will give you the braked towing capacity! always check the vin plate when you view the vehicle, but it’s a good starting point for each make/model!
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Good point Dottylottie. We did that for my new car, along with all the specs it gives the max braked towing weight as well as the BHP and torque.

Don't forget to take into account the cost of a tow bar too OP. I've been quoted everything between £350 - £580 for a simple flange 7 pin towbar. Pays to shop around.

I was hoping to remove the tow bar from my old tow car the 2010 insignia that my partner now has and get a mechanic to put it on the newer car but of course mine is a Mark II and my old car is a Mark I so it can't be done 🤨😬
 
rabatsa said:
Do not forget that traffic enforcers go on the rated amount of a trailer, loaded or unloaded when judging capacity. You may only be towing a small pony but if the box is rated for larger horses and it is above the MAM for the tow car, it will not be legal.
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No that’s a common misconception it actually goes by the actual weight you are towing, and the combined weight of both
horseandcountry.tv

The ultimate guide to towing a trailer safely – and legally

The ultimate guide to towing a trailer safely – and legally
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What about an older Nissan or Kia? Diesel with at least 2.0l engine. Their compact SUV types. Trailer would need to be the lighter Cheval Liberte, Bateson Derby / Deauville, Ifor 401/503…
 
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