??? - Towing a horse box

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Fri 16 Sep 2011 22:52
??? - Towing a horse box - ash86
Hi am wondering if any one can help me, am currently driving a mini, and am now having to up date my car to something that can toe a horse box but I have no idear where to start am only 25 and don't want a huge car(4x4) but something big enough to pull and also need something economical has anyone any suggestions
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Fri 16 Sep 2011 23:22
??? - Towing a horse box - RT

As you're only 25 and therefore passed your driving test after 1/1/1997, you'll be subject to towing restriction unless you've also passed a Towing Test.

With only a B group on your licence, you'll be restricted to towing a trailer which when laden doesn't exceed 100% of your car's kerbweight AND the gross weights of the car and trailer together mustn't exceed 3500kg.

This would give a maximum laden weight for the trailer of about 1500kg which would be towed by a car of kerbweight about 1500kg with gross weight about 2000kg. There is a recommendation for beginners not to tow at more than 85% but this isn't legally enforceable - for this a 1600kg kerbweight car (2100kg gross) and trailer 1400kg gross would be about the maximum.

The above numbers are slightly fuzzy because car payloads vary.

Your conundrum will be that if your car exceeds 1500kg kerbweight, the trailer weight has to come down to meet the 3500kg outfit limit but equally if the car is below 1500kg, that'll limit your trailer by the 100% limit.

The Subaru Outback might suit your needs, in it's diesel form.

Edited by RT on 16/09/2011 at 23:22

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Fri 16 Sep 2011 23:57
??? - Towing a horse box - gordonbennet

Obviously you'll get the required licence to tow as detailed in the post above.

There's good reason most horsey people use 4x4's and it's not just the towing weight and image.

A twin axle horse trailer though stable (here we go again;) for towing purposes will shake the back of a normal car to pieces, if you are prepared to find an old Volvo or Mercedes estate, they'll probably stand it but won't have 4WD capability for towing off the road....FWD only will get stuck in a puddle whilst towing.

Pulling away uphill with a ton and half of trailer and one nag, nigh on two tons with two nags, will sort a car clutch out in not time too.

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Sat 17 Sep 2011 16:15
??? - Towing a horse box - ash86
Thanks yea will still need to do the Test for pulling a horse box but my dad can drive it until I pass, thanks I will look into it .
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Sun 18 Sep 2011 22:52
??? - Towing a horse box - Red Baron

You would be surprised at how 'small' a car can tow a horse box. That's the easy bit. Some years ago I towed a double 'box loaded with straw bales across a stubble field using a 1.6 Seirra. The same car could tow the 'box with one horse in it. No problem as long as everything is going smoothly. The wheels spun a bit going up-hill across the field. The clutch smoked just getting it up the drive.

I would not do that now.

It is when things go wrong that you need a big enough car. Even a Kia Sportage (4x4) struggles to slow down when pulling a double horse box with two horse on board because the trailer and load are heavier than the car. You can feel the trailer moving the car about.

If you want to tow anything big across a field, be it caravan or horse box, you need 4x4. Full stop.

I now use a Freelander 2.

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Sun 18 Sep 2011 22:57
??? - Towing a horse box - jamie745

And a proper 4x4 as well not one of them pretend 4x4's like the X5 or Nissan Qashqai.

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Mon 19 Sep 2011 10:43
??? - Towing a horse box - Ethan Edwards

Buy an Ex Army Landy 110. Cheap as chips, clasic vehicle insurance. Tow anything.

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Mon 19 Sep 2011 11:55
??? - Towing a horse box - pugswhdi

I agree that if you are towing big trailers 4wd (with suitable tyres) is hard to beat. This is even more the case if you need to head away from proper surfaced roads. Subarus are fantastic cars but my experience is that SUVs tend to be better suited to heavy towing. Horses are heavy towing and pound for pound in my experience is that Nissan Terranos are cheap, strong and capable of huge mileages (in 2.7 diesel form). You'll get 25-30mpg with a 2.7 diesel and it's your choice between long wheel base (5 door) for a better tow car but also quite a large car or short wheel base (3 door) which is a bit choppy when towing but which may suit you more overall taking account for it's non towing duties.

Land Rovers are much cooler (disco and county) but as you've got horses you won't have enough time left to keep on top of LR niggles.

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