Towing vehicles: Landrover defender, discovery or?

G

glenruby

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 December 2004
Messages
2,654
Visit site
Right so am probably going to be changing my car in about june of this year. Currently driving a 1.5L car. Am looking at a 4x4 as I will probably have horse by then and hope to have one by Autmn for hunting etc.
However, I do a lot of driving for a living so am looking at 3l or less(preferably). Drive approx 2000miles/mth (minimum).

My jeep of choice would be a commercial Toyota Landcruiser however these dont appear to be easy to come across in the UK (autotrader have 2! advertised) and after the difficulty importing my current car I am reluctant to import again.
Therefore my next choices are landrovers - prefer the Freelander(plus it has a more economic engine) but know they tend to be unreliable and no good for towing. Like driving Discoveries but need opinions on these - the ones i have known have gone on forever. Have driven a Defender a few times and they are growing on me so these are the current favourite - are they up to the job of towing(mostly just the one horse but may occasionally have a pony as well) and how economical are they? Dont like the Xtrail,Isuzu and have had bad experiences with Terrano. Mitsubishi pajeros have a good reputation but would rather have a vehile that is less than 8yrs old..
Opinions please!!
grin.gif
 
freelanders have horrific re-sale value - and I think are underpowered for towing
defender - fab cars, go on for ever, not the most economical or comfortable long distance, but incredibly practical, hard wearing, long lasting and the best off road (although you won't be towing there!!)
discos- you can get some good ones, better on the fuel than defenders, but watch out for high mileagle and rust

we have a old range rover - a 1998 P38 - and it's the best - comfortable and really stable towing vehicle. If you're buying in June, you can get some well priced ones as there is very little market for 4x4 at that time of year. Ours does approx 34 mpg. (manual does approx 2mpg better than the autos but are harder to find.)

Price wise look at Brightwells.co.uk - best place for 4x4s
smile.gif
 
My sister and brother in law are on their 2nd Land rover defender and they love them not good for families as only seats in the front. They dont tow a horse trailer cos we have a lorry, but my Dan does lots of ploughing matches so therefore tows a flat bed beavertail trailer, complete with a tractor and plough on it and seems to have no problems. They get 27 miles to the gallon out of it thats not towing though. They would swear its the best 4x4 going I think they are a bit basic and draughty. They used to have an Isuzu Trooper but the head gasket went when it was only 3 years old.
 
Cool, thats helpful.
I will have a fair amount of off road (fields/farms etc but nothing too rough usually). Im a farm and equine vet so lots of space is paramount and needs to be tough. My current car is 1.5L so good on fuel but if i want to tow next winter il need a 4x4 obviously. Also a 4x4 would be good for these wintery conditions - my car didnt handle the snow on farm roads so well last week (did more 360degree spins than i ever fancy doing in my lifetime!)

Would absolutely love a Toyota lancruiser but am currently importing my car and after spending almost 9 weeks with nothing but hassle id rather not go through it again!)
 
T landcruisers are the best - look at what they all drive in the desert - but not sure you'd want the fuel consumption ...... it's fine over there where they grow their own oil!!!!
 
We drive a Ford Ranger and I have to say it's brilliant. It's quite ecconomical and powerful enough to tow a 505 carrying 2 horses. It's also very cheap to tax!
 
Yes was wondering about the Cherkee too. A vet I used to see practice with owned one and loved it. Would deend on price though. Probably have about £10,000 to spend inc VAT.
 
Look and look at autotrader - for £10K you will get an awful lot of Jeep!! - 2 things to look out for 1. do not get a Jeep towbar - I was quoted @£500 for one that you can take off ?! - had one fitted (permanent) by a specialist tow bar company for £240. Ditto for servicing - mine goes to the local garage - Jeeps servicing is horrendous. Mine is a great war horse, tows really well and the only reason I will have to sell is to get a younger version for work..but in 4 years and a LOT of miles, it has been extremely reliable (and I am highly appreciative with this weather too!) Last thing - the Grand (long wheel base) and ordinary Jeep both have the same MTB - ie can tow the same weight,.
 
I've got a Disco and I love it, seriously love it
grin.gif
It does exactly what it says on the tin, tows without any problems what so ever, is like a mobile skip at times but scrubs up well and looks very smart when needed. I get about 450-500 miles to a tank of diesel, approx £80 to fill up.

I won't be changing it......unless hubby decides to buy me a Range Rover Sport!!
 
Jeep servicing is quite expensive, but thank goodness its only once a year! A shorter wheelbase is easier for reversing with a trailer and you can get good 2nd hand jeeps these days only a few years old.

Always have a tow bar fitted by an expert company. The company I use does not recommend taking a tow bar off and fitting it to another vehicle. An absolute no no.

Jeeps are great work horses and brilliant.
 
My dad tows our trailer with a defender. I've had a drive and I can definately say its not a "ladies" car!! The clutch is so heavy I get cramp - but he loves it and it tows fab. We've also got a diahatsu fourtrak which is excellent for towing. Both have the turning circles of a boat (lol) and use lots of fuel. I'd love a short wheel base shogun if I was changing my car, or a newer fourtrak if they still made them!

Happy car hunting
 
Oooh love the T Landcruisers

I have a LWB Pajero and it can pull up to 3.5tonne. Brilliant workhorse and they are quite cheap.
 
I had a 3 door disco but had to chnge it as I couldnt fit my baby car seat in to the back so I HAD to get another disco and LOVE it, I managed to get it at a really good price, and when I do change it, it will only be because i want a newer one (mine is P reg)

My friend had an isuzu but changed to a discovery. I know someone who had a daihtsu and changed to a dicovery. there are 5 of us on our yard that have them.

so basically I am a landrover discovery fan. cant beat them (and as someone said on top gear ~~~ will tow the factory it was made in lol)

Can be a bit costly on fuel maybe you could get a gas converted one? if you do that many miles per month, dont know if this affects performance etc im no mechanic.
 
For doing 2000 miles a month I would be wary of getting any 4x4... I do similar mileage in a honda accord and that works out at about 11p a mile for fuel, I also have a disco for towing and that uses up about 40p a mile in fuel.

Depending on what you have to spend it may be cheaper to get a cheap 4x4 either disco or defender and then get a car for your longer journeys.
 
We have a 'Y' plate Discovery...I absolutely LOVE it. As 'Tricksy' said though, I'd only swap it for a RR Sport lol.

It tows with no problems, so powerful, it's automatic so you can just concentrate on the towing completely without worrying about clutch etc. I'd never have anything else after a Disco.
I've got four children, two horses and a dog, I keep bags of feed in there, rugs..and get a weeks shopping in it fully loaded with all the kids!
A gas conversion will take up space in the boot, unless you can get a company to fit the tank UNDER the car?

Honestly, the Disco is perfect for us.
 
Ive just got a Jeep cherokee 3.7L auto. Ive got a 2002 one, 70,000 miles and full service history for 3.5k. Its really quite smart with heated leather seats ect but an absolute godsend in this weather!
I live up a really steep, mud track (i live in the woods
tongue.gif
) which is off a narrow, hilly, treacherous lane. I honestly am so happy I have this car! Ive been leaving everyone else flailing in this weather and cruising past them up the icy, snowey hills!
It can tow 2,500kg I think so I would happily tow one horse and a trailer with it. Yes very very pleased and its not huge like a disco so I dont feel like im driving a tank!

I must say though I have noticed it drink the fuel
crazy.gif
, for long road distances I would have something less juicy and more suited to that type of work like a saloon car. If I was you id get a cheaper jeep or 4x4 like mine for local journeys, bad conditions, towing ect and then spend the rest on another car for the commuting.
 
I love my Disco too...cheap to buy and insure.....not too bad on the diesel and will transport just about anything/everything in the boot. Tows fab.

Its fabulousness is only impaired by the scrape down the side where I mis-judged the gateposts
blush.gif
 
Hmmm.
Getting a jeep as well as a car wont work as my insurance currently works out v high (reckon from quotes Id pay min £1100 for jeep insurance on a 2.7L). Current quotes for my car are about £800. So to tax and insure two would be excessive.
I do however get paid mileage (40p/mile for the first 10k miles, less after that) so that would cover a fair bit of it.
Its a while away yet I guess as wont bother getting a 4x4 it until I get a horse over here. Will definitely be changing my car in October regardless though as it will probably have about 130k miles on the clock by then.
Thanks for the help, you've given me lots to think about!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top