Towing vehicle advice

Cheers Pete.

Above all I want stability, durability and reliability. Power is a secondary concern as the Defender we currently use could be easily overtaken by a slug! Anything newer will have a multitude of electronics to go wrong and ensure I keep the local independents in business!

The trailer is maintained by us and is regularly serviced.

[_Stretchie_]

Originally Posted by phil24_7

Would love a Range Rover but I think it may be a little flashy and better vehicle could be had for the same money

Agree on the Flashy part, but you could go for an older vehicle, from 2003 to current they are pretty much the same shape so still look current especially if looked after not sure about the better vehicle for money though

Originally Posted by phil24_7

They aren't really designed as towing vehicles, more off road work horses. This vehicle will rarely get used as anything other than a towing vehicle!

Are you sure? I loads of people use these for taking all sorts of big, heavy and full horse boxes and transporting long car trailers.


How's about something less than your budget, made out of granite and used the world over?

http://www.unimogs.co.uk/machinedeta...chstring=U1141

Although they do, they're primarily off-road work horses with some towing thrown in. This vehicle will be used for towing only but I suppose for the amount it will be getting used it wont make much difference.

Funnily enough, unimogs have been mentioned here as well as JCB fast tracks. Unimogs are serious money though and fast tracks in good nick at a good price are rare!

[_Stretchie_]

But think of how cool you'd look driving it then parachuting down from the drivers seat, you could park up next to people and be a proper anorak and talk to them about ported axles, low range boxes and diff locks

(I know, I'm sad )

Cool??????? Have you looked in the mirror?!?!?!?!

I've shrunk the list down now...diesels only.

Land Rover Discovery 3 (maybe a TD5 but I'd prefer the newer Disco)
Land Rover Defender 110 (though it's a little basic)
Range Rover (probably not though as you pay a lot for the bling/name)
VW Touareg 2.5 or 3.0V6(know little about this other than it pulls like a train)
Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRD (little known about this curve ball too)
Nissan Patrol GR 3.0 Di Profi
Toyota Land Cruiser 4.2
Mitsubishi L200 (the 2700KG towing limit and low weight may count this out)

Thought the idea of a shortlist was for it to be short?!?!?!?! LOL

[maviczap]

At work we use a VW Transporter T32 130 TDI to tow a 2t double axle trailer about.

Plenty of grunt to easily tow it, think ours is the V5 engine.

Ours has rear bench seats and glass for the rear passengers, so is classed as a car, not a van

Never known it to struggle, even fully loaded with overnight bags and equipment.

Go for the Disco 3. The difference between the Defender and Disco is night-and-day. Electronics are the weak point but it seems that you'll have that covered with your business resources. The Disco is extreemly capable off road (I won an off road event in a Disco 4 a couple of years ago ) but it will tow a heavy trailer/caravan all day long. The auto is very smooth and the engine is full of power. My in-laws have had one for about 3/4 years and tow a double axle caravan with it all over Norfolk. They are planning on towing it to France this summer. The cab comfort is very good and you get the added bonus of a large boot space even without the rear seats folded down.

[Red Herring]

I went through all this when I was looking for something to pull my boat. I ended up with a 3.0D long wheelbase Landcruiser and I have to say I have never regretted it. They are pricey when up against a similar age and mileage Disco/Shogun/Nissan etc but you really do get what you pay for. I hunted around for ages until I found a 1999 one with less than 70k and a full history and paid under 5k for it. The boat is just under 2 ton complete with trailer and all it's gear, but it's 30' long with a fair bit of windage so the tow vehicle has to have plenty of presence and the Landcruiser will happily pull it at 60+ all day. You could pay a bit extra and try and get the 4.2 six cylinder version but I don't think they are rated any heavier on the train weight and unless you plan on pulling up and down mountains I don't think you'll find the 3.0 short of power.

You thought about an ex mil 90 or 110 wolf?