Tow Car

[mOrtt]

I'm looking for ideas on what I can upgrade my X5 to as it's 15 years old this year and I fancy something more modern.

It's an E53 X5 4.8 V8 which has averaged around 15mpg in the 18 months (8000 miles) I've owned it. I only do 5000-6000 miles per year so I had initially ruled out any diesel…but the majority of my driving is towing my track car. The V8 is great when it's not towing but seems to struggle when towing as all the torque is high up the rev range unlike a diesel. It's fine once it gets going but can struggle a bit at low speed and pulling out at junctions.

Is a diesel the only option if I'm looking to tow for at least of 50% of the driving I do?

The combined weight of the trailer, track car, tools and fuel (within the trailer) is around 2150kg so any tow car needs to around that weight as I'm not keen on towing something heavier that the tow car itself.

I'm looking for something fairly new (1-2 years old). I've been looking at a Cayenne V6 Diesel or Range Rover Sport but I was wondering if it's mad to go for a diesel with only doing 5000-6000 miles a year.

Most of my journeys consist of 30-150 miles towing, 30 miles unladen or the odd 2 minute trip to the supermarket (which I know could end up knackering a diesel).

Thanks!

[dynosoar]

Hi,

I use a 3.0 TDI Audi Q5 SE as my daily hack and regular tow car.
2.4t tow capacity.
Seems to run at 38-40mpg for normal driving according to the dash computer. A bit under 30mpg for towing depending on roads of course.
My setup is usually covered trailer at about 2t all up.
DSG can be a bit hesitant for quick decisions at junctions but when towing it is unusual to rush about. If I anticipate a decisive junction such as a busy roundabout I pop it in sport for a bit.

It is coming up to 200000 miles now. So probably ready for a change. I will see what other suggestions you recieve.

Regards,

Andrew

[mOrtt]

I might have a look at Q7. Q5 is only 2000kg so would be lower than what I'm towing.

The X5 only has 65k on it along with a new gearbox, air suspension and tyres so it's in good nick, I just don't think an NA petrol is the engine to tow with.

[A500leroy]

Dont discount things like the kia sorento cause bank per $ there right up there.

[mOrtt]

A500leroy said:

Dont discount things like the kia sorento cause bank per $ there right up there.

At this stage I'm only discounting cars that don't weigh over 2000kg…which the Kia does not it seems.

[A500leroy]

Just to check you do have 'grandfather' rights or a licence to operate a vehicle (and trailer combined) over 3.5 tonnes, ( i know loads of younger caravanners who have been caught out by this)



Another suggestion landcruiser?

[rosejem]

A Discovery could be an option , My freind tows a six wheel cattle trailer to market full of cattle & the 3.0 lump pulls well & has been reliable to date .

If you don't need back seats the Commercial version is quite desirable with the poential to claim VAT back.

[TurboBlue]

I've no experience of them but seeing you do such low miles you could stick with petrol and try a Jeep Grand Cherokee 6.1 or 6.4 SRT/8 - I doubt they'd be short of low down torque for towing.

Edit One: Oh, just remembered - strike that - you can't (and I mean physically can't, well maybe you can, see part III below) fit a tow bar to the earlier 6.1 SRT8 as it has a centre exhaust box; IIRC you can fit a tow-bar to the later 6.4 facelift SRT but it may be very expensive and even more rare to find.

Edit Two: yeah! 6.4SRT with a tow bar fitted: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Edit Three: yeah, again; can you believe it, an actual early 6.1 SRT8 with a tow bar https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Note - you'd better hurry about the SRT8 or I might buy it. It would go well with out Nautique.

Edited by TurboBlue on Saturday 22 February 19:41

[mOrtt]

A500leroy said:

Just to check you do have 'grandfather' rights or a licence to operate a vehicle (and trailer combined) over 3.5 tonnes, ( i know loads of younger caravanners who have been caught out by this)



Another suggestion landcruiser?

Thanks for checking but I have taken and passed the required test.

I’m looking for something modern with a decent interior, not truck level really.

[mOrtt]

TurboBlue said:

I've no experience of them but seeing you do such low miles you could stick with petrol and try a Jeep Grand Cherokee 6.1 or 6.4 SRT/8 - I doubt they'd be short of low down torque for towing.

Edit One: Oh, just remembered - strike that - you can't (and I mean physically can't, well maybe you can, see part III below) fit a tow bar to the earlier 6.1 SRT8 as it has a centre exhaust box; IIRC you can fit a tow-bar to the later 6.4 facelift SRT but it may be very expensive and even more rare to find.

Edit Two: yeah! 6.4SRT with a tow bar fitted: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Edit Three: yeah, again; can you believe it, an actual early 6.1 SRT8 with a tow bar https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Note - you'd better hurry about the SRT8 or I might buy it. It would go well with out Nautique.

Edited by TurboBlue on Saturday 22 February 19:41

SRT is a good shout! I assume it will be the same or worse on fuel than my 4.8 V8? Need something that can at least be mid twenties.

[TurboBlue]

I think the early 6.1 is hopeless on fuel, the extra-urban figure is quoted as 22.2mpg but the later 6.4 has cylinder deactivation and other modern tech so it can apparently do 29.4mpg on a run. I have never owned or driven neither so can't comment about the veracity of the claims!

[dynosoar]

Hi. There is a curious mixture of figures for towing capacity for the q5.
2400kg definitely is listed but there doesn’t seem to be much reasoning behind why some are 2t and some 2.2t

A

[stevemcs]

I would have thought a disco4, rrs, new disco, land cruiser would fit the bill, are amroks and ford rangers to agricultural ?

[dynosoar]

http://www.towingcapacity.co.uk/weight-limits/2500...

This site has loads of info I am not sure how accurate it is.

You can search by Max capacity which could be useful.

A

[Michaelbailey]

I'm looking at a potential tow vehicle for a track car and I came to the following conclusion for an ideal vehicle.
Air suspension is very good for towing
ATLEAST 3.0 diesel
Heavy (like you said you want it to be heavier than what you're towing)
Obviously tow capacity (for me a no brainer to get a 3.5ton capacity vehicle, peace of mind and all that)
Known strong gearbox
Nice place to be as travelling around to track days across the country and potentially across Europe
Reversing cameras nice addition for hitching up on your own etc
When looking at the options for me it became clear a range rover is genuinely a while ahead of its competitors. Heard good things about the 3.6 tdv8 and even better about the 4.4tdv8. Level of engineering is miles ahead of its competitors

[mOrtt]

Michaelbailey said:

I'm looking at a potential tow vehicle for a track car and I came to the following conclusion for an ideal vehicle.
Air suspension is very good for towing
ATLEAST 3.0 diesel
Heavy (like you said you want it to be heavier than what you're towing)
Obviously tow capacity (for me a no brainer to get a 3.5ton capacity vehicle, peace of mind and all that)
Known strong gearbox
Nice place to be as travelling around to track days across the country and potentially across Europe
Reversing cameras nice addition for hitching up on your own etc
When looking at the options for me it became clear a range rover is genuinely a while ahead of its competitors. Heard good things about the 3.6 tdv8 and even better about the 4.4tdv8. Level of engineering is miles ahead of its competitors

Same thoughts as myself then. The only real question I had was whether a diesel is the right choice when only doing 5000 miles a year. But I don't know if any petrol will be able to tow 2000kg with ease at low revs…unless newer FI petrol engines have a lot more low down grunt than an NA V8?

Wanting a tow car that weighs more than what I'm towing seems the most sensible approach but it is very limiting in options.

[Summit_Detailing]

Cayenne V8 diesel, Range Rover or Disco4 would be what was on my list if I were in your position.

I had a Disco3 TDV6 a few years back and towed farm trailers frequently - just the job!

A good friend has a petrol Range Rover and tows his track car with it, but like you misses the low down torque of a diesel so is looking to swap to a RR 3.6TDV8.

A neighbour swapped his ageing Shogun for a V8 diesel Cayenne and thinks its brilliant for towing his substantial caravan, which they seem to do frequently.

Happy shopping!

Cheers,

Chris

[Michaelbailey]

mOrtt said:

Same thoughts as myself then. The only real question I had was whether a diesel is the right choice when only doing 5000 miles a year. But I don't know if any petrol will be able to tow 2000kg with ease at low revs…unless newer FI petrol engines have a lot more low down grunt than an NA V8?

Wanting a tow car that weighs more than what I'm towing seems the most sensible approach but it is very limiting in options.

I get the point but with a heavy trailer youll work the engine. Just dont be shy with the throttle and I doubt you'll be encountering too much carbon build up etc. Has to be diesel in my view for torque and mpg

[dynosoar]

Summit_Detailing said:

Cayenne V8 diesel, Range Rover or Disco4 would be what was on my list if I were in your position.

I had a Disco3 TDV6 a few years back and towed farm trailers frequently - just the job!

A good friend has a petrol Range Rover and tows his track car with it, but like you misses the low down torque of a diesel so is looking to swap to a RR 3.6TDV8.

A neighbour swapped his ageing Shogun for a V8 diesel Cayenne and thinks its brilliant for towing his substantial caravan, which they seem to do frequently.

Happy shopping!

Cheers,

Chris

I think the Touareg, Cayenne and Q7 are all 3500kg tow limit which is pretty hefty. Mind you, they are all pretty hefty wagons anyway.

A

[Watchman]

My old ML320CDI pulled a near-2-tonne caravan with ease.

My current GL350CDI pulls even harder.

Both are rated for 3500Kg.