Truck to pull two horses in an Ifor 511

[billylula]

We had a Navara but it had a catastrophic meltdown after 4 years so reluctant to get another. My partner drives it as an everyday car (we are very rural).

In the market for a new tow vehicle with about 20k to spend. Liking the look of the Ford Ranger, but wondered what others would recommend?

 

[billylula]

Just to add that we event both horses so have a huge amount of kit which adds weight. Can't even think about a 3.5 lorry and gave no space to park a 7.5.

 

[billylula]

*have

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

My friend just bought the ranger a new one and she really likes it for towing she takes 2 horses in her trailer both about 16h and it tows them easy.

 

[Britestar]

Isuzu D Max. Pulls no problem at all.

 

[Barton Bounty]

L200 easy peasy, wouldn't even know it was towing

 

[Gerilew]

I tow 511 with two big boys with Mercedes M Class 320 don't even know yr towing

 

[Landcruiser]

Another vote for the L200.

 

[94lunagem]

Hilux. Used to manage a big WB and a ShireX in a 511 no bother.

Mines 16 years old now and I’ve not compared recently, but it always used to have the best turning circle of similar vehicles.

 

[EventingMum]

Ford Ranger, my son is on his 4th one and does a huge mileage in them, current one is at 190K, he's have both manual and auto and different sizes of engines with no problems. I have a 2017 3.2 auto and it tows really well, I would probably go for the larger engine if possible. The beauty of Rangers is they are significantly cheaper to service than other makes and parts are readily available as many are the same as Transit parts. A full service at a Ford garage currently costs less than our Ssangyongs, Mitsubishi and Toyota 4x4s did between 1995 and 2017! To be fair I think our Hilux was probably not a fair representation of them in general as we had clutch problems with it which don't seem common - it needed replaced at 20k miles and always gave off a burning smell when reversing a trailer. I don't think it was our driving as we have never had to replace a clutch in any other vehicles we have owned despite doing much higher mileages in them.

 

[billylula]

Truck shop told husband that 3.2 not necessary- but not sure how much they know about towing horses!!

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

FORD - Fix Or Repair Daily... proceed with caution

My vote would be for the Hilux or L200, more toward the Hilux. It's what I would go for if I could afford it

 

[nutjob]

Love my Hilux. It tows my Cheval Liberte minimax with 2 large horses and enough stuff to go away to a camp no problem. I've got a truckman top on it which can be locked so there's plenty of secure space for stuff.

 

[Breather]

Toyota Hilux is my recommendation. We have an 11 year old one. 230,000 miles to date. Never missed a beat.

 

[Follysmum]

We had ford ranger and regularly towed 2 horses with 511.
Great at towing

 

[EventingMum]

Truck shop told husband that 3.2 not necessary- but not sure how much they know about towing horses!!

In theory the smaller engine should be ok, I've only towed one when my son had a 2.2 (or may have been 2.5?). I always think the bigger engine = less strain. Obviously the bigger engine means less fuel consumption but my son hasn't found it as bad as he feared.

 

[dixie]

Ssangyong Rexton or Musso. Both tow that effortlessly.

 

[Timelyattraction]

Hilux 100%

 

[Lilly-Mayspookatbags]

Amarok or Landrover . My Amarok was remapped to give extra but a standard would do fine. I got 37mpg on a normal day then about 28mpg towing.

 

[Carol Singing Dawg]

I've always had Mitsubishi's, but since they've pulled out of the UK, getting replacement parts can take a long time. This will be my last one, thinking of a Hilux next.

 

[tda]

I have a HiLux and it tows easily, but I think the towing weight is 2800kgs, was ok for me with two 500 kgs ponies in an Ifor Williams HB505 from memory the Isuzu is 3500kgs, I think the Ford ranger is the same, and also some land rover, I.e. the defender but you have to check the individual models ..so check you horse weights and unladen trailer weight

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

On my third Ford Ranger Wildtrack..would definitely recommend.

 

[thatsnotmyname]

I am a bit obsessive over towing vehicles.

100% a hilux if money no object.
Old defender - unreal. (Had one!)
Had to swap to auto because I’m a cripple.

L200 but newer models aren’t as gutsy, but can tow 2 in a 511 with all eventing gear no bother

ssanyong - more limited servicing/maintenance options

Ford - newer models prone to injector issues.

Discos - do you want a new engine every week? You’re actually just lucky if this doesn’t happen to you.
TD5 forever!!

Anything LR - I absolutely love, but they are a bit shit let’s be honest. If it’s not got a TD5 or a 300/200tdi which puts you at old end of market, it’s not worth buying and maintaining.

Navara - again, weak plus plus chassis issues.

Landcruiser - absolutely!

I am also in the can’t afford 3.5, no space for 7.5.
Need to have a vehicle that transports and also a daily.

 

[SibeliusMB]

I loved my 2008 Range Rover Sport TDV8 3.6L diesel for towing. Took two 16.2hh horses, an Equi-trek, and people with lots of kit like it all wasn't even there. Brilliant engine.

...Complete LUNATIC of a truck everywhere else, though. Only owned it for 18 months and had multiple big ticket repairs that made it completely not worth it. Clearly, the owners who had it before had never properly cared for it, which only made it more of a spaz.

If the Hilux has the 3.5T tow capacity, I would definitely spring for that if you can find a used one in good condition within your budget.

 

[Caol Ila]

I am a bit obsessive over towing vehicles.

100% a hilux if money no object.
Old defender - unreal. (Had one!)
Had to swap to auto because I’m a cripple.

L200 but newer models aren’t as gutsy, but can tow 2 in a 511 with all eventing gear no bother

ssanyong - more limited servicing/maintenance options

Ford - newer models prone to injector issues.

Discos - do you want a new engine every week? You’re actually just lucky if this doesn’t happen to you.
TD5 forever!!

Anything LR - I absolutely love, but they are a bit shit let’s be honest. If it’s not got a TD5 or a 300/200tdi which puts you at old end of market, it’s not worth buying and maintaining.

Navara - again, weak plus plus chassis issues.

Landcruiser - absolutely!

I am also in the can’t afford 3.5, no space for 7.5.
Need to have a vehicle that transports and also a daily.

Can you explain the issues with the Navarra are in more detail?

OH and I test drove some trucks when we thought his car was written off. The insurance company ended up not writing off said car, so we didn't end up buying a truck or anything, but we often talk about it when the time comes to replace one of our vehicles. We drove a Navarra, a Ranger, and a Hilux, and the Navarra was the nicest to drive, plus it has a bed that's just long enough for short people (us) to camp in. The other trucks are missing a few inches that make truck camping trickier.

If we did buy a truck, we were thinking about Navarras. What are the problems?

 

[Britestar]

Pals OH had a Navarra from new.

In the 18 months he had it, it spend over 9 months in the garage with problems. Complete lemon.

He got rid and has an isuzu now.

 

[LEC]

Does the Touareg in truck version not tow as not seen it mentioned?

Some of the ones mentioned above look a bit light in the engine for towing two and you will kill the engine off. I tow two with 3l V6 Touareg or 3.2l disco and don’t think I would want less….

 

[thatsnotmyname]

Can you explain the issues with the Navarra are in more detail?

OH and I test drove some trucks when we thought his car was written off. The insurance company ended up not writing off said car, so we didn't end up buying a truck or anything, but we often talk about it when the time comes to replace one of our vehicles. We drove a Navarra, a Ranger, and a Hilux, and the Navarra was the nicest to drive, plus it has a bed that's just long enough for short people (us) to camp in. The other trucks are missing a few inches that make truck camping trickier.

If we did buy a truck, we were thinking about Navarras. What are the problems?

Google Nissan navara chassis snap.
Basically the bed falls off.
Down to corrosion.
You might be ok with a brand new one if they have fixed the issue on chassis rails.

 

[billylula]

Apparently the newish 2 litre Ford Ranger pulls 3.5 tonnes.

 

[billylula]

The Navara cooling system went after 4 years - not sure of the details but it cost 12k to fix (we didn't bother). Nice to drive but we had warning light after warning light