Towing car recommendations (horse trailer)

[FurryPie]

Putting this here as more traffic, I’m after a towing car for my horse trailer. It needs to have a 2000kg minimum towing capacity.

My budget is £10k and I don’t want any older cars so no old style Sorrento recommendations please. The ones I’m looking at are the Tiguan, Mazda CX-5 and Kuga. I don’t want any bigger than that.

Any other recommendations? I’m a bit picky with my cars and won’t buy some based on style but happy to look at any others that may be recommended. My friend has a Ssangyong Korando but that’s too small as I have 3 DC and a large dog also.

Thanks!

I only drive old cars... you might get more help in the Tack Room? Max 85% of kerbweight and don't forget you, your tack etc etc...

Thanks.

Yes I know the maths I need to work out, I’m just struggling to know what to go for, it’s such a minefield!

I posted here for more traffic as someone may see it here but not go in the tack room. And also any caravan towers may have an idea as well.

Thanks

Have a look on the Horse and Hound Tack Room forums. I often see people asking for recommendations on there for towing vehicles

forums.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/the-tack-room.79/

Thank you I’ll have another search. I spend hours going through them and Facebook groups, searching for various cars Just when I think I’ve decided I change my mind when I see recommendations elsewhere!

Are any of those cars big enough to tow a horse box?

I was going to suggest a sorento...

Yes they are, the Tiguan R line for example has a towing capacity of 2200kg and as long as you stick to the 85% of the kerb weight then it’s all good.

My trailer is about 800kg and horse 500kg so towing wise only 1300kg. Then obviously will need to work out weight of the car as well to work out the 85% but it will come under.

We tow a caravan with a cx5 and it does really well. The caravan has a mtplm of 1450kg. Just in case you don't know, if you passed your test after 1997 you won't have the entitlement to tow 2000kg unless you pass b+e test. It's only the plated weights that count for this not how much you actually intend to tow, the combo can't be over 3500kg. Ours is exactly 3500kg.

Beware the claims of towing capacity and actual towing ability - my dad had a Volvo which was supposed to tow a trailer with 2 x 16.2hh horses with ease. It burnt the clutch out within a few months and it truly wasn't Dads driving. The figures for towing capacity were made based on the car towing on the flat so if you live in an undulating area like we did you need to lower the towing capacity. He relies on an old Range Rover these days (well, a 59 plate so 10 years old) as its so solid and stable.

Thank you. Yes I need to do my trailer test which I’m booked in for. I normally drive a van conversion but I won’t have access to that for much longer and my little car is giving up the ghost.

Thank you. Where I live is fairly flat with a few minor hills, but nothing too mad!

We have a seat tarraco. They are VWs in all but name and price tag. Tows like a dream. Skoda also good. They are Audis. There is the next size up SSANGYONG which might be worth a look.

I’ve not heard of the Tarraco so will have a look thanks. The Rexton is much more expensive unfortunately and the tax is more, plus a lot juicier!

I’ve looked at the Korando again and it’s fairing better than the above towing wise. It’s also not as small as it looks, I’ve compared on auto trader and is similar to the Tiguan. They just don’t look very nice and are basic inside

I have several friends all towing horses with Tiguans. They really like them. (Wouldn't suit br as boot is small and I have big dogs)

Also have a friend with a kuga towing bit more weight than u will be

Volvo XC60 also good as it's Mitsubishi Outlander. My friends also had a nice jeep but can't think what model

Thank you, I’ll have a look at the xc90 as well. The outlander looks good as well. That’s good to know your friends like the Tiguan, that’s the one I’ve been swaying towards and keep going back to.

The xc90 is huge (and v expensive lol!). The xc60 is the one comparable with the others 👍

I liked the Tiguan when I've sat in it. When I replace my shogun I will have a look at their new one with the larger boot (think they call it the all space?) and the touraeg

Yes sorry I meant the xc60! I looked at the xc90 years ago when the DC were younger and in car seats, it was even too big back then, and the tax nearly made me faint

You need to be careful with your weights if you don't have your b+e license yet and make sure that your trailer is downplated to reflect the maximum towing weight of your car. I did my towing test a couple of years ago, I drive an old ssangyong Rexton which is great and tows up to 3.5 tonnes - prior to that I managed perfectly well with a Kia Sportage and a downplated trailer to tow one horse (I now generally tow 2 as tend to go out somewhere with a friend). I have heard lots of good things about the Skoda Octavia scout (4x4) being used with a downplated bateson trailer for towing just one, which means you'd be well within the limits to tow legally.

@HorseMaid the op said further down the thread she had the towing test booked 👍

We have friends who towed their horse box with a Kia Sorrento , DH also recommends looking at a short wheelbase Shogun ie a compact 4×4.

@PrayingandHoping yes I saw that but until she's done it if she doesn't have the right towing outfit she will be towing illegally if the combined weight of car and trailer are over 3.5 tonnes - I can't remember the exact rules, the horse and hound towing clinic gives really good advice - but I know for b license only towing the trailer generally needs to be downplated. Obviously once trailer license done it doesn't matter so much, but even once that's passed the plated weight of the trailer must not be more than what the car can tow even if carrying only one horse!

I tow an equitrek with two horses with an old xc90. It is absolutely brilliant.

I would imagine she's not going to tow this combo until she's done the test from what I read

To get within the B license rules the MAM (so potential weight) of the combination can not exceed 3.5 tonnes. So yes some downplating combos can work. My friend did it with her jeep and single downplated ifor Williams

Once you've got the B+E licence you do not have to stick to the car being able to tow the MAM of the trailer. That is folk law that gets banded about! It only had to be capable to pull what you are towing

If you get pulled over the traffic police may query it and have you weighed but as long as when they do you are actually towing within weights you are fine.

(Not that I have this problem as I have a big 4x4 and well within weights)

I wouldn't want to tow two tons with any of the cars the OP has listed. They simply aren't heavy enough.

She's not... she's towing 1300

"My trailer is about 800kg and horse 500kg so towing wise only 1300kg. Then obviously will need to work out weight of the car as well to work out the 85% but it will come under."