Discussion
At that budget Kristian, I'd go for a 2.5d BMW Engined Omega Estate. http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/VAUX...
I agree. so long as you can put up with the 'no-snob value' vauxhall badgery, and i can, its a cracking workhorse. i have a P plated 108k miler and its fine. air con, loadsa leg/head room, Huuuuge bootspace for tools parts tyres etc and is well built in germany rather than Luton. the BMW engine is good for towing my racer and trailer too.
depending on the age/condition youre looking for, mine will be up for sale soon as we have too many cars and now a van for towing with too, around 1,2k
depending on the age/condition youre looking for, mine will be up for sale soon as we have too many cars and now a van for towing with too, around 1,2k
Short wheel base isuzu trooper 3.1 TD
vary Cheap to buy a lot more reliable than any landrover and more useable everyday than a pick up. I wen from a 300Tdi defender to a brand new L200 Warrior. Wife decided she wanted an Audi so I chopped the warrior in for a late 3.0 Trooper.
The 3.1 is a bit of a truck but it will pull all day long and is bomb proof with a trailer attached.
I always maintain that cars shouldn't pull cars, always better for the tow car to be heavier than the car being towed. I also need 4WD so I am more limited.
They are very good workhorses.
N
vary Cheap to buy a lot more reliable than any landrover and more useable everyday than a pick up. I wen from a 300Tdi defender to a brand new L200 Warrior. Wife decided she wanted an Audi so I chopped the warrior in for a late 3.0 Trooper.
The 3.1 is a bit of a truck but it will pull all day long and is bomb proof with a trailer attached.
I always maintain that cars shouldn't pull cars, always better for the tow car to be heavier than the car being towed. I also need 4WD so I am more limited.
They are very good workhorses.
N
We used Discoveries for towing until we changed to a motorhome.
Still got the 300TDi Disco we used to tow with, it still gets used sometimes for towing, otherwise SWMBO uses it for work.
After seeing some of the tow cars struggling to get out of Cadwell paddock at weekend, I would be going for a 4x4.
Still got the 300TDi Disco we used to tow with, it still gets used sometimes for towing, otherwise SWMBO uses it for work.
After seeing some of the tow cars struggling to get out of Cadwell paddock at weekend, I would be going for a 4x4.
I've just bought a Toyota Colorado to replace my ageing Disco. The Toyota is more powerful and tows better, it is quieter and more comfortable and has no rust.
Down side is that it is a bit juicier and insurance is a tad higher although most of that could be down to increased value. I wouldn't go for a road car for towing as they tend to be a pain pulling away, aren't designed for the purpose and often aren't legal weight wise.
Down side is that it is a bit juicier and insurance is a tad higher although most of that could be down to increased value. I wouldn't go for a road car for towing as they tend to be a pain pulling away, aren't designed for the purpose and often aren't legal weight wise.
Edited by falcemob on Saturday 13th September 09:22
juliann said:
At that budget Kristian, I'd go for a 2.5d BMW Engined Omega Estate. http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/VAUX...
Before you buy - make sure you know the law/rules. The Omega Estate will be capable of pulling it, but weight wise, it'll be touch and go. The Omega Estate can pull a trailer with a MAM of 1700kg, BUT - I wouldn't want that trailer to weigh any more than 1200Kg.Go for something in the Chelsea Tractor range - LandCruiser, Trooper, Disco, WangeWover, Defender, Monterey, Patrol, or similar. You can pick up Nissan Patrol's for peanuts. OR.... why not look at a "double cab" Pickup, like a Nissan Navara.
The bigger the tool you use for towing, the more space you have for tools/junk.
For a PBMW you are going to have to watch the weight, the car will weigh about 1000kg, plus fuel, spare wheels etc, once you add the trailer itself you are going to be 1600 - 1700 kg which will exceed the max weight you can tow with most cars.
If you are buying a vehicle just for towing, get a van. They will do a much better job than a car, you can leave all your stuff in the back and even sleep in it if you need to, although you will still have to watch the weight!
If you are buying a vehicle just for towing, get a van. They will do a much better job than a car, you can leave all your stuff in the back and even sleep in it if you need to, although you will still have to watch the weight!
Edited by 1 on Saturday 13th September 11:15
mat205125 said:
4x4's are horrible to tow with, and drink fuel too.
A big saloon like an Omega or old 5 series would be much much better.
??A big saloon like an Omega or old 5 series would be much much better.
Cars by their nature don't weigh as much as the combined trailer and vehicle they need to tow (generally) They also don't have the low down grunt needed to tow, they also don't have the low first gear and if need be the Low ratio Box needed to tow.
A Land Rover or similar Jap SWB 4X4 are certificated as able to tow 2700kg upwards. A car may pull 1500kg as a max. most twin car trailers weigh approx 600kg so unless you are pulling something like an MG midget you need to be very carefull about what you load up with. as for fuel economy, my experience is that a 4x4 working in its design perameters will still return good MPG. I still get aprox 24-26mpg at 70mph (sorry 60mph Mr plod)
cars are good for getting garden trailers to the tip quickly but pulling loads, forget it.
N.
Appreciate your points, and agree that the towing weight of a 4x4 is a definite bonus.
I was probably a bit harsh to say they are rubbish, rather I should clarify that my personal preference for motorway towing is a large saloon (where the weight is low enough of course). They just "feel" more stable when pressing on at a good rate of Leptons, but would concede that "feeling" and "being" safer and more stable are not necessarily the same.
On a slight tangent, what is the total combined weight that can be driven on a car licence? Does loading over 3.5t cause issues?
I was probably a bit harsh to say they are rubbish, rather I should clarify that my personal preference for motorway towing is a large saloon (where the weight is low enough of course). They just "feel" more stable when pressing on at a good rate of Leptons, but would concede that "feeling" and "being" safer and more stable are not necessarily the same.
On a slight tangent, what is the total combined weight that can be driven on a car licence? Does loading over 3.5t cause issues?
We've used Land Rover Series 3s, Defenders, Discoverys and Range Rovers to tow our cars over the years. Range Rovers don't struggle at all even with cars over a tonne. Our Disco towed our 2.3 tonne Phantom home from Sheffield.
A good friend of ours who is an Engineer of international renown said the best cars for towing are G-Wagens because of the way they are constructed. He has towed hundreds of vintage Rolls Royces all over the country.
A good friend of ours who is an Engineer of international renown said the best cars for towing are G-Wagens because of the way they are constructed. He has towed hundreds of vintage Rolls Royces all over the country.
1 said:
mat205125 said:
On a slight tangent, what is the total combined weight that can be driven on a car licence? Does loading over 3.5t cause issues?
If you passed your test before 1997 you are allowed a train weight upto 8.25t. 
Thanks for your reply BTW. Nice one 1!
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