What would you use to tow this?

[FRA53R]

Hello all,

I'm looking to get one of these: http://www.tinyhouseuk.co.uk/gallery.html when I am able to, now I wouldn't be able to tow with the M135i, so as part of getting the house I'd be looking at getting a hack for towing it and transporting supplies/dogs.

There's a pic in the gallery of a Disco 2 attached, but I've had one of those so I'd like something different. The size of the house would be 2.3mX 4.26m"x 3.95m" w,d,h approx', they are road legal, but the approximate weight is 3 tons, which is pretty heavy.

Budget would be up to 7k but obviously the cheaper the better and I'd be keen to get something cheaper and spend the extra making sure it would cope with the effort.

It aint gonna happen before next year, but I like to be prepared so any advice is welcome.

[andy-xr]

I'd buy an old HiLux Surf or L200 type thing, cheap as you can. Maybe a Grand Cherokee

[IroningMan]

You need a full 3,500kg towing capacity, which limits choice somewhat.

[tr7v8]

If that weighs 3 Ton then your towing vehicle is quite limited. Land Rover, big Jeep & maybe a Land Cruiser are all that can manage 3000kG plus. i suspect that it would be heavier than that once you get some kit in it. If it exceeds 3500kg then you can't tow it on over run brakes & life gets even more complex.

[Nigel Worc's]

If you want cheap, then I think some of the vans can tow that weight, transits etc.

[Fittster]

FRA53R said:

, but the approximate weight is 3 tons, which is pretty heavy.

If the shed is 3 tons what's the weight of the trailer?

[FRA53R]

Fittster said:

If the shed is 3 tons what's the weight of the trailer?

The weight is inclusive of the chassis.

[GreatGranny]

3 tonnes!

Hate to think how unstable it is!

Where would you use it?

[TurboHatchback]

Land Cruiser 4.2td is the obvious answer, either an 80 or 100 series. Nothing tows quite like them.

Alternatively there are many American pickup trucks with huge towing capacities and big diesel V8s that can be obtained in the uk.

[mph1977]

IroningMan said:

You need a full 3,500kg towing capacity, which limits choice somewhat.

some Long wheelbase Series LR
any 110/130 or Defender (possibly some 90s)
any Discovery other than an D1 mpi
any Rangie

Nissan Patrol GR

Biggest Land Cruiser / Lexus badged version of it

Yank pickups/ full size SUV as long as they are registered as C1 commercial and not as a passenger car - as if the MAM is over 3500kg solo and they are registered as a car they basically cannot legally tow.

Certain 3.5 to 5.5 t Merc Sprinters assuming they have the from Built higher towing capacity - although you may fall foul of C1E grandfather rights MAM limits if you are a pre 97 licence holder.

[RB Will]

This will do the trick. Can probably bash him down on price a bit too
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-DODGE-RAM-3500-SLT-...

[Pistachio]

[Cotty]

I didn't think these things were suposed to move a lot, not like a touring caravan. I understood they were on wheels to get round certain regulations. Assuming it is not going to move for 6 to 12 months, could you not hire something when needed.

[vincevega]

Unimog.

[Gavin0478]

My 4.2tdi V8 Q7 has a 3500 towing capacity.
Early Q7's are getting close to your budget for some luxury while you tow.

[eltax91]

Gavin0478 said:

My 4.2tdi V8 Q7 has a 3500 towing capacity.
Early Q7's are getting close to your budget for some luxury while you tow.

The cheapest I can find is £9k and it has 250k miles on it

Where are all these £7k Q7's?

[V8RX7]

I suspect the cheapest is an Isuzu Trooper.

The best is probably a Land Cruiser or diesel yank

I tow a 4 ton 5th wheel caravan and my Isuzu 3.1 TD tows it better than my F150 V8 - when you look at dynos of their torque curves it becomes obvious why that is the case.

[talksthetorque]

If it was occasional, I'd be renting/buying one of these It can't be much fun towing something with the aerodynamics of a .....errrr....house.

eta linky now works

Edited by talksthetorque on Monday 12th May 23:59

[johnnymaestro]

I recently bought a Grand Cherokee CRD for towing purposes and I think the capacity was around 3200kgs. I have not towed more than 2 tonnes so far but it seemed happy with it included a stuffed boot.

This website may be of use if you want to see what the tow weights are for specific cars.

http://www.uktow.com/towing%20capacity.asp

[FRA53R]

Thanks for the many responses folks,

I hadn't really thought about the frequency of moving the 'mobile' home and I can certainly understand the comments about renting something that would do the job when I required it and the fact that it is not designed to travel too far, means that I can understand that option.

The other side is that as I live in the Highlands, I would like to and be able to keep it somewhere remote which would most certainly seem to highlight the need for a 4x4 and given that the weather can be inclement almost year round I would like to be able to move at my convenience hence my wish to have a capable vehicle on call.

I like the Idea of a Landcruiser, I have a friend with one and given the way he treats it I can attest to their reliability and toughness. I had certainly considered a Q7 but as has been pointed out, the prices are just too high, even considering that it'll be next year before I could possibly do this I don't think that one will be within reach.

Perfection would be a Defender or classic Range Rover but I wasn't sure about the weight issue.