towing with a car?

[siennamiller]

which car could pull an ifor 505 (is that the small one) and a 16hh horse.
I have a trooper at the mo which is great but need to downsize to something cheaper to run.
thanks

 

[conniegirl]

not many cars can do it legaly or safely and those that can do it legaly cant safely.

 

[PaddyMonty]

Volvo 245 used to tow perfectly. Heavy, long wheel base and low end grunt to spare.

They just dont make em like they used to.

 

[Morrigan_Lady]

Any decent estate car 2 litre or over would do the job.
Id go for a Mondea Turbo Deseil if I was you, or maybe a passat, something like that.
I tow my 505 with a Grand Vitara and it does a grand job.

 

[Twiglet]

One of the Subaru cars is meant to be a good tower, but I'm not sure they'd be any cheaper to run!

 

[siennamiller]

Thanks everyone, lots of good ideas. What about a ford focus diesel estate?
I am assuming I caold only tow one horse with a car, couldn't take friend 15hh boy as well?
xx

 

[Twiglet]

I don't think so on the Focus, or towing two with any car really......think it'd be well overweight. But I'm no expert!

 

[OWLIE185]

Cars should not be used for towing horse trailers. You need a heavy and powerfull four wheel drive such as a Range Rover

 

[Morrigan_Lady]

I know some one thats got a Mondeo Estate 2 litre TDI and she tows an Ifor 510 with her big mare and her daughters pony in it and goes really well.

 

[hollyzippo]

I'd stick with the trooper if you want to take 2. Check with manufacturers but I'd have thought focus estate ok with one, should have weights on their web site. 2 litre may struggle up hills tho!

I have seen people tow 2 with a 306 1.4! Doesnt mean its legal!!!

 

[Alibear]

Used to tow that set up with a Volvo 1.8 ltr estate , it is legal and within weight.

Also possibly look at the newer 4x4 cars (that are cars rather than off roaders ) basically and good estate car should be up to it and diesels may be better than petrol but mine was a petrol .

 

[barkinghorse]

I would stick to the trooper!
Down sizing to a smaller engined car may not be so ecconomical!
Jo

 

[brighteyes]

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/1536924/an/0/page/12#1536924

I'd bump it but I'm not sure how - look at this thread

 

[lizzie_liz]

stick with the trooper, if u have the citation could you downsize to the duty? but don't really know much apart from parents love towing with our trooper

 

[siennamiller]

yay. OH says we can keep a trooper but get a slightly newer one as I feel safer in it (after tosser crashing into me in feb-in any other car I would have been hospitalised! It was still written off tho)
It is handy for when he needs to pick up bands gear etc
Thanks for all your advice everyone ( and sorry

)

 

[goeslikestink]

as the laws have changed no cars should tow horsesboxes go to laws on twoing with dvla --- and towing weights -- only some 4x4 are acceptable -- a trooper is one the rest mentioned are not acceptable

 

[Sooty]

Many cars look fine on paper, but when you add in not only a horse (or two) but tack, water, people etc., then factor in the fact that a horse is not a stable load, you really need as much weight as possible in the tow car. You do not want the trailer pushing the car downhill, and you don't want to be struggling. Also, many showground carparks are muddy and/or rutty, no problem for a larger 4x4.

 

[galaxy]

I used to tow my 14hh pony in my Rice trailer with a Saab 93 estate. The Saab 93 can tow 1600kg, and the weight of my trailer and pony was 1300kg so well within weight. Wouldn't have put anything bigger in the back though and definitly not 2. Saab 95 can tow 1800kg.

Have to say as well, I was very selective about where I went. Although legally I was fine, I did not want to meet any steep hills. I now have a LWB Shogun and feel much happier in that.

 

[Scarlett]

theoretically something like a 2.6 Audi A6 Quattro Avant would do the job, its a heavy big thing, 4 wheel drive and towing weight of just under 2000kg - but it would cost you a small fortune to run and return less MPG than your 4x4...

I doubt any cheaper to run car would be able to do the job legally or safely...