What 4x4 Question Please...

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bandit

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Hello

I currently have the smallest car in the world, plus a horse box which is partitioned for 4 horses and doesn't have living. It used to be once upon a time, a Polo Box for the Army - shipping ponies to and from Germany! Anyway, I used to travel up to 3 horses, and then one by one, it's whittled itself down to just my mare. She's only small, and I can't really justify a lorry I can't even sleep in for 1 horse!

So - this year I am going to trade in my everso tiny car and lorry, for a 4x4 and trailer.

Advice is therefore needed on what 4x4 to go for. In an ideal world I'd buy a brand new Rangie, or Landie, but can't afford it, so looking at 2nd hand ones. I really do want some sort of Land Rover, be it a Disco or Defender, and just wanted advice on what is best.

I don't have a massive budget either...

There again - I'd consider a swap for someone looking for a reliable lorry but one without living!

Thanks
Bx
 
We had a Disco It was fab at towing 2 big ones & loved it to bits!

We sold it to have a lorry converted
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be careful

at the moment you have a lorry that you say is reliable and owes you nothing and a small car that is cheap to run

You are proposing to change that economical setup for a 4x4 that costs the earth to run AND will be subject very soon to road tax in the order of £2000 per year plus a very nickable item called a trailer

I think personally you are making a bad financial decision AND being "not green" by buying a chelsea tractor for everyday use
 
We have a Landie defender.And it is a 2.5 TDI and it tows like a tank.It does lack abit of comfort but is great for chucking bales of hay and feed in the back!.We had a Disco before but it was a 4ltr V8 petrol with gas conversion it towed like a dream but to be honest it was a complete dog and constantly broke down and cost a shed full of money to keep it on the road but would have a disco again but the TDI version.
 
Why dont you buy a diesel car, something with a 2.5ltr will have the power to pull the trailer no problem. Only think is it might getting a bit stuck if it rains whilst at shows.

Seeing as that post makes hardly any sence ill go back in the corner now lol
 
[ QUOTE ]
Why dont you buy a diesel car, something with a 2.5ltr will have the power to pull the trailer no problem. Only think is it might getting a bit stuck if it rains whilst at shows.

Seeing as that post makes hardly any sence ill go back in the corner now lol

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL bless ya!

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Shoguns are supposed to be really good for towing.
 
My old Discovery tdi works great for pulling 1 or 2 horses.
I'll try to get another when this one dies (it's already got 300'000+km = 185'000miles)
 
Shoguns are good for towing but you'd be better going for the import version which is a pajero. They are usually cheaper and have less miles and wear for thier age (because of car laws in japan blah blah) Auto's are better for towing, the smoother gear change will give your horse a more comfortable ride although auto's are a little less echonomical on fuel. I wouldn't use one for everday driving though i'd keep your small cheap car and just get a 4x4 to tow with.

If money was no object i'd say a landcrusier would be the best to tow with they are lovely cars.

What trailer are you thinking of getting?
 
Thanks for the replies...

reason for selling is that hte lorry gets used maybe once / week at most! It is a very reliable vehicle however as it's not used a great deal can be subject to laying idle for days on end which isn't good for such a vehicle.

The idea of getting the combo of a jeep / trailer is that there isn't an engine in a trailer (have secure parking @ yard), and therefore if it's not used from one week to the next then it's not really going to suffer.

I'd need a 4x4 due to the ground at shows etc. A normal car just won't make it in some!!!

I walk to work and go to the yard once / day, and don't travel miles either.

What I can't get around my head with the present government is why they don't allow 'working vehicles' some compensation when they are required? Why should I be penalised for swapping 2 vehicles to just 1??

Cheers guys..

Bx
 
I would go for a diesel auto Disco especially if it has to double as your everyday vehicle. I had an old 200TDI and now have a not quite so old 3.9V8. Love the V8 and as its on LPG its not as expensive to run as it might be. Pulls a trailer with two horses really well but it can be a pain having to plan stops for LPG on a longer journey. Next time I think it will be back to diesel but maybe uprate the engine managment chip for a little more ooomph when towing. Loads of Discos about so look long and hard and make sure they come with FULL service history. Hope this helps.
 
I have a Discovery Diesel Auto and it tows fab , very pleased with it and I have my elderly but perfectly working rice trailer.

But if I were setting up froms cratch again I would now go for a cheeper to run car (I do lots of miles each week) and one of the Transit van type lorries they do now. Apparently they can cope with sitting about a lot more than the big lorries.

Just to throw another thought at you
grin.gif
 
Ok so i'll give you my words of wisdom. Have had many ( and i mean many ) towing vehicles and kept trading them in till I found the one I really liked and have ended up with my lovely Nissan Terrano it tows like a dream is reliable (appart from today but just a minor hitch!!!) and has the comfort of a car. Have had pajeors, land rovers, range rovers, some large engined cars and none live up to my lovely terrano!!
 
The Disco 2.5 Tdi appears to be the vehicle of choice for trailer towing. I havejust been through the same decision making process as Im changing the Pajero this spring and want a Disco. I dont want to tow, my boys are just too big to go comfortably in a trailer but Ive had so much good advice from owners and mechanics on the subject.

The pre K/L reg Tdi Discos have more torque, after that they were taken over by BMW who uprated the engine which means that from M onwards you get more speed on the road but less actual towing power in low gears....more lickety split but less grunt. Its about this time that the ECU was fitted (engine management system) so if you are looking at a newer one just bear in mind that something very small going wrong could leave you with no car....best to ask about the ECU or get it checked if you can.

The 300 series are good but watch the gearbox, the TD4 is excellent but the Td5 was described to me by 3 people as 'cr*p'!!

Looks like you and I will be shopping together!
 
Oh spans - wicked advice....

I'm somewhere between a rock and a hard place about making htis decision - was going to do it last year, and never did!

i don't do many miles in my car each week but i do love it, it's v reliable and cheap to run! the lorry is also reliable but i don't actually need or will make use of it fully - as in I have 1 small horse, and a vehicle designed to be a hunt / polo lorry!!

If (as I plan) event with BE this year, I want to travel in a more comfortable vehicle - I suffer a seriously bad back - and the lorry isn't good for me to drive (mix of gear box position and the enormous steering wheel). The distances are also an issue because a 4x4 must be more comfy to drive than the lorry.

so - perhaps we'd keep in touch with our ventures this year!

And by the way - what exactly does this wonderful labour government plan for 4x4 used by people for what they are designed for!?

Bx
 
I dont think any of us are well equipped to second guess this blasted government so Im just going to go ahead anyway and bugger the consequences.

If I could get away with a 'normal' car with 4WD abilities (like the Suburu) I would go that route but I must have the ground clearance and the pulling power in low gears purely to get me through a bad winter and load up with copious amounts of stuff from the feed merchants!

I will keep you updated and if anything interesting turns up I shall let you know!
 
We have tried several two cars, including two Toyota Landcruisers and a Jeep, and nothing comes close to Land Rovers. They may not be the most reliable car in the world, but they are so plentiful and established that parts are easily available and cheap. Do take time looking and get one that has been really well looked after. They are fab tow cars, you have great ground clearance, loads of torque (in a diesel), they are lovely to be inside and most importantly for me, they are permanent four wheel drive. Some other 4x4s are rear wheel drive only when on the road, and can be a bit skittish in the wet. Landies are a tried and tested formula, and it makes me laugh round here because at any show, 90% of the car park comprises Ifor Williams trailers hitched to Discoveries!
 
Ive had 2 Daihatsu Fourtrak 2.8 and they have both been fantastic, one new one and one quite old - both totally reliable and brilliant for towing and or leisure.
I had an Ivor Williams also.

My parents have had Discoverys for over 10 years and having towed with both felt that the Daihatsu was far better on pullability.
 
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