4 x 4 or not as a good towing vehicle

marshun
marshun Forum Participant Posts: 5
edited May 2016 in Towcars & Towing #1

We have an 1800 KG caravan (when loaded) and we looking for a second hand tow vehicle.  The vehicle needs to be diesel and manual but large enough to be at least 5 seater if not 7, having been in some very steep hills it would need to have some off road
capability or rear wheel drive.  Look forward to some comments and experiences

Comments

  • mjh2014
    mjh2014 Forum Participant Posts: 130
    edited May 2016 #2

    We tow our big, heavy, old caravan with a big, heavy, old Discovery TD5. It will pull anything anywhere (even over Holme Moss following satnav, oops); our 1800 kg van sits square behind, steady as a rock. Insurance is slightly more for the 7-seater, self-levelling
    air suspension is brilliant (avoid springs) and it always tows level. Rated towing capacity is 3.5 tonnes, it has 4 wheel drive and switchable hill descent. Ours is a 2000; facelift model is slightly more desirable, available up to 2004, Sunroofs tend to leak.
    As with all old second hand cars, buyer beware, old discos can also be a money pit, check rear subframe and avoid modified vehicles. We took 8 months to find ours... your budget may be larger Happy

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2016 #3

     .....  The vehicle needs to be .... manual but  ....

    Why? Innocent  ..... 

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited May 2016 #4

     .....  The vehicle needs to be .... manual but  ....

    Why? Innocent  ..... 

    Why 2?

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #5

    Why? x3

    Mitsi Shogun, Toyota Landcruiser, LR Discovery or Range Rover, previous model Kia Sorento, one of the twin cab pick-ups....... the list goes on. Take your pick. Get out there and start test driving.

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2016 #6

    All good suggestions from Tinners above.

    May I add to it the Volvo XC90.....it has 7 seats, some off road ability and is available with a diesel engine.....and is the best tow vehicle we have owned (and it followed a Jeep Grand Cherokee and a Toyota Landcruiser).

    Definitely go for the automatic though.......unless you have three legs to work the foot-operated parking brake!

  • marshun
    marshun Forum Participant Posts: 5
    edited May 2016 #7

    Many thanks for your comments, but didnt realise the MTPLM was incorrect its 1700 loaded, so perhaps the gas guzzlers and expensive cars may not be for us.  Must add as pensioners we have a limited budget, still please comment

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #8

    At 1700kg (or even 1500) I'd still stick to the suggestions given.  The gas guzzling thing is a myth. Do some checking and you could be surprised. Even if a bigger car costs a few £s more to run it is likely to need fewer repairs than a smaller car that's
    overworked by towing a heavy load. Think safety as well - a bigger tug will provide a safer tow than a smaller car towing a heavy caravan and that is definitely a heavy caravan

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2016 #9

    A nice big, heavy car also makes for far more relaxed towing.

  • Bluemalaga
    Bluemalaga Forum Participant Posts: 936
    edited May 2016 #10

    We had very good service from our Freelander 2 automatic followed by a disco 4. The freelander will not break the bank and does about 25mpg when towing the 1500 van. The disco was a more comfortable towcar due to the extra weight and at 3 litre V6 auto would
    tow anywhere at slightly better mpg than the freelander when towing, but not as economical when solo. While waiting for our next tow car to arrive, we used a lighter 2.2 diesel car and although it towed ok, it was not such a pleasant journey. Why go manual
    when new automatics have 6/7 or8 speed boxes and so much easier to drive.

  • mjh2014
    mjh2014 Forum Participant Posts: 130
    edited May 2016 #11

    We found that the caravan was definitely in charge downhill when towing with a Freelander, hence the change to the Discovery. We generally get around 38 mpg with the Disco, less when towing, but not dreadful... 

  • flatcoat
    flatcoat Forum Participant Posts: 1,571
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    edited May 2016 #12

    The XC90 auto is notorious for expensive g/box problems. And, can the op give some idea of budget to help? 

  • Heethers
    Heethers Forum Participant Posts: 641
    500 Comments
    edited May 2016 #13

    Shogun every the time, had 3 in last 20 odd years a bit thirsty but hey it does what it says on the tin. Pick good Shoguns up for less than 3K

  • k9sam
    k9sam Forum Participant Posts: 76
    edited June 2016 #14

    Disco 3 manual...........brilliant??

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,675 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #15

    We've found our various Discovery's to be good towing vehicles, but my personal choice would be for an automatic gearbox.  However, my own experience is that, unlike mjh2014, I tend to get about 28 mpg overall and less on a towing run - and I thought I was
    a fairly economical driver!

    David 

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2016 #16

    Disco 3 manual...........brilliant??

    Undecided surely one pedal too many ..... Innocent

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