Shed dragging options - Tow car required

[Lord_Howit_Hertz]

So I lost a battle with the wife and we now have a Caravan.

As a result I need to buy a car that's only purpose will be to tow the thing. We have other cars for other duties and don't want to use these to tow.

So reluctantly looking at a shed/cheap car to fill this role. My budget is £2.5k max which I know is not grand, but the idea being starting out in the world of caravanning, we need to see if its a lifestyle we like then eventually if it works out we will upgrade both Caravan and Tow car. My thinking is with this budget the car only needs to last 12/18 months there for not the end of the world if it doesn't work out for both the car or the caravan life.

Caravan is a 6 berth, twin axle with a MTPLM of 1,588kg.

So PH please help with suggestions of a car that can take on these duties for the short term.

All help appreciated.

[Doesitdrive]

Toureg if you can f8nd a decent one.

[bangerhoarder]

Freelander 2. Plenty in budget, rough and ready. Look out for subframe rust and check if the prop shaft is disconnected as well as usual Ford platform issues (PAS rack, DMF, thermostat failing open). Good old hack.

[Krikkit]

bangerhoarder said:

Freelander 2. Plenty in budget, rough and ready. Look out for subframe rust and check if the prop shaft is disconnected as well as usual Ford platform issues (PAS rack, DMF, thermostat failing open). Good old hack.

This is a very good option

[ZX10R NIN]

R Class:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604201...

CLS:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604121...

Mondeo Titanium x:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604201...

[A500leroy]

Old X trail will be up to the job but whatever you have ved will be spicey.

[RustyNissanPrairie]

Cayenne 955, I paid £500 for mine, you can get a nice cared for example for £2500 (drug dealer tints and 22” gangsta wheel crew have dragged down Cayenne values). Only consider the V6 3.2 on coils which is the bulletproof VR6 engine. Mine does 20mpg towing.

Underneath it’s the same as a Tourareg but petrol rather than diesel.

[anonymous-user]

XC90 or any big Volvo with the D5...

[TurboBlue]

I'd suggest a SWB Shogun but £2,500 is right at the bottom of the available cars.

Only one I can see is on eBay which looks 'used'. Will have hopeless RFL and mpg will never be better than low 20's towing.

In there favour though, they are tough and capable and generally refuse to let you down regardless of what you expect from them.

[smallpaul]

PistonHeads will have you believe you need a v6 4x4 with locking differentials, air suspension and a 90 litre fuel tank when actually, you need a Skoda Superb.

[stevemcs]

smallpaul said:

PistonHeads will have you believe you need a v6 4x4 with locking differentials, air suspension and a 90 litre fuel tank when actually, you need a Skoda Superb.

Not for a 6 berth, he will want the Freelander 2 already mentioned.

[paul_c123]

ZX10R NIN said:

R Class:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604201...

CLS:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604121...

Mondeo Titanium x:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604201...

CLS can't tow at all (at least in 2nd gen version. Pretty sure it holds true for 1st gen too).

[OutInTheShed]

3 litre diesel X5 is a good tow car.
Nice place to be while towing.
Only problem will be keeping down to caravan speed limit.

[smallpaul]

stevemcs said:

smallpaul said:

PistonHeads will have you believe you need a v6 4x4 with locking differentials, air suspension and a 90 litre fuel tank when actually, you need a Skoda Superb.

Not for a 6 berth, he will want the Freelander 2 already mentioned.

Both cars are about the same weight and have the same towing capacity.

[stevemcs]

smallpaul said:

Both cars are about the same weight and have the same towing capacity.

I tow a small 2 berth with my superb, no way would I want to tow 1600kg with one, a mk4 Mondeo would be another option.

[paddy1970]

Kia Sorento

Mitsubishi Shogun

[andye30m3]

maybe a 5 series touring, i think they have 2000kg tow limit

or if in budget my old Audi a4 3.0 tdi quattro towed very well, from memory that had a 2100kg tow capacity

[TurboBlue]

Keep in mind that its usually best to buy the car with a fitted tow hook and working electrics as they are expensive to fit and frustratingly, you may find the right car only to find you can't fit a tow bar anyway. You end up having to cross reference to a site like https://www.pfjones.co.uk/tow-bars.html

[ZX10R NIN]

paul_c123 said:

CLS can't tow at all (at least in 2nd gen version. Pretty sure it holds true for 1st gen too).

Didn't know that, in which case OP take a look at the E Class:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603140...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202601289...

[paul_c123]

TurboBlue said:

Keep in mind that its usually best to buy the car with a fitted tow hook and working electrics as they are expensive to fit and frustratingly, you may find the right car only to find you can't fit a tow bar anyway. You end up having to cross reference to a site like https://www.pfjones.co.uk/tow-bars.html

Its pretty easy to check if a car can tow, if you can inspect it. Just look for the weight plate (normally in the door gap but sometimes on the slam panel under the bonnet and see that line 2 (gross combined weight) has an entry.