I am looking at getting a veicle to pull a trailer and can't decide but i like the 2.0l vauxhall frontera 4x4 and wondered if this will pull a trailer with a pony?
Need to take account the weight of the car, trailer and pony. Google kerb weights for the car and you can see. Recommended that the trailer weight and pony does not overtake the car kerb weight.
Hubby says is down to the weight of the car, which is one of the reasons 4x4s are good. A friend tows a wooden trailer with one horse and one pony with a 2.2 Frontera. He also says diesel are better because they've got more low down grunt, though it makes them slower (I now drive everywhere at 60 since changing to a Discovery diesel).
Fronteras are nice to drive, but have the turning circle of the average ocean going liner lol. Friend's is reasonable on fuel.
Found this on the web:
Weights & Towing Information:
Kerbweight 1702 kgs
85% of kerbweight: 1447 kgs 95% of Kerbweight: 1617 kgs
So it's saying if you stay within the 85% safety rule you can tow up to 1447 kgs. You can of course tow up to the max. towing weight but that's never advisable.
I have a 4 x 4 Land Rover Freelander which I will be selling soon because it really struggles to pull our trailer with one horse in. Two, it just dies!
Anita
x
well I towed a pony and then later a 16hh horse in a Ivor Williams 505 with my 4x4 .....quite happily..and sometimes I had a friends 14.2 hh in the trailer as well. I did do the calculations.
The Frontera is really not a good vehicle in any independent review, and in any case you should really look for a 2.5 litre diesel 4x4. A 2.0 litre will be hopelessly underpowered. The small 4x4s (like Freelanders) are too lightweight to be safe towing vehicles. On paper they may be within the legal limit towing 85% of the kerbweight if you have a lightweight trailer and only one pony, but come to a steep hill on a wet and windy day and you'll regret it.
we have a 3.2L frontera that tows like a dream but personally wouldn't tow with anything smaller. (although it is an extreme gas gusseling monster). got it for £2000 earlier this year. see piccy below
A Vauxhall Frontera can legally pull 2000kg to 2500kg depending on the model.
If you are pulling a couple of horses then a 2ltr engine might struggle, but fronteras are a cheap truck to buy.
Please note that the 85% rule is only a guide and not the law.