Henny
Well-Known Member
Hello, could anyone reccomend something to tow single trailer. It needs to be suitable for every day driving (not too thirsty) I presume I dont need a massive 4x4?
Thanks!
Thanks!
'vehicle' for towing single trailer and 1 mw horse
- Thread starter Henny
- Start date
saz5083
Well-Known Member
Sorry, dont know too much about this but would assume (and feel free to correct me if Im wrong) you could maybe get away with a smaller 4x4? It would depend on the weights involved of course. I wouldnt tow with a car and I run a small 4x4 every day and its not that expensive so if the weights were ok I would go with that.
Sorry if thats not much help
Sorry if thats not much help
Darkly_Dreaming_Dex
Well-Known Member
Subaru Estates are excellent tow cars and the 2 litre is reasonable to run, insure and my one easily tows a rice with one up and its 4 wheel drive for slippery fields.
Theresa_F
Well-Known Member
If the trailer is very light and the horse not that heavy - about the 500 k mark, then you could get away with one of the smaller 4 x 4s or one of the larger cars. I do this with my little cob. I am within the 85% weight limit and the car tows and stops very well.
My car does 40 - 45 mpg, it is a 2 litre turbo diesel so is a
good compromise as a tow vehicle and an everyday car
Disadvantage is that it is not 4 x 4 so I do have to be careful with the venues - no deep muddy fields for me.
Now that we have new horse, are going to have to totally review things as she is a big girl and we will require the biggest trailer and a big 4 x 4 or a small truck.
My car does 40 - 45 mpg, it is a 2 litre turbo diesel so is a
good compromise as a tow vehicle and an everyday car
Disadvantage is that it is not 4 x 4 so I do have to be careful with the venues - no deep muddy fields for me.
Now that we have new horse, are going to have to totally review things as she is a big girl and we will require the biggest trailer and a big 4 x 4 or a small truck.
joeanne
Well-Known Member
if the fuel guzzling is what worries you why not get something bio diesel converted.
theres loads of disco's on ebay at very reasonable prices, and many have this bio conversion (61p a litre compared to 1.3ish for diesel)
theres loads of disco's on ebay at very reasonable prices, and many have this bio conversion (61p a litre compared to 1.3ish for diesel)
joeanne
Well-Known Member
oh and there are lpg convertions too!!!
Baileyhoss
Well-Known Member
You need know how much weight you are towing, for example an unladen single IW403 is 767kg. your horse will be in the region of 500kg, 60kg per person & tack, water & hay could be up to 200kg easily - total approximately 1500kg.
Now bigger rav 4, freelander, honda crv's and the like are normally legal to tow 1500kg, but it will be close and right on the limit and just because the brochure says that you can tow 1500kg, you need to remember that these cars to not have heavy duty clutches & gearboxes and will very quickly be knackered if you are using them for this heavy work regularly.
you will need to check the manufacturers handbooks for exact towing capacities. Most you can find if you google them.
another thing is that these cars are light. You will find that although it can tow 1500kg according to the book, the car itself may only weigh 1300-1500kg, which means you are towing an equal if not heavier weight, then you have the potential of the trailer controling the car if things go wrong. I have seen a heavy trailer overturn a big landrover discovery (not a horsebox thank god), it started snaking, and actually jacknived going down a hill, overtaking, and then over turning the car when it went off the side of the road, not cool at all!.
Whattowcar.com is fab website, it's sponsored by the caravan club and has all of the towing vehicle capacities and reports in it, you just need to put in the approximate weight of trailer, nag & crap and it will tell you what will tow you.
For info i tow with a 2.5l shogun which is gutsy as hell, but I am about to change to a kia sorento, which has a better report & better mileage, you are only talking about towing 300kg less than my double IW505.
F x
Now bigger rav 4, freelander, honda crv's and the like are normally legal to tow 1500kg, but it will be close and right on the limit and just because the brochure says that you can tow 1500kg, you need to remember that these cars to not have heavy duty clutches & gearboxes and will very quickly be knackered if you are using them for this heavy work regularly.
you will need to check the manufacturers handbooks for exact towing capacities. Most you can find if you google them.
another thing is that these cars are light. You will find that although it can tow 1500kg according to the book, the car itself may only weigh 1300-1500kg, which means you are towing an equal if not heavier weight, then you have the potential of the trailer controling the car if things go wrong. I have seen a heavy trailer overturn a big landrover discovery (not a horsebox thank god), it started snaking, and actually jacknived going down a hill, overtaking, and then over turning the car when it went off the side of the road, not cool at all!.
Whattowcar.com is fab website, it's sponsored by the caravan club and has all of the towing vehicle capacities and reports in it, you just need to put in the approximate weight of trailer, nag & crap and it will tell you what will tow you.
For info i tow with a 2.5l shogun which is gutsy as hell, but I am about to change to a kia sorento, which has a better report & better mileage, you are only talking about towing 300kg less than my double IW505.
F x
Henny
Well-Known Member
thanks for all replys, so really I need to see if I can find something that can tow 1500kg and that to be 85% of its weight. I want to be safe!!
Coffee_Bean
Well-Known Member
My mum's car, which is a VW touran has a towing weight of 1500kg. I am trying to persuade dad to let me have a single trailer
My horse is only light and we would be happy to tow with that for short journeys. It is an economical car doing up to 50mpg but usually around 40.