What car/pickup/4x4 to replace a.....

[BlackBeastT5]

'97 Volvo V70 TDI (the one with the Audi 2.5 5pot lump) that the other half drives. She uses this as an every day car, going to work, to the yard twice a day and also uses it to tow an IW HB505 horse trailer. We also use it as the economical barge as it returns an average of 40-45mpg. Its towing limit is 1600kg (so 505 and 1 horse = 1600kg) and as she wants to be able to tow the trailer with 2 horses (2400kg), she needs something with a higher tow limit but is as economical.

Criteria:
- Under £2k purchase price
- 40mpg+
- Similar if not larger boot space
- Better towing capability (at least 2500kg)
- Reliable
- Cheap parts

I had thought of getting a later P2 V70 D5, but that only gives an extra 200kg (1800kg) towing capacity.

I really don't know what to replace it with.

[VR46]

Old landrover defender or a pajero/ shogun.

[CYMR0]

BlackBeastT5 said:

'97 Volvo V70 TDI (the one with the Audi 2.5 5pot lump) that the other half drives. She uses this as an every day car, going to work, to the yard twice a day and also uses it to tow an IW HB505 horse trailer. We also use it as the economical barge as it returns an average of 40-45mpg. Its towing limit is 1600kg (so 505 and 1 horse = 1600kg) and as she wants to be able to tow the trailer with 2 horses (2400kg), she needs something with a higher tow limit but is as economical.

Criteria:
- Under £2k purchase price
- 40mpg+
- Similar if not larger boot space
- Better towing capability (at least 2500kg)
- Reliable
- Cheap parts

I had thought of getting a later P2 V70 D5, but that only gives an extra 200kg (1800kg) towing capacity.

I really don't know what to replace it with.

40mpg and that towing capacity would be a stretch for £40k, never mind £2k.

[CraigyMc]

VR46 said:

Old landrover defender or a pajero/ shogun.

Did you read the criteria?

[CraigyMc]

BlackBeastT5 said:

I had thought of getting a later P2 V70 D5, but that only gives an extra 200kg (1800kg) towing capacity.

I really don't know what to replace it with.

CYMR0 said:

40mpg and that towing capacity would be a stretch for £40k, never mind £2k.

The car OP is looking for doesn't exist.

C

Edited to rectify quote problem

Edited by CraigyMc on Monday 4th June 17:25

[Scuffers]

£2K is not enough for anything decent.

[MPShan]

^^^ I agree, but you won't see 40mpg from any of those If I'm honest I can't think of anything that can legally tow a HB505 that will return that kind of MPG on that budget.

Also, and this is very important, you need to look for a vehicle that is rated to tow the trailer's MAM (maximum authorised mass) & not what you estimate the actual load weighs. In this case you require a vehicle that can tow at least the 2340kg MAM of your trailer.

With this in mind it's worth noting that with your current vehicle's 1600kg maximum towing capacity you're not going to be legal and would be prosecuted if pulled over by VOSA / uninsured in the event of an accident

[mat777]

The budget will get you a very tidy late, rust free Discovery 1 diesel.

Anything man enough to tow the horsebox with 2 horses in it wont get near 40mpg though, so you might have to accept a compromise there

[MPShan]

This
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
And spend the rest on diesel

[M3Charlie]

I would say a 300tdi Discovery would be ideal or even an early diesel Freelander.

[MPShan]

Freelander won't be man enough

[CraigyMc]

M3Charlie said:

I would say a 300tdi Discovery would be ideal or even an early diesel Freelander.

Freelanders have "normal" car-like towing limits (2000Kg, iirc).

All the other landies have towing limits of 3500Kg, braked.

C

[M3Charlie]

Disco then

[CraigyMc]

The cheapest way to deal with this problem is to remove the problem.

Hire a horsebox for events, and have a smallish 4x4 for getting to and from yard/commuting.

C

(ps. this is not idle chatter, it's what me and the missus do for her endurance GB events)

[tr7v8]

There is a green WJ Grand Cherokee on Auto Trader with a 3.1TD for this money. 3+ ton tow capacity & more importantly no rust! This'll be 30MPG or so but you can't get that tow capacity at 40MPG in any form.

[BlackBeastT5]

MPShan said:

^^^ I agree, but you won't see 40mpg from any of those If I'm honest I can't think of anything that can legally tow a HB505 that will return that kind of MPG on that budget.

Also, and this is very important, you need to look for a vehicle that is rated to tow the trailer's MAM (maximum authorised mass) & not what you estimate the actual load weighs. In this case you require a vehicle that can tow at least the 2340kg MAM of your trailer.

With this in mind it's worth noting that with your current vehicle's 1600kg maximum towing capacity you're not going to be legal and would be prosecuted if pulled over by VOSA / uninsured in the event of an accident

Thanks for all the responses so far, I'm glad that I'm not the only one struggling with the criteria. I had thought of getting a runabout such as a Micra etc etc that she could drive about in and have something like a Daihatsu Fourtrak or Nissan Terrano 2 as the tow vehicle. But then you are looking at 2 lots of MOTs, insurance, tax etc etc.

As for the legal side of things, I know you shoudln't take what is written on websites as law, but Ifor Williams themselves say this:-

Most vehicles have a manufacturer’s maximum recommended towing weight. It's usually listed in the handbook or vehicle specification sheet. You can also find it on the vehicle identification number (VIN) plate on the car. If in any doubt, contact your vehicle manufacturer.

When towing a trailer, the following needs to be considered:

The actual weight of the trailer and its load must not exceed the maximum towing weight permitted by the vehicle. For example, if the maximum towing weight of your vehicle is 2000kg and the trailer you are towing has an unladen weight of 500kg, then you can load up to 1500kg on your trailer providing the maximum gross weight of the trailer is 2000kg or above.

AND

My vehicle has a maximum towing weight of 1500kg and my trailer has a maximum gross weight of 2000kg. Can I still tow this trailer?

Yes, as long as the unladen weight of the trailer you are towing combined with the trailer load does not exceed 1500kg, then you can tow this trailer with your vehicle.

There is no legal requirement to downrate the plate on your trailer.

Drivers must also possess the appropriate driving licence with B+E category for towing this particular trailer combination as well as adhering to tachograph rules, if applicable.

So are Ifor Williams themselves wrong? If they are then I will get the trailer replated by IW.

[CraigyMc]

For the record, an unlaiden HB505 is 905Kg, according to: http://www.horsetrailersales.co.uk/NewIforHB505.ht... (the current model IW506 is 920Kg).

What sort of horses is she planning on putting in the trailer?

C

[BlackBeastT5]

And released last month from VOSA themselves:- http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/Horsebox%20G...

Page 18 is the critical one. From that, if I am reading it correctly she is perfectly legal to tow a maximum weight of 1600kg!?!

[BlackBeastT5]

CraigyMc said:

For the record, an unlaiden HB505 is 905Kg, according to: http://www.horsetrailersales.co.uk/NewIforHB505.ht... (the current model IW506 is 920Kg).

What sort of horses is she planning on putting in the trailer?

C

Hi Craig, she only has the one horse which is a 16.2h ex racer thoroughbred, but wishes to be able to tow two horses for going out to hacking areas and competitions. The second horse could be anything from 16h thoroughbreds to larger/heavier warmbloods. Hope I've got all the horsey terminology correct.

[base]

with the critera you have outlined i would say without being rude .........dreaming never going to achieve all of those points for the money you want to spend