Opinions on car to pull a horsebox

TG1

I currently do about 420 km during the week, and could do anything up to 200km at the weekends. its slowly killing my 1.8 petrol mondeo, as well as my pocket!

I'm looking to change it next year for a diesel, to cut down on the fuel costs but I want something more economical that would also pull a horse box if I ever get my trailor licence.

The ideal would be a smaller car for the week and a jeep for the weekends but there's no way I can run two cars so need to find a compramise.

My budget would be an absoloute max of €8000. I'd love any ideas of what this miracle car might be!!

Long Time Lurker

Something like this ....

http://cars.donedeal.ie/view/10838547

alan partridge aha

To pull a horsebox it has to be 4WD and that will limit your options unfortunately as Long Time Lurker has posted.

aaakev

alan partridge aha wrote: »

To pull a horsebox it has to be 4WD and that will limit your options unfortunately as Long Time Lurker has posted.

It doesnt have to be 4wd Unless the op is going to be driving in fields too

CJhaughey

Start at the Horsebox and the weights involved and work back from there to see your options.
In all likelihood, the current towcar is highly likely to be not legal for towing a horsebox when loaded.
What does the Horsebox weigh on the plate?
What does the whole thing loaded weigh on a weighbridge?

Once you have those facts then the rest becomes easier as you can search for a suitable vehicle with the correct tow capability.

TG1

A fairly standard horse box weighs about a 1000kg unloaded, and my little mare is about 500.

To allow for pulling another heavier horse I'd say the max weight would be 2500 kg.

It's not that much so I'm really hoping there might be a few cars rather than jeeps that would manage it, as I really can't afford to run a jeep.

CJhaughey

You are look at something like a Santa Fe to be legal at 2500kg, no car will so that, in fact I doubt the CRV is legal at that weight, I think they are 2000kg max with the 2.2 Maybe a Kia Sorento 2.2 as another option.

Check your license covers you for B+E as well.

mullingar

+1 on the licence, no valid licence = no insurance so a minimum of a BE is a must to tow any trailer that's designed to hold a bit of weight.

Re towing weights, a lot of larger 2WD cars will tow up to 1500-2000kg. So if your car is plated to tow 1600 kg, you are fine with a dgvw trailer of say 3500kg that is 1000kg unladen + a 500kg mare.

corks finest

TG1 wrote: »

I currently do about 420 km during the week, and could do anything up to 200km at the weekends. its slowly killing my 1.8 petrol mondeo, as well as my pocket!

I'm looking to change it next year for a diesel, to cut down on the fuel costs but I want something more economical that would also pull a horse box if I ever get my trailor licence.

The ideal would be a smaller car for the week and a jeep for the weekends but there's no way I can run two cars so need to find a compramise.

My budget would be an absoloute max of €8000. I'd love any ideas of what this miracle car might be!!

Get the horse to pull the car

Squidgy Black

Santa Fe or a Nissan Xtrail would be my suggestion, both can tow up to 2000kg.

Here's a handy website with the towing limits for all vehicles http://www.uktow.com/mobile/towing%20capacities%20models.asp

mgbgt1978

CJhaughey wrote: »

<Check your license covers you for B+E as well.>

mullingar wrote: »

<+1 on the licence, no valid licence = no insurance so a minimum of a BE is a must to tow any trailer that's designed to hold a bit of weight. >

TG1 wrote: »

<I'm looking to change it next year for a diesel, to cut down on the fuel costs but I want something more economical that would also pull a horse box if I ever get my trailor licence.>

I'd say the OP has already considered the Licence aspect.

pippip

I seem to remember a lot of threads on here saying the santa fe clutch is just not up to towing.

pippip

pippip wrote: »

I seem to remember a lot of threads on here saying the santa fe clutch is just not up to towing.

Realistically towing 2000kgs you want a full fat auto 4WD.

For occassional towing an Outlander would be my choice but it won't do the longterm health of the clutch any good.

I'd also consider the likes of a 525D auto

The OP needs to me mindful of the 2000kg limits though.

HOBO123

I also am in the same situation. I need a vehicle to commute 80km a day and then to tow at the weekends. I only have a small box though, no partition and a 15.2 horse who isnt that heavy. I was told to go down the route of a suzuki grand vitara or a Kia Sportage. You might be able to get a car with the proper towing capacity but its the breaking power you also need to look at and also how sturdy would a car be if you were to break in a hurry or the undue strain on driving down a hill
I have been looking to sort this problem for over a year and after searching all options these 2 jeeps are the only 2 that seem to fit the bill for me in terms of affordability and towing ability. The tax is slightly reasonable, as is the price of communting ( borrowed a friends sportage and cost me 50e for the week) and it was able to pull my horse no problem. Hope that helps.

mullingar

All manufacturers have specified the towing weights to match the max approved capability permitted of each car/engine. This would include pulling, hill-starting and most importantly the stopping ability. No manufacturer will under specify that weight value.

As most unladen horse boxes are around 1000kg and a large horse can weigh say 600kg, thanks a 1600kg load. A diesel Mondeo afaik can pull 1800kg according to Ford. Plenty.

Don't forget you must have a BE licence or better!

TG1

Yeh, if I was only ever going to pull my own small mare I know I could get something much easier but I'd like the option of pulling two just in case.

It was also suggested to me that it might be cheaper to buy a converted van as a second vehicle and keep running my own car. The person suggesting it was saying insurance would be way cheaper on a second vehicle but I couldn't afford two new cars so I'd be stuck with my 1.8 petrol for the commute which is not easy on the pocket! I'd also be worried about the quality of the conversion as boxes are designed specifically for the weight of horses so I'd imagine would be safer.

Looking at the link posted above on towing weights though it looks like I'm looking at a jeep if I went the horse box route.

mullingar

If you are looking for a cheap bullet-proof car to tow that's manufacturer approved to tow 2000kg, look for a nice 98-05 Lexus GS300 (eg on the bangernomics thread).

I had a GS300 for 9 years and it never let me down. These are plated to tow 2000kg with a silky smooth auto-gearbox. Yes the tax is high, but these are dirt cheap to buy, have near zero depreciation, and can be easily converted to LPG to give the same fuel costs as your 1.8 petrol and your commute will be so much enjoyable with an auto.


Edit,

That Honda CR-V mentioned earlier is only plated to tow 1500kg

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/facts-and-figures/honda/cr-v/estate-2001/29945/

CJhaughey

OP you are limited to a 4x4 if you want to tow 2500kg, but thinking laterally could you run a cheap 4x4 like a Fourtrak as a second towcar?
They are not the flashiest 4x4 but they do have the ability to tow up to 3500kg
Which should see you and your horsebox safely in at 2500kg.
If you bought one at the right price then they might be affordable?
Something like one of these?
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/daihatsu-fourtrak-pick-up-galvanized-drop-sides/10931447

corks finest

CJhaughey wrote: »

OP you are limited to a 4x4 if you want to tow 2500kg, but thinking laterally could you run a cheap 4x4 like a Fourtrak as a second towcar?
They are not the flashiest 4x4 but they do have the ability to tow up to 3500kg
Which should see you and your horsebox safely in at 2500kg.
If you bought one at the right price then they might be affordable?
Something like one of these?
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/daihatsu-fourtrak-pick-up-galvanized-drop-sides/10931447

Still reckon the horse should be pulling the box,I mean,good exercise,and must be fed up sitting in the back,last 60 years,think of the diesel you'd save