Trailer queens - best alround tow vehicle.

[db418BHP]

Ive been considering joining the trailer queens at York.

Ive driven the TVR to and from there for a few years without the aid of the AA or RAC.
Santa Pod is a different story!

I want a tow vehicle that is fully safe and capable of towing the Chim on a suitable twin axle trailer and have room to carry tools, wheels, camping gear etc but i can also use as a daily that gets reasonable mpg. So i guess i am looking at around 1500 - 1600 kg to haul. Budget is quite poor also but depending on job prospects could change.

At the moment a Hyundai Sante Fe 2.0 diesel seems to tick most boxes. Can tow 2300kg and returns a combined mpg of 38.

Any thoughts or recommendations?

[TOV!E]

Would you not be better spending the money on the Chim, then driving it, it wont always break down.

[Alun450]

If you can splash out the new VW transporter is the business. I've towed hundreds of BJTrailers, with loads of dif vehicles, them there transporters drive the safest, somehow they don't sway, brilliant van.

[macdeb]

Sorry Alun but, Brabus Vito sport-X is the best van out there and just so happens I have one that's for sale.
As you were.

[jamienshelly]

Hi Derek
I was going to make a poor sugestion so have retracted it.
VW Transporter is a good van and pm me if you are interested, as I work for them, loads of variety in seating etc and reasonable economy too.

Edited by jamienshelly on Friday 26th April 11:25

[phazed]

I've a feeling Derek's budget is shall we say on the sensible side.

Derek, that Korean wagon will never do that mileage, that's pie in the sky,

There's never something or nothing.

If your budget is what I think it is then it'll have to be an od 4x4 or the best tranny/transporter you can afford!

I'd lean towards a 300TDi Disco.

I do have a tatty 52 plate diesely tranny at the bottom of the garden though

[wadsapple]

Nothink wrong with a Toyota landcruiser mine is brilliant had it for 13yrs now never let me down worth £3k max i would say

[TVR_owner]

Volvo XC90

[phazed]

To tow safely you need a 2 ton vehicle or best part of so estate cars are generally out.

[swanny71]

Derek, I'm pretty sure Brian Crewes has/had a Santa Fe so might be worth a chat to him about it's suitability?

[chris1972]

I'd go for a standard Landrover or a Disco. Some of the Toyotas are good too. It's worth working out how much extra you'll spend on getting a diesel and to how much you'll actually spend in fuel. Sometimes a larger petrol engine can prove cheaper in the long run, despite poor mpg. Easier to work on and no injector, EGR, DPF or high pressure pump issues to worry about.

A Landrover V8 would be just the thing and familiar ground for repairs!

[phazed]

Totally agree apart from the 10 mpg at best towing.

I've run 2 V8 4.0 discos, they averaged 12 mpg!

Hence my suggestion of a Mk1 Disco 300TDi, pretty bullet proof, spares dirt cheap and loads around.

[Alun450]

Does this Phazed bloke know everything! Bout right there, the Toyotas can pull a fair weight but it's not comfortable.

An old disco or a van, need good engine and brakes. There's no way round it it's expensive to do it well. If I was going to tow I'd get something that can be worked, lived out of then the expense is negated by the luxury/ practicality and down right extra fun you can have at the track. All those spares you could carry for one!

The other way is to get an old tow truck, pita, but all you ever need. Fuel Economy is better and travel times shorter as you can do 70 odd. Less tyres etc it's a better bet, as a good trailer will be at least £2000!

Look in the truck sections and there's loads of them for sale!

If you have a son on the dole he could make a buck with it in the wk. Lol.

Having done a couple if trackdays it's always in my mind that I need to get home, spoils the fun a bit, I'd love to have a dif carrying vehicle. Goodluck with the choice mind.

[sheel]

Shogun Shogun Shogun, used them for 20 years towing, the old ones are the best, still got an old 93SWB manual, great old bus and cheap to repair put a new head on it last year £300 complete with cam springs and valves, mechanical pump and injection run it on anything! Had a 2.5 Disco, IMO not a patch on the Shoggy

Richard

[jagracer]

sheel said:

Had a 2.5 Disco, IMO not a patch on the Shoggy
Richard

I now have a Landcruiser and my old 200tdi Disco is used on stables duty and after 18 months of standing outside in a field, last night I put a charged battery on it and it started with a single flick of the key. It runs well, drives but the only problem is there is more corrosion on the body than there is good metal, even the aluminium is going.

[450Nick]

Really nice to drive, feels much more like a car than a van, good on fuel (500 miles off an 80-90 quid tank without trailer), pulls the trailer like its not even attached, very comfortable on long journeys and you can chuck loads of kit in there too.

[LongBaz383BHP]

Merc 300td estate. Good for towing Good for motorway mile muncher if you end up having to travel 650 miles for work every weekend. Will run on chip oil. Can be picked up as cheap as the chips.

[phazed]

I would be inclined to flog everything apart from the chim and get a decent van.

Good enough to use as a car, can tow, carry everything and you can sleep in it!

[QBee]

Merc 320 CDI estate. Tows 2.1 tonnes, does 38-44 mpg when not towing, takes a 2 metre long dining table in the back with the seats folded. Nice luxury finish inside, plenty of performance.

[cptsideways]

A twin axle trailer will weigh in at 600+kg all day long, just check your towing limits, especially with vans. Vosa lately are pulling vans towing for tacho's/commercial use.