Recommendations for something to tow 2-horse float....

[jsp]

The sister in law called up and asked about 4wd's, and I don't have enough background to make an informed response. She has recently bought a property and now needs something to regularly pull a 2 horse float, with her, hubby and two kids.

Needs to be fairly reliable, simple, fairly easy to get serviced, as they will be about 20 mins drive to the nearest town in country VIC.

I am mad about rangies but wouldn't recommend one to her at all.

Budget is 15k, can stretch to 17.5k if there's something very good. She's happy with 4wd or twincab.

Doesn't need to do off road, purely for pulling a fair size two horse float with trotting cart etc on the back, which I would assume comes in well under the standard 3.5t most things seem to have as standard.

advice? I see lots of Paj's, Jeeps and disco's on carsales......

[driftwagon]

Can't speak for a rangie. But I have a D2 with SLS and the father inlaw hates me cause it tows better than his brand new pathfinder. I looked at a few 4wd and the discovery was the best in my mind. Value for money wise pick a good TD5 for those dollars

[isuzurover]

Nissan GU Patrol. Preferably with TD42 engine.

[superquag]

GU Patrol, petrol or diesel.

The one I use to tow a 3+ tonne load does it with minimal fuss, (trailer brakes would be nice, though...) and gets 4km/l. - makes my 3.9 V8 look embarrassing at 6km/l UNloaded...

[BMKal]

Disco 2 - td5 for me, any day of the week. ;)

[Redback]

Nissan GU Patrol. Preferably with TD42 engine.


GU Patrol, petrol or diesel.

The one I use to tow a 3+ tonne load does it with minimal fuss, (trailer brakes would be nice, though...) and gets 4km/l. - makes my 3.9 V8 look embarrassing at 6km/l UNloaded...

GU Patrol for $15,000 to $17,000:eek:

Early petrol model maybe, but not a turbo diesel and especially not the 4.2TD.

Pajero, Nissan Pathfinder will do the job and will be closer do the price they have budgeted for, Ford Ranger and Triton Dualcabs are around that budget also and good towing power.

Baz.

[p38arover]

Too bad you don't want a Rangie. I know a bloke down your way with a P38A on LPG, and he's only wanting $1,800 for it.

In fact, it's in the AULRO markets. :angel:

[Bigbjorn]

A County with 4BD1T if fuel usage worries you or a Chev 5.7 if not. Even better, if towing is your principal consideration, get one of the big US 4WD pickups with huge diesel engine. A Dodge with Cummins is probably no.1 and A GM with Duramax No.2. Both well outside your price range though, but you wont get a better passenger carrying tug.

[isuzurover]

GU Patrol for $15,000 to $17,000:eek:

Early petrol model maybe, but not a turbo diesel and especially not the 4.2TD.

.

there are plenty of 3l gu's for sale sub 17k.

[Redback]

there are plenty of 3l gu's for sale sub 17k.

Only early model grenades that I could find, I wouldn't wish one of those on anyone:cool:

TD42s start around $30,000 from my searching of Carsales.

Baz.

[Sue]

Doesn't need to do off road, purely for pulling a fair size two horse float with trotting cart etc on the back, which I would assume comes in well under the standard 3.5t most things seem to have as standard.



Yep the float and trotting cart will come in under the 3.5t as you said.. but bear in mind that the 'average' horse weighs up to 750kgs.. x 2 in a float.

I'm only mentioning it as a friend was all set recently to tow a two horse float with two warmbloods (very big horses) in it up the Toowoomba range - behind her Rav4 :eek: And believe me it took some talking to get her to reconsider and change her mind about doing it. She hadn't considered the weight of the horses when she said she would do it, she just thought of the float weight. Just something to bear in mind when purchasing something.. as not al cars have a 3.5t tow capacity and that would be what I suggest is what your SIL should be aiming for. :)

[jsp]

Yep the float and trotting cart will come in under the 3.5t as you said.. but bear in mind that the 'average' horse weighs up to 750kgs.. x 2 in a float.

Thanks for that yes, I think they are mad, my wife's family has been in horses for generations and currently they are used to pulling a smaller two horse float with a falcon sedan :eek: I am well aware of how much an unhappy horse can throw a vehicle around the road at speed.

No one has mentioned the jeep word, are they that bad?

Ron, cheap P38? Its me that's going to get the phone call 900 kilometres away when the darn thing throws an EAS fault! :o

[isuzurover]

Only early model grenades that I could find, I wouldn't wish one of those on anyone:cool:

TD42s start around $30,000 from my searching of Carsales.

Baz.

You must suck at searching. I found this in about 10s.
GU TD42 Wagon for $17500
1999 4.2L Nissan Patrol 4x4 Diesel Wagon | Cars, Vans & Utes | Gumtree Australia Bunbury Area - Bunbury 6230 | 1051756627 (http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/bunbury-6230/cars-vans-utes/1999-4-2l-nissan-patrol-4x4-diesel-wagon/1051756627)

However for the intended use a GQ in VGC would be fine as well.

[Redback]

You must suck at searching. I found this in about 10s.
GU TD42 Wagon for $17500
1999 4.2L Nissan Patrol 4x4 Diesel Wagon | Cars, Vans & Utes | Gumtree Australia Bunbury Area - Bunbury 6230 | 1051756627 (http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/bunbury-6230/cars-vans-utes/1999-4-2l-nissan-patrol-4x4-diesel-wagon/1051756627)

However for the intended use a GQ in VGC would be fine as well.

I don't think I do, considering the car in that add is a 4.2l Petrol:p

Read dual fuel in the add;)

[isuzurover]

I don't think I do, considering the car in that add is a 4.2l Petrol:p

Read dual fuel in the add;)

You also suck at reading and comprehension it seems?



Fuel Type:
Diesel

...

4.2L Nissan Patrol Diesel Wagon -...

Duel Fuel Tanks...

I await your apology.

[Dizza]

I tow the younger sisters twin float with her thoroughbred and a smaller pony with my 300tdi disco :p

It aint quick but it works!
Im sure a td5 Disco would go pretty well

[Sue]

Thanks for that yes, I think they are mad, my wife's family has been in horses for generations and currently they are used to pulling a smaller two horse float with a falcon sedan :eek: I am well aware of how much an unhappy horse can throw a vehicle around the road at speed.

No one has mentioned the jeep word, are they that bad?



I think you'l find that most of the older jeeps have a shocking tow rating (the amount they are legally allowed to tow).. and I can just about guarantee that the falcon would not be legally towing the float with two horses in it.. yeah it'll do it (I did it for years before they bought in the tow ratings) but it'll be at the expense of the car, safety, any insurance claims she may try to make that occur while she has the float on. :)

[pop058]

IIRC, the best figures for any Falcon is 2300 Kg and this is an auto.

[dullbird]

What about a defender?

[Outback 1]

td5 d2 or our other tow vehicle is a 2008 ranger dual cab pulls the float loaded no problems

[chopper]

td5 d2 or our other tow vehicle is a 2008 ranger dual cab pulls the float loaded no problems

don't use 5th gear

[Redback]

You also suck at reading and comprehension it seems?



I await your apology.

OK, OK you win Ben, bastard:p I apologise.

It might not suit the bill, from memory the manual only has a 2500kg tow capacity, that might be worth looking into, a horse float and two horses are up around the 3000kg mark.

[Outback 1]

don't use 5th gear

Why it's never been a problem with ours

Sent from my GT-S7275Y using AULRO mobile app

[frantic]

The jeep grand cherokee, 05/6 to 2011 last model would be good for purpose, they are around the 15-20k price and you have a choice of v8 petrol or v6 tdi.
There where 2 in carsales a 3.0 td and a 4.7 v8 around or just over (18-19k)that price, which they would probably negotiate to. Those models from memory shared the v6 td and transmission with the merc ML different transfer case and suspension.
Being long term horse owners they would know about fitting stronger rear springs/ airbags etc.

[BigJon]

Being long term horse owners they would know about fitting stronger rear springs/ airbags etc.

That is a big leap of logic. Given some of the car / float combinations I have seen over the years many horse owners would be lucky to know that the vehicle runs on fuel, not hay!

[dullbird]

OK, OK you win Ben, bastard:p I apologise.

It might not suit the bill, from memory the manual only has a 2500kg tow capacity, that might be worth looking into,
a horse float and two horses are up around the 3000kg mark.

unless your pulling a bloody heavy float its more likely to be around 2.4...as most 2 horse straight load trailers I think usually come in around 1000 to 1100

the average horse 16.2hh is gunna come in around 600/700kg if its not heavy set.

our 17.3hh warmblood in the UK was only 800kg and he was a BIG BOY...

However if you have a trailer full of crap I guess it could easily come in around the 3T with horses...moral of that story is keep yeah trailer light, keep your trailer safe.:)

[Redback]

unless your pulling a bloody heavy float its more likely to be around 2.4...as most 2 horse straight load trailers I think usually come in around 1000 to 1100

the average horse 16.2hh is gunna come in around 600/700kg if its not heavy set.

our 17.3hh warmblood in the UK was only 800kg and he was a BIG BOY...

However if you have a trailer full of crap I guess it could easily come in around the 3T with horses...moral of that story is keep yeah trailer light, keep your trailer safe.:)

I was factoring in assorted gear as well.

Baz.

[jsp]

Any comments on 2005ish Nissan pathfinder?

I know nothing about them.

How about 2007-2008 Nissan Navarra? I know three people who have them and the only complaint they have is that they aren't solid enough for ruff off road use but are good otherwise?

[jerryd]

What about a late model Holden Jackaroo with Isuzu turbo diesel motor ?? They seem quite reasonably priced. Might be worth looking into :)

4x4 Holden Jackaroo 3.0 Turbo Diesel | Cars, Vans & Utes | Gumtree Australia Lake Macquarie Area - Swansea | 1049773138 (http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/swansea/cars-vans-utes/4x4-holden-jackaroo-3-0-turbo-diesel/1049773138)

[jonesfam]

I had an 07 Pathfinder with a 2.5 diesel & 6 speed manual gear box, bought as a demonstrator.
Piece of crap!
Bits fell off from the day we picked it up, stereo died, developed rattles in no time, no ground clearance, rubber floor in the back peeled etc. It spent more time in the dealers than it did at home.
The worst part was that it was suppose to have (from memory) 140kw & about 400nm, never, ever felt like it!
Sluggish, died on hills, a decent trailer killed power & tugged the bum around & compared to our previous Terracan which supposedly had less power & torque it was terrible.
I will neve live down that when we bought it SWMBO wanted a D3, 18 months later we had a D3. Cost me a bomb in lost value!
I still don't listen to SWMBO but I'm regularly reminded about that bloody Pathlooser.:censored:
Jonesfam

[bee utey]

What about a late model Holden Jackaroo with Isuzu turbo diesel motor ?? They seem quite reasonably priced. Might be worth looking into :)

4x4 Holden Jackaroo 3.0 Turbo Diesel | Cars, Vans & Utes | Gumtree Australia Lake Macquarie Area - Swansea | 1049773138 (http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/swansea/cars-vans-utes/4x4-holden-jackaroo-3-0-turbo-diesel/1049773138)

A friend of mine has a 2006 3.0TD Rodeo and the number of things that have fallen off it are amazing compared to the old 2.8 he traded on it. I wouldn't own one. Personally I'd look at a later 90s Nissan Patrol 4.5 EFI petrol and put injected gas on it. They go for nearly forever.