What tow car?

[raymanh]

In a venture with a friend and PH'er Synchromesh into running an MX5 track day car, I am looking for a suitable tow vehicle. Around £1k is the budget, and the requirements are that is has to be big, with no silly economy figures, and not boring. Throw us your ideas.

[paintman]

Start by checking what the trailer & load weigh.
Then check what your licences allow you to tow.
This thread is worth reading - esp the first post by ROG - as it covers the various licences & their permitted weights.
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Martin4x4]

Land Rover Discovery 200/300 TDI
Easily tow the weight
Comfortable
Plenty load space for tools/spares
Easy to maintain
Cheap to insure

http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/land-rover-discovery-tdi

Edited by Martin4x4 on Tuesday 7th January 00:40

[Hairbrakes]

I feel like I should weigh in here, having spent the past week or so advising Synchromesh on the matter as is. He wants something big, comfy and barge-like.

We have looked at the legailties of having a lightweight enough car and trailer combo to still fall within the 3500kg train weight category that means he could still drive it without a trailer licence. We worked out that this would be possible using something like his existing BMW 328 or a Rover 75 (MAM < 2 tons) with a 1.5 ton MAM race shuttle trailer to haul the <1 ton MX5 trackday car him and Raymanh are getting.

However, he now seems to have gone off the idea and wants to do a B+E then get a proper large barge. Currently looking at a Lexus LS, Jag XJ or Jeep Grand Cherokee on LPG, or a Rover 75 diesel.
Having a fair amount of experience with towing stuff, I have suggested something 4wd for traction and stability, such as a Subaru Legacy. This however is apparently not barge-y enough inside. An A8 quattro was suggested and apparently would be considered if one came up on LPG.

Personally, despite the fischer-price interior and general ste-ness of a Jeep GC 6-cyl, I cant really see a better suggestion. A P38 Range Rover might be comparable in spec but you'd have to be stark raving nuts to buy one at the budget end with their reliability woes. Doubly oddly, Synchro has categorically stated that he does not want an SUV unless it is a Jeep. I dont understand why but them's the rules.



Also, Paintman! Long time no speak (well, post on the same forum but you get my drift)

[B'stard Child]

paintman said:

Start by checking what the trailer & load weigh.
Then check what your licences allow you to tow.
This thread is worth reading - esp the first post by ROG - as it covers the various licences & their permitted weights.
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...

agreed

i tow a 1200 kg track car on an 800 kg trailer with an E38 740 and it does it very well between 22 & 27 mpg on a run at 60 mph

[R0G]

Hairbrakes said:

We have looked at the legailties of having a lightweight enough car and trailer combo to still fall within the 3500kg train weight category that means he could still drive it without a trailer licence. We worked out that this would be possible using something like his existing BMW 328 or a Rover 75 (MAM < 2 tons) with a 1.5 ton MAM race shuttle trailer to haul the <1 ton MX5 trackday car him and Raymanh are getting.

I bet that involved down plating the trailer?

[GreatGranny]

doogz said:

You can get a 1500kg (gross weight) trailer that'll take over a tonne.

I also disagree that 4WD is really required, I regularly tow 2.5T's worth of trailer with a 2WD vehicle weighing less than 2 tonnes, and I've not died yet, despite what the caravan club will tell you.

The Caravan Club's 85% rule is only a recommendation and then for inexperienced owners. Many tow upto 100% of their car's weight.

OP-Have you thought about a MPV such as an Alhambra?
Used to tow my 1400kg caravan with the TDi 130 version and it did a great job.
Not sure what a grand will buy though.

[kambites]

As above, the question is whether you're happy with a setup that can only be used with a B+E licence. Towing a car that heavy without it is quite tricky and tends to leave you with a rather light tow car, which really isn't ideal.

Personally, I'd recommend that you both just take the test and buy something big and heavy to tow with. 4WD or RWD works better than FWD which can be tricky to pull away with in the wet on hills due to the nose-weight of the trailer. A short rear overhang is also good for much the same reason.

I towed a ~650kg MG Midget racing car with an E36 estate on a B only licence for a while, and it certainly wasn't the most stable of setups.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 7th January 08:36

[tehguy]

GreatGranny said:

The Caravan Club's 85% rule is only a recommendation and then for inexperienced owners. Many tow upto 100% of their car's weight.

The caravan club's STUPID 85% advice only concerns caravans because as trailers go they are fairly unique being tall, light and with a fairly high centre of gravity. My car weighs 1700kg unladen and can tow 2000kg, I have towed a car on a trailer with it that was all-up around 1700kg, I'm no mathematician but I'm sure that is over 85%. And I didn't die.

Unless you're going off tarmac a lot you don't need four wheel drive either.

[raymanh]

They are stupidly complicated rules, but thank you for clearing them up a bit.

Matt, I'm sure we'll talk more about this when we meet, and more importantly try to steer James away from a Rover 75.

[rallycross]

Omega Estate is what I use for towing, cheap, easy to fix, tow really well, £1,000 gets you a very nice tidy example.