Low budget, back up tow vehicle.

Low budget, back up tow vehicle.

Author
Discussion

MattCharlton91

Original Poster:

325 posts

147 months

Friday 13th July 2018
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So, I'm in need of a vehicle with as big a towing capacity as possible. It will be used as my run around, and as a back up vehicle if my truck packs in. So I need to be able to tow a trailer with ballast/fencing materials on it, so not light stuff.

Im not expecting anything nice, as it will be bummed at work, just something usable. Im fairly handy with the spanners so servicing/most repairs will be done buy myself.

So far I've been looking at:
1) Lady Discovery 2's in TD5 flavour. 3500kg tow capacity, strong engine, like the way they look. I know chassis rot can be an issue so have to keep my eyes peeled.

2) D22 Navara's, had one a couple of years ago, liked it!

3) Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD. Had a Merc CLK with this engine and I liked it, not convinced of its towing ability?

4) Mitsubishi Shogun SWB - Like the look of these, don't know much about them.

5) Mitsubishi Shogun-sport - Drove one a lot, liked it, towed well, surprisingly comfy. But slow as hell and thirsty for what it is.

So! Is there anything else that would be suitable? What would you pick? Budget of £2500

ZackM

269 posts

76 months

Monday 16th July 2018
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If you don't care about badge, the Ssangyong Rexton is a great option. It can tow 3500kg.

Regardless of what some people who have never had one may say, it's a reliable, capable and affordable option.

You can find great examples for good money and they are quite nice inside too. They have a Mercedes drive train and mine has been bullet proof for the 2 years I have had it. The irony is that before it I had a Mercedes ML and that gave all sorts of headaches.

I did research online before buying a Rexton and as with most rare and unusual cars you will find a lot of people who never had one or driven one bashing it. But then find good reviews from people who actually have one, which are the opinions you should actually pay attention to.

I had never heard of it before and bought mine when I came across it and the price was the equivalent of a much older and not as luxurious SUV. But this had very low mileage, leather interior, loaded with options and the Mercedes drive train.

Given them a check.














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Edited by ZackM on Monday 16th July 14:08

KevinCamaroSS

12,287 posts

287 months

Friday 20th July 2018
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I personally would not describe the LR D2 engine as strong. Grand Cherokee gets my vote, will tow very well (I think it has about 30bhp more than a D2).

Hdj80 01

31 posts

80 months

Saturday 21st July 2018
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a daighatsu fourtrak is best for a backup. cheap, bulletproof and 3.5t towing.
D2 engine is the opposite of strong (in reliabilty terms)
Navaras snap in half if the engine doesnt blow up first.
Shoguns are okay but not as reliable as a fourtrak imo
Shogun sport is a very poorly built vehicle imo, theyve tried to build a cheap version of an already cheap vehicle


Edited by Hdj80 01 on Saturday 21st July 23:10


Edited by Hdj80 01 on Saturday 21st July 23:13


Edited by Hdj80 01 on Saturday 21st July 23:14

lornemalvo

2,459 posts

75 months

Saturday 6th October 2018
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How can a Ssangyong tow 3.5t when it weighs only 2 tonnes? And a fourtrak weighs much less? Isn't the recommended towing weight 80% ?

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

133 months

Saturday 6th October 2018
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lornemalvo said:
How can a Ssangyong tow 3.5t when it weighs only 2 tonnes? And a fourtrak weighs much less? Isn't the recommended towing weight 80% ?
There's a world of difference between "recommended" and legal - and caravanners are a bunch of over-cautious nervous nellies. Ever seen an articulated wagon? What do you think the tractor unit weighs?

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

197 months

Monday 15th October 2018
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lornemalvo said:
How can a Ssangyong tow 3.5t when it weighs only 2 tonnes? And a fourtrak weighs much less? Isn't the recommended towing weight 80% ?
How much do you think a Land Rover Defender weighs, they too have always been rated for 3.5t

ninjag

1,874 posts

126 months

Monday 15th October 2018
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TooMany2cvs said:
Ever seen an articulated wagon? What do you think the tractor unit weighs?
Yep, our tractor unit tows over 20 tonnes four times a day.