Vehicle to tow a trailer ?

Fiona_C

Fiona_C

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Any advice welcomed.

Currently looking to buy a trailer (thats the easy part), but need to sell our car which is a peugeot estate and look for something else.

Local garage have recommended a Kia Sportage, has anyone experienced driving/pulling with one? How well do they tow, are they expensive to run etc etc ??

Hubby looking on auto trader tonight to see what we can find...jumps up and down, might actually get out and about now.....
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What's your budget?

I have a Kia Sorento - the Sportage is like towing with a freelander and it really only suitable for ponies / single trailers (1.6 tons I think versus the Sorento's 2.8t)

However if you are looking at newish I'd go for a hard topped pick up - the tax is only £115!!!
 
Safety to yourself, your horses and other road users is the major concern.

There have been numersous posts on vehicles suitable for pulling a trailer. You need to firstly know the fully loaded weight of the trailer and then get a vehicle that is suitable to tow the trailer with all the horses etc on board.

In reality you are going to need a fairly heavy vehicle such as a Long Wheel Base Land Rover Defender or Discovery a Four Track or a Heavy duty Mitsubishi.

The smaller vehicles are completly unsuitable and it would be dangerous to tow with them.
 
Budget, hmmm still working on that one and blackmailing hubby
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Yes I know about the towing weights, hence why we are selling existing car, we've been looking and taking into consideration the different vehicles seen and their ability to tow with.

Looking at either the Ifor 505 or 510, would more than likely only be carrying 1 horse, but on occasions taking daughters' pony too.

Thank you for replies so far. Much appreciated.
 
Get a Ford Galaxy! We had to get a new car when we got our Ifor trailer, but didn't want a 4X4 because of the fuel expence. The galaxy tows with ease, has loads of room and is about as econical as you can get (when it comes to a towing vehicle). Plus, it's a 7-seater, so there's load of room for horsey stuff in the back!

Lou. X
 
I had a Sportage, and it definitely isn't the vehicle for towing a horse and trailer. Suggest your local garage has a look at the Kia website. I could tow a small caravan or empty trailer with it.
I really like the look of the Sorento as a tow vehicle, as with all the Kias you get a lot of car for your money.
 
Or maybe Isuzu Trooper 2.8 TD - when I towed that's what I used. It was a beast, quite old but really did the job. I was so good that it got stolen...
 
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Budget, hmmm still working on that one and blackmailing hubby
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Yes I know about the towing weights, hence why we are selling existing car, we've been looking and taking into consideration the different vehicles seen and their ability to tow with.

Looking at either the Ifor 505 or 510, would more than likely only be carrying 1 horse, but on occasions taking daughters' pony too.

Thank you for replies so far. Much appreciated.

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OR you could just leave the big black one at home and travel two ponies (less weight, smaller towing car, less money)
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. *ahem*

Personally, I don't think you'll go far wrong with a landy or a mitsubishi. landies are easier for parts though. I have been told pajeros are good, and cheap, but I havent looked at them so can't be sure on that one... but your farrier uses one
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OR you could just leave the big black one at home and travel two ponies (less weight, smaller towing car, less money)
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. *ahem*

Come on Katy, can you honestly see her leaving the black one at home when the entertainment value is so good when he's at a show!!!

And yes our blacksmith does have one, but he doesn't tow with it!!!

Fee, you need to get the trailer first and then work out all the weights etc unless of course you've bought a landy or a BIG towing vehicle! Wonder if I can convince OH to get a tow bar fitted for you? Then you can pinch his merc! LOL!
 
I wasnt sure...
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. Just knew he had one via the grapevine that is the valley.....


Having never personally seen the big black one at work I can't comment but am sure the entertainment value of Fee doing LR classes in her poncy outfit would be of more entertainment...
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.

anyway, do i know you? should I? as we're from the same area?? lol

ets, that doesnt make sense does it?
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Hubby will not entertain a 4x4, so I can count that out straight away.

Galaxy is looking good or the other Kia, haven't bought anything yet and at this rate never bloomin well will
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Kate you must come see big black beastie at work, or failing that you'll see him at Blaston, we'll be the one rodeoing around the field.....

Again, thanx you to everyone who has given advice.
xx
 
yes and last year it was me he was rodeoing round the arena - no hang on - it was a braking issue!!!! You wont rodeo this year, you've been putting the work in and there is a huge improvement on last year..... he's working nicely coming through from behind and softening into a nice outline as well...... And if you've not got transport, we can always squeeze him in the lorry (and tie him to either partition really tightly to stop him weaving and rocking the lorry from side to side!) JK!!!!
 
Landrover every time, you need at least a 2.5 diesel to tow safely. People think that they are expensive to run, but I put in £60 a month and use it for work as well. Have had the old series 3, now have a discovery and its great
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Hubby will not entertain a 4x4, so I can count that out straight away.

Galaxy is looking good or the other Kia, haven't bought anything yet and at this rate never bloomin well will
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Kate you must come see big black beastie at work, or failing that you'll see him at Blaston, we'll be the one rodeoing around the field.....

Again, thanx you to everyone who has given advice.
xx

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If he doesn't want a conventional 4x4, then the option is possibly a Delica. They are based upon the running gear of the 2.8td shogun so have full 4x4 capability.

If he cuts corners on this aspect, he could put himself and the horses at risk. Pulling a 2 tonne trailer requires a 2 tonne vehicle, and there aren't many on the road this heavy in the regular car lineup

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I have been towing a Ifor 505 with a BMW 320d for one pony. It's legal and it copes - but it's not good. I have just bought a Mitsubishi Shogun - and omg the difference - it feels so much safer and tows so much better. Also with the muddy fields at show grounds a four by four would be so much better. And my tax was only £175 and it hasn't gone up.
 
Don't want to pry, but why won't he consider a 4x4?

I went from a petrol 1.6 fiat brava to a diesel Shogun 2.8 LWB, and the costs haven't been that bad. The petrol is only a few pence per mile more, insurance hardly went up and the tax is the same..... Just incase that helps.
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I used to tow with a Saab estate which is just about the heaviest no 4x4's around and the Shogun feels soooo much better.
 
does any one tow with a 2.0 diesal freelander - got rice trailer and 1 welsh sec d (14.3hh) - have only been rounfd the block - think all is ok weight wise - value any thoughts on this
 
He won't entertain a 4x4 as he says/thinks they cost to much to run/tax/etc etc.

Every vehicle that has been suggested he has poo pooed, he is not a supportive horsey OH and would prefer me not to have them.

Have the feeling I will be staying at home for yet another season, might as well get rid of the horses and take up x=stitching
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dont give up my husband was just like that then he suddenly relented and bought this freelander - i can honestly say that it doesnt cost much more than my petrol fiesta (Truely!!)
Telll him to look on the internet sites about the fuel consumption on them!!
 
Personally I wouldn't have a freelander, heard a lot of bad reports about them for towing
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but different people have different views. My dad has a frontera and that struggled with a trailer towing uphill.

Also considered a 3.5 tonne mini box thing lol, but don't have the £££ for that
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We've looked and looked at fuel consumption/tax/insurance and everything else, I don't think he'll be budged.
 
I have a Mitsubishi Shogun 2.8TD. Brilliant and powerful. I tow a Richardson new model and I had 2 x 17hh in this week and it pulled effortlessly. The discos are good but apparently, they are very thirsty. Go and test drive a few at a garage to give you some idea.
 
Hi I have an Ifor Williams 505 and 15.2hh Welsh CobxTB. The trailer is plenty big enough for him and a freind and shed loads cheaper than 510. as for 4x4 I looked and test drove them all. High end price (Discovery, Shogun, etc) lovely but out of my league. Looked into non 4x4 but more than one horse and no 4 wheel drive not a good idea. I basically Nissan Nivara pickup , Misubihi l200 or Mitsubishi shogun sport (car version of l200). I plumped for the latter having two children and a dog. It is a superb towing vehicle at a great price especially 2nd hand 3/4yr old 30-40k miles £9-10K on top spec model (warrior is good) have a look at auto trader on line fuel econemy is the best around for such a meaty towing vehicle.
 
I don't know what sort of horses you have, but really you need to be looking for something that can tow 2,800kg. 2 x 14.2's is about 800kg plus the weight of the trailer, say 1200kg and you're up at 2,000kg which is the max legal towing weight of a Freelander. Galaxy's tow 1700kg max, Volvo estates (you can pick up an old one for about £500) will tow 1800kg. Good luck in convincing OH - perhaps you need to make out a good "case" to justify what you want! (you never know, it might work!!!)
 
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