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AkramGold
Gold Member
England
843 Posts |
 Posted - 15 Apr 2007 : 8:14:51 PM
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Im looking for a trailer to get out and about this summer so sadly having to give up my car for something that will tow. I have been reading lately that some of the newer cars i.e. golfs and audis are quite capable of towing one horse and a trailer which is about 1,400 kg. Wondered if anyone had done so not sure I want to go the 4 wheel route after the new tax thing. Tnx 
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Vera
Membership Moderator
United Kingdom
8652 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2007 : 8:29:30 PM
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IMHO a car is simply not safe enought to tow with. Its not pulling power that it is the problem, it is stopping. A car will be pushed by a trailer whereas a 4x4 has the weight to stop much quicker and under control. Mainly because other car drivers simply MUST be in front of a trailer and just have to jump in front of you no matter how much room and stopping distance you've left yourself.
Another thing to think about the lighter the trailer the more it will feel the holes and bumps in the road, this is turn will be felt in the car and by the horse. Another reason for having something sturdy in front.
I used to tow with a car for years - a 2ltr Cavalier SRi and had no problems but now towing with a Discovery the difference is amazing. I will never go back to towing with a car.
Vera and Dennis |
    
Hampshire |
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Sadika
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3520 Posts |
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anne
Gold Member
England
877 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2007 : 9:08:01 PM
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All cars have a towing limit I personally tow an Ifor williams trailer with an N reg 2.8 shogan but what ever car you are interested in check what the towing limit is for that model.
Also remember that you will often have to two on fields sometimes muddy and not flat so the 4 x 4 capability in some ways is a must
An older car as far as I aware is not hit as much for car tax but don't quote me on that
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Nuttybabez
Gold Member
England
522 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2007 : 9:21:17 PM
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| I use a Discovery to tow my Ifor Williams and it does the job brilliantly. |
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Arachnid
Platinum Member
England
1872 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2007 : 08:27:55 AM
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| I have a single trailer that I used to tow with my car and it was fine unless the ground was muddy or wet and then we had problems. Certainly the car was up to the towing weight of the single trailer and one small Arab. It was a Toyota Carina. I have since swapped it for a Suberu Forrester which still looks like a car but is four wheel drive so we dont have the same issues with boggy surfaces. So yes you can, as long as its a heavy car with a big engine, but quite often you are not towing on a road so it is handy to have the four wheel drive. |
   
West Sussex |
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Cassie
Gold Member
England
781 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2007 : 09:27:41 AM
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I tow with a Saab 9-5 3 litre it can tow 1800 and its fine and a friend of mine has been told she can tow with a volkswagon it can tow 1500.
Christine |
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AkramGold
Gold Member
England
843 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2007 : 3:02:20 PM
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Thanks for all ur advice I think I will go the 4x4 option and deal with the tax thing - horrible government  |
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Debbie
Gold Member
United Kingdom
1138 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2007 : 4:48:11 PM
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| Although nowadays I tow with a long wheel based landrover, I did used to tow a Ifor williams 510 with 2 Arabs on with my trusty old volvo estate. It was fabulous, but did groan on any small country lanes with steep hills. I used to panic if I knew I would meet someone half way, as it was very very difficult to pull away. |
Debbie
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ashquar
Silver Member
England
281 Posts |
Posted - 17 Apr 2007 : 10:20:51 AM
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The tax thing is for vehicles produced after March 2001, if they are before March 2001 then they are still PLG. The taxation is on co2 emissions now. It gives you alot of information on the DVLA website.
I have sold my horsebox and bought a 1989 4 ltr petrol Range Rover. I am going to have it converted to gas which is a lot cheaper with no loss of power. The road tax for this is £ 180.
Hope this helps |
  
www.arabianrosettes.co.uk |
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daveclock
New Member
27 Posts |
Posted - 17 Apr 2007 : 1:01:13 PM
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The issue about towing is only one about the weight of trailer AND the load it is carrying. Every vehicle will have maufacturers set limits for a trailer without brakes and a higher figure with brakes. All horse trailers produced in recent years have brakes so the higher figure applies. Clearly if it has brakes then the weight of the trailer is not a significant issue in stopping as one respondednt suggests. Four wheel drive can be an asset but with over 20 years of towing both horse trailers and caravans I have never needed 4 wheel drive in nay situation, though at times I did come close. Two significant disadvantages to 4x4s are evident. Fuel consumption is much higher at all times. I certainly don't wish to pay to transport in 2 tons of steel and its ancillary 4 wheel drive system around day in day out just so when I tow it MIGHT get me out of a muddy field. Secondly the centre of gravity on a 4x4 is considerably higher and in difficult situation the trailer can get unstable and 4x4s are more prone to being pulled over. I know 2 horse trailers that rolled on their side and both were pulled by 4x4s. A classic scene on the Police, Camera, Action shows a Land Rover Discovery rolling in its side when a Caravan it was towing became unstable.
I actually use an old Mondeo diesel. Ecomomical but hard work up hills. Arachnids Subaru Forrester or an Audi A4 Quattro or indeed any of the mainstream cars with a diesel and 4 wheel drive would be the best compromise. |
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KittyB
Silver Member
United Kingdom
295 Posts |
Posted - 17 Apr 2007 : 1:57:33 PM
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| Like Vera, I used to tow my Ifor Williams with a 2.0l cavalier with no problems but since buying a (very old) Range Rover 2 years ago I wouldn't ever want to go back to towing with a normal car. I've found the stability and feeling of safety you get towing with something that's nowhere near its capacity (3500kg) is great. I always used to be very nervous of towing, though never any accidents (touch wood), but now am fine with it. The car dealer we went to when we were looking at a Subaru as an alternative actually said in his opinion that it's not good to tow to full capacity. Always try and leave some over for emergency situations. I know the RR will get me out of most things, plus it makes for a large, long presence on the road and I find that other vehicles, including those annoying people who try to overtake all the time and cut you up, actually give you a lot more room. |
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