Cheap 4x4 for cattle trailer and caravan

[Ltec]

As above what options is available in 3 to 4 thousand pounds. 5 max.
I dont want it too rough for towing caravan but needs to pull about 3 ton.
Discovery mk2?
Discovery mk3
Shogun?
Mk1 sorento is too rotten as axles can't be repaired.
I thought the disco 2 might hold its money and easy to get parts for.
What is most reliable.
I know nothing about shogun apart from reading about crazy prices for fuel pumps. Are 2004 for eg rotten in them now too.
Is disco 3 too unreliable as will only be used occasionally?

[ZX10R NIN]

A Grand Cherokee is a good pick they have the 3.0d drivetrain from the ML which are reliable & you can get one with sensible miles on too:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101248...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012297...

[tr7v8]

Grand Cherokee would be my choice as well.

[Rushjob]

Discovery 2 prices are starting to rise......

[Ltec]

I know nothing about cherokee. Are they all automatic?
Yes discoverys prices seem to be rising.
I think its due to of lack of anything to replace this part of the market.

[ZX10R NIN]

Yes they are all auto, why is that a problem?

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Saturday 30th January 10:21

[Walter Sobchak]

Landcruiser 120 Series or Colorado.

Disco 2s ok but rust, Disco 3 and FFRR nice cars and very capable but you have to keep on top of maintenance and skip anything that’s missed servicing and gearbox oil changes, make sure the cam belts had been done on a D3 2.7 TDV6.

Wouldn’t bother with a Shogun personally, there’s the fuel pump issue, they’re heavy on fuel and the one I had wasn’t reliable at all, it may have just been a bad one but personally I’d rather take my chance with a Land Rover, the Toyota would be the best bet though.

Also wouldn’t discount the Touareg or even an early ML.

[Ltec]

ZX10R NIN said:

Yes they are all auto, why is that a problem?

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Saturday 30th January 10:21

I never owned an auto before. I was always afraid of them. 90% of auto gearboxes gave trouble and ended up costing a lot to replace and were always harder to run.

[Ltec]

Walter Sobchak said:

Landcruiser 120 Series or Colorado.

Disco 2s ok but rust, Disco 3 and FFRR nice cars and very capable but you have to keep on top of maintenance and skip anything that’s missed servicing and gearbox oil changes, make sure the cam belts had been done on a D3 2.7 TDV6.

Wouldn’t bother with a Shogun personally, there’s the fuel pump issue, they’re heavy on fuel and the one I had wasn’t reliable at all, it may have just been a bad one but personally I’d rather take my chance with a Land Rover, the Toyota would be the best bet though.

Also wouldn’t discount the Touareg or even an early ML.

Maintenance and repair cost wise which would be best?
I've seen a lot of Toyota been ok one year and the next year being that rotten that they were broke.
Never thought of a touareg or ml Mercedes. Would repair costs for these 2 not not be high.

[ZX10R NIN]

Ltec said:

I never owned an auto before. I was always afraid of them. 90% of auto gearboxes gave trouble and ended up costing a lot to replace and were always harder to run.

The whole drivetrain is well proven (it's exactly the same engine & gearbox that's in the ML) & reliable, if you get either the Grand Cherokee or ML budget £250-300 to get the gearbox fluid & filters changed.

In fact I'd budget to replace all the oil in the diff's & transfer cases of whatever you buy as they'll probably all be due, especially if you plan on pulling 3 tons regularly.

Also if you're towing livestock they'll appreciate the smoother shifts

[Walter Sobchak]

Ltec said:

Maintenance and repair cost wise which would be best?
I've seen a lot of Toyota been ok one year and the next year being that rotten that they were broke.
Never thought of a touareg or ml Mercedes. Would repair costs for these 2 not not be high.

If the chassis is solid on the one you buy, wax oil and forget, Landcruisers are very tough mechanically and quite simple to work on for stuff like cam belts.

The older Merc ML is pretty reliable and tough, not as capable off road as a Toyota/Disco/Range Rover but not miles behind them either.
Only thing I know to be a real weak point on them is the injectors in the 270 CDI engine but not the end of the world, and of course as is standard for all Mercs of that age, rust.

[TiminYorkshire]

Rushjob said:

Discovery 2 prices are starting to rise......

Are they rising faster than mine is rusting is the question?

Out of interest what's behind this statement, I'm genuinely interested and hope it's true!

[Rushjob]

TiminYorkshire said:

Are they rising faster than mine is rusting is the question?

Out of interest what's behind this statement, I'm genuinely interested and hope it's true!

I paid £1850 for mine 2 years ago, a clean 128k mile 1999 Auto, new MOT and just having had £800 spent on it for service and brakes etc. Even for no MOT now folks are actually getting £1800 to £2K and for a clean car with less than 150K miles they're fetching high £2K's and into £3K plus. Anything really nice and folks want £4K+ and they seem to be getting it!! It's now cheaper to get into an early D3 than a late D2.