Towing vehicles for a trailer - what do you use?

tcarter

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I am considering buying an Ifor Williams trailer next year - but would need to upgrade my car. I don't really want to get a 4x4 - so any advice on alternatives would be great. I will only be towing 1 horse (15hh cob-type).
 
I tow my 15 hand cob but I use a Bateson Derby so I can get away with my Nissan Primera. The Bateson is a great little trailer as long as you are happy with rear unload and can be towed with most large cars.

You do have to be careful with venues - I cannot go to somewhere with a deep rutted and very muddy field with the car, but as I mainly show in summer and the venues I go to have good parking, so far have not had a problem.
 
When looking for a car, consider the kerb weight as well as the towing capacity
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This site will help you out....
http://www.cuddles.abelgratis.net/kerbweights.htm

I agree about Bateson trailers, they are very light, compared with Ifor's.
 
Be very careful about weights. IMO the car needs to be way heavier than then trailer and horse.

Some friends of ours were towing a caravan with a Discovery. They'd put a whole load of food in the caravan, went a little too fast down hill and the whole lot twisted over. If they'd been towing a horse, it would be a dead one now. I hate to be so blunt, but these accidents can and do happen if you get the weight ratios wrong.

I'm hankering after a new Freelander instead of my Discovery, but although on paper it'll tow my Ifor 510 and horse, it's not worth the risk.

A Discovery tows 3500kg, a Freelander 2000kg. That's a big difference between 2 vehicles.
 
Definitely agree. I have a freelander and 85% of it's kerb weight (recommended max for towing) is 1397kg.

A 510 is 1000kg...just not really enough left for decent sized horse. Is why am looking at Bateson, the 17hh trailer only weighs 840kg.
 
Hi, I tow a 510 with a 16.1 ID and a 16.0 trotter/cob on board with a Shogun 3.2 SWB, its tows them fine only really feel it if ive got the ID and my other 17hh ID in it! Hope that helps xx
 
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