Trailer options

[Old Operator]

Thanks for the insight, I am 6ft 2''. I know some Jimny owners have fitted manual front wheel hubs, as the std vacuum system can be a weak spot.
The research the late Trax did & many of the towing websites suggest a max legal all up towed weight of 2000 Kg behind any 2WD vehicle not needing a o licence. The Yeti :- well the 2WD was about 1400 Kg towing from memory, 4WD petrol 1800 Kg, 4WD Diesel 2000 / 2100 Kg dependant on the year built
I did get involved with a Yeti owners website thread on towing with them https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/434939-towing-with-a-yeti/
The consensus there seemed to be get something more industrial, they were also keen on these direct drive auto boxes - I am not at all. There are many Yeti's round here but very few of what replaced it, Yeti seems a bit of a cult car. They were also very sold on only towing 85% of the stated makers max weight. I only thought this really applied to caravans as they have a huge wind load & cornering forces that a more compact load on a trailer would not?
TBH my dad is on his last legs, & the wife has osteoarthritis & stenosis of the spine diagnosed lately, so I fear I have now left all this too late. It is good to get real world feedback on the towing vehicles & someone who has used them to move small plant. I am determined to have the Manor working at least, & am very close to this point.

 

[Russell]

What tow car of a useful capacity >2000kg achieves the best mpg?
Vin plate train and gross weight only.
Skoda yeti?
As a start I reckon my disco td5 does 20-25mpg and will pull 3500kg apparently.

 

[Powerfab]

What tow car of a useful capacity >2000kg achieves the best mpg?
Vin plate train and gross weight only.
Skoda yeti?
As a start I reckon my disco td5 does 20-25mpg and will pull 3500kg apparently.

I downsized my Disco 3 to a BMW X3 a few months back.

My criteria for a replacement to the Disco was

1. Towing capacity >2,000kg
2. 4WD
3. Automatic
4. Circa 2.0ltr for fuel economy

I narrowed it down to the following:

1. Volvo XC60
2. BMW X3
3. Volkswagen Tiguan

Any of the 3 would have done and I tested several of each. The Tiguan had best towing rating at 2,500kg, in reality it felt the least stable of them all.
The BMW has surprised, a peach of a 2ltr 4 pot, it tows better than the Discovery and returns avg >30mpg with the trailer on compared with 19mpg for the Disco.

 

[Cyberprog]

I downsized my Disco 3 to a BMW X3 a few months back.

My criteria for a replacement to the Disco was

1. Towing capacity >2,000kg
2. 4WD
3. Automatic
4. Circa 2.0ltr for fuel economy

I narrowed it down to the following:

1. Volvo XC60
2. BMW X3
3. Volkswagen Tiguan

Any of the 3 would have done and I tested several of each. The Tiguan had best towing rating at 2,500kg, in reality it felt the least stable of them all.
The BMW has surprised, a peach of a 2ltr 4 pot, it tows better than the Discovery and returns avg >30mpg with the trailer on compared with 19mpg for the Disco.

No crank to worry about snapping either.

 

[Russell]

What can the X3 tow?

 

[V8Druid]

I downsized my Disco 3 to a BMW X3 a few months back.

My criteria for a replacement to the Disco was

1. Towing capacity >2,000kg
2. 4WD
3. Automatic
4. Circa 2.0ltr for fuel economy

I narrowed it down to the following:

1. Volvo XC60
2. BMW X3
3. Volkswagen Tiguan

Any of the 3 would have done and I tested several of each. The Tiguan had best towing rating at 2,500kg, in reality it felt the least stable of them all.
The BMW has surprised, a peach of a 2ltr 4 pot, it tows better than the Discovery and returns avg >30mpg with the trailer on compared with 19mpg for the Disco.

petrol or diesel? ... what age/cost?

 

[Cyberprog]

What can the X3 tow?

The skin off a rice pudding, on a good day, with the wind behind it.

 

[Brendan]

Thanks for the insight, I am 6ft 2''. I know some Jimny owners have fitted manual front wheel hubs, as the std vacuum system can be a weak spot.
The research the late Trax did & many of the towing websites suggest a max legal all up towed weight of 2000 Kg behind any 2WD vehicle not needing a o licence. The Yeti :- well the 2WD was about 1400 Kg towing from memory, 4WD petrol 1800 Kg, 4WD Diesel 2000 / 2100 Kg dependant on the year built
I did get involved with a Yeti owners website thread on towing with them https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/434939-towing-with-a-yeti/
The consensus there seemed to be get something more industrial, they were also keen on these direct drive auto boxes - I am not at all. There are many Yeti's round here but very few of what replaced it, Yeti seems a bit of a cult car. They were also very sold on only towing 85% of the stated makers max weight. I only thought this really applied to caravans as they have a huge wind load & cornering forces that a more compact load on a trailer would not?
TBH my dad is on his last legs, & the wife has osteoarthritis & stenosis of the spine diagnosed lately, so I fear I have now left all this too late. It is good to get real world feedback on the towing vehicles & someone who has used them to move small plant. I am determined to have the Manor working at least, & am very close to this point.

Trailers under 1020kg unladen weight are exempt from o license.
For heavier unladen weight trailers if towed by a dual purpose vehicle or domestic 4x4 with unladen weights under 2040kg are also exempt.

All the above only count if it's carriage of own goods for own use and not transported as hire and reward

 

[Brendan]

What can the X3 tow?

2-2.6t dependant on spec.
Touareg can tow 3.5t also available in a 5.0 V10 diesel

 

[V8Druid]

2-2.6t dependant on spec.
Touareg can tow 3.5t also available in a 5.0 V10 diesel

Didn't Ross have one of them ??? bit thirsty IIRC

 

[Cyberprog]

Didn't Ross have one of them ??? bit thirsty IIRC

Mate had one too. Luckily he got shot before it went wrong.

 

[V8Druid]

The skin off a rice pudding, on a good day, with the wind behind it.

I downsized my Disco 3 to a BMW X3 a few months back.

My criteria for a replacement to the Disco was

1. Towing capacity >2,000kg
2. 4WD
3. Automatic
4. Circa 2.0ltr for fuel economy

I narrowed it down to the following:

1. Volvo XC60
2. BMW X3
3. Volkswagen Tiguan

Any of the 3 would have done and I tested several of each. The Tiguan had best towing rating at 2,500kg, in reality it felt the least stable of them all.
The BMW has surprised, a peach of a 2ltr 4 pot, it tows better than the Discovery and returns avg >30mpg with the trailer on compared with 19mpg for the Disco.

so what can you petrol heads tell me 'bout the X5,s seem to hold their money well .... what do they drive like? any good??

 

[Cyberprog]

The X5cs are good trucks, but for a good tow vehicle an old defender TD5 or tdci is best. Not as much to go wrong. Just get a tracker on it as their security is woeful.

 

[Brendan]

Didn't Ross have one of them ??? bit thirsty IIRC

I fancied one bit basic jobs seem to be engine out Porsche Cayenne is the same platform, a guy I know had a petrol s model or whatever the non turbo version was, towed well to be fair but potential big bills

 

[pettsy]

Had an early 2.5tdi Touareg, couldn’t fault it. I believe the later 3.0 V6 are better. Quite a bit of car for the money, and to be fair I think the facelift ones still don’t show their age

 

[Powerfab]

petrol or diesel? ... what age/cost?

Diesel Gra, and 10yrs old. Towing capacity is 2.4t
Well down on towing capability of Discovery, but needs changed. This is mainly for towing the tin tent, with the mini digger or dumper being an occasional load these days.

The Disco was a commercial model and daughter wasn't keen on the Ford Courier seat bolted in the back with no rear windows. She threatened to tell plod I was a kidnapper if ever pulled.

 

[Powerfab]

The skin off a rice pudding, on a good day, with the wind behind it.

Thanks Mate!

 

[Powerfab]

so what can you petrol heads tell me 'bout the X5,s seem to hold their money well .... what do they drive like? any good??

The X5 is a nice wagon and comparable size wise to the Disco. But they have a reputation of being a money pit, and probably a bit harder to service yourself.

I ruled them out in that they all seemed strong money for their age, plus Road Fund Licence for the year was hitting the £600 mark.

 

[V8Druid]

The X5 is a nice wagon and comparable size wise to the Disco. But they have a reputation of being a money pit, and probably a bit harder to service yourself.

I ruled them out in that they all seemed strong money for their age, plus Road Fund Licence for the year was hitting the £600 mark.

ain't they just
tha's them off the look list then

 

[V8Druid]

Diesel Gra, and 10yrs old. Towing capacity is 2.4t
Well down on towing capability of Discovery, but needs changed. This is mainly for towing the tin tent, with the mini digger or dumper being an occasional load these days.

The Disco was a commercial model and daughter wasn't keen on the Ford Courier seat bolted in the back with no rear windows. She threatened to tell plod I was a kidnapper if ever pulled.

pretty fair cap. that, for what's not really that large a vehicle