Jeep for pulling a horse box

aoifemcd

Apologies if this thread has been done a million times over...looking for some suggestions from people more in the know than me!

I'm looking to try and get a second hand jeep that would be suitable for pulling a double horsebox with at least one if not two heavy horses in it. I don't know their exact weights but I'm thinking in and around the 600kg mark each.

I know I could be looking at a lot here and I'm probably limiting myself in that I don't have the hugest of budgets - approx €4000 but if need be I'd save for another while as it's not urgent.

I'd prefer an economical jeep and a small enough engine (around 2.0l if possible) I've looked at ads and so far I've seen Suzuki grand vitaras and land rover freelanders which seem to be falling around my budget for 04 reg.

Anyone got any reviews of these two jeeps or suggestions of any other ones that would do my job?

Thanks!

bazz26

I'm no expert with pulling trailers but I'd say you would want to be looking at something bigger like a Mitsubishi Pajaro, Isuzu Trooper or Toyota Landcruiser to pull a horsebox. Unfortunately these type 4x4s are neither economical or available with small 2.0 litre engines, most of them are 2.5 to 3.0 litre. Also on a budget of €4k you could be looking at tired examples of them.

Maybe someone else here has more knowledge though.

Mycroft H

You'll struggle to find any economical jeep for that price. They'll all do 30-40mpg and about half that when towing.

JonKelleher

I have a Porsche Cayenne - highly recommend them, great pulling power and comfort.

Mycroft H

JonKelleher wrote: »

I have a Porsche Cayenne - highly recommend them, great pulling power and comfort.

Point me in the direction of a Porsche Cayenne for 4k?

aoifemcd

Thanks for the replies. I appreciate that the mpg will fall drastically with such a heavy load on the back, but because I would only be pulling a box for the summer months I was hoping to find a reasonably economical jeep for regular driving.
Unfortunately right now a land cruiser or trooper are just to big for me

visual

The 2 liter 4x4 dont have the ability to pull heavy trailers. Most are struggling to just push themselves down the road.

You really need a full size 4x4.

Jeep Grand Cherokee, Range Rover, Discovery,
Dmax Toyota land cruiser to name a few.

I recommend a diesel auto with 4 wheel drive for horse boxes as there will be times your on soft ground. High low box would be useful

if you only got 4 k to spend then look at a Jeep for 2 to 3 k and keep the 1 k for unexpected repairs.

4 tyres will eat up 1k.

buy one with NCT or DOE and don't get taken in with excuses needs nothing will fly through test nonsense

JonKelleher

aoifemcd wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. I appreciate that the mpg will fall drastically with such a heavy load on the back, but because I would only be pulling a box for the summer months I was hoping to find a reasonably economical jeep for regular driving.
Unfortunately right now a land cruiser or trooper are just to big for me

Cayenne is very economical, providing your not putting the foot down too much

GE90

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/05-kia-sorento-high-spec-with-nct/6693683

visual

Mycroft H wrote: »

Point me in the direction of a Porsche Cayenne for 4k?

Even if you found one for 4k it never get it's self out of a wet grass field.

GE90

JonKelleher wrote: »

I have a Porsche Cayenne - highly recommend them, great pulling power and comfort.

JonKelleher wrote: »

Cayenne is very economical, providing your not putting the foot down too much

I think you might want to read the op again. If you want to show off your jeep post a pic over in http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=314368

coylemj

JonKelleher wrote: »

I have a Porsche Cayenne - highly recommend them, great pulling power and comfort.

For pulling chicks or trailers?

I don't think I've ever seen a Cayenne with a towbar, let alone actually pulling anything.

wildefalcon

Also, watch that the tow vehicle is rated to tow the weight of the box & horses - the Gardai are clamping down on this recently. For a double box and two horses you'd be wanting something that can tow the 2 tonne mark.

Very few of the soft-roaders (Freelander Rav4 etc)are rated this high. Check that the GTVW Gross train Vehicle Weight is 2000kg higher than the combined weights of the two axles, it should be on a plate in the engine compartment.

And, on the legal side - make sure you have a trailer licence, again the Gardai are hot on this at the moment.


In honesty you'll be looking at an older bigger vehicle for that price range - Shogun/Discovery/Land Cruiser - and you will pay at the pumps!

eire-kp

Don't forget about the trailer license aswell!

Mycroft H

You'd pick up a clean discovery mk2 for about 2,000 Euros. Plenty of power for towing and easy to live with on a day to day basis.

CiniO

You are probably talking about 2000 - 2500kg gross trailer weight.
For towing this a transit van would do just fine. Much cheaper to buy and maintenance than 4x4.

aoifemcd

Thanks all.

Licence will be sorted before the jeep is bought. It's not worth the risk to pull a box without one. I am currently insured on another powerful car with a towbar and enough towing capacity for the test using a smaller trailer so I am not in a major panic to get the jeep. Unfortunately the car just couldn't pull a box for me!

It's looking like I'll have to save for a bit longer and look at something bigger. I had really hoped to steer clear of the bigger engines but I'd rather have a bigger engine than destroy another jeep or God forbid have an accident because it's not strong enough.

Thanks everyone for your help!

pafro

visual wrote: »

Even if you found one for 4k it never get it's self out of a wet grass field.

Got experience?

pafro

coylemj wrote: »

For pulling chicks or trailers?

I don't think I've ever seen a Cayenne with a towbar, let alone actually pulling anything.

Reason for that is the towbar is removable.

Del2005

aoifemcd wrote: »

Thanks all.

Licence will be sorted before the jeep is bought. It's not worth the risk to pull a box without one. I am currently insured on another powerful car with a towbar and enough towing capacity for the test using a smaller trailer so I am not in a major panic to get the jeep. Unfortunately the car just couldn't pull a box for me!


Thanks everyone for your help!

Make sure that the trailer you have is suitable for the EB test.

waxon-waxoff

A Kia Sorento would be a good option for towing. Good bit cheaper than a landcruiser or pajero to buy and run. I have an 05 commercial automatic for the last year and i've had no problems at all.

visual

pafro wrote: »

Got experience?

Try it out for yourself, try driving up a wet grass slope

pafro

visual wrote: »

Try it out for yourself, try driving up a wet grass slope

No problem with my one. Low range and lock diff. Also air suspension in case needed