best economy 4x4 - help please

deadhead02

I wanted peoples suggestions for economic cars to tow with but it has altered to a discussion about law on towing!

I have always believed that the basic rule is that the unladen weight of the tow vehicle should exceed the laden weight of the trailer (- unless you were tested after 1997 -) there is advice that the towed vehicle should be no more than 85% of tow car but I think thats all thats necessary to know. I have looked and looked and cannot find anything different. I have emailed Ifor Williams for their take on downgrading a plate to be sure.

There is a site called towing horse trailers (co.uk) that actually says which cars can tow whatever weight you imput which is a great site for those who need to check their cars/trailers :rotfl:

But please - no more on tow weights just experiences of economies with different 4x4s

freakybacon

Back on topic- whats your budget? And how about a previous generation Kia Sorrento? I am sure that the towing weight is 3 1/2 tons- will be more reliable than a landrover product, with decent interior. Downside will be a slightly more agricultural ride due to the live rear axle, and parts may be more expensive. Toyota Landcruiser? Nissan Patrol? Jeep Cherokee?

deadhead02

freakybacon wrote: »

Back on topic- whats your budget? And how about a previous generation Kia Sorrento? I am sure that the towing weight is 3 1/2 tons- will be more reliable than a landrover product, with decent interior. Downside will be a slightly more agricultural ride due to the live rear axle, and parts may be more expensive. Toyota Landcruiser? Nissan Patrol? Jeep Cherokee?

Budget to buy shouldn't be a problem - just the aftercare!

Are parts dearer than a Mitsubishi? My Shogun is expensive to repair but has been very reliable. But it makes a meal of towing - maybe because its clapped out? My Disco was wonderful but was a v8 petrol that I converted to gas - sadly written off by uninsured kids - not sure I can afford the running costs of another Disco tho do fancy a Defender. Do you know mpg for a Sorento?

maxheadroom

Have in mind that Defenders are being stolen in high numbers at the moment for export as either complete or in bits so much so that one of the landerover mags did a main feature on this (december i think) an the rerccomendation seemed to be to have a tracker fitted - you may wish to factor this into costs if you are tempted by a defender

OverlandLandy

The Kia is 'OK' on parts and service - MUCH cheaper than a Land Rover at a main dealer! They can tow 3.5t easily.

However a Discovery TD5 or a Defender (if you can live with it on a day to day basis) can easily be looked after by the very large number of 'independent specialists' around the UK - at a good price. Parts are cheaper than most Jap stuff (but don't last as long!). 30 MPG is average however depreciation is quite low as are insurance costs (normally).

A TD5 Disco is perhaps a reasonable option as is the Sorrento?

gilbert_and_sullivan

If you want a normal 4x4 subject to CO2 rated road tax then you will need to buy a vehicle registered prior to March 06 for most models to avoid the highest bands.

Cars to consider IMO are the already mentioned Kia Sorento, consider also Hyundai Terracan.
You've got the usual suspects, Landcruiser, Shogun (or Shogun Sport), Landrovers if you have a tame competent mechanic on standy...though the more upmarket makes will be more expensive to buy for not always a better vehicle than the two bargain Koreans.

EDIT...forgot, one of the very best tow motors, Nissan Patrol...3 litre unless you can find a 4.2 but that is likely to be seriously old now.

I don't think you can expect one of the soft roaders to last very long pulling horse trailers round fields and unmade roads, though they are likely to be more economical.

I run a 3 litre Hilux and get just under 30 mpg in normal running, mine is auto, owners of manual's seem to get around 3 or 4 mpg more.
They are well capable of doing the job for you but remember pick up's are longer than you might want for day to day usage, they are quite simple beasts, Toyota's servicing is inexpensive and the vehicles are tough and reliable...i cannot speak for other cheaper makes.
Commercial vehicle road tax is £205.

TVR2

Gene_Hunt wrote: »

Are Rovers good off road or do you just like talking about them?

Rover have a little off road division, you might have heard of them? Land Rover...?

Moody_Mare

We have 3 horses in the family, two heavy weight hunters and a show cob, so none of the silf like. For towing one or two at a time I now have a 7 year old Isuzu Trooper 3.0 and after 3 years I can say it is fantastic. I get about 26mpg but not much less with towing, it is very reliable and on the odd occasion I need parts for MOT ect I find them very cheap from a motorfactors in fact on par with Discovery parts.

Prior to the Trooper I have owned two Discoveries, both were very comfy and towed well but very unreliable and rusted alarmingly! To my surprise the trooper tows even better up hills (mind you bigger engine) and so far has no rust and it is not garaged. Like you it ploughs through fields and dirt roads, in fact the poor thing only gets a wash when I cannot see out the windows anymore or the number plates will be obscured.

I tow an IW510 and I will buy another Isuzu in the future, the only bad point is it can be uncomfortable but then it is a true work horse! I did think of a landcruiser but I could not warrant the price for a secondhand one, for the price of my then 4 year old trooper I would have been looking at an eight year old + landcruiser.