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Towing advice

kitchpoo
kitchpoo Posts: 1,255 Forumite
My sister is re-contemplating buying a car to tow a double horsebox trailer with 2 large horses - she previously had 1 horse and towed with a Rover 600 but wasnt really up to the job and ended up jack-knifed on a downhill dual carriageway!

She estimates she needs a vehicle capable of towing 2T and for stability a 4x4 capability. So far her favourite is a Nissan XTrail 2.2Dci. Sort of near the £8500/2004 marque.

Any other contenders capable of 2T towing?
Praying at the church of MSE should be compulsory!

There are three types of people in the world, those who can add up and those who can't.
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Comments

  • If it were me I'd have a second hand Range Rover. Plenty around at that price, and they'll hold their value much better. They are expensive to maintain though so it depends how long she thinks she will keep the car. Theres also Toyota Landcruisers (extremely reliable).

    The type of car doesn't make a difference when a trailer jacknifes - its the mass of the trailer and the speed that are important because the trailer will end up pushing the car off course. Perhaps she should consider allowing more stopping distance ahead and adjusting her speed accordingly.
  • LandyAndy
    LandyAndy Posts: 26,377 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    Any of the bigger 4x4s will make good tow cars for this weight of trailer. Go Japanese for reliability. I would advise against a Range Rover at this price as you will only get a middle aged P38 and they have a reputation, not wholly undeserved, for unreliability. A Discovery would be a safer bet if you want a Landy.
  • goldspanners
    goldspanners Posts: 5,910 Forumite
    agree with landy,go for the disco.
    ...work permit granted!
  • Inactive
    Inactive Posts: 14,509 Forumite
    A dedicated Horse Box is far safer than a towed one, especially with 2 horses.
  • goldspanners
    goldspanners Posts: 5,910 Forumite
    Inactive wrote: »
    A dedicated Horse Box is far safer than a towed one, especially with 2 horses.

    more expensive and more space required to store one too.
    i suppose if you have space for 2 horses...
    ...work permit granted!
  • jonathon
    jonathon Posts: 760 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts
    agree with landy,go for the disco.


    yep disco a TD5
  • kitchpoo
    kitchpoo Posts: 1,255 Forumite

    The type of car doesn't make a difference when a trailer jacknifes - its the mass of the trailer and the speed that are important because the trailer will end up pushing the car off course. Perhaps she should consider allowing more stopping distance ahead and adjusting her speed accordingly.

    It was a trailer fault, one of the brakes siezed in transit, pushing the car downhill - with a clear road in front of her - no other vehicle involved.
    Praying at the church of MSE should be compulsory!

    There are three types of people in the world, those who can add up and those who can't.
  • kitchpoo
    kitchpoo Posts: 1,255 Forumite
    Inactive wrote: »
    A dedicated Horse Box is far safer than a towed one, especially with 2 horses.


    She has a 7.5T Ford Cargo at the moment and for the amount of use - circa 4 times a year - it is not working out cost effective.
    Praying at the church of MSE should be compulsory!

    There are three types of people in the world, those who can add up and those who can't.
  • kitchpoo
    kitchpoo Posts: 1,255 Forumite
    I'll see if a Disco floats her boat
    Praying at the church of MSE should be compulsory!

    There are three types of people in the world, those who can add up and those who can't.
  • harveybobbles
    harveybobbles Posts: 8,973 Forumite
    Pick up an old 525 TDS Touring. Pre 1996. They were the dogs bollox for towing...!
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