What do you TOW with?! Please...

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EquestrianFairy

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Im looking to swap my bug for a 4x4 and i just want to have some idea of what people tow with...

Thankyou.

ETS: I would like a smaller 4x4 (a short wheel based one)

Any reccommendations for these?
 
Surely you could tow WITH your BUG , my mini cooper does it just fine ....
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Ok serious contribution to the thread - We were/are buying a disco to tow with
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I'll probably get shot down for this but.....a Freelander!....I only tow one horse though.

Cue lots of horror stories re towing with Freelanders...
 
I don't have transport at the mo. I did tow with a Mercedes ML up until this time last year. It was the best tower ever and I'd have one again in a flash! X
 
Land Rover Discovery 300Tdi (2.5 litre diesel)

I would never risk towing anything bigger than a camping trailer behind a baby 4x4 like a Freelander, it's a disaster waiting to happen.
 
I have a Vauxhall Monterey same spec as the ISUZU trooper. Great towing machines, real work horses, very powerful.

Cheaper to buy than the ISUZU just because of the name.

Good motor
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I would never risk towing anything bigger than a camping trailer behind a baby 4x4 like a Freelander, it's a disaster waiting to happen.

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Having had an accident towing with a brand new very powerful discovery a couple of years bacl, I wouldn't tow with anything ever again
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Isuzu Trooper 2.8 TDI... until some low-life nicked it.
Freelanders... just scroll down a bit

http://www.cuddles.abelgratis.net/landrover.htm

85% (or even 100%) rules are not "rules" but guidelines which have no substance in law. They are designed to ensure that the outfit will be stable (all other factors being equal). Exceeding this figure, whilst not illegal in itself, COULD lead to prosecution if the driver was stopped because of (say) instability or after an accident as there is a requirement on the driver to ensure the safety of his vehicle in the Construction and Use Regulations.
Usually a manufacturer will quote a tow weight which is far greater than the mass of the vehicle. Generally this is based on the total train weight (car + caravan) which can be started on a 12% gradient.
Where this weight (or any other e.g. nose weight) is given as lower by the manufacturer the user ignores it at his peril. Insurance could well be void after an accident - worse, the illegal combination could cause the accident if the vehicle is unable to handle it.
The big problem we have in the UK is the traffic density, especially on Motorways, which has caravans in close proximity to both cars and large goods vehicles at speed. The vortices encountered can cause trailers to wander if not loaded correctly and matched to the towing vehicle.
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To start another conversation - what's the most ridiculous towing combination you have ever seen (and don't say freelander!)? I was at a show last summer and saw a 2 horse rice trailer hitched up to a Peugeot 306!
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There is a local lady to me that tows a double trailer with her golf.
It makes me cringe whenever I see her.
 
I tow with my Mums LWB automatic shogun its heaven.

For a smaller vehicle I'd recomend a Nissan Terrano they are diddy but real work horses and reasonably priced too, I think they tow 2 ton comfortably a few friends have them and love them.
 
Volvo XC90-tows well but is very difficult to reverse/park with due to awkward visibility.( and that is not just my poor driving other people who try for me say the same thing)
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Whatever you get, I'd recommend a diesel auto for towing. We use Discos, but that is personal preference. Any full blown 4x4 will do the job, and if you want a SWB there is the Shogun or Terrano (and their Japanese/American equivalents). The drawback of the SWB is there is little boot space, and they can be a bit more skittish on the road. Just takes getting used to!
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Normally tow with a Landrover Defender 110, which is fantastic for towing - however I've got a confession to make - the Landy's been off the road for a couple of months while we are trying to source a reconditioned diff for the back axle (currently haven't got the funds for a brand new one) - and we have towed the trailer (very lightweight, and with one horse only) to a couple of very local dressage competitions using our old 2litre Citroen BX. It actually tows really well, but I still wouldn't recommend it for obvious reasons. Am certainly looking forward to getting the Lanrover back on the road before my first endurance ride of the year in 3 weeks' time.
 
Depends what you want to tow - if you are looking for a IW510 with two horses in then I wouldn't recommend a SWB 4x4 - will cope fine but not as stable to hold the car if, god forbid, the trailer swings out behind you.

I use a 2.5TD Jeep Cherokee and that tows 510 with 2 horses in fine. I used to have a 2.5TD Landrover Disco before that.

Oh and please don't get a Freelander
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They are not designed to tow that kind of weight (no matter what the car salesman tells you
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Worst combination I saw was a 505 with a 16.2 mediumweight ISH towed by a Golf
 
Lol- its ok freelanders (as nice as they are) are off my list..

I was looking ideally for a Mitsubishi Shogun (SWB)
Not sure what trailer yet as if i invest in a shogun i'll have to rent trailers as i wont be able to afford my own for a while.
 
I use to have a Freelander when I had an old battered 505 to tow and never had a problem with it.

But, when I got my big girl I needed a 510 and went for a car that has 3.5 tonne tow limit.

I got a Ssangyong Rexton. They are the same as a Merc ML ( the ML's are made in the Ssangyong factory), but obvioulsy don't carry the Merc price tag!

I love it!
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Fantastic to tow with, brilliant in the snow, ice, loads of room, comfy and not bad on the fuel for a big beast!
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My current beast is a 2.5Diesal Cheeroke. I had a 4l Grande Cheeroke before that was heaven and loved to pieces but it was a alcholic. Love towing with a Defender 90 (my Dad has a new one that he points out I will inherit - its lovely!!)

Also towed with a Pajero and its was also fine.
 
we tow with a Shogun Sport, LWB.

it is absolutely HUGE but we have always found that the smaller 4x4's have never really coped with a fully sized eventer, IW 510 and all of the luggage we haul round.

we had quite a few before settling on the Mitzi and they all struggled up big hills with only one horse- now we don't really notice we have a horse on the back!
 
Jeep cherokee - I love my 4x4. It takes my 770 kg horse, a 511 trailer and there is enough left over for a 500 kg horse.

Its worth looking into the breaked towing capacity before committing yourself. Also, get a towing vehicle with a short wheel base, it makes reversing so much easier.
 
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