Car for towing a horse box

[The jiffle king]

About to move back to the UK having been in the US for a couple of years and we have a horse who will need moving around and would prefer a car/SUV with a high towing weight (3500kg if possible) rather than a proper horse van. Given the horse box will weigh in excess of 1000kg, and 2 horses + gear would take it over 2500kg, it really needs to be substantial.

Would welcome anyones thoughts on the best car/truck to do this. If I was staying in the US, we would go for a Ford F150 or maybe a 250 as they are relatively cheap and we know they do the job safely.

The key thing is reliability and the high towing capacity. BMW X5 could be an option, Ford Ranger is another, but looking for ideas.
Budget is difficult as this could be an everyday car so 30k or could be an occasional driver just for towing duties so 6k range (if they exist)

Anyone got any experience or got any suggestions?

[PH5121]

I have a hankering for a Land Rover Discovery 4 for towing our caravan, they have a towing capability of 3500kg.

[TooMany2cvs]

The only things you'll find with a 3.5t payload are big 4x4s (or vans) - and not even all of them. Forget finding anything higher, because you'd be in a different driving licence category.

[chevy55]

You'll need a Land Rover Discovery Range Rover, Defender or a big Land Cruiser, not a Colarado as they only have 2800kg towing capacity. The biggest trailer you can use on a B+E licence is 3500kg gross. You could go for an F150 or bigger or a Dodge Ram type although you have to be careful with these as they can be too big for a normal car licence depending when you passed your test and are a pain when it comes to MOT time.

[The jiffle king]

I like the idea of a Landrover Discovery 4 and know they drive well. It was more the idea of big bills which was a question mark, but something like this is always going to be more to run and maintain.

[Deerfoot]

Touareg 3.0 TDI?

[RumbleOfThunder]

Ranger V6 Diesel would be more than up to the job. Not sure how refined they are for a daily driver though.

[ZX10R NIN]

At 6k I'd the Ford Explorer might be worth a shout:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Or a Discovery

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

V8

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Range Rover

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

[OverSteery]

The jiffle king said:

I like the idea of a Landrover Discovery 4 and know they drive well. It was more the idea of big bills which was a question mark, but something like this is always going to be more to run and maintain.

or in "the to £6k second car" a Discovery 2 will tow it, and has much lower risk of a big bill.

[chevy55]

Depending where you are going to live or travel to be careful about getting a diesel or anything too old as the UK is now anti diesel

[The jiffle king]

Planning to live in the Berkshire/Bucks/Surrey area and thank you for the adverts for the older cheaper cars, I was surprised to see them at that price but here in the US, cars hold their value much more.

I guess the decision is between 1 car which will do it all and 2 cars with one just for the job of towing (which will be needed every week as the horse will be out and about a lot). Real challenge is that I have a TVR as well which is not going so stacking up multiple cars as I might also need a daily driver depending on work location....

I need to talk with The Jiffle Queen as it's her who is going to be driving it but a LandRover Disco4 or a Ford Ranger look like options in the new or older range

[The jiffle king]

Deerfoot said:

Touareg 3.0 TDI?

I looked at this , but having read a couple of forums, towing something more than 22ft is a no no and it struggles a bit compared with others. It's right on the limit of being able to do 3500kg and I think I'd prefer something which does it easily rather than struggling.

If you or anyone knows differently, happy to listen to opinions

[TooMany2cvs]

OverSteery said:

The jiffle king said:

I like the idea of a Landrover Discovery 4 and know they drive well. It was more the idea of big bills which was a question mark, but something like this is always going to be more to run and maintain.

or in "the to £6k second car" a Discovery 2 will tow it, and has much lower risk of a big bill.

...so long as you know a good welder.

There is, of course, the Disco 3 in between those two.

[Alex]

Jeep Grand Cherokee can tow 3500kg.

[OverSteery]

TooMany2cvs said:

OverSteery said:

The jiffle king said:

I like the idea of a Landrover Discovery 4 and know they drive well. It was more the idea of big bills which was a question mark, but something like this is always going to be more to run and maintain.

or in "the to £6k second car" a Discovery 2 will tow it, and has much lower risk of a big bill.

...so long as you know a good welder.

There is, of course, the Disco 3 in between those two.

I sold my 2001 D2 to a mate and the chassis is still fine - maybe I was lucky.

[phib]

Having done this before I would really go down the horse lorry / van route. Your going to be on the max of towing capacity added to that your probably talking the total rig will be 30ft long.

That length on some of the roads around berkshire / surrey (especially going to horsey places) will be a nightmare. I actually don't know anyone who tows a horse box anymore and we are out will lorries / horses most weekends.

Something like this is pretty good


http://www.centralenglandhorseboxes.co.uk/ascot-2-...

Phib

[chevy55]

phib said:

Having done this before I would really go down the horse lorry / van route. Your going to be on the max of towing capacity added to that your probably talking the total rig will be 30ft long.

That length on some of the roads around berkshire / surrey (especially going to horsey places) will be a nightmare. I actually don't know anyone who tows a horse box anymore and we are out will lorries / horses most weekends.

Something like this is pretty good


http://www.centralenglandhorseboxes.co.uk/ascot-2-...

Phib

I don't think that or anything under 3.5 tons will carry the weight the OP wants to. While I agree that a box is better it looks like he may be running into C1 licence territory.

[phib]

chevy55 said:

I don't think that or anything under 3.5 tons will carry the weight the OP wants to. While I agree that a box is better it looks like he may be running into C1 licence territory.

Unless they are Clydesdale cant see the weight being an issue, unless I am missing the point ?

Phib

[The jiffle king]

Horse is English Thoroughbred and 15 hands 3 so not heavy horses, but I was looking for a bit of spare capacity to give my wife a level of confidence in the pulling ability. I expect that he will have a friend (not owned by us) who will move around with him hence the 2 horse payload

Had not really considered a smaller horse van as the ones I've always seen in the UK have either been expensive or the old Bedford type. Both of us are of an age where our licence is dated before the regulations for a test being needed

I really would prefer a car and trailer and the goose wings we have here in the US are ideal when used with a Ford 150 truck but there are not really goading trailers for sale in the UK. I know the roads in Berks/Bucks/Surrey and see the posters point on being able to move around easily.

I'll look at some of the horse vans as well as a smaller one might be an option

In the meantime, this is the cause of the trouble

[R0G]

Possibly a daft question

Do you hold a B+E licence ?