Tow estate or pickup?

OldNag

OldNag

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I am looking to get a trailer. Will be towing 2 ponies, combined weight c. 550kg plus paraphernalia.

Whatever I tow with will be my everyday car. I had been thinking a subaru estate or similar but am toying with the idea of a pickup.

I won't have a huge budget (c. £3k) but fortunately my daily mileage is not bad if that helps. I realise a pickup will have added bonus of easily transporting hay etc.

Anyone here use a pickup for everyday car ... and conversely, anyone using a Forester or similar for towing? I am ancient so no Licence restrictions ;-)
 
We tow with a pickup and it is used as his everyday car too (I do a huge mileage) it works well for us. Obviously maintenance is a bit more than with a car but that would be the same with any 4x4. Fuel isn't bad for a 4x4. We have a snug top on the flat bed so our load is protected from the weather. Load space and low tax (it is classed as a van) are the big advantages. The disadvantages are parking and manoeuvrability, the long wheel base is good for towing but bad for the turning circle.

Also think carefully about load space and what kind of cover you have on the flatbed. A low cover or tonneau is very restrictive so you might want a high back. They often aren't as secure as a hatchback boot, but can be a huge advantage if you have dogs as you can leave the back open for air without compromising the security of the cab.
 
Father in law has a crew cab pickup with a low cover it's a mitsubishi. It's really plush and driveable. Plus basically a car. His has a leather interior and is a semi best car.
I've also had a forester AWD. I loved it. On a similar level to a landcruiser (have now, also worth a look). You just can't break them, they laugh in the face of poor servicing. They are forgiving and capable in towing situations. I know multiple landcruisers heading towards 300k. They cope with anything short of quicksand. Have headed up and down hills in them on black ice. The visibility in the forester was much better than a pickup which may apply more in car type usage. And they have a tight turning circle. Forester was cheapest on tyres.
Personally, whichever you're doing I would definitely go japanese.
We have a landrover pickup but it needs a pretty extreme situation to be bettering the landcruiser on useability.
It may just be a personal observation but mine have all been cloth interiors and they have been disgusting after being on the farm. It may also be the dog/ straw/ animals combo. No-one will ever want a lift from you.
A bit of a jumble there!
 
Thanks both.

Decisions, decisions.

We had a Forester years ago and it was awesome in bad weather. But I never towed in it.

Landcruiser is a thought. They are pretty much indestructible aren't they.

Pickup is tempting. Am not put off by it being disgusting inside if it's been on a farm ... you should see my current car, it needs full on fumigating. No-one ever asks for a lift if they aren't horsey.
 
I drive a L200 as a main car, its one with a hard top cover on the back and a plastic liner in the base, its so easy to sweep out any rubbish and excellent for bales of hay etc. If I keep a light foot on the pedal I can get pretty good mpg out of it, certainly not costly enough for me to begrudge filling it up but boy you do know if you've put your foot down!

It is a decidedly agricultural drive though, you can hear a lot of outside noise through the doors and its not the smoothest drive especially if you like to go fast.

Its made me rethink my journeys and timings a bit because its not the easiest vehicle to park (its LWB) so I try to avoid going to the supermarket etc when I know its busy.

I don't tow with it but would be happy to

What I would say is that it has just had an annual service and a couple of new tyres and the bill was £1200
 
I've just sold my Forester (52 plate). Lovely car and so reliable but used petrol like it was going out of fashion. The towing capacity isn't great - somehwere around 1500 kg I believe so you would be pretty close with a trailer and a weight of 500 ish kg. Now tow with a Diesel 2.5 Jeep Cherokee - much better fuel consumption. Use it a fair amount around town and its superb to tow with (2800 kg).
 
Double_choc_lab said:
I've just sold my Forester (52 plate). Lovely car and so reliable but used petrol like it was going out of fashion. The towing capacity isn't great - somehwere around 1500 kg I believe so you would be pretty close with a trailer and a weight of 500 ish kg. Now tow with a Diesel 2.5 Jeep Cherokee - much better fuel consumption. Use it a fair amount around town and its superb to tow with (2800 kg).
Click to expand...

Might have to rethink... I thought the tow capacity was around 2000kg...
Back to the drawing board!!!
Will double check on the capacity. They really are fab cars.
 
OldNag said:
Might have to rethink... I thought the tow capacity was around 2000kg...
Back to the drawing board!!!
Will double check on the capacity. They really are fab cars.
Click to expand...

There's always the outback.
They could pull the wall off a house. I know there was a bit of flack over the foresters bizarrely low towing capacity esp for 2014.
If we keep going I'm sure eventually we can convince you into a wrx!
 
We had a Defender 110 pick up and my OH much prefers towing with the Isuzu Trooper now as it is not such a long way away from the trailer behind.

I do wonder whether the length of the 'outfit' gave a bouncier ride for the horses too.
 
We used to have a Nissan Navara and unless the pick up bit was loaded up the ride was terrible, really bouncy. We have an estate car now and it's lovely to drive.

I haven't actually towed with either but as a car the estate is far more practical.
 
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