Sub £5k tow car : Volvo XC60 or ideas for towing a boat
Discussion
How much would that weigh? I'm guessing around 1000 kg? Is the trailer braked?
It'll be a fairly leggy XC60 if you only have 5 grand to spend, these two look pretty decent.
Auto
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506023...
Manual
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508115...
I'd check if and when the clutch and DMF were replaced because you could be looking at £1500 to sort that - especially important if you are towing. The Geartronic model isn't one of those crappy Ford Powershift twin clutch gearboxes in the 5 cyl XC60's, but an Aisin torque converter. I'd still make sure it has had a few fluid changes - it's one of those that some say is "sealed for life", but it's probably best to get one every 50,000 miles or so. If you decide to get the fluid changed on the auto, it'll probably be around £300. It's also really really important to get someone who knows what they are doing when changing it (so either a Volvo or transmission specialist) as they are sensitive to which fluid is put in them.
It'll be a fairly leggy XC60 if you only have 5 grand to spend, these two look pretty decent.
Auto
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506023...
Manual
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508115...
I'd check if and when the clutch and DMF were replaced because you could be looking at £1500 to sort that - especially important if you are towing. The Geartronic model isn't one of those crappy Ford Powershift twin clutch gearboxes in the 5 cyl XC60's, but an Aisin torque converter. I'd still make sure it has had a few fluid changes - it's one of those that some say is "sealed for life", but it's probably best to get one every 50,000 miles or so. If you decide to get the fluid changed on the auto, it'll probably be around £300. It's also really really important to get someone who knows what they are doing when changing it (so either a Volvo or transmission specialist) as they are sensitive to which fluid is put in them.
Infiniti EX ticks all of your boxes:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/297538841553?_skw=infin...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508095...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/297538841553?_skw=infin...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508095...
I have owned a small two person boat over 16ft long which only weighed about 100kg. Plus about 50kg for the trailer.
That was a sailing dinghy. Other 16ft 2 person boats can be very much heavier, with trailers to match.
A medium sized outboard can weigh 100kg, plus fuel....
4WD is not always the right answer for slipways, you can often do better with FWD and an extended towing strut or even a rope, to keep the drive wheels dry. 4WD vehicles still get in trouble on sand or other beaches, more so when towing.
Situations where a normal 2WD car won't do quickly escalate into serious tractor territory.
Towing is less stressful with a bigger car and bigger engine, but within the limits of your car, most cars are fine, you won't be going fast or doing much overtaking. If you only tow a few hundred miles a year, then it doesn't matter if you don't see much of 6th gear.
A car that's heavy enough and a boat that's light enough to (safely and legally) have an unbraked trailer is good, trailer brakes can be a world of pain.
I'd suggest having a clear plan about where you're towing it and launching it, launching and parking at public slipways in high season can be an expensive wind-up.
That was a sailing dinghy. Other 16ft 2 person boats can be very much heavier, with trailers to match.
A medium sized outboard can weigh 100kg, plus fuel....
4WD is not always the right answer for slipways, you can often do better with FWD and an extended towing strut or even a rope, to keep the drive wheels dry. 4WD vehicles still get in trouble on sand or other beaches, more so when towing.
Situations where a normal 2WD car won't do quickly escalate into serious tractor territory.
Towing is less stressful with a bigger car and bigger engine, but within the limits of your car, most cars are fine, you won't be going fast or doing much overtaking. If you only tow a few hundred miles a year, then it doesn't matter if you don't see much of 6th gear.
A car that's heavy enough and a boat that's light enough to (safely and legally) have an unbraked trailer is good, trailer brakes can be a world of pain.
I'd suggest having a clear plan about where you're towing it and launching it, launching and parking at public slipways in high season can be an expensive wind-up.
Dodge Nitro
Here's an unusal one for you, not sure if the tow bar is integrated within the panel in the rear bumper.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508175...
Here's an unusal one for you, not sure if the tow bar is integrated within the panel in the rear bumper.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508175...
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