Towing a 2 pony trailer with an Audi A3?

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pengjn

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Hi there,

I'm considering getting a 2 place Ifor Williams trailer to transport two polo ponies in. I have an Audi A3 2.0 TDI with DSG automatic gearbox and I have used this to tow my glider trailer up to Scotland, which went absolutely fine. The glider + trailer weigh around 700kg but I'm not sure what two ponies + trailer weigh. Any ideas?

The car has 235 lb of torque and the spec says it has a towing capacity of 1700kg braked on 8% gradient or 720kg unbraked.

Does anyone have any idea about the likely weight of the ponies + trailer. Also, does anyone have any experience towing horses with an Audi A3 2.0 TDI?

Yours,
Jim
 
How big are the ponies?

IW trailers weigh just under 1000kg, so you've only got 700kgs to mess about with.

I'd have thought unless they were tiny shetlands, the answer will be no.

It's only the weights that really matter by law, the power of the car etc has no bearing on it.
 
I would have thought no where near heavy enough. It sounds like a very small dog with a very big tail. Mind you I saw a woman in a golf towing an Ivor williams with two horses on board. People don't realise how dangerous it is if the car isn't heavy enough or powerful enough. Its a bit different towing a glider to a horse trailer. Gliders are lower to the ground and more aero dynamic than a horse box which has a live and moveable cargo.
 
Yes I have tried very unsuccesfully - all I can say is DON'T DO IT!!

I once tried to tow my 440kg pony with my husbands A3 estate as my 4WD broke down the morning I had a lesson booked. It was fine on the flat but going uphill on a lane I met a lorry coming down & had to stop to give way as it was very narrow. Unfortunately the car could not get going again on the uphill and to cut a long & very stressful story short the lorry driver had to help me unload my horse and hold her whilst I unhitched the trailer and drove the car up the hill onto the flat.

Luckily I wasn't far from the yard so I had to lead my horse back and then return to hitch the trailer back up and tow it home empty. I wasn't popular locally because the trailer was left on a very narrow lane for some time whilst it all got sorted out.

The lorry driver summed it up by saying "unfortunately love your car's just not man enough for the job".

I haven't looked into towing limits etc etc but all I can say to you is I really wouldn't do it unless you have to.
 
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